them in a different light, and feel that they are of essential consequence to your true interests.

It is but too common a case, that very sincere and upright minds, sometimes, no doubt, from peculiar constitutional infirmity, are too much under the influence of anxiety, thought, and concern about temporal things, passing events, and future circumstances. There is in the natural man a strong affection for the good things of this life, and thence a strong desire to obtain them; and as there is much uncertainty in all things of this world, that desire is attended with doubt and fear concerning what may take place. Hence anxiety rests upon and corrodes the mind; and its peace is disturbed by a thousand unavailing and unnecessary thoughts.

concerns.

The kind advice of our all-providing LORD is little thought of or attended to, when he said, "Take no [anxious] thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself; sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."* If this injunction were properly regarded in connection with a confiding faith in the LORD's good Providence, the Christian would be far more composed and easy in his mind; more calm in his judgment; and more dispassionate in his conclusions; and for that reason, probably, more prosperous in his temporal Such would be the natural result of a firm and rational dependance upon divine Providence; and an assurance that in the most minute circumstances of life, as in the greater, Providence orders all things for the present and eternal good of man. But Divine Providence has given no promise of support beyond what is needed for the present day. If therefore we heap upon to-day the apprehended woes of to-morrow (which may never come!), our burden must needs be too heavy, and our strength must fail under it. As the evil of the day is sufficient, so is the strength to meet it sufficient, but not more than sufficient. We shall do well to remember this.

But, alas! we can see these things, and speak pointedly upon them to others, and at the same time we allow ourselves to be perplexed, harassed, and rendered uncomfortable by an unavailing anxiety for the future, which also prevents the enjoyment of the present good; and the blessings of to-day are totally lost in the care for to-morrow. We might just as well distress our minds about what shall or shall not take place twenty years hence, as on the next coming day; one being just as uncertain *Matt. vi. 34.

to us as the other. But if we would depend upon the goodness of the LORD, trusting in his divine Providence for the future, we should enjoy the present blessings with composure and peace, and be better prepared for any events, favourable or not, which might ensue, well knowing that those events are permitted or ordered by our Heavenly Father, so as in the greatest possible degree to promote our regeneration, and fit us for that eternal state of felicity which shall have no interruption, anxious forebodings, or fear of an end. If, then, we wish to preserve our minds in a state of tranquillity and cheerfulness, be it our care to act in all events and circumstances from a principle of love to God and man, and so as to have a primary regard to what is heavenly and eternal, for the more we do so, the more will the natural man be brought into subjection; the less concerned shall we be about temporal things; to-day we shall share the blessings of Providence with a thankful heart; to-morrow will be quite out of the question, and the corroding viper, anxiety, will be trodden beneath our feet. Of all the bountiful blessings of heaven for which our thanks are due, there is none greater than the blessing of thankfulness. I recollect three circumstances in relation to myself, which have fully convinced me of the folly of over-anxious thought or concern about the future: the first is, that every blessing I have enjoyed through life, has been altogether from the hand of the LORD;-the second is, that his particular Providence is in and over all things that take place concerning me, and that all are designed to promote my eternal good;—and the third is, that I have an infinitely wise, good, and tender Father, who will not suffer those who trust in Him to want any good, for time or for eternity. And therefore, to act with care and prudence, content with the present, and depending upon Him for the future, is my duty, my interest, and my peace.

Let us then, my brethren, convince the world by our conduct and temper, that we act from the celestial principles of love and charity; that we are more anxious to promote the good and happiness of our fellow men than about our future condition in this life; and while we are as prudent and industrious as others, that we can depend upon divine Providence for all that is needful in all states and circumstances. Having sought in the first place the kingdom of God and his righteousness, let us not be solicitous about what we shall eat, or what we shall drink, or wherewithal we shall be clothed; for our Heavenly Father

knoweth that we have need of these things, and will assuredly supply them in such measure and manner as his unfailing goodness and unerring wisdom shall see meet. So shall we prove that we are indeed the grateful, confiding and obedient children of our Heavenly Father; pass through life resigned and contented; and so be the better disposed to appropriate those spiritual and divine blessings which feed and clothe and enrich the soul, and prepare it for those happy abodes where anxiety never enters, and want is never known!

SECTION XXXII.

THE SEPARATE WORSHIP OF THE NEW CHURCH.

Ir will be acknowledged that the members of the LORD's New Church are under the highest obligations to act in all things consistently with their extraordinary mercies; and this, too, in a firm, faithful, and open manner, disregarding all customs, opinions, or censures of men which may stand in their way, and only considering Jesus Christ as their master and LORD. With a zeal and resolution becoming their state and their principles, they should therefore advocate his cause in every possible and orderly way, internally and externally, to the honour of his only adorable name, the success of his kingdom, and the eternal good of mankind. And this they should do without the least simulation, dissimulation, prevarication, or unauthorised accommodation to the religious prejudices, opinions, or customs of a fallen and consummated Church; in all things strictly adhering to the example, the laws, and the plain truths and commandments of the LORD JESUS CHRIST.

