IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 4r 1.25 ^1^ U£ 2.0 m Si lii lb 110 Hiotographic Sciences Corpoi'alion 33 WIST MAIN STRUT WIBSTIR.N.Y. I45S0 (716) 872-4S03 m \ V <^ 4 CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHIVI/JCMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques iV Tachnloal and Bibliographic Notaa/Notaa tcchnlquaa at bibliographlquaa Tha Inatltuta haa attamptad to obtain iha baat original copy availabia for filming. Faaturaa of thia copy which may ba Mbiiographlcaihr unlqua, which may altar any of tha imagaa in tha raproductton. or which may algnif Icanthf changa tha uauai mathod of filming, ara chackad balow. □ Colourad covara/ Couvartura da couiaur r~n Covara damagad/ Couvartura andommagAa □ Covara raatorad and/or iaminatad/ Couvartura raatauria at/ou paiiiculAa □ Covar titia miaaing/ La titra da couvartura manqua □ Colourad mapa/ Cartaa qiographiquaa an couiaur □ Colourad ink (i.a. othar than biua or black)/ Encra da couiaur (i.a. autra qua biaua ou noira) |~~| Colourad plataa and/or iiiuatrationa/ n D D Planchaa at/ou iiluatrationa an couiaur Bound with othar matariai/ RailA avac d'autraa documanM Tight binding may causa shadows or distortion along intarior margin/ La raii jra sarrAa paut causar da I'ombra ou da la diatortion la long da la marga intAriaura Blank iaavas addad during rastoratlon may appaar within tha taxt. Whanavar poasibia, thasa hava baan omittad from filming/ ii sa paut qua cartainas pagas blanches ajoutias lors d'una rastauration apparaissant dans la taxta. ma's, iorsqua cala 6tait possibia, cas pagas n'ont pas «t« filmAas. Additional comments:/ Commantairas supplAmantairas: Tl tc Linatitut a mlorofllmA la malNaur axamplaira qu1l lui a At4 poaalbia da aa procurar. Laa dAtalia da oat axampSaira qui aont paut-ttra uniquaa du point da vua MMtographiqua, qui pauvant modlfiar una imaga raprodulta. ou qui pauvant axigar una modification dana la mAthoda norrhala da filmaga aont IndiquAa d-daaaoua. I — I Colourad pagaa/ Pagaa da couiaur Pagaa damagad/ Pagaa andommagiaa □ Pagaa raatorad and/or Iaminatad/ Pagaa raataurAaa at/ou paiiiculAaa TTi Pagaa diacolourad, stainid or foxad/ 12^ Pagas dAcotorAaa, tachatAaa ou piquAaa □ Pagaa datachad/ Pagas dAtachAaa Bhowthrouglw Tranaparanca Quality of prii! QuailtA InAgala da i'impraaaion Includaa auppiamantaiy matarii Comprand du material auppMmantaIra 8howthrough/ Tranaparanca I I Quality of print variaa/ r~n Includaa auppiamantaiy matarial/ I — I Only aditlon availabia/ D Saula Mition diaponlbia Pagaa wholly or partially obacurad by arrata alips, tissuaa. ate., hava baan rafilmad to anaura tha bast possibia imaga/ Laa pagaa totaiamant ou partiailamant obscurciaa par un fauiliat d'arrata. una palura, ate, ont it* fiimAas i nouvaau da fa^on A obtanir la maiilaura imaga possibia. T P o fi O b t\ si 01 fi si 01 s W M di ar b< ril ra This itam is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est f ilmA au taux da reduction indiquA ci-daasous. 10X 14X 1CX 22X 2IX aox 7 J- 3 12X 16X aox a4x 2KL 32X The copy filmed h«r« has b««n r«produc«d thank* to tha ganarosity of: National Library of Canada L'axamplaira fiimA fut raproduit grica A la g*nirosit4 da: Bibliothiqua nationala du Canada Tha imagas appearing hara ara tha bast quality possibia considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. Original copies in printed pnper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when eppropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol ^»> (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meening "END"), whichever applies. Les images suivantes ont At* reproduites avac la plus grand soin, compta tenu de la condition at da la nettetA de rexemplaire fi'mA, et en conformity avac les condition;* du contrat de fllmage. Les exemplaires originaux dont la couvertu/e en papier est ImprimAe sent filmte en commen^ant par la premier plat et en terminant soit par la darnlAre page qui crmporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'^ilustration, soit par la secf*nd plat, salon le ces. Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sent filmte en commenpant par la premiere pege qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration at en terminant par la darniAre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaftra sur la darnlAre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols — ^ signifie "A 8UIVRE", le symbols y signifie "FIN". Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in ono exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre filmte A des taux de rMuction diff Arents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul clichA, il est f limA A partir de I'angle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en Ims, en prenant le nombre d'imeges nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrant la mAthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 t TORONTO : iM{iNTi:» AT Tin: DIOCKSAN IMJKSS. .M.DCCC.XLVII. M) (Ll)c Congregation of Saint peters Cl)uvcl), COHOrUG, THK FOLLOWING SERMON, PR EACH ED ON AN OCCASION TO WHICH THE SACHEDNESS OF IMIIVATE SOIIIIOW FORBIDS A FORMAL REFERENCE, AND PUHLISHEI) AT THE K/, a woman of ^:reat sub- stance, rich, and aboundinln' kiU'w. too, flu' v:ilm» ol" Isrjii'l's distiiiiiiJ^lnMl jiroplu-f, and soiiolit to iMMU'lit l>V Ills luiiilit cxainnU' and liis liolv counst'ls. Slu* constraiiu'd liiin, tluMct'on'. to aei-cpt Iut liospitiility: and, not cjHiU'iit witli a |)assin«;- visit JVoin tli<' •'man ot"(i«»d." slu- providi'd for liini witliin 1km aijodo a ixM'inancnt n stini::-jdacc*,- shv annexed to Ikt dwi llin^ a '^jtroplu't's cluiinber," \vl;rri'. as aftcn as hi' |>ass(-d, lie inij^lit stop and iffrt'sli liinisclf, and, as tlic pi<»us Slmnaminiti' ludii'vod, hrinii a blessing upon lior house. It is com fort inir, my hrethrin, to \'vv\ that, even in these artifidal and urd)elievin«r days, we are not without marked and refreshino- ('xampU's of liospitality and honour to the ser- vants ami andta^sa(h)rs of the Lord. It is elieerinjr to discover tliat tliey. in their necessary journeyinj^s, find many to wel- conu' and l)efriend them.- many to help them on their way, and smooth to them the ofteii ruif^cd path of duty. And tliis is tlie more i»la(ldeninL» and acceptable as a test of the be- liever's love, — the evidence of a desire to «;ain the blessing <»f the prophet's prayers, and ensure from the |)rophet's (ioani of ainl»itioii, part with tlie siiimy >|)ot uIutc licr |iiiri's( atid liaj)pi«'st days have Ix'oii spent. Slir r,m leave to flu ir notliiii^'iie'^s l\\o visions conjured np l»y tlie in<'ntion of ''tin- kinj^" and " tlio captain of tlic host," intcrctchMl with hy so poworfnl a |)h adcr as Klislia: and, in an honest jind hunddc appreciation of (iod's |)ast honntii-s, she is cont(Mit to "dwell anionjj- lier own people." I5ut tJH'ro is a blank in her honn' where yet the symj)athieH and the niii^ht of the prophet can r«'ach her: thi-re was no child then-, to inherit iter fortunes or transmit her name. - Tliat was a l)oon which prohahly she believed that (iod in his wisdom iiad decreed to witldiohl: and thonwing ripeness and beauty, there were some minj^lings of the alloy of this world. The soul, from its becoming sense of joy and thankfulness to God, may have slidden into a secret idolatry: and, in the many speculations of a fond yet wayward heart, there may have been an occasional momentary torgetfulness that what was man's treasure was also Gotl's gift. The heart is made better when, by a chastening from heaven, it is assured of this error. The little son of the Sliiiiiaiiiinitc, in :tii (iii(>x|i(>crc(l Ikmip, is cut o(T in the inid^t ot liis sporrs :iiiil |)l;i\ tiiliHN"*. Tlu' flower, in tlio fulnoss of its hloorn and l)raufy, is si'VcicmI at a stroke: tlicro is no pre- in(»nitorv laniiiior, no jriadiial decay; l)Ut in an instant, at one sweep of the de>tio\»'r. tlie fair |)h»nt is prostrated and dies. IJnt fi'w cries escape I hi' swt't t ^uflerer; the hnv. faint in<»an- intr is soon hu>he(l in (h'ath. 1 lie assiduities of nuiternal care avail not: tiie appliaiu'es of medical skill cannot avert the hlil^'ht of tho d('ath-^troke. Lin;ri'rin«i', where in health ami slreniitli and playfidness he lovm most to linj^er, he si<^hs his life away upon his mother's knees. VVe shall not, my hrethien, calculate upon all the sorrow of this Shunammite woman. If the fountains of tfrief were broken up, — if her tears flowed fri'sh and fast,--if the lieart beat lieavily in its distress, was there not a cause .