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 may b« MMiotr^liicaltV ufiiqyo. vvMcli may iltw any 
 of tiM imap* in th^rapraduelion» or wMch may :: 
 liffiificantly ehanp tha ummI imrthod of filminfli M* . 
 cbadiaa balow- .■ 
 
 □ Colouradeevara/' - 
 Couvartura «ia coulaur 
 
 □ Covara'daincpd/ .'■•■'',.■'';.';.■■;/•. 
 Couvartura andommafta 
 
 ■-". •■ ■. -■; - ' ■■/■ '• ••* ■" ' ' ■■; 
 
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 Couvartura raitaurto at/ou pallicuMa 
 
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 Utitra da couvartura maiMiMf 
 
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 CariM iloiraphiquat an coulaur • 
 
 r^ ColoMrad ink (i.a. o«har than Mua or biiieli)/ 
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 □ Colouradp^tas and/or illuttrationf/ > ,- 
 Planchw at/ou illustrations an coulaur 
 
 Bound witii ttthar matarialA 
 Ralii avacd'tutratdocuinanci < 
 
 0Tiiht binding may causa shadows or diftortion 
 abna intarior margin/ 
 
 La raliura sarrii paut causar da I'ombra ou de la 
 . distorsion la long da la marga intAriaUra 
 
 Bimk iMvas addad during rastoration may appaar 
 within tha taxt. Whanavar possiMa, thasa hava 
 baanimnittad from filming/ 
 II sa paut qua ccrtainas paga;i ManchM ajoutdal ■' 
 tors d'Una rastauration apparaissant dans la taxta, 
 mais. lorsqua calajitait possiMa. cas pagas n'ont 
 pas M f ilm^. 
 
 L'institut a niicMilmii la maillaur axamplaira qu'il 
 hii a M poniMa da sa.procurar. LasdMailsdacat 
 axamplaira qui sont paut4tra uniqua s dii point da vua 
 MbUograpMqua, qui pauvant modif iar una intaga . ; 
 raproduito. ou qui pauvantaitliga' una niodificatioif 
 dans la milthoda normala da filmaga sont indiquA* i 
 ci-daMouii- '' 
 
 Colourad papn/ 
 f*agas da coulaur 
 
 □ Pagas damagad/ 
 PiigM #ndommagaas 
 
 fagat rastdrad and/or lamhiaiad/ 
 Pagas rastaurAas at/ou paHiculAas 
 
 a 
 
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 Pagas diseolourad. stainad or foxad/ 
 Pagas dkolorias. tachatias ou piqu4as 
 
 □ Pagas datachad/ 
 Pagas d«tach«as «* 
 
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 Lill Transparanca 
 
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 Quality of print varias/ 
 
 Qualiti inigala da I'imprassion 
 
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 Continuous pagination/ 
 Pagination continua 
 
 Includti indax(as)/ 
 Comprand un (das) indax 
 
 titia on headar takan from: / 
 Ly titra da I'an-tlta proviant: 
 
 I I Title page of issue/ 
 
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 Page da titra da la livraisoh 
 
 Caption of issue/ ' 
 
 Titre de dipart da la livraison 
 
 Masthead/ 
 
 Genlrique (periodiques) de la livraison 
 
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 'Additranal comments:/ 
 Commantairas supplamentaires: 
 
 This item is filmed at tfia reduetidn ratio checked below/ 
 
 Ce dbcument^est filmiau taux da rMuetion indiqui ci-dassous. 
 
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Th« eopv film«d htrt Hm bMn rtproducMl tftankt 
 IQ th« Q«n«rotity of : 
 
 Emmanuel Library 
 University, of ^Toronto 
 
 TtHi ImagM appMrJiig h«r« ara tti« beat auaiitv 
 pOMibIt eonticrarliig ttm oondition and laglbility 
 of tha original oopy and In kaaplng^with tho 
 filming eontraot apaolfioatfona. 
 
