tinued by the same power. What an unendurable oddity in any class of society would be a man of thorough Christian sincerity—a man, I mean, who should think freely as well as speak freely! How every little circle of society fixes bounds of opinions and manners! Here the Dissenter is proscribed, there the Unitarian. Most nominal Christians act as if they thought that infidelity was greatly improved by hypocrisy. Enthusiasm, i. e., strong and lofty feeling, is generally considered as throwing a doubt on sanity in the living; in the dead, especially if they died two or three generations back, it becomes a beauty and a splendour. There is much yet to be done to Christianize the world. The apostle John said, the whole world lieth in wickedness;' with good allowance for improvement, it yet lieth in a great mass of prejudice and folly.

Is

We see, moreover, the immense importance of education. The young should be educated into Christian morality: they should have its principles firmly implanted in their minds, and be schooled to carry it out into those details which are required by the present condition of existence. it not monstrous, that almost the only systematic instruction of this kind is a superficial induction into that very imperfect work, Paley's Moral Philosophy,' at our universities? Almost all beyond this is the pulpit, which is much more occupied with faith and doctrines, and a selection of pre

cepts to make children, servants, and subjects obedient. All the youth of the community should be taught their duties, i. e., their interests; taught how to add to the happiness of the world, i. e., how to secure their own here and hereafter. I say, all the youth; for an universal solid education is a national want, and should be ensured for the nation, in spite of individual folly, selfishness, or poverty. Morality rests chiefly on intelligence, and intelligence rests chiefly on education; and the excellence of its quality, and the extent of its enjoyment, are therefore of paramount concern. We have heard of a nation willing to be free; it will be a nobler spectacle to see a nation willing to be wise. God hasten it!

And seeing all this, we see also the importance of our individually entering into these objects; pursuing them for others, but never forgetting to apply them to ourselves. To be the promoters of intelligence, goodness, and improvement, we must ourselves be right earnest for their realization in our own characters. Men said to Christ, Physician, heal thyself;' and they will not fail to say it to his followers; and if they did, we should not fail to say it to ourselves. In that analysis of man which indicates our duty to others, there is the exhortation to our duty to ourselves. Do not take this up in a narrow spirit, and say, he has done most for the world's reformation who has reformed

himself; for that absurd expression overlooks the fact, that he who is not solicitous about others, cannot, by any possibility, have taken efficient steps for his own reformation. We should rather apply the language of Christ, Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal, it shall be measured to you again.' Thus shall we enter into the Christian plan; and that is, to enjoy the Christian blessing; to find life, with all its discouragements and evils, yet a good gift of God, preparing us gratefully to receive the better boon of immortality.

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SERMON III.

THE PRINCIPLE OF GOODNESS.

(A NEW YEAR'S SERMON TO YOUNG PERSONS.)

MARK X. 17-22.

"And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not bear false witness, defraud not, honour thy father and mother; and he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him, loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved; for he had great possessions."

THIS Circumstance, which appears from the account. in Matthew xix. to be related of a young man, suggests many lessons not inappropriate to the present occasion. I shall only dwell on two or three of the most important of them, and which combine them