^ lUit her faith forsook her not, thouj^h grief oppressed her: she remem- bered whence the treasure was gained, and she looked back, in the mii; lit of her confulence. to the all-powerful and merci- ful Giver. Not stoj)pin<;- to casi' her full heart by the out- pourings of a natural sorrow, she flies to the prophet, that she may gain, through his intercession, what she was too mean and unworthy to solicit directly herself. And even to the man of God this was an unexpected bK>w. He, perhaps, in his hopes and aspirations for that fair child, the special gift of the Almighty, may have had his spiritual feelings marred and clouded : his thoughts may have travelled on to "the king" and ''the captain of the host," in connection with the |)rospects of this cherished son of the Shunammite; aiul possibly the glitter and prcjsperity of the world may, in his high-wrought wishes and expectations, have gained some occasional precedence over the gifts and graces of a child of (lod. So he, too, was made to feel the peril of an earth- stained heart; and the agony of a mysterious delay was inter- posed, before he could |)revail with God for the restoration of this departed child. live there Savi( Mori spirit by a lest and tl dead,! to thf stroni rancel moreJ So th word J T)< lay, liowcvrr, in the lu'jslu-.val of siipplic;at('d blossiijnrs js designed to iviidfr tUv spirit luorc trustful and patiruJ, -not to break or crush it in despair of a pfaerful answer from the mercy-seat. We liave hut to p«'rsevere in order to succeed ; ue liave hut to wrestle on to yain the hU»ssin^. 'I'he prophet f)rayed, and struifirh'd in prayer; and at last,- his petitiiui granted to tlie full, — he was eiiahled to say to the woman of Shunem, "Take up thy son." We can understand, my hrethren, the eftect of this chanf»e in the laiily lone aiul sad house of the Shunarnmite; how a calm and chastened joy and thankfulness took the place of the melancholy and desolation which so recently had reiirned there. Hut perhaps, in makinir a personal application of it, there may beasinkini^ of the heart in contemplatinir the utter hopeless- ness of ourselves experiencintr a similar chaui^e. \o prophet's staff, no proj)het's prayers can now brinluuil(l l)e iiitorpO)0(l hotweon tliis promise and its fulfilmont what uo, in onr weakness, niiij;lit count a wearyini( delay, it is to ns a wise and |)rofital)Ie renrjmbrancer of onr pilL^rini state. (mkI is patient and lonj;- sufFering witli ns; and we need a more awakcnini;' lesson often than the counsels of his written word to teach us patience also. It is well thus to learn to live more hy faith and less by sii;ht; to refer onr hopes and destiny with a int)re child-like temper of submission to the will of (iod; to shew less of self-seekinjr and self pleasinj^; to be, in vie.*' of our ( 'reator and Redeemer, more confiding-, trustful, and dependent. Ant' was tlie Shunammite wise in sceklno; so early, — so prematurely, we may almost say, — the realization of the never-failing- j)romises of iunl'^ Was she wise in askinir back the withdrawn treasure of her |)recions child, before the morninjt( of that olorious day, when, at the summons of the Archangel's trumpet, earth ;uul sea should yield up their dead, — the righteous and faithful to be clothed then with pure and imperishable bodies? Was it wise to wish to snatch him back, just as the brightness of the j)aradise of God was break- ing on his view, and he was catching the first entrancing echoes of the angels' never-ending song? Was it wise to ask an exchange for him from brightness and peace and bliss like this, to wander once more a pilgrim and a stranger on the dull, polluted soil of earth ? And what peril was there, too, in that exchange! There must grow on, with childhood's growth to youth and thence to maturity of manhood, the strong and evil passions of our fallen nature,— the fiercer con- flict with a wicked and a tempting world, — the harder strug- gle witli a wayward heart within, the stronger contest with unnumbered foes without. And then there may have been the fall from affluence and comfort to poverty and woe, — per- secutions, perhaps, from kings and captains of the host, luring, worse than, all, to Baal's idol-worship,— captivity, perchance, and its thousand trials, with haughty conquerors of the land, — a separation, worse than death, between child and mother, — 11 een tliis i, mijrlit rofiral>Ie 11(1 loTi^- on often nee also. )y sii;ht; ' temper -seekiiiir nleemer, irlv, — so of tlie 1 askiiiir J fore the IS of the up their /ith pure [itch him IS break- i trancing se to ask bliss like r on the lere, too, ildhood's ood, the rcer con- er Strug- test with ive been )e, — per- t, luring, M'chance, 2 land, — lother, — (H^ease and all its complicattMl wretchedness in a far off, hos- tile c(mntry.