 Original eopMtt In printad papar eovara ara fllmad 
 baglnning With ttia front oovar and anding on 
 tha laat paga with a printad or illuatratad Impraa- 
 alon. or tha back oovar whan appropriata.'AII 
 othdr original ooi^aa ara fllmad baglnning on tho 
 firat paga with a printad or Uiuatratad impraa- 
 alon. and anding on tha laat paga with a printad 
 or Jlluatratad impraaaion. 
 
 Tha laat racordad frama on oaeh microficho 
 ahall oontain tha symbol — ^ (moaning "CON- 
 T1NUID"). or tha symbol ▼ Imoaning "IND"), 
 whiahavar applias. 
 
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 Mapa. plataa. oharta, ate., may ba fllmad at 
 diffarant raduotlon ratloa. Thoaa too larga to bo 
 antiraly includad in ono oxpoaura Bf fllmad 
 baglnning in tha uppar iaft hand cornor; loft to 
 right and top to bottom, aa many framas as 
 raqulrad. Tha following diagrams illustrata tha 
 mathod: 
 
 ■r- -^\ 
 
 1 2 3 
 
 L'axamplaira f ilm4 fut raproduit grica A la 
 gAnOroaitAda: '.. ' 'Jr ■ ■ -•■^ 
 
 ;•- Emmanuel Library ^ - 
 ^ ^. Ujniversity o£- Torontb : ; 
 
 Laa imagas suivantaa,ont AtA raproduitas avac la 
 plus grand soin. oompta tanu d% la oondition at 
 do la nattatO da I'axamplaira filmA. at •n 
 oohformitA avao laa oonditiona du eontTat 4* t 
 ' fllmagav' ' '.. •'■--.■; '* ■>■.,; 
 
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 Laa aiiamplairaa briginaux dont la eouvartura in 
 paplar aat ImprlmAa font filmAs an commandant 
 par la pntt^ plat a^an tarminant soit par la 
 darnlAra pdga qui comporto una amprainta 
 d'impraasion ou dlllustration, soit par ia second 
 plat, salon ki caa. Tous las autras aaamplaires 
 ' origlnaux sont fitmAo an commandant par la 
 pramlAra paga qui eomporto uno omprainta 
 d'Impraaalon ou d'iNuatratlon ot %f\ tarminant par 
 la darnlAra paga qui eomporto uno tallo 
 omprdnto. 
 
 . Un doa aymboloa suhrants apparattra sur la 
 .darnlAra image ^a cheque mieroficl)a^ salon la 
 can: la sym^olo'"-^ signifie '^A SUiVRE". le 
 aymbolo IT signifie "FIN". ^ 
 
 Lea certoe. plenohoe. tableeux. etc.. peuvent Atre 
 fllmAa A dec teux da reduction diff Arants. 
 ^orsquo le document esttrop grend pour Atre 
 reproduit en un soul clichA. 11 act filmA A pertir 
 do I'engle supAriour geuche. (fe gauche A droits. > 
 at do haut en boa. en prenent le nombre 
 d'imagaa nAcaaaaira. Las dlagremmes suivents ' 
 illustront la mAthodo. N 
 
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 (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2) 
 
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 ^ v^PLlEd yi/K3B he 
 
 t653 Eoit Main StrMi 
 
 Rochmltr. N«w York 14609 USA 
 
 (71S) 482 - 0300 - Ption* 
 
 (ne) 2S8-90a9-Fait 
 
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 |k S«ni« Uf^tmmit ilwnMtttweiiti. 
 
 J 
 
 ADDRESS 
 
 DELIVERED IN 
 
 KlSrOX'S OHUROH, GrJsJLJT, 
 
 ' ON THANKSGiyiNG DAY, 4th DECEMBER, 1862, 
 
 vv BY THE 
 
 ^ 
 
 REV. JOHN THOMSON, D.D., PASTOR. 
 
 * mt *' 
 
 TORONTO: 
 PRINTED AT THE GLOBE STEAllJOB PRESS. 
 
 1862. - . 
 
 
 
 m 
 
! <' 
 
 •an 
 
 GalTj l8T January, 18G3. 
 
