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'»-fc-MU 
 
 '■^■^■' * ^t' 1 1 1 1 > t t 
 
 A AiA i At^^f ^ ^ ., ^^ ^ 
 
 PASTORAL A1)I)|{KSS 
 
 BV THK 
 
 i! HlyV. J. M. MACLEOD. 
 
 KDIN. AND <;l,A.H., 
 
 MIMSTKI! OF 8T. ANDHKW'S ('HHICH, 
 
 iCHrKCFI OF Sf'OTLAXl),) 
 (fl.KN('C)K ONI Alx»l(). 
 
 "Hold Fast." 
 
 VpIvv Ooif »ilillliiitf, or Six IVimo MUrliiiK. 
 
 •< 
 
 rilK nt.MKKI.S, I.KS,. THK HXI'KNSK or PIU.NTI.VU, AKK To HK U'rur.\> To 
 
 run HCTTKIt UKATINci OF ^*T. A.M.HKw's CIURCII, A.M. To THK 
 
 KKKITIOX OK A IM.ATFOKM ITM'IT. 
 
 PRINT 
 
 Soiibon, (Pntario : 
 
 Kl. *T T..K KRKR ,.R«S.S 8TEAM PBJNTISO OKKI.'E, ttirHM..N|. STRKRT. I 
 
 JANITARY !, 1870. 
 
 '"'****w<H«Wi»^ 
 
 ^'^^^^''^••"^^'•"^•'^"^^•^•iW 
 
 »■» 
 
 I^^lpvim, 
 
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 ?»J 
 
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. 1 
 
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 - I «1 
 
 PASTORAL ADDRESS 
 
 BY THE 
 
 i. . 
 
 = >./<'. 
 
 
 .-^^ 
 
 REV. J. M. MACLEOD, 
 
 EDIN. AND OLAS., 
 
 MINISTER OF ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH, 
 
 (CHURCH OF SCOTLAND,) 
 
 GhLENCOE ONTARIO. 
 
 "Hold Fast." 
 
 Price One Shilling, or Six Pence Sterling. 
 
 THE PROCEEDS, LEB8 THE EXPENSE OF PRINTINO, ARE TO BE APPLIED TO 
 
 THE BETTER HEATINQ OF ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH, AND TO THE 
 
 ERECTION OF A PLATFORBf PCIiPIT. 
 
 -♦"•-♦- 
 
 i;oRti0n, (Dnhtxio: 
 
 PRINTED AT THE FREE PRESS BTEAU PRINTINa OFFICE, RIOHMuMD BTH8BT. 
 
 JANUARY 1, 1870. 
 
WILL BE PUBLISHED 
 On J«>u.:y 2„,, 1871. in C«.w.. 8v„., -A Book fo. Uy Hock 
 and others who choose to read it." 
 
 By THE Eev. J. M. MACLEOD. 
 
 >l^ 
 
Flock, 
 
 3LE0D. 
 
 TO THE KIRK SESSION. TRUSTEES, MANAGERS 
 
 AND 
 
 )| 
 
 CONGiGATION OF ST. AIM'S CHICE 
 
 THIS 
 
 PASTORAL ADDRESS 
 
 IB BBSPXOrrOLLY SUBMITTSO, 
 
 WITH THE EARNEST PRAYERS OF THE PASTOR, 
 J. M. MACLEOD. 
 
 QhKXoot, Oktabio. January 1, 1870. 
 
 t|^ 
 
PASTORAL ADDRESS. 
 
 January 1, 1870. 
 
 <i«i^ 
 
 Mv Dear Christian Friends, 
 
 Permit me to address to you a few earnest words in the spirit of 
 tenderness and affection. Entered, as we are, on the first day of a New Year, 
 it is most becoming that we who profess our faith, both in God's infinite love and 
 in His wise providence, should call upon our souls to bless His Holy name, and 
 to magnify His goodness, for all His gracious dealings with us during the year 
 that has just expired. It is, indeed, impossible to give a retrospective view of 
 the past, without feeling deeply sensible of the numerous benefits of which we 
 have been daily the unworthy and ungrateful recipients. Nor can we be blind 
 to the fact that the tender mercies of our God, which extend over all His works, 
 loudly demand the most grateful and unqualified recognition on our part. And 
 if we are alive to our unbounded obligation to Him in whom we live, and move, 
 and have our being— who is at once the mighty guardian of the helpless, the 
 unceasing friend of the ne ', the benefactor and powerful preserver of all— our 
 thoughts will spontaneou ,' cevert to the unmerited goodness which Ho has 
 caused to pass before us, the impressions of which ought to be deep and per- 
 manent. 
 
 Another year of our short life has disappeared, and this is to many a more 
 apparent fact than that they have been fed by the bounty oi Jehovah. The 
 precious Sabbaths of the past year have terminated with it. Its priceless 
 privileges and countless blessings are no longer within our reach, and therefore 
 we cannot improve them for time or eternity. But while these seem to have 
 been left far behind, they have at the same time gone very far forward into the 
 invisible future. The terrible records,?too, of the past year, with all their impor- 
 tant interest, and with innumerable secrets which remain to be told, have 
 already been added to the great annals of eternity, and they shall testify either 
 for us or against us m the notable day of the Lord That here we have no 
 continuing city— that man is mortal— that time is short-are expressions to 
 which we have been accustomed from our infancy, and they no doubt summon 
 \is t-". •^.jnna rsflection. We see. indeed^ that time, like a gigantic engio^, is 
 driving the world onward in an unalterable groove. And in reference to this 
 truly solemn truth, the question is one not of uncertainty, but of duration. The 
 world must indeed come to an end— the great judgment of quick and dead must 
 
w ' 
 
 ""w frail I am... .. „ t..^.. ^""" "' "V day- „,,,„ ."y . L"ni. maJterno 
 
 toffourgpirit,"" •encourage ""-that He is fi^Jf, ' ^'""«"'' Presence i. 
 "«ne 0/ need. S ^'^•*^P«'-0"«, by making hJI!^''""^""'- battle., and mak 
 fl-nezerandaa^'?;, t?«J "r'''"'"-" C "?"* ^^ "» - ell^" 
 
 «f««ter activity i« ii,-. 5"' ^o excite in ua n..r«/ ^"^ *''« conscioi.. 
 
 •bout our latter „„i ^"'^'" <^"^«n«<tana.8 wnll Ji . ^"^ •^^P"ved ug of « / 
 
 ^«P'ei«now'SS;'r;:e:'r ^^^■'' -- ntS^n?.'^^'""^^^^^^^^^ 
 «re not. .SaLbathXrbS *"" '^^^'^^^y devout w^ r"" P'«*'^' «»d our 
 "PectacJe of a «uictua^ ,„^ ?' '"""P*"*^ to JooHth * ''"PP*'"' «> that Z 
 
'wjger." Buttho 
 *n exiitence on 
 « in till. v«lo o( 
 "^nr, that "nan 
 
 ^ "'»t «« wen 
 LorJ. make ma 
 ^' ^ "iny know 
 "'".V appljr our 
 
 he rear which 
 '' »">rld fron, 
 'y thp fact or 
 "I *wf«il. and 
 "oto distance 
 ""•'"t all the 
 
 «n«i disap. 
 
 ojir happj 
 
 '"ndness of 
 Bnt proof is 
 'vin? in the 
 
 ^I'J sincere 
 ve that the 
 w stiJJ our 
 >resence is 
 and mak- 
 ' in every 
 't up our 
 'onscioua- 
 
 "8 up to 
 
 of a few 
 o'lghtful 
 and our 
 that we 
 lancholj 
 thout a 
 ^ and 
 rt is in 
 I cause 
 ngand 
 9me to 
 orship 
 >ngre- 
 
 iponU 
 «8 in 
 
 and love, we ought to view all this as moat pleasing tokens of divine favour, and 
 of the operation of the Holy Spirit in us. Wo oughi to hail this hopeful state of 
 thiniLfs with unutterable joy, iind render our heartfelt acknowledgments to Him 
 who has comniandtul His blofwing upon us in the houM> of our pilgrimage. Let 
 us remember who He is, and what i^ due to Him. He has been to us the God 
 of our being, the loving Father of all our mercies, and the Redeemer of our life 
 from destruction. It is easy, therefore, to perceive that whatever success has 
 attended oiir labo<irs in the furtherance of the Gospel, and whatever fruit has 
 accompanied or followed our prayers and our preaching, the result, whether 
 single or aggregate, must be attributed to Him who crowneth the spiritual year, 
 as well as the natural, with His goodness. We have planted and watered. We 
 have endeavoured to sow beside all waters, and we may have done all that r. ■ 
 have done faithfully and diligently, but the increase has come from God who 
 worketh with might in the inner man, disposes our will to obedience, and makes 
 lu fruitful in all good works. And I wish those whom I am now addressing to 
 understand this and also to remember it. U you are nourished by the living sap 
 from the true vine, and bearing fruit unto holiness, as your covenant engage- 
 ments impose on you, and if your whole life is a proof that you are sincerely con- 
 cerned about the interests of your immortal soul, then you afford me, as your 
 pastor, no small ground of rejoicing, for I cannot have greater joy than to see 
 you all walking in the ways of God, and constantly living for His glory,— ever 
 striving piter higher attainments in the heavenly life beyond the grave. 
 
 You undoubtedly know that the relation iu which I stand to you is one of 
 unspeakable responsibility,— one with which are connected many diflSculties and 
 discouragements, which no one but a pastor can fully understand, because no one 
 else knows them as he does. It is not a mere abstract relations! i'^, but one 
 which involves several others, with various ramifications and lessons of the 
 highest import. It is a relationship between an instructor and those whom he 
 teaches ; between a pastor and those whom he ought to "feed with knowledge 
 and understanding ;" between a master and those whom he ought to rule " with 
 a faithful and true heart, and prudently with all his power;" between one who la 
 himself the servant of the great Master of the Vineyard and those whose servant 
 he also is for the sake of that Master, No one, therefore, ought to think lightly 
 of this relationship. And it is, permit me to say, a due sense of its vast inipor* 
 tpnce that has led me, at this particular season, to make these remarks, which I 
 trust may not be deemed altogether unsuitable, or even be found unprofitable in 
 our present circumstances. As your spiritual teacher it is my duty to direct and 
 invite you to "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sm of the world," and 
 to present, explain, and enforce the truth as it is in Jesus; to lu-ge you to " work 
 out your own salvation with fear and trembling ;" to " make your calling and 
 election sure;" to warn you against self-righteousness ; to lead you to the Cross 
 of Christ ; to tell you that He is the " author and finisher of your faith ;" that 
 His blood cleanseth from all unrighteousness," and that there is no " salvation 
 in any other." As your pastor, it is my duty to watch the current of your feel- 
 ings, and to seek by seasonrbio and judicious counsel, to save you from being 
 unawares drawn into the path of the destroyer. As one, therefore, whose duty 
 it is to watch for souls, and as a steward who is bound to be faithful, as one on 
 whom it devolves to give to «ach <m Qf you his spiritual t<M in th« projw 
 
E^-> < 
 
 8 
 '»«ital tnuiqui IH vT *" ^ ''^^^^ ^'^^ calmness unon , "l^ ''r>preheimon 
 
 f'nnga three partt fe rto'f ^^ ^ '' ^^««^^« that "1"''" '"^ ^««*»«« 
 "°tyour servanrrh. ,! ^ ^'^ ^ '*'» ^^^^ servant of 01 rL . ' "" °"« '^hich 
 '^bassador t^ brt !' f '^ ''''■ ^O" are His people ™1 u'"'" '^'' '^"^ 
 redeemed by Hh M "°*^^°"good tidings of neacP v '"'' ^'« minister and 
 