— the failin-- frame, the sinking energies, life's sad decline, and death at last,~all these were woes which possibly a re-eiitiaiice into lite brought on. O better tar, then, to leave in the Ix-'.oin of his lather and his God the dear child of ])romise which He, in veiy mercy, had taken to himself: better there, secure in that boundless love, than to be buffettcd on by life's dangerous storms: happier in that refuge of peace than in the warm, though weak, protection of the most loving and devoted u])on earth. But, my brethren, in our acknowledged consolations under God's severest chastenings, let us not be unmindful that there is a pilgrimage and a warfare still before us,— that, come joy or sorrow, we are jiledged to the work of the Lord's vineyard, and must not, in barren contemplation, stand still or idle. — Let, then, the history we have been reviewing teach us,— L The duty, according to the Divine command, of bringing up children in "the nurture and admonition of the Lord," because that can be to us the only security that they will "die in the Lord." God's own word ])rovides how, from the first dawn of infancy, they may become his adopted children, and be assured of his grace aiul blessing: in that we are taught to brinn- tliem to Christ, to enroll them under his standard, to make them his soldiers and servants. By baptism they are introduced into the Lord's family, jilaced under his special protection, with a pledge and earnest of his imparted and con- tinued orace. Never, the:i, let us forget the exalted nature of this high ])rivilege; but strive by our lessons, our example, and our prayers, to keep them worthy mendjers of that holy household,— to make their after-life consistent wi^.h that good beginniuii,— and so to train, and teach, and counsel them, that, wlien the work of this weary world has closed, they may be found on the Lord's side still, and, safe in his embrace and strong in his protection, may be wafted across death's gloomy river to the Canaan of everlasting rest and glory. Beware, my brethren, in the worldliness and selfishness of a much .) tempted hoart, (»i'ov(M- lo^in^- sii;lit nf tliis tlioir \\\^\i lieritajj^e aiul lioavenly dostiiiy. Look with ;i wary eye across the thorns and perils of tlie world, and keep a stedfast view of the eternity beyond. Kenuinber that every child is an heir of immortality, ai. . for that changeless, boiindU ss existence train tliem up. Look, with a Christian's dutiful iiidifterence, upon the vanities and follies, the pomps and pleasures of the world, on which so jrreat a stress is alas ! too widely laid. To these toys and trifles of the hour assign their proper place; the business of the Christian life, the aspiring after heaven, the contest for the crown of glory, forbids a devotion of the soul to those mean and jterishable vanities. God's law and will, the great atonement of the Saviour, knowledge of the truth in Jesus, man's native wickedness, the work of grace, and j)ractical application of the Spirit's influences, — these are themes for the enlisted warrior of the cross ; not the calcula- tions for earthly atrgrandizement, not plans and schemes for wealth and greatness, for worltlly show, for the hollow pomp of fleet and passsing time. Let the kingdom of God within the heart, faith unfaltering in the Saviour, the purity and peace of a godly and religious life, and the tranquil closing of the Christian warfare, — let this be the high purpose, the never-wearying toil, the constant prayer of every Christian parent for his child. IL Hut there presses yot up«)n us, as ;t's improvement from this review, another duty. — Who can look upon the gentle innocence of childhood, — exempted, as we must feel it by the merciful Providence of CJod, from the darker stains and harder sufleriuiis of the world by the interposition of an early death, — who can look on this, and not feel that it is a counsel and a warning to remend)er the Saviour's solemn charge, '" Except ve be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." Yes, even the most thoughtful, ])ains-taking, and religions may profit by this ad- nuniition ; for at best we are too far oft' from the standard of purity and godliness which the word of Ciod sets before us. — 1 I'liere are, oven to tlio nio^t julvanccd and most watchfiil, c'lojrs and impediments in tlie nMrse of diitv, — lundraiiees j^reat and distressinij^ to the warmth, and earnestness, and sin