 To THE CoNOREOATION ovor which the Head of tho Church hath 
 called mo to preside, and at whoao request tho ncconipanying 
 Address is published, I, offer, with it, my most kindly and hearty 
 greeting. It will bo put into your hands on the opening day of t lie 
 New Year. While in it your attention is drawn to nianjr topics, not 
 ordinarily introduced into the services of God's house, I do not 
 think that you will find one about which it is not a Minister's -duty 
 occasionally to converse with his people. I believe, that on this tlio 
 first day of another. year, you will join with nic in thanksiriving to 
 God 'for our Congregational blessings, and in beseeching Ilim to 
 continue these unto us and to our eluldron. 
 
 Lotus seek to begin the year by conscoratiug ouvsclves anew 
 to th(}' Lord our God. Praying that the spirit of the Lord may 
 desccndlupon U3 and upon all the Israel of God. ' - 
 
 I remain, ' . 
 
 With sincere affection for you all, and for all who love the Lord 
 Jesus Christ, your friend and servant for Jesus' sake. 
 
 JOHN THOMSON. 
 
 V* 
 
: •..•vf 
 
 'M 
 
 I I. K*..ut to*r»r.l...: ami tt.o Uutl. of U.o l/rU endurclh for cv*r. ^rul.o >« tho | 
 I I»rtl."— '1^4/mcxvll. 
 
 lh«,kn.J, 4.4.«'l«i'0>'t imturul alfo/tlo... tr«co:.,rcHkor., false a.xu.orH Incon- 
 r^ r;o!l.Sc^ «f «««-'^tVAt ...r^5(«tt, tr..U.r«. Hou,.y, hl«hn,lu.U.,., lover, of 
 rt..aH„;oH nu'rc U.MI lovofH V »;«»>: *f4.«VJ.i« u fj-rm of goailuo-s, but -lonyLv «»» 
 ,wworlUoro,>r: from Hviohliirnaw:iy''-fa7'i>>i«/Ay 111- 1-6- , 
 
 , :'« 
 
 T ins is a day of tUnnksgiving and praise to G od, for the blessings 
 Wbich lie Ims been plcaHcd t(V VQudwafe to the lamL_duiing the year 
 now drawing to a close. To express our than1d||c8S We arc sum- 
 moned, as well by the chief Governor of the rroYi.iCl|fe by the presid- 
 ing Bishop of bur ProvincisllChureli; and to this double summons wo 
 dc°ir6 to yield a lioarty ol?c|dience, in token at once, of our loyalty to 
 the State, and of our affootion for Presbyterian order. We rcjoico 
 that in the councils of our Executive a vci-ning God is recognized ; 
 and that by the precept aiid examplo of tlioso in high places, as well 
 as by the instructions of their religipu.s teachcv.s, the people arc taught 
 their dependence upon Him, and their obligations to recognize and 
 
 adore Him. v^ 
 
 Truly God's mercies towards us arc multiplied beyond our poweV 
 to number, and they are greater far than we are able to express. It 
 I would be very difficult for any one^ "out of an honest and good 
 \hcart," to say which is tlfc most wonderful, the aggregate of our eins 
 against God, or the aggregate of God's mercies towards us ; and 
 pspecially when pur hearts tell us that of the least of these latter we 
 kre utterly uhdesei^ving and unworthy, iilikc in our individual and 
 In our social capacity we can say that God " hath not dealt with us 
 la we have sinned, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities." Had 
 God done so, wc had to-day been lifting up our voices from « the 
 belly of helV in tte horrid outcries of indigence and despair, instead of 
 humbly yet deyoutlyendeavoring to give expression to our grateful 
 
.-.'.• !■ - ■ . 
 