 ""•% to stand Mwe„.S?!"^^^ '^'^ ^"*^ tremble, Sus! ,•? '^ ^«" ^^^^ HLs 
 «Wp. I speak J^tWh! . ."^ ''"•^ "'« dead. But bp'l '? '""'* «°^«n'n 
 3-ou to consider that <"^; '^^ing you to be rrciTr^' ^ '^'''«°»- 
 «ound teacher a fa ff . . " *^' ««*^epted time the i . "'*' ^"t'^ating 
 dent eounseliVV^ttttr''' « ^eute S': & % ^^^^n." | 
 an account in thT ^ ■'"'"' ^n^^ as in the dpv «i 7^ ^^^^> *»<! a pru- 
 '^annot faH to be ! T''""'' "' '^oJy an^fs ^d / •'"''^'"* ^ »»««* renTer 
 in vain L,°„ ' ™°'* ^n-^'"'" lest Lr IL ^ ^''''"^'^d universe I 
 
 -03t since^e^tr ?d"' ^'^° ^ -^^'^atl^^ no^ s'a^fr ^''^ ^^o^^'be 
 eternally blessed ?h *"*^,"'*™e«t Player that you .1 ' ^*'''*^' '^'^ be, my 
 *"d the so^XiS ^^^^''^Peace-speakinl^^ ^ ""''^'^^ ^2 
 
 a-3bopof ;iT:^t'^^^^' "^ - ^°r/^ 'S,7P^J«djf teousness 
 me affectionately ILh '"''"^ "''»* « Him a 8.1^X1. ' ®^'P''«^'J and 
 
 «"d tenderly inl^orto'Jh *" '," *° ^^'^ ^- -C^om IT '".^ "«' ^^* 
 firaces which exa^Snt .^''''''""^^"dconstantcultivr *''« wrath to come, 
 the protection ofyoul?"'*'"" '""^ ^'^^"^ h« Se'St V , e^^ 
 ^iles of the deWl "Zf'^T ^"^'^^ ^"^^ for the safeTy t^ "*"*' ^'^""'y- For 
 Pamtion of tS Qosne. n^ ^" ^^°'^ ^™°"r «' Q^ " b/""!! T' ^''"^ "*he 
 "Pray without ctE '> T^'] " Quench not Th^Spirft " bl "' ^^'^ *^^ ?'«- 
 the people of God S /""^ '^^''^^ "» that ,„ire atn^?.) ^^ ^°"'" "PPesition. 
 ready to testify that H?-' *" l?"^"^ " ^^^ f ull S^^^^^ ««"ounds 
 
 *»d' as His peoDle I .' ^"°^ ^'^ *hat His loveTnL T ^ "i'^ays 
 «^Je, always Z^^l ''\T ^' ^''^^ »« bl od " beTr !^' '^^ ^'^'^ ' 
 the Rock of ZTb^f "* ^'^^ ^^'•^^ °f the Lord "Let to. ""* '^^ " '^"'oy- 
 rfictated by thfsnl,^""' '" ^^^^^ ""thing can remov/ P".'^"^' *« '^^ on 
 pleased to give yff w' f T"'^ *« "'« ^ of God V""" .^«* y^^ P^^Jers" 
 forth the fStt T ! ^'^y ®Pi"*' to the end th^^ v "^ *'"** ^« ^ould be 
 insts. P«!t ,f!^ '^^^^ den;ing yourselvl^ ^.^ ""^^ ^' «"^Wed to brin. 
 
 nice a river Prl . '^e,and that righteousnpT, ' ^***" "^liity, aa 
 
 Peopl^J^hat 1^1/''^'""^ *»>**" the UrdoiZZf """ '°^ ""^'^^^^^ 
 
 i%." and make ttr'''^'«« ''^"^ i^finiteloyfHe m!y « ;?'^" '"''^ ^* His 
 
 Hi-Piritua?^<?rL^^-^^^^^^^^ 
 
 J uur prayer. anri /of ;* u " 7* "" ^^'^ gWry to dwpll ;„ « i ■","" «="' unto" 
 
 vve cannot expect 
 
tous about your 
 •y apprehension 
 How, and enjoy 
 'd to renounce, 
 ^S jou a spirit 
 9r sins of like 
 ^n me because 
 ^ one which 
 n'lr sake, but 
 minister and 
 s little flock, 
 'ou withHij 
 most solemn 
 Ws relation- 
 ', entreating 
 nation." A 
 I and a pru- 
 nust render 
 universe, I 
 should be 
 liall be, my 
 and made 
 iteousness, 
 Plierd and 
 we us, let 
 ^ to come, 
 ' heavenly 
 •ity. For 
 rom "the 
 I the pre- 
 >position. 
 urrounds 
 ' always 
 jewels ; 
 unmov- 
 tandon 
 layers, 
 )uld be 
 bring 
 worldly 
 ity, as 
 streets 
 it His 
 ifresh- 
 
 dUZO " 
 
 tis be 
 spect 
 tpect 
 
 God to take pleasure in our best services if we are constantly resisting Him, and 
 if we are increasing the desolations of Zion instead of repairing them, and plant- 
 ing thorns where the rose should grow. And what would all the world be to us 
 supposing it were our imdisputed portion, in the absence of the divine favour 
 and blessing, which make rich and add no sorrow? What enjoyment can we 
 have amidst all the grandeur, pomp, luxury, infliience, power and riches of the 
 world, if we do not possess a saving interest in Christ, and have not that piety 
 wluch, while it exalteth a nation, is the highest glory of the individual believer f 
 And let me here remark that a careful view of all the considerations submitted 
 above, makes my anxiety about your eternal welfare more and more intense. 
 While, therefore, I camiot but rejoice at finding myself surrounded by a large, 
 respectable, and devoted congregation, of whose strong and individual attach- 
 ment I have already received so ■ ^y substantial proofs, I shall be still more . 
 gladdened by the assurance thai, ^der my ministry, you are daily growing in 
 the knowledge of Christ crucified, and in meetness for heaven, for I regard it as 
 of far more importance every way that you should be Christ's people, without 
 spot or blemish, than that I should be gratified by seeing crowds attending my 
 public services, for I am sent to save souls, not to convert men to a creed or 
 church. And, therefore, with this f( -Mg inspiring me, my highest wish must 
 ever be, and certamly is, that you ma} be " my joy and crown" in the day of the 
 Lord, when He shall bring His sons frcin far, and His daughters from the ends 
 of the earth. To tliis end I must labour with all fidelity and diligence, praying 
 day and night that you and I may be saved by the same mighty sacrifice, enlight- 
 ened by the same gospel, and sanctified by the same spirit, so that I may present 
 you perfect in Clurist Jesus, in the day of His appearing. For this all 
 momentous end, it will be my constant and persevering endeavor, in humble 
 dependence on Divine aid, to preach to you, to the best of my abiUty, the Law 
 and the Gospel, without any mixture of error, conscientiously declaring unto you 
 the whole " coimsel of God," faithfully " wanung every man, and teaching every 
 man in all wisdom." And this part of my work, fraught, as it really is, with 
 such tremendous consequences, I shall always seek to perform in a spuit of 
 Christain love and aflection, so that the word of God may not, on my account, 
 be evil spoken of. I will not disturb your minds by introducing mto my pulpit 
 ministrations unnecessary controversies or discussions, either theological or poli- 
 tical, or by indulging in bitter tirades against other churches, for the Gospel, 
 unto the ministry of which 1 am called, is emphatically " the Gospel of peace." 
 Neither must I preach for doctrine the commandments of men, nor fail to place 
 Christ above the Cluuch and all authoi ities and powers. Pulpit warfare is never 
 productive of good results; and the Sabbath day is not sanctified by fighting. 
 And even in preacliing, the house of God must not be "made a den of thieves." 
 I will, therefore, strive to instruct you in the spirit of one whose mission is 
 peace. Nor, while on the one hand I resolve to give due attention to my own 
 studies, and to explore every path of knowledge, botli human and divine, that I 
 may be the better able to instruct and edify those who hear me, will I neglect 
 the very necessary duty of parochial visitation. I feel that this is a most impor- 
 tant part of a Christian minister's work, and I trust, therefore, that I shall not 
 be a stranger in the dwellings of those whom I know to be suffering in the fur- 
 nace of affliction. These call for my sympathy as well as for my prayers, and I 
 
"?" come to them With '" 
 
 ^% are the objects .fn" ^'PP^rtunities of bnn![n ' ^«" ^ ^e satisfied 
 '^^n^tant attentior No IS '^"'«^ '''^«. the; ^Ssf w/'""^ *« ^hristl 
 ««o«gthem that Wfefr •l".'^'''^' ^^^^ ^^ t^il' '^' °'j'^*'*« °f 4 
 the knowledge of JvS.'"^""* ^'"«h «" ot^ Sf" T ^"^ ^' ^iflbse 
 ;e«<^y to impart toXii^^h the fimshed wori 'f p,'^^ "«^'«««--I mean 
 t« give stability and coi '^"^^'^ ^^««°n« which lb!, ^^"'^- ^ '^'^ ^l^m 
 P^^^ntstosend'lhTASe^r *" ^^^^'^ P'^cS a^d r'''''^^'^'"'^«t5 
 e n^e remind you. are extSL^ '"' ^''^''^*^ S'^ho^^ S 1^*^ ' '''^ ^ ««k 
 
 PerJy conducted h J o i ^^^- inasmuch th^^f ^'^^'"Pt'on. becomes with 
 
 «je needed in carrying it ^n ^T''''' '^^ therefore^* J »7°* ^^°'^e« * 
 
 then what I „ow ask a '"**' «»3^ chance of satL^? ^""^ '^^^^ efforts 
 
 ' ^«JJ^ •»« «-«^hing dset!,"'^ :^°»r help on eh^^ .? '"'''*" ^^'^^ ^e 
 
 Je«h a life of faSht 1?'"?* ^ ^nd is the We ttl""" ^'"'^h alone Zl 
 r« it not ti. e, indeed thl ^ ? ^°''' ^*° '"^^d ytu If ^T"'^ hve in th" 
 fou? When riSt!^ f""^^ ^""^ for i bSin^l^'' himself for you f 
 'r!'^«ndunfrStir£[?'^'?'-*'^«fr»it«^^^^^^^ ig 
 
 «ty has not been W ? Sh^urf '^'' *^« houseSttTiV"" ^ ""'^ ^'ou 
 huiWed in vain, and thif fi? ' ' *''=°^«'-. f^m paLfSJ !f " huilt,-that the 
 
 m 
 
Physician, who 
 
 f out of season. 
 Hire. 
 
 ^en most dear 
 '■ I mean the 
 »8 commanded 
 "fo not use the 
 ' I be satisfied 
 '% to Christ ? 
 •Ejects of nijr 
 art to diffuse 
 Jess-I mean 
 I am always 
 'St calculated 
 ■'■and I ask 
 sses. These, 
 5 the youth- 
 pJacency on 
 nplation of 
 :onies with 
 '''"ing, pro- 
 e young, I 
 s rendered 
 f Sabbath 
 Evolves a 
 ed efforts 
 Give me 
 
 Id if you 
 
 ^roni this 
 
 'ecret of 
 '■ years 1 
 Have r 
 fle you 
 in the 
 ryouf 
 among 
 id you 
 at the 
 31- has 
 't me 
 
 lerof 
 
 'ness 
 
 ad [ 
 
 har- 
 
 ther 
 
 on§ 
 
 II 
 
 you exceedingly agreeable, and has largely contributed to the happiness of my 
 life, which considerations render it all the more reasonable that I should now look 
 for some fruit, which may sufficiently show that you have not received the grace 
 of God in vain. 
 