We find that from the time the LORD ascended to his glory, his apostles and disciples assembled together in his name, and worshiped him agreeably to the doctrines and truths he had taught them. We hear nothing of their continuing members of the temple or synagogue; they kept another sabbath; worshiped another Object, for instead of the invisible they worshipped the VISIBLE JEHOVAH, the LORD JESUS CHRIST; they observed other ordinances; and offered up other sacrifices; the traditions of the Jews gnve way to the doctrines of Jesus; the imposing

ceremonies of the Jews to the simple ritual of the gospel; the sacrifice of beasts and birds, to the spiritual sacrifices of the heart; and the splendour of external representatives to the plain, but ardent worship of their Saviour and their God. It has never, I believe, been proved that the disciples of Jesus Christ, after his ascension, ever considered themselves as members of the synagogue, or united in the worship and service of the Jewish sanctuary. So far from this being the case, “When certain men from Judea taught the brethren to be circumcised and keep the laws of Moses, Paul and Barnabas disputed with them against it; they went up to Jerusalem, called the apostles and elders together upon the subject; they reproved those men who would have put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither their fathers nor themselves were able to bear: and they gave it in counsel that as some had troubled the disciples, subverting their souls, saying they must be circumcised and keep the law, to whom no such commandment was given, therefore this council of apostles, elders, and disciples, sent to the different Churches what they had decreed, and informed them that it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and unto themselves, to lay upon them no such burden," &c.* These brave apostles and disciples of their LORD readily taught in the streets of Jerusalem and preached the gospel to the Israelites, but it was in the way the Jews called heresy, that they worshiped Jesus Christ their LORD. Bonds, stripes, and even death, were the lot of some, but they flinched not from their profession, they screened not themselves under the ceremonies and forms of the synagogue, nor professed to be members of a Church which had crucified the Redeemer of the world. Amidst all kinds of opposition, reproach, and evil treatment, Churches arose, the gospel spread, Jesus Christ was preached, and the apostles, disciples, and converts assembled round the standard of their crucified, but now glorified LORD. With resolution and zeal they honoured his adorable Name. Great success attended their faithful exertions, and the blessing of heaven descended upon them as the morning dew. They triumphed over their adversaries, and were crowned with the approbation and favour of that Redeemer and God they were not ashamed or afraid to own, before a sinful and adulterous generation. Such was the conduct of the LORD's followers at his First Advent. They set a noble example to succeeding generations; and shew us in what *See Acts xv.

manner those faithful men should act, under every dispensation of mercy, who name the Name of Jesus Christ, and profess to be the subjects of his kingdom. When I consider the excellency of the New dispensation, the purity of its truths, the essential importance of its holy doctrines, the mercies we enjoy, the duties incumbent upon us, and the beatitudes and glories we are invited to possess for ever, I cannot but see and feel that we ought to be in principle and in heart, in external life and conduct, the most circumspect, consistent, exemplary, obedient, and orderly Christians in the world. In every work of piety, religion, and morality, we ought to be the most faithful, useful, and spiritual characters, to the honour of our only LORD, the harmony, union, and prosperity of his New Church, and the spiritual benefit of mankind. I cannot but consider that every sincere recipient of our doctrines, is under an obligation to join the open worship of the New Church, if possible, and contribute with heart and hand, body and soul, word and deed, to establish it in the world as a visible external Church of the LORD. By uniting in her worship, service, and ordinances in a regular manner, from sound principles of love, charity, and faith, I cannot doubt that all who do so will bring down upon themselves the choicest blessings of heaven. It is so consistent with all that is conscientious, manly, and becoming, that we should appear before all men what to our fellow recipients we profess to be, and are internally in our consciences, to the honour of our LORD, the prosperity of his cause, and the dissemination of his truth; that so, by our talents, our example, and our lives, we may be a united body of zealous and faithful instruments in blessing mankind with the true knowledge of Jesus Christ; the nature of the worship acceptable to Him; the New kingdom he is setting up; and thus of leading them to the true Shepherd of their souls, that they may appropriate the bread and water of life, and be the happy subjects of his New heavens for ever.

It is impossible to overrate the benefits and blessings to all and each of the members of a separated New Church Society, when the true principles of the Church are permitted to actuate them in their diligent attendance upon worship, and their mutual and effectual co-operation in the support of it in a comfortable and respectable manner. And as for those who would individually prefer to read at home, they would be all the greater gainers by sacrificing their personal inclination at the shrine of duty.