 .1 ■ - 
 
 >^ 
 
 ' )oabtleM 
 mirth 
 
 omotions within the courf» of God's own homo on earth, 
 many throughout the land will obwrve this day, with wh| 
 trembling will bo largely mingled, and with whose mefaiorio« of 
 undosorved mercies, memories of bitter beroavomonta abd heavy 
 crosses of one kind or another will bo strangely blended. While 
 these demand and call forth our sympathies, they need nbt be per- 
 mitted to break in upon the harmony of our general aoti6n to-day. 
 That there should be aught of distress in any district of, a land so 
 jrreatly blessed as this, does throw an element much, to bo lamented 
 into the cup which we are required to drink. Yet if it sUll deepen 
 our gratitude for our mercies, and if it shall quicken us in searching 
 out our Bins, and if it shall increase our sympathy with tht sons and 
 daughters of affliction both in the land of our nativity and m that of 
 \ur adoption, then shall that suffering itself prove a cause For thank- 
 fulness and humble praise. ., / 
 
 Give me your attention then while 1 seek « to stir up your pure 
 minds by way of remembrance," by enumerating sonjie of our 
 mercies which seem to caU for special acknowledgment to^ God :~ 
 F1E8T in order I .mention the Peace that prevails ill all our 
 borders. This is of God, the Supreme Governor of nations. When 
 -the" year now closing began its coursl* alarms of war lay hdavily on 
 many hearts ; but as weeks rolled on these all passed away, and our 
 people were allowed to pursue their varied avocations in Vf^^-^} 
 danot know that we estimate at its full value the boon of public 
 tranquility. I fear that we do not. We can read of wars with their 
 accumulated wretchedness and woes, and whither in the histories of 
 X the past can we seek and not be moved and oppressed by such 
 records ?-for what is history but the narrative of wars. But we havf 
 not traversed the field of bldbd— nor waded through heaps of dying 
 and dead men— nor passed frough lands laid bare and desolate by 
 the tramp of gathering hosts. We have never been summoned to lay 
 aside the pursuits of ordinaJy life, to grasp the sword and to hurry 
 to the camp. We have not been called to put weapons of death into 
 the hands of our children aid to send them forth on the mission of 
 strife nor have we been caUd to provide foil the wants of wounded 
 
 ■Kr 
 
 and dying men stricken do 
 
 yet if the visions of war be so temble=^ 
 
 in our defence. None of these things 
 
 bave happened unto us, and 
 
' h.w foarfol «a h»rt.,iol.ning n.».i *» r..my b.. Wc, on .1.. 
 ^^h.r hand h.TO Wn pormitloJ In po.™ »» po.»»., "d *ll. nUd 
 
 wo have rc,..d when wcary-tatcd, when h>-K'J-»"-' ^^'J °J 
 out .nd .omo in, n«n« daring to dialurb u,, or n.«ko u. .fr..d. I 
 Inot o«n«„t 10 admit that iho P""'" '7"''"' ''r" „X '" 
 W rro..rcd for u. by a wi», and .^'-^"\^«':': :, >; ^ 
 
 !*:»:„:"" thohoartof '^v^fi'^'^irTCZ'^z::^ 
 
 ™ ndo« bo onablod to do «o, to .para tho country tho cruol c™,t of 
 r.ndll^. glory that thoughtlc^ «.ind, aro di-po«=d to aaao-, . 
 
 "t^»-In addition to tho b«nB of pobllo ^'V^«^ 
 h.r.lyod .!«► tho blcipg of national plenty. Iloro and thor. 
 kayo 'W"" » .^J^^f. -^ d„k .pots marked and warred by a 
 '•''""f^t^nnKd tb^ aero Inot fail to bo -uroring er. 
 r^r~f uT^in'reoaL: That in some, perhap. in many 
 
 W to «al »P oar Bympathioa and con.paas.on «.th the •« •«^* n" 
 ;lo«roy^ron.th.Ura. ^^^ ';-:,- r"tre«i^^o^« 
 
 fell of Sntmorciful to hia boaat," and therefore to bo reg«ded 
 tils rwn.»lf, even A-ere there i. a call for ^'-'T'^Z 
 
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jour Ajjrloultarnl AHuociialnn*. nmt thnt T cftrt moasMro tlm aiinon- 
 ' lionfi of tlio «no(l tlioy arc c ileuliitod to confer both upon tlw prcMilt 
 gononitioii ;;ntl ui>(»ti |M»Mtei-ity. 
 