 Whatever encouragement I had to cheer me when I became your Pastor, I 
 felt that " I came not to you with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring 
 unto you the testimony of God." Nevertheless, "I determined not to know 
 anythmg among yoti save Jesus Christ, and Him Crucified." And to this deter- 
 mination I shall cling as long as I live, pointing my hearers to that cross around 
 which the streams of salvation so freely and fully flow. " I was with you in 
 weakness and in feai, and in much trembling," as a "bruised reed" that had no 
 strength. I saw before me the difficulties of a new field, and I asked myself in 
 my soUtude, " Who is sufficient for these things V I felt too, how greatly I 
 stood in need of patience, fortitude, faith, prayer, heavenly wisdom, and the 
 grace of God. Now, if I entered upon my work among you with a full know- 
 ledge of the perplexities and hindrances that surround the ministerial office, and 
 if I was persuaded that my help must come from the Lord who made heaven and 
 eari;h, then have I acted as a wise master builder, and have I sternly lifted up 
 the voice on the watch towers of Zon ? What, for example, have I done to 
 build you up in your most holy faith I What have I done to confirm you in the 
 hope of eternal Ufe, through the death and resurrection of Christ? To all this 
 I answer, that, whether my preaching has been with demonstration and with 
 power, or whether it has answered no good purpose, I can say in truth that your 
 salvation is the great object which I have had in view. I have therefore 
 preached to benefit, not to please. And not being afraid of any maai, I could 
 lose nothmg by offending him through faithful and direct preaching. I have 
 mingled reproof with entreaty, and warning with encouragement. In all my 
 pubhc discourses I have tried to use great boldness, and also great plainness of 
 speech ; and I have studied to the best of my ability to exhibit to you the 
 Saviour of simiers as he is « freely offered in the Gospel." But how awful is the 
 thought that my sermons, lectures, and devotional exercises, may have been only 
 hke the monung cloud and early dew, or the somiding brass and thetinklme 
 cymbal ! How terrible to think that they may have been empty sounds, with- 
 out unction and destitute of all efficacy ! No doubt, much of what has been 
 sown has fallen by the way-side ; much has faUen on stony groimd ; and much 
 too has fallen among thorns. My sincerity in all that I have written and spoken 
 for the spiritual good of my flock, could not prevent sucli a result ; and He alone 
 who can solve the problem of what i« hidden from our eyes, knows how much 
 seed, whether any seed at all, has faUen into good ground. But even grant- 
 ing that the fruit is thirty fold, or sixty fold, or a hundred fold, I cannot divest 
 myself of the thought that a great deal is yet to be done, and that there is much 
 faUow ground which requires careful and diligent cultivation. There is I fear 
 ground that has often been turned up, but never sown in reality. And in view 
 of my feeble efforts to buUd up the cause of our blessed Saviour in the midst n* 
 you, i aiu profomidiy impressed with the fact, that, after aU, I have been an 
 unprofitable servant, and tV t, with respect to my own short-comings, I have 
 just cause to momn. It is, !,, .rever, consolatory to reflect, that it has always 
 t>een my p^t desire wd aim to lead you to Christ,-to see yo\i established, 
 
'Wi 
 
 !'?*» 
 
 12 
 
 and redemption » p .f ^°'^' ^^^'om. and ri^hi^^, ^''^^^^' *»cause 
 
 g^oiy of Christ kn^^ ''^ "y duties, proving,!!; ,.^ "^"^^ ^'-^ce to go 
 needeth not™ ^Jr ?^*'^ ^^^ '"•d e3i„T'^ '' ^'' "oth for the 
 that my to^eSl 1T^' "«^"^ '""^in^ ZZZTfl ? '^°'^'"'« ^''O 
 
 plead for the sake of C .J I ""^^ ^«*h °ot the d^ath .7 ., ^'=<=°'"Panied 
 b« pleased to endue Z Z "'^""^ ^'^^ nrndemean f ^'^^ '^^'•' ^^ 
 that, denyin^fflZJf . ^^^ ^«' ^d make 1?^ T'"'""'*'^** «« ^ould 
 
 fi:«««ly selfish, or indulZ • * "^ "«* <=<»nn«t amlr^ ' !u^^ ^" ™ade 
 
 niy time in seeking m^olZTfT^ '""« °^ «!% lucre il, ^'* '"^ "^"^ 
 I enter vour hn,«-> * ' ^^'^ ^hat can I r«in ,•* ^^^ '^^ not waste 
 
 tothed^g, eTL r'^*'^'^^ ^^'^^-'S/rS":'*--^-' wS 
 
 holiness. the'ir^^'^rSr'.*'^ ^--^nV^r^^^^^^^ 
 
 ''hich are absolutely reanS-^u^'*"^''' the courteousS»r !, ^.^ P''*^ '^^ 
 
 office creditablv^d rn "" *^°^ ^ho would filHhT! /"^ Ann-bearing 
 
 ai* Written in hi^e* "i"" l'^^" "^he household of^!.r,?--"°ther «heep 
 . " Head over aU S uTlJ''^^'' ^^ OhrSZ 11^/7^°'^ " "^^^^^ 
 of your faith witwir*^« Church." " Hold fa^? ^^f '*' '°' ^e is the 
 bond Of peace.'^ulrrtT?'.^'^ ^^« ^ the " ,S f r?'.*^« P^^^^^ion 
 advance your best ttV. *^ ^' ""^ «°o mind '2 ?« „S ®P'"* *"*^ ^ the 
 • thing." Letnou!,;SSrl:''^^*^4reSo^„«^^^^^^^ 
 
 fidence, but let there I^f, "^^ ^'^^^ ^^^rcise muti .„!^ f^^ *^« ««>e 
 of the Redeemer Jr ^ "^'^^ ^^^ong yourslS/ '^ ^""^^^ ^^^ con- 
 i- i^ one S ho^ - -' "' ^^^. as on^ l^Iir^ S^-- 
 Chrutian toleration v a counsel,.as one 
 
 '? *««-ew, CrjTir. <^«-tta ™i.,!!^.°'_■";'.»■"^'".e.■- 
 
 ' let every 
 
 man 
 
en actuated hy 
 under any cir- 
 lJ"gJy declared 
 'Jieve," because 
 sanctification, 
 ne grace to go 
 both for the 
 workman who 
 Pray likewise 
 Jwcompanied 
 ' sinner, and 
 >at He would 
 scripture, so 
 *y be made 
 sin of being 
 l^et me not 
 e not waste 
 <^' When 
 consolation 
 id devoted- 
 piety and 
 ■m-bearing 
 d pastoral 
 aracterize 
 ical meet- 
 mansions 
 
 It Christ 
 •ut«one 
 lis flock 
 3r sheep 
 ' names 
 e is the 
 >fession 
 in the 
 iingto 
 
 d con- 
 cause 
 5 one 
 
 srcise 
 
 ' not 
 
 tsof 
 
 iheir 
 
 rong 
 
 4ct, 
 
 nan 
 
 Id 
 
 be fully persuaded in liis own mind." Be at peace with all men, and cherish, 
 with me, that broad and liberal spirit which embraces within its range the whole 
 brotherhood of mankind. Study to form a just appreciation of those who belong 
 to other branches of the Christian church, and do not regard them as if no rela- 
 tion existed between them and yourselves. And above all these things put on 
 charity, which is the bond of perfectness, and let "the peace of God rule in your 
 hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body, and be ye thankful," Let 
 your conversation among your fellow-men be such as becometh the gospel. 
 Shine as lights in the world. Let others see by your works that your hearts 
 have been changed. Show by your lives that your citizenship is in heaven, and 
 that consequently youmay feel interested in the well beingof every section of Christ's 
 church. Do not merely e-xercise the rights of hospitality towards those that are 
 without, but love the brethren, even those " who are far off," as well as those 
 who are "near." May we all, as p^tor and flock, and as neighbours also, be 
 prayerful, watchful and circumspect, living always to the glory and honour of 
 God, that we may hereafter participate in the " fullness of joy that is in His 
 presence, and in the pleasures which are at His right hand for evermore !" And 
 now Christian friends, whom I call to witness this day, that I have not refrained 
 from preaching to you the truth in all simplicity, and in all boldness, I commend 
 you to " the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that you may be filled with 
 all the fulness of God." Finally, may " grace and peace be multiplied unto you 
 through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as His divine 
 power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through 
 the knowledge of Him that hath called us to ;;'.ory and virtue." 
 
 Thus far I have only spoken in pretty general terms. In the sequel of this 
 address I must descend to particulars. There are various subjects of consider- 
 able interest and importance which I might, with advantage, introduce to your 
 notice, but which cannot possibly be discussed within the compass of a short pas- 
 toral address intended only for my own flock. I cah therefore do little more at 
 present than throw out a few hints. 
 
 Let me then observe, at this stage, that I should like to see your attention 
 aroused in reference to the rehgious life of the present generation. I should like 
 to see thought and investigation called forth among you. I should like to see 
 you watch the progress of events. I should like you to mark carefully the edu- 
 cational movements of the day, because these involve great principles, — ^to keep 
 in sight the tide of public opinion in regard to religious institutions, — to notice 
 the development of criticism, and to follow with keen observation the researches 
 which are at present being made in the science of theology. The world is at 
 this moment a^tated about questions affecting faith and morals, and if the age 
 in whicl) we are living is not largely infidel, it is, to say the least, tremendously 
 secular. I wish you to look at these palpable facts, and to examine them for 
 your own information. 
 
 There is abroad, among high and low, not only a remarkable freedom of 
 thought, but also of expression and action. This freedom is expanding fast. It 
 pervades every grade of society. Men carry it with them into the examination 
 of divine truth. The Bible is no longer approached with a superatitious awe, 
 but men who profess to be pious, and to be scientific enquirers, take it up and 
 criticise it, either on his^rical or literary grounds, or both, precisely as they 
 
•] 
 
 «e3ted, which \™ '^' 'P°'-'«t. « thousand imtS.r?^'^ '^ ""''^"e 
 '"" at once rei^t »' ^T ""'"''' <« if moZh^ "" ^^^' ^«» «"g- 
 ^ «-e«i^t the ^;L^K " r ,*''*'"*^^"'-« ^«^ to meet infiirK"'''"''*'^^ '""P^ 
 the Scripture?Sr!?'''^'''"««' «» the doL^f f °fj^'^"°"«' «nd desire 
 
 question are Z he^TlZlT' P""^''P^^« -^i rt , ^ '"^ 5^ «* ^''"^'^"d 
 "><i tlus rend^Tn 12^*"'?/" '"^"^ ^*««« theirTeri^r""^ *'-^'"'««ts 
 
 spected by a very ^.ItZ 7 ' *^° ^^red laws of nronlf abominable 
 
 against that onX^^^^T "' *'' ^'^''' ^^o hale'Z™?'',,? '°"^«^ ^«- 
 consecrateinthedavsTf../"''^"""^"* ^^ch God wis I^ ^l?^''^ ^^'"^^ance 
 d«tytodefenr«t;ri!f;. ^^''"' '^'^ ^tart^Tcts TJ^ *' ^^^P''''^^ '^d 
 them in their tteZtV' ^'^"P'^^ «' o«r hoivr!. '' "" " " °"r 
 Rationalism, and tS ."'.""*' P^Iosoph" setlaf uTlf"^ '° '"'^^i^ 
 on the world's hoZ^^J^^''''^'^'' «o^^ press^rthl^"""^"' ^^^ 
 now sold to the hS; 1 1^°"""^ ^^ virtue. h^Sw^''' '"'P'^"^^ '' ims 
 
 -a^itude,:'d^«j;^XtSto^^^^^^^ *-Xr;rsf t '- 
 
 principles. All theseVwmtlt^ "f^ *he human znTnd iJiLfi!"^^ *"^ 
 are persistent and selfish in .h. T^ ""^"^^ in a sphere „?,V "^ *'°" *** "« 
 command the acqSete of 1 T^'^^^^ «^ t^^ir owi en2 ^^'^ °^- They 
 oan most easily ascVnTf "'*°^''' ^nd to possess tTr.«? ^''^^ ''^^^'e to 
 be the friendsof ' " "f^'^'"^ P^^^r. You ^'ot h '?'"'' "^^^hich they 
 
 formidable opn^Lnrto'".J T^''' ^«"^«»- ^ thetif '' '"^^^* ^^^^ *» 
 
 o«s ways to Ee ^Ve^ h'""? '' «'''^' ^hich they 11^7'!'''' "« '""^t 
 
 ' his seat of powe? dof h ^. ^""^ '"■«^«» down her hedLf T ^"^""^ ^ ^ari- 
 
 People,tooproreall2t:S*^t" ,^-. it is Sly ^^^JX^'^ ^-outof 
 
 resist and crush n„f *yV'~"**' niake a firm st^,} nn f """.^"ty, as a Christain 
 
 • Woni of God wWch^^r'*^ ^°' ^^^'y «mergefcv1 1 ,^«'»«° ^^^^bnesa. 
 6^th,and^r^;J^^^""i3hyou with thS ^e^^^^f J«« *« «tudy the 
 
