thy blessing upon our offspring; let one say " I am the Lord's, and another call himself by the name of Jacob, and another subscribe with his hand unto the Lord, and surname himself by the name of Israel."

Oh may we each imbibe the spirit of wrestling Jacob and prevailing Israel! Whether our path through life be more smooth or rugged, may the presence of a covenant God support and cheer us all our journey through; and in that awful hour when heart and flesh fail, may he be the strength of our heart and our portion for ever!

SERMON XXVI.

*PIOUS YOUTH COMMENDED TO THE BLESSING

OF GOD.

Addressed especially to Candidates for Confirmation.

ACTS XX. 32.

And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

CAN we conceive a character more amiable, more venerable, more dignified, than the aged Apostle in the circumstances related in this chapter. Having, for a long series of years, laboured with unwearied diligence and zeal, amidst many and heavy persecutions, yet crowned with glorious success, in the cause of that Jesus whose name and followers he once tried to erase from the earth, he is now summoned to seal the truth with his blood; and does he faulter, or hesitate, or shrink back from "the fiery trial which is to try" him? Oh no; he calmly and resolutely sets forward on his journey, through which the Holy Ghost witnessed in every city that bonds and afflictions awaited him: and as he passes along, he calls together his be

loved charge to receive his affectionate valedictory exhortation. He states to them his prospects, but declares that none of these things move him, neither counts he his life dear unto himself. So that the Lord Jesus may be magnified in his body, and his cause forwarded in the world, Paul is not anxious whether it be by life or death. Conscious that his principles are good, he fears not to die on the strength of them; conscious that his Master is good, even in this trying season, he is not ashamed, nor fears to be deserted by him in whom he has believed, and who has promised to keep what his servant had committed to his charge against that day. Conscious of the fidelity with which the grace of God had enabled him to discharge his ministerial functions, he appeals to his flock: "Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men; for I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God;" and animated with the immortal hopes of that glorious "Gospel of the grace of God," which he had testified among them, he springs forward in anticipation to the moment when he should "finish his course with joy," and receive the gracious plaudit, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

Yet he feels anxiety for the welfare of the church when he should no longer instruct and admonish it: he therefore gives this solemn parting exhortation to all its succeeding ministers; "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock,

over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." And well knowing that "unless the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain," in the words of my text he affectionately "commends them to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build them up, and to give them an inheritance among all them which are sanctified."

These words as your minister I adopt on behalf of you, the people of my charge, for whose souls I watch as "one that must give an account, that I may do it with joy and not with grief;" and of those of you especially, who are about to make a public profession of attachment to the Lord Jesus, and a solemn promise to walk henceforth in all his commandments and ordinances blameless. The words embrace a variety of topics, all highly suitable to the present occasion. Time permits us only to glance at each.

I. The affectionate epithet is worthy of notice, with which the apostle, and with which every Christian minister addresses the people of his charge, Brethren. Yes, Christians are all brethren; all are "the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus:" those who "were by nature children of wrath even as others," are by adoption and regeneration made children of God and heirs of heaven. Jesus is "the first-born among many brethren," and" of him the whole family in heaven and earth