 In tljo fiico fiowovor of t\\n*o durk H|)nt» licro nuJ thcro tlmm-iliout 
 tho lurid, ill which au Imupcrienood mid iiiuffcctivo husljaiulry, or 
 porhiip-* c:mwH btiyond tho i-antroiil of man, Imi* iofl both ncurcity and 
 ■ufforinjr, I ctinuot but cx4»rc»s my coiivicti«ii» that tlio yield o( tho 
 furni li.iH boon in iC«n««"!d far bjynnd whit xf.M anticipated In tfio 
 oarlifi- woi>k» of the past Muuniurr, and coi-tainly far beyond what . 
 ' any of HI will !i>;iy thit wo diMorvod. In i-ocilliiijj; the varied 
 Incidoiits tli.it oceiirrod diiriu- the pa'it !*uininer, In the land, wo can 
 hJincnibui-' < >ruo iii^|p(:icular that cuntatned in thcuiselve* thot,'crnii 
 of great cal tinitie", atid that kuyo Iiho to a deep and widely nprcad 
 ahirni and iippr/'hoiislon of the upprnaoli of (amine. Wo remember 
 : thcdiMuji,ht of tliee-irliev-fnmmer; and in the Hmall anvoujit of evil 
 that it cauf-od we (• III mi whit evil nmnt have occurred ha<l it Iwen 
 but for a little while l<>np;er co!itinvie<l. We remember the whirlwind 
 that riiHhel down from the northwest upon many districts of the pro- 
 vince, layiii;j bare tliofore>tt in itH track, and sweeping' the fields with 
 the besom of dc^lwietiqu, and in the little evil that it wrought we ^co 
 what jxreat evil must have reniUcd liad it been eoinmlssio^ed to take 
 a wider Hweop. ^o remember tlioravagc's of the iflsect tliat alighted 
 HO late in the hojSii oW tlu; almost ripened gralh^ and we chx see how 
 
 • deadly and (Icspemte had been the blight upon^ cry interest in tbc 
 .country if the plague had come upon us but a \\V;ck.or two earlier 
 
 \ . than it did. The drought but a^ few (b^ys: longcr-Vtbc insect bftt a 
 few duy.H earrier, and how foirful the dosobtlon thatWst have been 
 
 • wrought. Wo have seen the geriiw of evils nipped idmo.st at their 
 very, heart, and tho calamities wbich they for0.shado^\W mercifully 
 averted. It may not bo then that our barn.s are stored Vs they have 
 hecu or aa we venture to hope they may be again— ncv^-thcless in 
 the land there is bread enough and to spare, and a bcnignJyit God is 
 the giver of all. What havtj wo hero? Peace and pHcnty; for 
 these it belioves us to be unfeignedlj| grateful. They arc the com- 
 mon enjoyment of the land. In uo sense can they be regarded as the 
 friiitH of human wisdom, or a.s the\ f oaults of the operation of merely 
 human forces. •' Who causeth it to rain oh the earth, to satiflfV tho 
 
 

 •nrii.^ furlh ?' " It'lU tUo r»l.. .. Kitlwr, or wl.o l.«tU b.T<oUc,. tl.o 
 
 L„ „ J,,, and .1,0 1.UUI -Ml Jioia 1« l»oro»™ and U.o .r>. ,| » . 
 all .lull viciaUwirfmU"-" .mJjo *.,U ...t j.mf brcd'W -ll c 
 
 „H. (),>r flol.u h.vcyUdoa U,.i.- i„«oa.a a„.l o.w orau-ra- I .ur 
 1,«, . IVuh. ; all 1 Jte.. W.tl.croa ia wi.la.a. tla, .u-ot aa on.,u.y. 
 twy i..t>.r.«t iu .be cuafy f.-n, tho ..11 tU:.. WU.lc, f,..,a tl.o «o,l ■ 
 „p to .1.0 l.il.'l.».. or..ur .»....rta,-y rolali«..»l.u» „o.,,ur..l» power ,.nd 
 
 ro^ l„.,lwl...n .1,0 year b.w.a. Tho ...U..no«u.ont b .....rkod »..d .... ■«- 
 W ,d I ..aaoLuord'ovo afford .o cn„ .l.o -[ !'">t ■» ''»; j;« ; 
 .„m,"l. ..or K^ocrou., o..u«,.Uto ...or^o .ho pooal,a.-...o» .,f .«»».. 
 liUloWi.. lUo «.«■•.,.« „dvaucc.»cnl_a..d onward pw«»|«"'» 
 