 It i« the want o?LSST?t' ^ ^^"^ "« '^"n TCLt'f^'T^' ^^"^ 
 exposed to temptaS i?n, l^^ '^ *^»* blessed Word thT f^^ " ^ ^^"•" 
 ^d of doctrine "S?^ '"^^^ *heni the reaTlnH^K , , ** '^^«« so many 
 are able to iS^'you S' *'r'"^«' -diS;,^f,f^«- victims of C^ 
 You who are«^rnTt.T*°'*'"^«»° through feitfl?^^^ ®'"P*^"^«' ^^oh 
 
 the truth Spe^rt^'!'3S"^ ^^'-'"'ts study thS; at fet anV"":''" ''' 
 Of CW'» Worf. « «r!:{.l*"^" *<>."»?«« others wi4 *S! ll^' *''"«« ^ho know 
 • - - -^, un^ the feet, and a light""u;toTh;^^,^ '"^'^'=« ^ 
 
nee of making' 
 lave been sug- 
 ctive impulae, 
 IS, and desire 
 tr"th, search 
 'y a blind and 
 lid not call in 
 " arguments 
 » threatened, 
 -ted into the 
 Jjgaily bolti, 
 
 and setting 
 Mt bulwark 
 
 of society, 
 sty garrets 
 I as it is by 
 ibominable 
 longer re- 
 ^^geance 
 •prove and 
 
 it is our 
 
 maintain 
 sm, cold 
 'e f'ainig 
 elt , are 
 igth and 
 on to its 
 . Tliey 
 lesire to 
 ich they 
 them to 
 re most 
 in vari- 
 ' out of 
 iris tain 
 and to 
 hness. 
 ly the 
 
 your 
 you." 
 many 
 sveiy 
 rhich 
 ius." 
 
 are 
 now 
 inco^ 
 
 lA 
 
 Famit!/ IVorship. On this subject, though it is one of considerable moment 
 1 need not say a great deal, and simply because you all admit, not only the pro- 
 priety of It, but also the necessity of maintaining it regularly in your famiUes 
 lamily worship is apart of your duty, and you know very well that duty camiot 
 be neglected with safety. It is, however, a melancholy fact that many people do 
 neglect this duty entirely; and why tiiey do so may be easily accounted for. 
 The reason of this shameful contempt and negligence is the want of divine grace 
 in the heart. And when the heart is not under divine influence there is no near- 
 ness to God in Spirit. Nor, indeed, can there be that pouring of the fulness of 
 Chns mo the emptiness of the soul, which makes the pardoned sinner feol that 
 he IS the blessed man, " whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered 
 -unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no 
 guile. It IS not by any means a satisfactory explanation to plead a want of 
 time, because our time, as well as our services, belongs to God. Woridly riches 
 and success in business are far less important than eternal life. The universe 
 would be no gam to that unhappy man who, through the deceitfi-lness of riches 
 loses hi, own soul. « The body is more than raiment." « Life is more than' 
 meat. So the soul is so precious that nothing on earth can be put in comparison 
 vath It Does it hot require daily bread ? W hy then deny it the manna of family 
 worship ? Give to God your best affections, and let nothing interfere with those 
 rehgious services, whicli you, as Christian families, ought to render to Him morn- 
 ing and evemng. Do not imagine that the short time devoted to such services 
 IS lost or that your business suffers from them. On the contraiy, to Uve godly 
 hath the "promise of the life that now is, and ■ also «of that which is to come' 
 And so you may, with far greater reason, expect God's blessing, by acting like 
 Joshua, who said, "As for me and my house we will serve the Lord." 
 
 Parental Authority. In connection with the above remarks, on the duty of 
 family worship, let me say a few words on the subject of parental authority I 
 am greatly afraid, and with good reason, that parental authority is not so fully 
 respected as it ought to be. But for this widely prevalent disease there is cer- 
 tainly a remedy if parents choose to apply it. I fear that the young are lament- 
 ably deficient in filial piety. The "pius ^neas" is rare, "in no respect is 
 parental authority so Uttle regarded as in the matter of religion. Still, the cure 
 must be applied here as weU as in other forms of the disease. And God's grace 
 alone is able to restore health, and bend the yomig will to submission. Parental 
 authontyis a point on -hich you must insist. God has given you a station to 
 fill, and you have a wor ^ do in it. Take care then that your parental author- 
 ity, which IS derived from God, is not misdirected on your part, or abused by your 
 children ; and remember that you ought to enforce it by your example, in "a 
 meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." Insist on 
 obedience, but do so on the principle of love and justice. -Exclude harshness, 
 cruelty and bitterness. If your example is contrary to your precept, the latter ii 
 rendered nuU and void by the contrariety. It is in vain that you « teach" your 
 "childi-n and command" your "household," in respect to the things that are 
 heavenly, or those that periiain to a virtuous life, if 'your example is the opposite 
 
 '-'J-' - -" " '— ^ •--•maiauu. XX you Wish inem xa "Keep the w4y of the Lord, 
 
 to do justice and judgment," back your authority in the domestic drcle by a holy 
 We. There w no Logic against facts, and your eloquence is powerlei*, whea your 
 
m 
 
 16 
 
 inconsistency is observed by your cliildrp.i Ti.n,, r t • . 
 
 and so have servants BathlZV! \ 1^ '"*''^ " ^"^'"^ "' *''"' "^n ; 
 
 accorded to you or mrtia v . . , ^' ^°"' ""'' ''^^'' reluctantly 
 
 family, thereC as much l; J. '1 ''' 7'*'^^'^'" '''"" >'""• ^each your 
 
 tempered by kindness Fnfnr,.« vn, . f'rmness, but let your firmness be 
 
 care that you do norco,mte act itTv C^ '"^'^""'^ '"^"""^^^'^ ' ^"^' ^^^^^^ 
 injudicioiexposTngsr wlVLl^^^^^^ """'^'^ opposition, or by 
 
 But above all. urirthon^vaSH^r"'^ 
 ture and adm nitbn o tS'' TeacS T'7 "? '""' ''"^" "^" *^« ""'- 
 
 -aayso.the.youth,«byrin.rtryV;rem£^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 are not more familiar to our sSs^ We "IJk T-^ ^"^ ''^^^^ °* ^^e sun 
 others camiot be religious forT «Nnn«T ? ''^r^' ^"^ other people, and 
 a ransom for him." uZZZ vou^^rT "f"'"^^ ^'''^''' '' ^'' *» ^^ 
 must possess that iJonal de^wShl tT. l' / ^""^ ") *^' ^^''^ «^ ^'^^ y°» 
 
 c. " Lird;^x; bXz of r XiLfs: 't- '^^ 
 
 as loud oa the priests of Baal on Carmel and ^Z „n I ?*^' ^°" ™*^ '^'^ 
 
 piety in the heart is the sur JS "LTbe „r. :L^^^^^ Z^ t'"' ™ 
 ment, ejaculations and protestations go for nothL Ymlfl; u ''' '^"*'- 
 
 come'-Zt you r^; feStlfr'of ? ""'r "^'^^ ^""'^ '' '"^^ ^-'^ <> 
 ha^'inyou ^atSS^b^X.; ^^^^^^^^^^^^ -^*^«* ^ou 
 
 portion in time and eternity. Personal relirion^if^^ ®*'^°"' *' ^""^ 
 
 and Will lead you both to d'o and sZ ruff^r hI"^ ^^?A 
 
 devotional services of the familv hn« it ^u i f / ^* '^ ^'^e m the 
 
 to commmie in secret ^th «^S- F^er wV.° "Ir^"" ^'^"^'^ *° ^^"^ ^'^'^et. 
 the piety which some^opleiolteS^!^^^^^^^^ ^T"" '^ ^ '"^^ "^^^ 
 sions, and which they ^ so crv^SfL 7 ' ^°"'^ *"' '^^^^ «=«'- 
 supremacy over the c'rpt a^rStg C P "f 1^ ^"*^'"^^*^ ^"^^ 
 
 
 II f 
 
iogic of their own ; 
 3 aware, and have a 
 ^us that the school- 
 whom he meant to 
 Y fallen on the ear 
 refore be surprised, 
 fenetl.'or if you dis- 
 either reluctantly 
 you. Teach your 
 insistent life, as by 
 t your firmness be 
 iniately; but take 
 ' opposition, or by 
 iiestic government, 
 ildren "inthenur- 
 r their Creator in 
 r Him in your old 
 
 ttnce. Itisasub- 
 f of religious for- 
 it is to be feared 
 etting of the sun 
 other people, and 
 er, or give to Qod 
 iight of God, you 
 conversion. You 
 out its "power." 
 pose. You may 
 ray, you may cry 
 rue piety. Vital 
 • Mere excite- 
 have a priest in 
 irt, to preach to 
 would be useless 
 Most High giv- 
 of the world to 
 1, and that you 
 Saviour as your 
 terest in Christ, 
 rill shine in the 
 ' to your closet, 
 i is truly unlike 
 or special occa- 
 interests assort 
 ion has marked 
 present time.— 
 en bom again, 
 mark the con- 
 
 17 
 
 itancy of your faith, the reality of your Chrirtianity, the holineM of yow con- 
 duct, and the energy of the divine life within yoa 
 
 " The atimbling of" yourselvei " together." In the faithful performance 
 of this great duty we see the spirit of family devotion and personal religion 
 manifesting itself. That father who worships God in the family, loves to wor- 
 •hip Him in the sanctuary, and the individual believer who pours out his soul's 
 most earnest devotions in the closet, loves to "ascend the hill of God," to worship 
 Him publicly " in the beauties of holiness." And how pleasant it would b*— 
 how well for the cause of Christ— if those who profess His holy religion would, 
 in the holy spirit of the 122 psalm, encourage each other to " go up into the 
 house of the Lord !" But you know that there is a widely different spirit ram- 
 pant even among religious professors. You see multitudes absenting themselves 
 from God's house, without being able to assign the slightest reason why they do 
 •0. I see it as well as you do, and probably I mourn over it more deeply than 
 you do. But are you not sometimes, at least, encouraging the evil by your own 
 example ? Whether this is so or not, one thing is certain, namely, that the soul 
 requires to be fed with daily food from the Lord. And where can the soul H 
 better nourished than in the sanctuary ? Can you forget that the sanctuary is 
 God's house, even " the place where his honour dwelleth ]" Can you forget that 
 He "loves the gates of Sion more than all the dwellings of Jacob ?" Can you 
 forget that Thomas, by being absent from the number of the disciples when the 
 risen Saviour appeared amongst them, was guilty of the sin of unbeUef ? Can 
 youfOTget that "the Lord opened the heart of Lydia" when she " went on the 
 Sabbath" day "to the phice where prayer was wont to be made !" Or are you 
 strangers to the fact that the Sabbath services of the sanctuary, if properly 
 engaged in by the people, and wisely conducted by the minister, afford spiritual 
 nourishment and comfort? Remember that the soul, if deprived of these, will 
 soon Unguiah, and grow utterly indifferent about " the deep things of God.' 
 B^fular attendance at Church on the Lord's day is surely as necessary to the 
 heatthy conditiwi of the soul, as punctuality in worldly thmgs during the week 
 is to success in business. And I remind you that the affairs of this life receive 
 the most scrupulous attention from many who seem not to feel that the momen- 
 tous duties of the Sabbath day have any claim on their consideration? Alas ! 
 the too prevalent neglect of the public services of that day is palpable enough, 
 and cannot be disputed. But why should the evil seem to grow instead of 
 decreasing, in an age in which the world boasts of progress, improvement and 
 enlightenment? This question, however, involves considerations on which I 
 cannot dwell here, but which may, in some measure, suggest themselves to you, 
 il you carefully examine the tendencies of present movements in the moral and 
 religious world. Look at these movements, not indeed in the abstract, but either 
 as they stand related to each other, or severally refer to something which is not 
 as yet well defined. And take care that amidst the prevaiUng chaos you are not 
 deceived by the outward aspect of affairs in the religious commimities which 
 make up the numerical aggregate of the imivers^ ChurcL Be fully on your 
 guard against the secret invasion of ungodly habits ; and so bear in mind your 
 duty to. your Qod and to youiBslve'!- '•'iftt you casnot be reproached with ths 
 Bu of "forsaking the assembling lurselves together." the maimer of 
 soma is." 
 
