ity was a constant source of peace and cheerfulness. It sprang from his devotedness to God and his benevolence to man; it was strengthened by his high sense of duty; and his earnest desire of public usefulness: it required no idle penances-it dictated no gratuitous mortifications-it expressed itself in no extravagant professions :-to do good, to be actively and universally benevolent was the measure of his sacrifices and the motive of his toils.

Throughout the whole of our Lord's public teachings and conduct, humility is inculcated both by example and precept as a virtue peculiarly human. Christ's character is the perfection of humanity; his whole life, with his patient death and triumphant resurrection, is set forth as a bright example of human duty and human destiny. In that beautiful assemblage of moral graces, in that course of meek submission, of heroic firmness and unwearied philanthropy, we find no one quality more conspicuous than humility. If he, then, our Lord and Master, who was honored by the most distinguished tokens of divine grace and who was without sin, still cherished a meek and lowly spirit, and strengthened his suffering and tempted humanity with prayer; can we, his frail and sinful followers, presume to neglect the cultivation of that humility and self-distrust which he has sanctioned by his spotless example! Without them, how shall we venture to approach that God," who resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble ;" or to indulge the hope, that we are preparing ourselves for the employments and the happiness of that world, where he that exalteth himself shall be abased, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted!"

66

PRAYER.

FATHER of mercies! we are frail and sinful creatures: grant us thy forgiveness, and succor us with thine allpowerful aid. Awaken in us a deep feeling of our unworthiness and sin; and in that consciousness of weakness and imperfection quicken the spirit of Christian penitence. Give us an humbling sense of our moral weaknesses and wants, and draw us unto Thyself, in that new and living way which Thou hast appointed, as the sole and all-sufficient Fountain of grace and strength. Deliver us from all pride, arrogance and selfsufficiency. We would embrace thy offers and improve thy mercies with humility and thankfulness, sitting and listening at the feet of thy blessed Son, and willing to become the little children of his kingdom. We pray that the spirit of Christ may be ever on our hearts, and his example continually before our eyes; that we may take his yoke upon us, and learn of him his meekness and lowliness of heart. May his humility be grafted on our souls; that in devotedness to Thee and duty, in tender sympathy with the wants and sufferings of our fellow-men, and in calmness, sobriety and self-possession of spirit, we may walk in the footsteps of his humility and benevolence on earth; and, when our day of trial and discipline is over, may we be welcomed as his faithful followers to that kingdom of peace and joy, where the meek, the merciful, the lowly and the pure in heart shall dwell with him and Thee for evermore. Amen.

SERMON IV.

ON SELF-RE COLLECTION.

1 Kings xix. 9.

66 WHAT DOEST THOU HERE?"

IT is the character of a wise man that he considereth his ways. The highest knowledge is that of our own nature and characters; a knowledge which cannot be gained without deep and serious examination into the motives of our conduct, and into the habitual state of our feelings. And nothing, perhaps, is so great an assistance in this important business, as frequent selfrecollection, if I may so speak,-abrupt pauses in our various occupations and pursuits, during which we may make a short but pointed inquiry as to the object about which we are engaged. It would be found of great use in forming our minds to an habitual respect for God and duty, to address to ourselves the awakening question, which a Divine voice put to the fugitive Prophet,"What doest thou here, Elijah?" The question was designed to awaken him to consider, whether he was in the way of duty, or not. He had been raised up for

the especial purpose of reproving Israel for sin, and effecting a permanent reformation of public manners. The God who called him, had appeared in an extraordinary manner to cheer and to support him. When he appeared before the assembled tribes and the Priests of Baal, to assert the supremacy of the everlasting Jehovah, the fire from heaven had descended upon the sacrifice, showing that God of a truth was with him: "Yea, the hand of the Lord was upon Elijah:" yet when "Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had slain the Priests of Baal with the sword," then the soul of the Prophet sunk within him, his courage. forsook him, and he fled for his life. He went a day's journey into the wilderness, fear followed his footsteps, and voices of terror sounded in his ears. He fled to Horeb, and came into a cave, and lodged there: but the word of the Lord pursued him, and said unto him, "What doest thou here, Elijah? Is this the post of duty? Is it fitting that thou, supported by Almighty power, shouldst tremble and flee before the insolent daughter of pride and wickedness? Oughtest thou to forsake the cause of God and of religion, when that cause demands the most courageous, devoted zeal? Arise, and return to duty." Such was the expostulation addressed to his servant by the Sovereign whose cause he had deserted; and it was addressed to him in accents of kindness and compassion. The whole narrative affords us a sublime and. affecting instance of the manner in which He who "knoweth our frame, and remembers that we are but dust," mingles mercy with his judgments. When the Prophet appeared before the Lord as a trembling fugitive, and had reason to expect

his just displeasure, "behold the Lord passed by, and a great and stormy wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind, an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice, and it was so when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and stood at the entering in of the cave, and behold there came a voice unto him and said, What doest thou here, Elijah ?"

Let me have your serious attention, whilst I endeavor to bring home the inquiry of the text, by applying it to the common concerns and employments of life, to your ordinary engagements and to your religious duties.

I. Human life was intended to be a scene of activity and usefulness. God designs no individual to be idle. An idle man is the pest of society, and has no just claim upon the bounties of providence, or the exertions of his fellow creatures. God, who has given us understandings to contrive, and hands to execute, requires us to employ them. It is the dictate of reason, justice and religion, "If any man will not work, neither let him eat." Labor is a duty, and much of the happiness of life is found in employment. Nevertheless our exertions may be so directed, as to interfere with duty; we may not only labor for that which profiteth not, but in that which is most hurtful;-there are employments, trades and professions, which, though encouraged by the laws of our country, and tolerated by the depraved standard of worldly morality, Christian principle would