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prove ourselves Christians, or justify our claim to Christian benevolence. Especially, the spirit of the disciples of Jesus should appear in us; their temper and conduct should adorn our lives; for how unseemly, how shocking, is the petition of the text in the mouth of an unholy professor of Christianity! What moral deformity, what secret pride, what selfishness and vile dissimulation would prevail, were the prayer answered as proceeding from many!" I would to God that others were as I am!" It is, therefore, by holy consistency, by circumspection, by evincing the power of religion on our minds, and by manifesting its influence on our lives, that we are most likely to be useful; and without this our prayers are nothing, they are fruitless to others, and delusive to ourselves.

Shall we glance at the conduct of God, as a motive to benevolence? "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Nor was the gift of a Saviour all: "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things" And is such provision made for us, and can we be cold and careless about the welfare of others? Has such love been expressed, and is such grace bestowed, and do we remain selish and slothful? Rather, let us rise to holy activity, let us abound in benevolent efforts, and be unwearied in friendly service. "Be ye therefore imitators of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us."

1 And this suggests another motive, which comes perhaps still closer to our feelings→→the example of Jesus Christ. As God in our nature, and sojourning with us, what benevolence did he express! How pure, how ardent, how generous, how.constant, was his kindness What diligence in teaching the igno

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rant! What patience in bearing with the froward ! What tenderness in relieving the afflicted, in strengthening the weak, and in comforting the distressed! To crown the whole, such was the love and pity of his heart, that he gave his life a ransom' "When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." May the love of Christ constrain us! May his example allure, his word direct, and his grace invigorate!

We close the subject by two or three REFLEC

TIONS.

1. How wide the difference between the spirit of Christianity, and the spirit of the world!

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A man of the world, grasping at its gains, and rising in its consequence, cannot say from his heart,

"I would that others were as I am!" No: he wants to rise above others. What he attains in knowledge he wishes to keep to himself: he bends its advantages to his own interest, and applies them to his own emolument. The spirit of the world, you perceive, is niggardly and selfish; but this of the Christian is liberal and diffusive. On this principle it is, that the more we know of Christianity and enjoy of its blessings, the more we shall wish them to be imparted to others, and shall long for the happiness of the world..

2. How striking the contrast between the reality of the gospel, and the pretensions of infidelity

Infidels boast of benevolence: they call themselves the friends of mental freedom and of universal happiness; but are they free and happy? Just the reverse! They are the dupes of error, the slaves of Just, the sport of disappointment and pride. "While they promise you liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption; for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage." Take away the joy and peace which the gospel

gives, annihilate the hopes and prospects which Christianity inspires, and what has the infidel to substitute in their stead? We ask the question, but wait in vain for a satisfactory reply: we leave him, therefore, to his own delusions, the object of our tenderest pity. May the religion which made Paul so happy be ours! May we feel its vital power and exemplify its lovely effects!

3. How highly desirable is proficiency in religion, in opposition to a languid and wavering profession of it!

Only the man that grows in grace, can advance in stability and rise in consolation. Had Paul resembled many in the present day, we should not have read of his undaunted firmness, his high enjoyment, his enlarged benevolence, in the court of Festus. Adversity is a trial of principle, a test of sincerity, and frequently a means of exposing the hypocrisy of the heart, or of detecting the weakness of our faith. Let us not be satisfied with low attainments: they are the refuge of indolence, and the bane of happiness. Have we not every encouragement to go forward?"-to rise from babes in Christ to young men, and from young men to fathers? The Head of the Church ever lives, and from him are all our supplies under his influence may we daily grow in stability and comfort; and by his Spirit may we abound in "the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God!"

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SERMON VI.

THE PIETY OF ABIJAH.

(A DISCOURSE TO YOUNG PEOPLE)

1 KINGS xiv. $13.

In him there is found some good thing toward the Lord God of Israel, in the house of Jeroboam.

SACRED

ACRED history is instructive. It unfolds much of the wickedness of man, but more of the goodness of God. It strikingly illustrates the wisdom of his providence, and the power of his grace.

This part of the Bible is enriched with biography. It informs us of various characters; some of whom were eminent for piety and usefulness, others were notorious for vice and mischief. These accounts are, some of them, detailed with considerable minuteness; others are sketched with brevity;-some are recorded for our imitation, others for our caution; the whole affording an interesting variety, adapted to humble, to edify, and to improve.

The text refers to Abijah, the son of Jeroboam. His narrative is short, but highly pleasing and instructive. He was young, but truly pious, and pious in a family remarkable for the opposite temper. He was steady

to religious principle against a strong tide of pernicious counsel and example-" In him was found some good thing toward the Lord God of Israel, in the house of Jeroboam.'

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Concerning the piety of Abijah, observe its EARLY EXISTENCE- its SINCERITY-its SECRECY-its DECISION and its RECOMPENSE.

I. Its EARLY EXISTENCE.

He is called a child (verse the third): " he shall tell thee what shall become of the child." We are aware that the term does not always denote the next stage to infancy it is applied to Joseph when a young man: Jeremiah also applies it to himself when grown to years of maturity. We have no means of ascertaining precisely the age of Abijah, but from the account given of him, it is evident he was very young; yet not so young but that he had a character of his own-a character amiable and devout.

Happy would it be were there more like him! How desirable, that in our families the number of such was much increased! On this occasion, may the tender hearts of some be touched by the Holy Spirit, and engaged in the earnest pursuit, the high attainment of personal godliness!

Piety, at any period of life, is pleasing. In old age, it is venerable. We cannot look on a Christian advanced in years, and more advanced in holiness, without feeling peculiar respect. His hoary, head is a crown of glory. His humble heart, his heavenly fruit, demonstrate his growth in grace, and shew that the Lord is upright.

In early youth, piety is chiefly amiable. It is the image of God restored on the soul, when its powers are most vigorous, when its passions are most warm, when its prospects of life are most fair and flattering. To see a young man come out from the world, and separate himself from its seductive snares; to

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