fr«quenUy to the ictly what wlUl/" .''' "P""^"'=«- '^^^^^ "« 
 •peiUc. feeders whose spiS lylZ^Z.Z^ ' "'"'^ ^''^^ "«' "" *« 
 •and instances. It is mloiZeZlf !^ t***" ."^en «nd felt in ten thou- 
 
 i-vemade the Poor rich^^StnXrtrd'ulrcteT"^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ 
 
 aged with youthful vigour and strenafh«nT-I T""^"^-, ^^^y ^''^ renewed the 
 simple and earnest e^r is^mtv f L . T^ "'^^ ™'«f>*- I" their 
 lonely widow and lend eroro^fnS^'"'*"*^ '^^ '"""''"'^"^ heart-many a 
 with his Heavenly ZherfZ^s^^rdeLVr Tf I"*' ^^^'"^ '«conciliaL 
 
 And what they hive bJ:rin'l'j:.tttefaVno:'':t J ^^^ '' ''^'"^'■ 
 good. You ought therefore to tawSres'i^ nl^r "* ^T '^ ^°^« 
 ingB as these. They have a stmm, Ma I Promoting such religious meet- 
 
 tend to st^ngthen th'e tzTZstz^ yizz:'t:':'s'' r*"«^ *^«^ 
 
 others in works of faith and love And if J-? i J ^®" "^ *° encourage 
 prayer meetings are well XdloanJjer 1^1^ «'f T^'^ *=^°'^"^*«^' 
 befo,. you the importance and IS H ™ mttinl /'"S !'"" ^^^ 
 remark to which I bejr to call vm.r na!f- i \! "^^^t^^"' ^ wish to make one 
 
 conduct the congreXnafZer^^^rr"*^^^^ ^'^'^'•- Who is to 
 least,IbeUevetSSofv^atirHT' ,'^««P'*t« Jour answer. At 
 on the minister No d^ubt ifZ ^V° T *'^* ^'^^ ^^^^^ d«^°lves entirely 
 
 areavaiUble. Het^tllterb'^^l'^^Sr 
 even other godly men belonging to the con^Snn i ^^ *'*' *'^«"' ">' 
 
 weU a, a law-giver. It oSCrn'l^'ZyT^r.^ IZl T % "'.^i?*^' «" 
 some very important work there IT™„ i w go up to the top of a liill to do 
 
 toil and hard Ubour. mlZs l^ZTbr'l" T''''"^' '^"^"^^'-^ 
 and Hur came to his assistance andrfound Mn I ""umstances Aaron 
 there not be men in every cCeJat ri 5"- ^ Why should 
 
 •ninister might always depend ? Tl^- ^1. e J«L^ Z"^^/" <^ "^S aid the 
 "early mom to dewy ev«" while M.' SL^^'^*"^*'^'^ "P^« hands from 
 Are thereno stones on^ShL^i'i'e^^^^^^ °° "hame in folding theirs, 
 down heavily ? Alas » he has mS^^f T ! f P'"''"' °^ ^"*y ^^^ghs him 
 sit on stonesV sup;oi^ T^hisT^ZSg e^ S llT' ''' fl''^^ *° 
 that such a state of things exists in tonTTnt * ' * ** '*°°°* he denied 
 he is regarded by too m^J " a m^ ^^TZ^ ouj". congregations. In fact 
 
 evejrone's biding. It il only\rstlgSermt1har ' "''^ ""* '' 
 such a pressure, and save himself from ^pZ^LlZ ButTh T^,/'""^ 
 man be required to accompUsh so mnct, »»,n! ^^ ?' ' ^^^ should one 
 interest in his work ?SthirVf. ^ho could aid him take no 
 thesennon, regardeL^w" ;ifworf IS^^^^^^ 
 rep^g of churches are too requen«;td:nu:»t^^^^ n^anses, and the 
 
 let ^^:^^:i^\lzTJ:^T:^^xzt^^ 
 
 and what c ,rt of men ought to hold it ? T 13' * ^^ ""^ ""^'^ « this, 
 
 .eriousconsiderationof those wh'm may c"^^Tl^^ T *"" '" ''^ 
 cussion of it in this placft. BntnL f^- ^ ./ cannot enter on the dis- 
 
 remarked he... JZ^'Zn.^lr .?^! «.e-dent enough, and may be 
 gi»urch,inordaa.ng ^^ oi^oil^ :r^^,^^^^^^ 
 
'Ord'8 (lay and on weok 
 ixporience. They are 
 river. They are, so to 
 n and felt in ten thou- 
 tte their value. They 
 ^hey have renewed the 
 vith might. In their 
 owing heart— many a 
 , seeking reconciliation 
 the world is ignorant, 
 ellent means of doing 
 ig such religious meet- 
 leration, because they 
 s well as to encourage 
 judiciously conducted, 
 ut while thus setting 
 9, 1 wish to make one 
 t is this : Who is to 
 tte your answer. At 
 luty devolves entirely 
 5ther— other agencies 
 rork by the elders, or 
 es was a mediator as 
 he top of a liill to do 
 enerally do after long 
 circumstances Aaron 
 stone. Why should 
 ' and willing aid the 
 d up his hands from 
 tne in folding theirs, 
 of duty weighs him 
 raws for aid'than to 
 it cannot be denied 
 regations. In fact 
 nan, who must do 
 * can escape from 
 ut why should one 
 Id aid him take no 
 ig, the prayers, and 
 i manses, and the 
 
 mmediately above, 
 id of office is this, 
 s question for the 
 t enter on the dia^ 
 'Ugh, and may be 
 , namely, that our 
 18 certainly some* 
 
 19 
 
 thbg more in view than the periodical attendance of these worthy gentlemen »t 
 U^e celebration of the Holy Communion. She does not conceive of their office 
 M iM^mg merely nominal, and a, having no importance or significance attached 
 11/ Jk' °°*;'>«''''^°™ ^'^f* to appoint to tliis office men who might be 
 prompted by unworthy motives to accept of it, or might rather feel disposed to 
 push themselves mto it. On the contrary, she is cautious in selecting and delib- 
 thTm "' Tf ""^ w" *" ""^^ ■" '^^'''' ^""^ «'^« ^''' "-^t •'•onsent to ordain 
 
 ItZZ taMh !^^'7 '''^'°''' '^ '^"^^ ^*"^«^- ^* i» "^ «*"l«d question, 
 herefore, tliat the elders of a congregation must be something more than nominal 
 
 fimctionanes, of whom notliing more is required than to appear at certain 
 seasons, elegantly clothed in priestly blacks, and adorned with a wliite neck-tie. 
 llus has indeed been insinuated by those who refuse to admit that the office of 
 rhnl^ ^^^A? *."^ Scriptural authority for its existence in the Christian 
 «X •■ . . " insinuation i a libel on a class of men to whose intelligence 
 
 and dismterested services the Church of the Redeemer is greatly indebted"-men 
 comprising nobles of the highest order, educated men of the greatest talents, 
 merchants of prmcely wealth, and peasants of simple but elevated piety It 
 cannot be said t^at the elders are chosen on account of any personal advantages 
 connected wih their rank, for even the poor man, as well as the rich, may hold 
 
 r^S .? . i"'' ,,"*''' *'' ''"'^ important. From these two facts it is quite 
 evident that the elders ought to be men of good understanding, soimd judgment 
 and great prudence,-men possessmg a profound knowledge of the Scriptm-es,- 
 men "full of faith and the Holy Ghost,"-men of liberal hearts and of la ge 
 Chnstian sympathy. Their duties are mamly of a spiritual character, and they 
 are required to be spiritually-minded. Theyare expected to be able to give wise 
 counsels ; to act as mediators in certain cases ; to aid the pastor in his visitation ; 
 and otherwise to strengthen his hands, by conducting prayer-meetings and 
 supeijntending Sabbath-schools ; and finally, by assisthg'in' the dS a^d 
 orderly dispensation of the Lord's Supper. The elders ought to be men of 
 meekness and charity, free from pride and arrogance, maintaining good discipline 
 m then- respective sections of the congregation, without being too eager to find 
 a brother in fault. It belongs to them likewise to rule their families well, com- 
 mandmg respect by their dignified and holy example, showing under aU circum- 
 stances that they possess the fear and love of God, and that they are under the 
 quickening power of divine truth. As God-fearing men, loving peace, and hating 
 strife, and desiring to see "all things done decently and in order," they can do 
 much to promote both the temporal and spiritual welfare of a congregation 
 rheyfare not necessarily excluded from taking an active part in whatever is best 
 calculated co advance the temporal prosperity of a congregation. On the con- 
 trary, they may, if they wish, be of considerable service in this respect,-and 
 indeed ought to be. 
 
 ^ The Congregational Managers. I would class these useful men (at least it 
 IS intended that they should be useful), next to the elders. These functionaries 
 ought to be selected from the wisest and best men in a congregation. Every 
 congregation ought to Lave seven such oiiicers. They ought to be appointed 
 annuaUy by the congregation, two of the number retiring by rotation, and two of 
 them acting aa Convener and Secretary respectively. They ought to meet quar- 
 
r*l 
 
 terly, and oftener if neceoary, for the tr&tiiaction of temporal buiinea ; and in 
 order to give eflect to their proceeding! every meeting ougiit to be duly intimated 
 from the'pulplt, ten free dayi before iuch meeting. Tlie nature of the bvuinoM 
 ought to be specified in the intimation, and no buainesa not lo gpecified in it, 
 ought to be hitrodiiced or discussed at the meetings. A carefvU record of all pro- 
 ceedings at Managers' meetings ought to be kept, and a printed report of revenue 
 and expenditure, &c., ougiit to be laid before the congregation at, its annual 
 meeting. The Managers ought to be men in full comnimiion. Their power to 
 do good, if they wish to use their power aright, U very great. But so ig.th.;lr 
 power to do harm, if they are factious, or selfish, or covetous, or wisii to turn 
 things upside down when they do not get all things their own way. And indeed 
 It is to be deeply regretted that church-managers arc too frequently men of this 
 stamp— lovers of prai8<^— always contrary, and flippantly boasting of the great 
 services which they have rendered to the Church. This, however, is not the case 
 when the managers are men of faith and energy, men of enligntened views and 
 large-heartedness, as well as men of honour and piety. They ought to feel that 
 their Office is one of usefulneus, and not one for the display of self-importance 
 and honourable idleness. It is their special duty to look well after the finances 
 ol the congregation, to see thct the minister is punctually and fully paid, and to 
 encourage, by their own generous example, a spirit of liberality among the 
 people in supporting the cause of Missions. And as it is well known that much 
 depends on wise management, the managers are required to act with great dis- 
 cretion and judgment. When they are inactive, or feel no interest in their work, 
 or are influenced by petty jealousies, they paralyse, obstruct, and hinder, instead 
 of helping. Great care therefore ought to be taken in electing managers. No 
 man who is narrow-minded, or has low views of the ministerial oflice, and talks 
 of hiring a minister like a cook or a farm-servant, and thus refuses to give to 
 an educated clergyman that temporal support to which he is so justly entitled, 
 or withholds from him that respect which every one ought to show him, ought to 
 have anything to do with Church matters, either temporal or spiritual, till his 
 viewn shall have been entirely changed, and the uno'ean spirit of covetousness 
 shall have been cast out. There is, indeed, no grease • Jiind-anc- to the prog^ >S8 
 of a congregation than an Obstructive manager, who alw-v i""08 his po!i xal 
 notions of retrenchment in his pocket Bible,— does t. w^i tuw ...cessity of domg 
 anything, or of giving anything,— wishes to leave things as they have been, or 
 to make them even worse than they are,— has no earnest longing after improve- 
 ment, and cannot be made to understand that theie is any relation existing 
 between reUgion and money. It is a very bad poUcy. to " muzzle the ox that 
 ' aadcth out the com," and a wrong thing to forget that " God loveth a cheerful 
 v.»er.' it only ■emaina to be remarked that the managers ought to co-operate 
 h^^Mj with the minister and Kirk Session, in promoting the best interests of 
 \h> congregati ;: ■! Urge. It is their duty to see that the Church is properly 
 vsntUated and properly heated, so that the people can sit in it with comfort ; and 
 it also belongs to them to see that their place of worship is in every respect made 
 worthy of Him to whose service it has been dedicated. 
 
