conference, at the residence of the Bishop, to a large congregation, from Rev. xiv, 13. It was intended to proceed immediately to the grave; but, in consequence of the extreme inclemency of the weather, it was thought advisable to defer it to the next day. On Tuesday, his body was deposited in a grave on the spot which he himself had previously selected. It was in a remote corner of Lawrence county, Ia., in a secluded neighborhood; nor was it even near to any leading road-either horse tracks, or scarcely visible wagon tracks, indicated the direction to his farm. With the best directions, the stranger with difficulty could find the farm-house of Bishop Roberts. His grave was in a lonely corn-field, to which, from his late residence, in the very obscure village of Lawrenceport, a blind path conducts the traveler over hills and through a pathless forest. In this sequestered spot lie interred the remains of the senior Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, forty-one years a traveling preacher, and twenty-seven years a bishop."*

Indulge me a few moments longer. I cannot close this discourse without addressing myself particularly to my brethren of the ministry. Brothers, our fathers are leaving us every year. Our Wesley, though long since departed, lives in our recollections, and in our feelings. Let us cherish his memory, and perpetuate it to our children, and our children's children. Our Asbury, the apostle of American Methodism, than whom not one of our venerable fathers deserves more to be remembered, esteemed, and loved by their sons and successors, has ceased to animate us by his personal labors and counsels; but we, to this day, feel the impulse given to Methodism, in the unity and energy of its system, by his indefatigable diligence

* The remains of Bishop Roberts having been subsequently disinterred, are now entombed in the Campus of the Asbury University of Indiana conference.

and unwearied perseverance. Honored be the name, and cherished be the Christian and ministerial virtues of Francis Asbury, that uncanonical, yet Scriptural bishop. Where are Coke and Whatcoat?-men whose names can never fade from our memory. They have passed over Jordan, and are now in the promised land. With what thrilling interest I name M'Kendree, George, Emory, and Roberts. These were the men of our own times. We knew themwe loved them-we honored them. They are ours no longer, only in the results of their labors, and in their grateful remembrance. God be praised for such men. O, that he may continue to our bereaved Zion a succession of ministers and officers of the same stamp as those were who have been removed from its councils and service. We desire no better succession than this: a succession of pure doctrine, sound discipline, and an experimental and practical ministry of spirituality, purity, and power. Again, allow me to say, let us "remember those who have had the rule over us, and who have spoken unto us the word of God." Let us follow them in their faith and practice, considering the end of their conversation, Jesus Christ the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever."

Brethren of the ministry, let us make the best use of the time and opportunities which may, for a season longer, be continued to us. O, make full proof of your ministry! The Lord is at hand!

Members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, you have sustained a great loss by the death of our venerable patriarch. Let it be made the occasion of earnest and continued prayer to God, that he may cause a double portion of the spirit which he gave to our Elijah to rest upon his fellow-laborers in the cause of Christ; and, especially, that he may direct the attention of our next General conference to suitable persons for the episcopacy among us; that harmony, union, love, and prosperity may continue

and spread throughout the length and breadth of the widespread field of Methodism.

Ministers and Christians of all denominations, if the remarks that have just been made, shall, to you, seem to savor too much of sectarianism, I beg to assure you, that there is nothing of exclusiveness or bigotry connected with them. We are Methodists, and such we desire and intend to continue; but we honor the other branches of the general Church; and we can, and do rejoice in all your successes. Go on, brethren beloved, go on and prosper-all of you who preach "the truth as it is in Jesus!" "The Lord God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many more as ye are, and bless you as he hath promised you." There is room enough in the land for us all to dwell peaceably together; and there is work sufficient for us all. Although we shall never, in this world, harmonize our views of Church polity, or even as to minor points of Christian doctrines, yet we can love each other, and fellowship each other, so long as there is agreement in the fundamental doctrines of Christ. When we get to heaven, we shall all see alike, believe alike, and feel alike. May you, and I, and all of us, be "faithful unto death, and receive a crown of life." Amen.

SERMON III.

BY REV THOMAS A. MORRIS, D. D.,

ONE OF THE BISHOPS OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

THE CHRISTIAN'S DUTY, HOPE, AND PRIvilege.

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear," 1 Peter iii, 15.

SOLOMON said, "The fear of man bringeth a snare;' and Job said, “The fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and

to depart from evil is understanding." Whoever seeks to please men, at the sacrifice of moral principle, will find himself, in the end, involved in disappointment and trouble; but he who aims to please God in all things, according to his revealed will, has nothing to fear. This doctrine is sustained by the words of Christ: "For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake, shall find it." He who seeks to save his temporal life, by denying Christ, to avoid martyrdom, shall lose his soul; but he that is willing to die for Christ, if required, shall have life everlasting. The same doctrine is incidentally brought to view in our context: "And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye; and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled." -Peter, having thus warned the brethren of the trial of their faith, by persecution, and encouraged them to stand firm. amidst every opposition, proceeds, in the language of the text, to lay down clearly the path of duty, which they were to pursue: "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear." We shall notice,

I. THE CHRISTIAN'S DUTY: "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts."

To sanctify, ordinarily means to make holy; but as God is of his own nature infinitely holy, and cannot become more so, the term sanctify, in that sense, cannot apply in this case. The apostle probably meant to teach that we should entertain right views of the character of God, and cultivate suitable feelings of reverence toward him. It is always profitable to meditate on the wisdom, power, and goodness of our Creator, as developed in creation, providence, and grace; and especially so, to

study his character as he has revealed it in his own word. For example, the proclamation of his name to Moses in the mount: "And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, and transgression, and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty." Whoever thus studies the character of God, will be careful to avoid, not only profane swearing, cursing, blasphemy, and perjury, but likewise all lightness of expression, and irreverent thoughts concerning him; and will become more and more impressed with the salutary truth, "Holy and reverend is his name."

Again: to sanctify the Lord God in the heart, is to set HIM apart as the object of spiritual worship, to the exclusion of all others. Idolatry was the killing sin of the Pagan world. And as the Jews were surrounded by the idolatrous worship of the heathen nations, they were in more danger from that quarter than any other. Hence, this point was so strongly, pointedly, and frequently guarded by the holy prophets. "Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth." Even Christ and his apostles had occasion to warn the Christians against the same danger. Paul said to the Corinthians, "We know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one." And Christ said, "God is a spirit: and they that worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth." The plain import of holy Scripture on this subject, is, none but the true God may be worshiped, and he must be worshiped by all men. God requires us to worship him; and he has a right to make such requisition; a right founded in creation: for " He hath