 2„, „„„ of .1.0.0 U upliftodupon any nation, .t .» a .oUn tf an„cr 
 Todi ul-mo"t. Fro'n .11 tte.« wo Uavo been .norc.fully M»orvcd, 
 
 r„„ .Lnioin tl,0U..d,a,.d as for broad " .bavo o^.u^ >^^^^^^ 
 „„,! Jud -monts liavo I.00.1 avortod a.id meroios bavo boon Hiulti 
 T^',.nto n" and bonco it boco,..o. uh an a i«o„lo this .Uy to oon.. 
 £0 Tbo Wd ;itbtUa,.b.,ivin, a..d to pro»o„t unto Ui.n our tr.- 
 
 ''Tlnot'w,. a-on. alluaingSo'auotbor oau.0 for thapfeghing. 
 to ; . Z nrovalonoo of .ocial crdor/ In tbo ..uiotudo of our .nd.- 
 M^ Li..l eondUion wo a,o apUo No «i,bt of "- >•« 
 . »;.b„nt it bow oasily mi ;l.t tl.o wl.olo land bo n.ado to bla^o 
 ;1C * tf tl!:r„ooniary;or to Wrbour _band».f .biovo, an 
 r«n.adors Wo know bow oasily buman pa»io..s aro aronsod and 
 Ctdiy o^oltod multitudo. botako tbe„>,olvos to praot.oo, of 
 t^n^and lawtes violonoo. la a country Uko our,, comparat.voly 
 „Wo sooioty ba» not. yot attainod to that consolidation and 
 ■""' "''"^TT '^^on.^°"f^t io.. Of will, una P-"P«^. ■■'"'^■"■'""* 
 
 F-; 
 
' : ■ ■■'-' ''■■:■ B •-■ ^^;.:'.■ ■■•■•■'.■■; \ 
 
 peouliar to older lands and to tnaturer oonditiona, where there api*«» 
 Jather the rush of many peoples earnest in theif desire <« ««* W^" 
 proper level-to reach the position which they a"f'^\^f *«^ 
 thanthe stoid and orderly movements of acompact and weMalanoed 
 oommunity-where amid divergent creeds, and new tonditions of 
 things secular, ignorance strong in its very hlindness may often be 
 found side by.side with knowledge orderless and inexperienced. In 
 
 iuch a condition of things, human passions are doubtless more Msily 
 excited, and society is more open to the schemes and aspirings ot the 
 demagogue. Yet through all our borders social order has prevailed, 
 and in no one district has the- peace of society been seriously dw- 
 tarbed. It may be altogether possible to trace much of this to what 
 are caUed « secondary causes," as for example, the liberty life enjoy— 
 a law/uUiheriS that respects at once the rights of the individuaVman 
 and the stabiUty of the social fabric ; a wise legislation founded on 
 the triedprinciples of triith and right, suited to the circumstances of 
 the country, and yet susfieptible of such modifications and amend- 
 ments as the progress of thepeople may require-au impartial admin- 
 istration of law, securingequal justice to the poorest and wealthiest of 
 the people, and lastly in order, although not second in importanoe^to 
 any of them, an improved system of education both local and provin- 
 cial, with whichitisgreatlytff be desired that neither the sectary nor 
 the infidel shall ever be permitted to interfere. I MXj admit the ^ 
 importance of all these, and earnestly 4esire that their real worth and 
 excellence may be more highly estimated by the people-yet does it 
 become us to remember that inasmuch as the hearts of all men arem 
 the hands of the Lord, to Him we are indebted for social order as truly 
 