 Liberality in mjiporting the ministry. XLis is a subject which addresses 
 Itself to all alike. No one who wishes to be ranked within the pale of the Chris- 
 tian Church can claim exemption from it. You, for whose benefit I am more 
 
-W ' 
 
 )iiJ butineu ; and in 
 , to bti duly intimated 
 ature of the b\uineu 
 not 10 specified in it, 
 efiil record of all pro- 
 ited report of revenue 
 igation at its annual 
 on. Their power to 
 ■eat. But 80 i8.thi;lr 
 tous, or wish to turn 
 urn way. And indeed 
 requently men of this 
 boasting of the great 
 jwever, is not the case 
 mlifetitened views and 
 hey ought to feel that 
 lay of self-importance 
 pell after the finances 
 and fully paid, and to 
 liberality among the 
 nrell known that much 
 to act with great dis- 
 interest in their work, 
 :t, and hinder, instead 
 icting managers. No 
 berial office, and talks 
 [lus refuses to give to 
 le is so justly entitled, 
 
 to show him, ought to 
 ral or spiritud, till his 
 
 spirit of covetousness 
 idranc '■ to the prog^ 'ss 
 \i • 'OS his poll' s%\ 
 t tue ii.'cessity of doing 
 as they have been, or 
 longing after improve- 
 B any relation existing 
 
 "muzzle the ox that 
 * God loveth a cheerful 
 srs ought to co-operate 
 I the best interests of 
 the Church is properly 
 in it with comfort ; and 
 s in every respect made 
 
 ubject which addresses 
 n the pale of the Ghris- 
 ose Imefit I am more 
 
 
 ffl 
 
 esfwially writing these sentences, are called upon to illustrate this Chrutian 
 principle in the most practical form, for theories of Ohristiaiuty without practice 
 are of no use. You are not thertfore to sit down and calculate hu * little you 
 ar' to give, but you ought to go on your knees to ask Qod to iL'rant you a givia^' 
 heart. A withholding-heart is like a rusty lock. It is difficult to open it, and 
 wlioii it is actually opened it is in danger of being broken. See then that you 
 possess that free heart, which is easily opened by every appeal to niaint&m Ordi- 
 nances according to the rules laid down in the New Testament. The Christian 
 ministry has a strong claim on your support. You owe much to the salutary 
 influences which it exercises over society. Be not therefore deceived by the 
 sophistry of those who affirm that the Church has neither influence nor |x>wer. 
 She has both. Your fathers knew this and told you of it. And you a; a this 
 day partakers of the same inestimable benefits. What then does the C'rurch 
 expect from you ? Is she to do all for you while you do nothing for h.r 1 is it 
 right only to receive and not also to give ? Has the Church " nourisliod uid 
 brought up children," and are they unwilling to do anything for her in niam { 
 She asks you to give, and in that she is only doing her duty. She does not i i- 
 pose upon you a yoke which you cannot bear. She merely asks you to gi « 
 according as Qod has blessed you. There is surely no ii^ustice in this demann 
 It is very reasonable. Qod has given largely to many of you— to most of you- 
 and it is your duty to give Him back a -sasonable proportion of His own. He 
 has given you the ministry of reconciliation, but you are not at liberty to starve 
 it out by denying it tlie support which you ought to give it. The ministry has 
 not been instituted for the exclusive benefit of priests or prophets, but for the 
 salvation and comfort of mankind. It is for the benefit of poor and guilty 
 sinners of every class. It is therefore a thing in which you are quite as much 
 interested as the minister who preaches to you. It is for you not less than it is 
 for him. The spiritual board which it provides is spread for you. Your desire 
 therefore to extend Christ's kingdom ought to be outwardly shown by the liber- 
 ality of your contributions, and more particularly by your willingness to con- 
 tribute. Plough, and sow, and reap, every year a certain portion of your land, 
 and offer the proceeds to the God of Ordinances, for the support of the ministry. 
 Call that spot your mission field. The Lord will bless it and make it rich like • 
 the land of Goshen, with fruitful showers and bright sun-shine. Let a comer 
 be consecrated in this way to His service, to whom the earth and its fulness 
 appertain. Let the merchant and the mechanic act on a similar principle, in 
 regard to their respective incomes, in their willing endeavour to maintain the 
 public ministry of the word. Now, you ought to hail it as a cause of thankful- 
 ness, that, as a congret tion, your resources are amply sufficient to provide for 
 every legitimate demand. Not one of you is poor in the sense in which thou- 
 sands arc. And let me assure you that I am willing to believe in your readiness 
 to give liberally of your worldly substance, towards the efficient maintenance of 
 Gospel Ordinances in your more immediate neighbourhood, and also of active 
 missionary operations throughout t!ij Church to whose principles and govern- 
 ment you adhere. Having been for eight years without a settled ministry, you 
 
 fl.l*A flimT\ACA(1 in Ka in o TV^fiitiri^^ f: 
 
 t*w' csi.-**it::t.ittt^ tz:c 
 
 ^XCSt SLI TilXI hJt i fc V 
 
 pastorate. You are no longer dependent on occasionAl services, or left in vexing 
 uncertainty as to when a stray missionary may come your way. The time when 
 
many of you must have felt that anxiety, has passed away. " Your vine and 
 your fig-tree" fiourish, and you may now sit in their shade, " none daring to hurt 
 you or make you afraid." You can now look forward from Sabbath to Sabbath 
 to the sweet hour of public worship, when, instead of being as sheep without a 
 shepherd, you assemble together to hear the lively oracles of God. Let your 
 deep sense of these great mercies evoke your gratitude, not only in the pious 
 expression of praise, but also by the hearty consecration of your wealth to the 
 cause of Christ. " Freely ye have received, freely give." And lastly, consider 
 the Saviour's words—" It is more blessed to give than to receive." 
 
 A missionary spirit. Next in order let me call your attention to this sub- 
 ject. The Christian Church, as you are fully aware, is a great Missionary Asso- 
 ciation, and each congregation, as a part of the universal Institution, ought to 
 consider itself bound by those laws which govern and regulate the whole. It 
 ought to show that it is inspired by a missionary spirit, by illustrating the power 
 and mutual relations of these laws. 
 
 But it is diflScult to make people understand that there are interests beyond 
 themselves which have a strong claim on their services— prayers and liberality. 
 There is, alas! a latent spirit of indifference among Christians, which seems to 
 ask, " Am I my brother's keeper?" Yet it is an undeniable truth that such 
 mterests really exist, and that every congregation of Christian worshippers is a 
 centre from which mission work is to be carried on, with a view to reach certain 
 points beyond. It was thus the Apostles of Jesus went forth from the upper 
 Chamber, and spread, as they went, the glad tidings of salvation among Jews 
 and Gentiles. It is thus, too, the people of Christ ought still to do. But 
 although this duty is plain enough, there are many congregations to be found in 
 evsry religious communion which are actually dead in regard to tiie claims of 
 missions. It is not a Christian idea to tliink and say, as is too much the case, 
 that people have done enough when they have agreed to pay a minister a 
 certain sum a year, have provided him with a residence, and have fulfilled all 
 their engagements. Even this is not done in all cases. Many congregations 
 would think it too much. But even granting that it were done in every case, 
 , and in every particular, it would not be enough, or anything like it. Why should 
 Christians forget that they are all members of the same great family? Why do 
 they forget that men and women and children are to be converted at our very 
 doors? They do, however, forget this fact, and consequently they never engage 
 in any missionary enterprise— never hear "what missionaries are doing— never ask 
 for information on the subject, and never reflect that they themselves could 
 assist those missionaries in conveying the knowledge of Christ to the most distant 
 parts of the earth. It is to be feared, therefore, that there is no spiritual life in 
 those congregations and communities in which no efforts are made in behalf of 
 Christian missions, either at home or abroad. People ought to remember that 
 when they are watering others, they are watered themselves. See, then, that 
 you, as a congregation, being yourselves gathered in from the mission field, be a 
 heavenly fountain, from which shall go forth many delightful streams to gladden 
 other hearts. Let the message of mercy which you have received be echoed 
 back with voices lifted up to God, that others may be made partakers of your 
 joy. Already there is fruit. Let there be more. Let each of you possess the 
 spirit of a true evangelist, and act as a missionary to the spiritually dead around 
 
" Your vine and 
 1 daring to hurt 
 bath to Sabbath 
 iheep without a 
 rod. Let your 
 Illy in the pious 
 r wealth to the 
 lastly, consider 
 
 • 
 ion to this sub- 
 
 [issionaiy Asso- 
 
 ;ution, ought to 
 
 the whole. It 
 
 ating the power 
 
 nterests beyond 
 s and liberality, 
 which seems to 
 truth that such 
 worshippers is a 
 to reach certain 
 from the upper 
 3n among Jews 
 till to do. But 
 i to be found in 
 the claims of 
 much the case, 
 ly a minister a 
 ave fulfilled all 
 ly congregations 
 e in every case, 
 it. Why should 
 .mily? Why do 
 ied at our very 
 sy never engage 
 oing — never ask 
 lemselves could 
 the most distant 
 spiritual life in 
 ade in behalf of 
 remember that 
 See, then, that 
 ssion field, be a 
 jams to gladden 
 iived be echoed 
 rtakers of your 
 you possess the 
 ily dead around 
 
 him. Have zeal for God. Preach His kingdom by your life and walk Ib the 
 world, and tell the ignorant and the careless the wonders of His love. 
 
