the words of our lips and our hearts. In a world like this one, it is more than fortunate for us that the Lord's day is set apart for worship and religious instruction. Our hearts would be hard and cold, our thoughts would be earthly and low, our souls unprepared for the duties, trials, and afflictions of this life, or for death and the life beyond, should we neglect the assembling of ourselves together within the Christian sanctuary, or withdraw our attention from the teachings and the example of the Son of God.

That the people of this country may not lose their patriotism that they may not lose sight of the noble character of Washington, a monument is being built at the Capital, which is to remind them always of him. There are those who criticise the growing pile, and find fault with its style and proportions. There may be justice and force in what is said by this class of men. Yet, the thing of so much interest to their minds, is but secondary. Whatever may be the errors the architect will discover in the lofty shaft, I know that if it bear the name of him who was first and highest in the hearts of the American people in the day of trial, it will frown upon political corruption; it will shame false ambition and pride; it will rebuke all social, and all personal vices. It will be a check to all evil tendencies in public, and in private life. It will encourage all noble life.

That the disciples of Christ may not lose the spirit of their Master, or forget his teachings, temples of worship are built with their spires pointing towards heaven. These temples will constantly remind us of

the Saviour. They speak of the universal fatherhood of God, and of the universal brotherhood of man. They will frown upon oppression, fraud and worldliness. They will call us away from low pursuits and low delights. They will teach us to live in the spiritual fashion of the Son of God, -to be above the world while in the world-to be broad and generous in our thoughts and dispositions; kind and benevolent in our conduct.

Within these temples of worship we shall behold the Son of God, and be lifted up and improved by his spiritual power. Indeed, we cannot come into these consecrated fanes, and really see him without becoming in some degree like him in mind, and heart, and life. We should desire to see the Saviour, not only for the reasons I have already given, but also for this reason: in him God is revealed to our sight.

None will deny that a true view of God is necessary. Those men who do not behold God as he is, are always fearful always sad. The children of the wilderness, left as they are in the care of nature, though they love the gentle spirit of the old forests and the quiet streams, tremble at the thought of God when the lightnings play, and the thunder rolls, and they would not for their lives climb to the tops of the cloud-capt mountains. So these Christians who have put their faith in creeds and traditions of men, though they love the benevolent spirit of the Saviour, and willingly approach him for aid and comfort, are afraid of God, and cannot regard him with affection. Every day they think they behold a dark shadow of the Almighty

overlying the earth. Every night they are disturbed in their dreams concerning him. Such persons should know that God is revealed in the character of Christthat the Saviour is the Son of God and "the express image of his person." Such knowledge would deliver them from the bondage in which they live.

"A true theory of the divine character," says a writer in the Christian Inquirer, "is a most urgent want of the Christian world. We are often warned by conscientious, timid minds, of disturbing the popular views of the divine character. If they answered the purposes of religion, this might deserve attention. But the idea of the vindictive wrath of God does only harm to the world; and further, the truth is always safe. The Father takes care that we shall discover it only as fast as we are able to bear it; and who of his children is authorized to keep back the key of knowledge which God has placed in his hands? This warning proceeds on the ground that the truth is a much less affecting and serious view of things than those which prevail. Now the principal reason for teaching correct and elevated views of God's character and providence, appears to me to be, that the common theology is extremely lax in its influences, however rigid in its features. A government may be absolute, and secure the obedience, without obtaining any true allegiance from its subjects. Parents sometimes make obedient children at the expense of more valuable traits of character. Coarse laws, arbitrary statutes, attended with inexorable penalties, are undoubtedly more likely to be observed than others; but their influences are as coarse as them

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selves. That system of religion alone deserves to be called lax, whose influences are loose and ineffectual upon the whole character. A religion that makes worldly and careless men, bad fathers, bad citizens, narrow and selfish minds, contracted hearts, unprogressive characters; a religion of externals and technicalities, of mysteries, of appeals to the passions,—such a religion is lax, however stern its terms. . . . . . Whatever views do not penetrate the whole man; provide for the purification, enlargement, and elevation of his whole nature; restrain his secret motives, and form his whole being into the image of God, is lax. For religion is not principally restrictive, but formative, creative. And any system which narrows man's freedom, abases his nature, degrades the motives of his obedience, is lax, coarse, not permeating his being, not truly christianizing his heart. We need views of God's character and government, of his love and providence, which shall win our affections, command our voluntary allegiance, and become the all-absorbing spring of our being."

This necessity, thanks be to the Father who sent him to the world, is attained in Christ, whom we may see and understand. May our perception of his character be so clear and just, that it will ever be a noble and delightful task to us to trace out his life, to study his moral characteristics, to catch fresh inspiration from his spirit, to walk in the light of his genius, and to follow him in his illumined and blissful, though thorny path. Thus shall we find out God, thus shall we walk with God, enter into his light and love, and win the condition of purity and peace.

DISCOURSE XXXV.

WALK IN LOVE.

EPHESIANS V. 2.

AND WALK IN LOVE, AS CHRIST ALSO HATH LOVED US, AND HATH GIVEN HIMSELF FOR US, AN OFFERING AND A SACRIFICE TO GOD, FOR A SWEETSMELLING SAVOR.

Christianity addresses its disciples as the members of one body. It never communicates a thought or a precept to an individual, as though he lived alone, and needed only to live and act for himself. In all its utterances and commands it is implied that no one stands alone, or in right and honor exempt from the anxieties and labors of the world; but that all persons are bound together in one life; and that duty means an active interest all things which conduce to the general good. Christianity does not countenance an exclusive spirit, or a life of asceticism. It commands us to love and worship God because he is the Creator and Father of all. It commands us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves, because our neighbor is our brother, or, in a sacred sense, a part of ourselves, dwelling with us in the same light, breathing the same air, subject to the same influ