 Peace among the members of the flock. This is another most important 
 subject to wliich I beg to direct your thoughts. Peace among the members and 
 adherents of a congregation, let me assure you, is essential to its success and 
 prosperity. And perhaps no one understands this better than the minister of a 
 congregation, whose soul must be terribly grieved when he sees his flock kept in 
 a state of constant fermentation by some one who, secretly or openly, acts as the 
 troubler of Israel. Variance, contention, and strife, in a congregation, constitute 
 an aggregate evil against which the most eloquent preacher is powerless, and 
 which the most faithful pastor cannot remedy, even by his greatest attention and 
 assiduity. Jesus has left peace to His people, and it is their duty to live in the 
 tliankful enjoyment of it. No good can be effected where it is excluded. Its 
 absence indicates a fearful state of matters. The home or the congregation in 
 which it does not reign must indeed be wretched and miserable. It must be the 
 very habitation of horrid cruelty. Peace is especially desirable among those who 
 not only belong to the same religious faith, but really make up the same 
 congregation. Earnestness and zeal, mingled with consummate prudence and 
 ability on the part of the minister, can accomplish but little, so long as a bad 
 feeling animates and separates those whom the ties of nature and religion alike 
 have made one. The pulpit may be a tower of strength, so far as the preacher 
 is concerned, but strife and envy in a congregation, when they oppose their 
 combined shield, throw back his arrows, however skilfully and powerfully aimed. 
 Peace, therefore, must be within the walls of a congregation, before prosperity 
 can exist within its palaces. But this is not always kept in view, and much 
 hann is done through rash and imprudent utterances, the evil results of which 
 their authors do not anticipate. The affairs of a congregation are not a subject 
 which ought to be treated lightly, and it is not desirable that people should 
 imprudently discuss them whom they do not immediately concern. Unseason- 
 able and angry statements about congregational affairs are always hurtful, and 
 ought to be avoided. Such affairs ought to be managed on business principles, 
 and that in a spirit of peace and wisdom, by persons duly appointed for the 
 purpose. It is wrong, therefore, to introduce private matters, and especially 
 personal quarrels, into the affairs of a Christian congregation. Grievances are 
 very often imaginary, and do not in such cases call for the interference of the 
 Church. It is not wise to insist on redress -..here really no offence has been 
 given; and even where there is a reasonable ground for demanding redress, it is 
 far better to waive one's right, in order to preserve peace. Whatever private 
 battles any member has to fight, he must not carry on his warfare to the 
 subversion of congregational harmony, and the great discomfort ahd annoyance 
 of the pastor. And persons whom unforeseen circumstances may have led to 
 disagree ought to settle the matter between themselves, in the spirit of meekness 
 and mutual forbearance which the Gospel dictates, without resorting to the 
 unseemly expedient of dragging each other before the Church and the worid. 
 Christ has commanded His people to " forgive men their trespasses," and surely 
 it is at once tlie luieresc and duty of His followers to obey Him. There is no 
 getting over this point. No excuse can possibly justify the wilful violation of 
 it. And Christians ought to remember what a perfect model is furnished by His 
 
own spotless life, both in the matter of suffering wrong and of forgiving injuries. 
 In view, therefore, of such a noble example as that which He has set before 
 them, let His people endeavour to imitate Him. And let them also remember 
 that their righteousness must " exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and 
 Pharisees," otherwise they "shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." 
 Think on these things, my Cl.istian friends, and pray with all your soul that 
 God would be pleased to unite your hearts in love and peace, that you may be 
 " holy and unblameable, and unreprovable in His sight." 
 
 Sabbath observance. I need hardly remind you that although " the Sabbath 
 was made for man," it was not intended that it should be desecrated by man. 
 Yet the sin of Sabbath-breaking prevails to an appalling extent. Nor is it 
 confined to any particular class of the community. I shall not, however, 
 expatiate here on the sin in its varied forms. But there is one species which I 
 must notice, though briefly. I mean Sabbath-visiting, which, except in cases of 
 necessity and mercy, is a great evil, and ought to be carefully avoided. Some of 
 you, I fear, must plead guilty here. I cannot deny that I have seen too much 
 of it where I scarcely expected to witness it. I have seen it in the country as 
 well as in the cities. But people have x^o right to make light of that day which 
 God has been pleased, for the special benefit of His intelligent creatures, to 
 consecrate to His own service. The Sabbath is "the holy of the Lord," and 
 " honourable," and those who profane it by umiecessary travelling have no right 
 to expect happiness in the next world, or even prosperity in the present. Why 
 then should any of you choose the Sabbath for visiting? Is it not a delightful 
 season for devotion and meditation? Or do you apprehend that Sabbath-visiting 
 is justifiable, and brings with it no penalty ? You can hardly be of this opinion, 
 if you examine into the matter with any degree of care. If, for instance, you 
 visit your friends on the Sabbath, before divine service, you prevent them, as 
 well as yourselves, from going to the house of God. If, agam, you visit them 
 after divine service, any good impressions which you may have received, 
 provided you have attended the sanctuary in the forenoon, are sure to be com- 
 pletely destroyed by the powerful influence of a worldly conversation. Thus it 
 is clear that you sin in either case. It is a well known fact that people do not 
 visit on the Lord's day for the purpose of encouraging each other in faith, love, 
 and good works. That is not the object of these Sabbath visits. And I can 
 only say— and what I do say on this subject is founded on my experience of 
 society in more countries than one— that it is truly revolting to hear people who 
 profess rehgion at all, keenly discussing the rise and fall of the markets, the 
 price of gold, the discount on silver, and the present aspect and probable 
 development of political aflairs. The practice, therefore, of Sabbath visiting is 
 in the highest degree pernicious; for it is obstructive to religion and subversive 
 of moraUty. 
 
 Sabbath night meetings. As a general rule, Sabbath night meetings in the 
 country are fraught with great danger, and ought not to be encouraged, except 
 m special circumstances. The intention of holding them may be good; but the 
 propnety is quite another thing. Such meetings are, for the most part, attended 
 by the young, who, on physiological grounds, are easily excited, and are ant. 
 under temporary excitement, to imbibe erroneous notions and views which are 
 ppweilnlly subversive of the true faith. And the adoption of eucb notioni is 
 
"26 
 wrongly (»Ued conversion, though the movement which has led to them was 
 
 tTltt^,« *^„7°™' «J"f«P'"t"^l «a^ety of those whom God has committed 
 11 w.. ^^^^*^^**]' «^«°^°g " » °»03t fitting season for the heads of 
 ^hfmily to coUect around them their household, for the pmpose of reading 
 
 mantiJnS. '""^ "^ "^^""^^ '"°^ ""^^^'^^^ *« ^ have just 
 
 ou.h?^rSll ^T . I^/"^J«°* <i«»*°<i3 attention, and its importance 
 ought not to be overlooked. It is a power which, if rightly directed, is capabk 
 of accomphshmg great good. And this is also true of the different partsTthe 
 machmery by wh ch the work of a congregation is carried on. The w^ess o 
 a congregation It may be observed, is often considerably iiicreasedT^ wlnl 
 of mdividual effort. Many a sound link is excluded froL the^hl of con^J 
 ff^tional operation, and many a strong cord is cast aside, and thus much gZl 
 ost. It ,s positively vexing to the soul of an earnest minister to sefhow 
 unwUling many of his flock are to undertake anything becauVe tW L«„T 
 comprehend, or wilfully refuse to comprehend, thJTLyTl ^^^^^^^ 
 
 tCwV, S*'"^^°°'^^*^^^«'^**«- Theyeitherforget,ordrnotp«ceive 
 
 ^I v^ «' '^ '", •P""^"^ ^"^'^ "" *h« «*^«°^J^ °f Mi^^iduaUty! theyTe 
 reaUy acting m combination, and that the result of one part is to be looked for 
 m the product of aU the parts moved by one and the same impulse, L S^ action 
 harmony and unity. Such persons are quite ignorant of their i^resoit?. 
 d Chns la^ usefukess. Why do they not tiy what they can do^ Why do Z 
 pve aU their mdividual activity to the things of the world wMe thev r^tl ? 
 
 g^ Vht; do n:t i''r;t ^' '^^^^'^^^^^ -Sigt^^t^tch 
 
 gooa iney do not consider that atoms make up the univprso th^t a 
 compose the oceaa They are always asking, '^^t cZlior^l^r 
 remain i<Ue and never attempt to aiwer thif ^1":^ TheirtLts are Md 
 m the earth, and their services are lost to the congregatioriLd the Phi k 
 No appeal to activity caii rouse to out of their duS Th^, a^e ..nim 
 to risk anything, lest they should fail, and people laugh at them-^ndT^^ 
 effort*^^'^""" *'^^ ""°* unde^tand'how aZtl^ flTw' oftli^S 
 Sts^^S^f^r^o^r^^" " ''""'^ ^^-' ^^- ^- «*-- «^ 
 
 effo5tty{:^rtixr?rre;^^^^^ 
 
 OTO members. 01 this melmoholy and dismcetui lact il iT 2 f * ^ 
 fc. S™ msfnce,; „» need I Xe :u„'^e^^ pro^lTrS 
 e^dencTeeverywherefound. let me then remind y„„ a" m^t rf S 
 » .en «. rf purpoM, iB .b«,l„telj necesawj in c^ „n ,«ul,fS 
 
 r^^ii:=roni:;^'-H?rH^""V*"^^ 
 
26 
 
 Itx 
 
 V f\ 
 
 !l 
 
 are sleeping; or he may change his opinions, or his circumstances may change 
 for the worse, and leave him no option but to shift the burden to other shoulders, 
 on which perhaps no congregational responsibility has ever rested. And in the 
 second place, it is not just to overburden him, or overtax his hberality, to save 
 the pockets of those whose hearts are not " enlarged." It is unfair, nay, it is 
 altogether wrong, to enjoy the benefits of a settled ministry at the expense of 
 our neighbours. It is therefore the duty, as well as the privilege, of every 
 member of a congregation to take his share of pecuniary responsibility, and to 
 bear his due proportion of congregational work. Why this is not so, and why 
 members of the same flock are shy and jealous of each other, and so refuse to 
 cofiperate, might be explained on various grounds, into the examination of which 
 I cannot enter in this place. The work of a congregation is often very heavy. 
 It is always heavy wherever any good results are at all attempted, and any 
 spiritual life exists; and therefore all the members ought to be united in their 
 efforts to do good. Every Christian congregation is a family, and its members 
 must not be opposed to each other. They ought to remember that " a house 
 divided against itself cannot stand." And the very thought of this should lead 
 to a steady unity of effort among them. < ^1 the work on ship-board is not done 
 by the captain, and all the work of an army in the field is not done by the 
 general. In both cases there is a fair division of labour. Upon a like principle 
 the work of a congregation ought to be distributed over all the members 
 composing it, so as to compel each to do his part. Let every one of you, 
 therefore, stand at his post, and do his work, and let all help one another, and 
 provoke one another to holy love and good works, even according as they have 
 grace and opportunity. " Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law 
 of Christ." 
 
 Idle Speaking. This is an evil of great magnitude, and is productive of 
 immense injury to the cause of truth. Even when good men are most on their 
 guard they are often assailed by this carnal weapon. Idle talk is like " the snare 
 of the fowler, and the noisome pestilence." It entangles its victim so that he 
 cannot release himself. It also slays its victim by a secret and wasting process. 
 Its noisy torrents roll through every circle, and its cruel ravages are witnessed on 
 every side. Many a precious Sabbath evening is wasted by the multitudes who 
 have been beguiled into the habit of indulgmg m it. Thousands talk on without 
 any apparent object, and pom- forth streams of vanity, as if God had given man 
 language to be wasted on mere trifles. It is really sickening to listen to the con- 
 versation of some people. It has no point, no mterest, no meaning. It is vain, 
 vapid, childish, fooUsh. But in whatever manner the outside world may act> 
 levity of speech is not for the true Christian, who must studiously *• abstain from 
 all appearance of evil." Little do many of Christ's people know how narrowly 
 they are watched, and how anxious an ungodly world is to turn even an apparent 
 inconsistency as an argument against the reality of their faith, and the purity of 
 theu- life. They must, therefore be guarded against utterances of a Ught charac- 
 ter, which would betray their want of that gravity ard mental soberness, which 
 they ought, imder all circumstances, to maintain. Take heed therefore that you 
 do not offend in word, any more than in action, and be ye " holy in aii manner of 
 conversation." " Shun profane and vain babblings, for they wUl increase unto 
 more ungodliness." 
 
may change 
 lershoulders, 
 
 And in the 
 ility, to save 
 r, nay, it is 
 ! expense of 
 ;e, of every 
 ility, and to 
 30, and why 
 so refuse to 
 tion of which 
 
 very heavy, 
 bed, and any 
 ited in their 
 its members 
 it "a house 
 
 should lead 
 I is not done 
 done by the 
 ike principle 
 he members 
 
 one of you, 
 Einother, and 
 as they have 
 fulfil the law 
 
 jroductive of 
 nost on their 
 ce " the snare 
 n so that he 
 sting process, 
 witnessed on 
 altitudes who 
 Ik on without 
 id given man 
 m to the con- 
 It is vain, 
 )rld may act* 
 'abstain from 
 how narrowly 
 1 an apparent 
 the purity of 
 , light charac- 
 emesH, which 
 (fore that you 
 ail manner of 
 increase unto 
 
 27 
 
 Gossip. This is a vice against which the members of a Christian congregation 
 ought to be weU on their guard. While there is a close relationship between idle 
 talk and gossip, they are at the same time widely different. By indulging in idle 
 talk, people do not necessarily intend to injure their neighbours, but gossip indi- 
 cates, generally speaking, a purpose to inflict an injuiy on others. GeneraUy 
 spoakmg, people are not afraid of being detected in idle talk, but they invariably 
 lay an embargo on gossip, and manifest a strong disposition to keep it under 
 hatches. In other words, they know that gossip is a wicked practice, and that it 
 IS strongly calculated to disturb peace, create enmity, and destroy friendship. It 
 has broken up families, kindled up neighbourhoods, and scattered congregations. 
 It professes to have aU knowledge, and to be in possession of aU secrets. It has 
 invaded the palace and the sanctuary, and attacked the prince and the peasant 
 It IS a VICIOUS and low habit, worthy of universal condemnation. A noble and 
 generous mmd will always scorn it, much more so a mind enlightened and sancti- 
 fied by the Holy Spirit. But, alas the world has not yet learned to let the 
 affairs of other people alone. Even in congregations the evil results of gossip are 
 too often felt. The outer world does not seem to be able to furnish sufficient 
 materials for gossip, for it is found that the>ffairs of the sanctuary are dragged 
 from their soUtude, and are then perverted, misrepresented and exaggerated £ a 
 thousand forms. AU this is a great sin and calls for reproof. Can a Christian 
 people not find work to occupy theu- time and their thoughts without profaning 
 sacred thmgs by speaking of them in an irreverent manner ? Why should any 
 one dcUght in mischief, and cany the torch of revenge and private spite into the 
 house of the Lord ? Yet the gossip is capable of this, and does it. He pene- 
 faates every secret, abuses confidence, insinuates evil against others, calls " light 
 darlmess, and darkness Hght, good evil, and evil good," sets neighbour against 
 neighbour, and " separateth chief friends." He carries danger with him where- 
 ever he goes. He is Uke a fire-ship in the midst of a fleet. « Under his tongue 
 IS nuscluef and vanity." Death follows in his path. His character is contempt- 
 ible, and those who wish to enjoy peace, and to preserve self-respect, must refuse 
 to accept his society, under any circumstances. Take heed therefore that no 
 such person naay be found among you, and pray that you may be « kept secretly 
 m a pavihon from the strife of tongues." 
 
 Acquaintance mth tht principles and government of your own ChurcK- 
 It is of the highest importance for the members of a congregation to beweU 
 versed m the pnnciples and government of their o™ Church, while at the same 
 fame, It would be an additional advantage to know something about those of 
 
 wif frJ'': • '' *.' ""^ '"^y '"""^ '•«^'**^'^ *^** "'^^y Pe°PJe are so igno- 
 rant of the doctnnes and practice ol their own Church, that they camiot define 
 her position, or even say a single word in her defence when they hear herenemies 
 as^ghe* This unpardonable ignorance arises from a want of early training 
 1 J^ir T"^^^ ^^' ^'^'^* ^y «"^^^1"«°* ^^-^g- Were people 
 
 ZlTnl fi Ivf ^7 T ^ '*"^^« ^'^^ ^^^*^«^1 P^Uti'^^ °f the day. they 
 
 Snould soon finn thpmgolv/ic) !no..^<.j :- I---- ..• . ... - it ""^j 
 
 StLTA, ? <^^™°°feiy individual who professes to be in commmiion 
 
 £ltl ^ ?* *^* '^'^ '"" "''* ''^'^'^^ ^"^ *h« ^««"Ifc -^ that tens of 
 thousands cannot teU you to what Church they belong, or why they prefer any 
 
98 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 one Church to another. Tliere are also many who have not the moral courage 
 to make use of even the little knowledge which they have of their own Church, 
 and who hsten to all that is said against her, as if it afforded them pleasure 
 instead of pain. But Christians need not be the less tolerant towards other 
 denominations, because they love their own Church dearly, and are prepared to 
 uphold her, and to defend her worship and her laws from cahunny. In order 
 therefore to be better informed, and also better armed, each family in a congrega- 
 tion ought to have some work on Church History. And this help is within easy 
 reach of all, because even popular works on Church History are numerous, and 
 can be purchased at a very low price. It is therefore a gross shame for any man 
 to be without such a medium of information on a subject of great importance to 
 a Christian people. In addition to a few of the class of books above indicated, 
 you ought to read Missionary Literature, which you must expect to find useful 
 in respect to matter, rather than brilliant in style. But more especially you ought 
 to subscribe to the Missionary Becord of your own Church, in which a great deal 
 of most useful information is given at a very small cost. And I rejoice that our 
 own'Church is not a whit behind anyiother in the Dominion in her efforts to place 
 ecclesiaatical and missionary intelligence tTithin the reach of all her people, from 
 the richest to the poorest. With great pleasure therefore I strongly recommend 
 to you that excellent monthly periodical, the Presbyterian, which is superior in 
 many respects to most of its competitors in the Dominion. It is ably and judi- 
 ciously conducted, is entirely free from narrow-mindedness, and, with becoming 
 dignity, refuses to be the medium of personal attack ; while at the same time its 
 pages are always open to fair and honourable discussion on all topics that fall 
 within its ranga 
 
 Catechism. In connection with what has just been said, a few words about 
 the Shorter Catechism may not be considered to be out of place. The frequent 
 and careful perusal of the Catechism is of great consequence not only to the 
 young, but also to the old. The Catechism is an excellent summary of Christian 
 doctrine. It has E'jood the test and triumphed. It is in every sense a good book, 
 a valuable treasury of Bible knowledge, and it therefore deserves to be well and 
 piously studied. It is this book, accompanying, as it does, the Bible in the Parish 
 Schools of Scotland, that furnishes the Scottish Chiistian with those glorious 
 land marks of which he never loses sight, whether he still lives in his native vil- 
 lage, where the pure sea-waves sparkle in the sun-light, or toils in a foreign land, 
 nobly fulfilling the destiny of his being. In his pilgrimage from North to South, 
 and from East to West, he remembers with delight how often that little book 
 told him "what is the chief end of man." But these deep and lasting impres- 
 sions are the result of early training in the principles of religion. It is therefore 
 with a true sense of its many excellencies, that I strongly recommend you all to 
 study it. Every one of your children ought to iiave a copy of it ; and you ought 
 to make them repeat a certain niunber of questions every Sabbath evening.— 
 You would find this a more profitable exercise than reading the newspapers, and 
 discussing political, commercial and agricultural questions, a practice against 
 which I feel myself called upon to bear my most unequivocal testimony. 
 
 Baptism. It is to be iuiieh aad deeply regretted tliat uiariy who profess to 
 differ from those who conscientiously hold the doctrine of adult baptism, and do 
 not accept any other, allow their chUdren to grow up unbaptized. This breach 
 
and 
 
 29 
 
 of duty admits of no plea, and miut be traced to sheer carelessness «ind indiffer- 
 ence. Parents who are guilty of this deliberate infraction of a divine command, 
 cannot give any satisfactory explanation of their conduct, in thus inflicting on 
 their children a grievous wrong. Explanations have been attempted, but they 
 hitherto have been feeble, quite unsound, and utterly unworthy of Christian 
 parents. And let it be distinctly understood, that I am here speaking of parents 
 who firmly believe in the doctrine of Infant Baptism. I am speaking to Pres- 
 byterians. The Church does not ask unqualified parents to present their infants 
 in baptism ; but she asks such fathers and mothers why they are unqualified 
 and wilfully remain unprepared to perform a commanded duty. And the Church 
 has a right to rebuke them for their gross and inexcusable negligence. She has 
 just reason to complain that all is not well, when she sees careless parents shift 
 the responsibility which really belongs to themselves, to their poor children, who 
 are thus made to suffer. And besides, the Church, in her anxiety to feed the 
 Iambs of the flock, as she is commanded by her Lord and King to do, asks who 
 is doing wrong and who is suffering. If you therefore believe that Infant Baptism 
 is a Scriptural Doctrine, why are there many among you who still hesitate to 
 consecrate their little children to the Lord Jesus Christ in baptism ] You know 
 very well that by this ordinance the children of Christian parents are publicly 
 received into the visible Church ; and why do you deny them the privilege to 
 which they are so justly and so fully entitled ? Save them, therefore, from the 
 reflection which must be painful to them in after life, that they had never been 
 baptised " into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.'* 
 The whole subject, indeed, is one of great moment, and your prayerful attention 
 should be cordially given to it. 
 
 The Lord! 8 Supper. The painful and stubborn indifference which univer- 
 sally prevails regarding the observance of this sacrament, is most deplorable, and 
 to the ministers of the Gospel it is heart-rending. What can be the cause of 
 this unaccountable ^nd unpardonable neglect ? No doubt there is some cause of 
 it, but there can be no excuse for it. How is it that there are so few com- 
 municants in comparison with the great mass of professing Christians ? It is 
 not easy to understand how the professors of the Christian faith can feel no shame, 
 and apprehend no danger, while, with their eyes and ears open, they bid defiance 
 to their Lord's express command, a command which is at once a positive law, 
 and a moral precept. This special command powerfully appeals to the inner 
 sense, the love and obedience of Christ's people. It was given in circumstances 
 of peculiar solemnity, when as yet the Messianic Church was but small, and the 
 tree of her expanding faith was only taking root. It was a command to "take 
 and eat,' to receive by an inward faith the emblems of the Great Sacrifice. It 
 was given with an authority which cannot be evaded or set aside. In respect to 
 all this there can be no difficulty. Everything, indeed, is perfectly clear, both as 
 regards the institution of the Sacrament, and also the observance of it. And 
 yet the soul of the pastor is often filled with the deepest sorrow at seeing the 
 wretched apathy of multitudes in reference to the celebration of the Lord's 
 Supper, and at witnessing the amazing ignorance they display when they attempt 
 to justify their wilful and persistent neglect of the ordinance. Can the faithful 
 and zealous pastor fail to be anxious, so long as such spiritual coldness exists 
 before his very eyes ? Hia earnest invitations meet with no response. Hia 
 
r 
 
 30 
 
 mstructions and encouragementa to sinners seem to produce no effect. He pleads 
 in Christ's name, and he sees that people hang down their heads. But he sees 
 what is even worse. He sees, to his horror, that Christ's words are quite 
 disregarded. Surely, then, religion cannot be in a healthy state, where the 
 highest of aJl religious duties are habitually neglected. The path of safety lies 
 in obeying your Heaveijly Master. But how can you say that you love Him, 
 if you are still refusing to do what He has commanded you ? And it may be 
 further stated, that ignorance of the nature and design of ihe LoM's Supper is 
 not more justifiable than a studied contempt of its public observance. The 
 whole subject, as it is exhibited in Scripture, is very plain and intelligible, and 
 the ministers of Christ earnestly endeavour to remove such difficulties as present 
 themselves to the weak, 
 
 I now close these remarks by urging you to study most carefully the sacra-' 
 ments of the New Testament, and to consider well whether it is consistent with 
 your Christian profession to dispense with them as means of salvation, for they 
 have certainly been appointed by the Head of the Church with a view to that 
 end. 
 
 There are other topics to which I would fain call your attention, such as 
 congregational singing, congregational societies, &c., but I must defer them to a 
 future time, with the promise to give you at the commencement of next year, if 
 I am spared in health, a small volume entitled, "A Book for my Flock, and 
 others who choose to read it." "Now unto Him that is able to keep you from 
 falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with 
 exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion 
 and power, both now and ever. Amen." 
 
 II 
 
lie pleads 
 it he sees 
 are quite 
 ivhere the 
 safety lies 
 ove Him, 
 t may be 
 Supper is 
 nee. The 
 ;ible, and 
 Et8 present 
 
 !ihe sacra-" 
 itent with 
 , for they 
 w to tliat 
 
 1, such as 
 hem to a 
 rt year, if 
 lock, and 
 you from 
 lory with 
 dominion