 as for national tranquUity. WhUe prizing then the civU advantages 
 which,under God,as a free people we possess and enjoy-while 
 rejoicing in the benignant and honoured government under which we 
 are privUeged to Uve, declaring every where and at all tiijj^ our love 
 and loyalty to our most gracious sovereign, not boastfuUy, but with 
 ai inteUigent appreciation of her worth as a woman, her example mb 
 amother, and her excellence as a queep, whUe rqoicing in our Uws 
 and liberty, and in every blessing directly 'and indirectly connected 
 therewith, let us lift up our hearts to^ay in devout, adoring gratitud^ 
 to Him who is the dweUing-plaoe of His people in dl generation^ 
 — -rventure to suggest anothei^cause for thank8giving,Jp thafi 
 
 theiact 
 
^ 
 
 
 •V- 
 
 thai tiie liamst during the year now closing has been equally abun^ ^ 
 dant in other lands as in our own— and that therefore the value of 
 the " staff of life" is at present generally low both In America and 
 among the nations of Europe. This may seem b^ib a small mercy 
 indeed to bring to the reinembrance of an agriouHurd community, 
 nevertheless I do suggesj^^ I have no sym-piathy whatever with the 
 spirit of avarice that makes a man, created in the image of a benig- 
 nant God, delirous of feeding and fattening on the necessities of his 
 neighbour; and that lead^him to grumble and complain when his 
 neighbour finds himself in circumstances to fix the price which he 
 shall pay for his daily bread. Doubtless had wheat commanded a, 
 higher price in the market, you farmers would have been perhaps bj 
 so much the richer— but then with your meal of abundance mu# 
 have been mingled the'bitter herbs of many a brother's starvation.-^ -^ 
 Who can read without a gush4>f pity and of sympathy x>fth^>$uffet. 
 in^'s now, at this very hour, borne uncomplainingly by nearly half ji 
 iSiion of our countrymen in England and Scotland. Think fot a 
 moment how greatly their sufferings must needs have been aggravar 
 ted had bread been higher in price than it is. I have heard here of 
 one and there of another storing th6ir wheat in their barns rather 
 than seU it at the present low figure. Mark the end of a spirit so 
 avaricious— for the end wiU come and will not tarry. If these men 
 can look forth from amid their plenty upon their suffering, starvitfg 
 fellow-subjects, and withhold from them that which they need because 
 they cannot got such a return for it.as their avarice demands -if with 
 their plenty they have no pity, then I say that God will take it out 
 of them in one way pr other. The worm may waste it-fire may 
 consume it-or by a retribution even more fearftU, their very abun- 
 dance may be made their curse. , 
 
 I am well aware that many are of opinion that such thoughts as^ 
 these are out of place in the services of God's house. But if any of 
 this kind are present to-day, I would just say to them that when I 
 am called upon to express my/thankfulness I want distinctly and 
 
 cleariy to know for what I am to be thankful. This w no time for 
 -vague generalities 
 
 There we others so ex(fS!ding spiritual in their tastes and 
 desires as t» deem the introdncUon of snoh earthly things i^to» 
 sermon V heing Uttle short of jn^yerance and presnmption. To bo 
 
 w 
 
 I 
 
ih 
 
 plain with such, if any such now hear mo, I have just to say to them 
 that i have a very low opinion of the spirituality of the man who 
 while professing his uuwprthincss of all God's roercits, fails to see 
 God's hand evenvin the least of them, and is slow to acknowledge 
 God's goodness and undeserved favour in the bestowal of them. 
 Why docs such a man take advantage of the pleasant sunshine and . 
 of God's rain, and of the dew that falleth On the tender herb ? Why 
 does he take advantage of seed' time and harvest ? Why docs he 
 rest by night and labour by day ? Why does he send his children 
 i6 school, or avail himself of tlie facilities for the improvement of 
 mind which a benificcnt legislation has secured to him ? Or why 
 does he, when injured in his 'person or his property, invoke the pro- 
 tectipn of his country's laws ? AH these are blessings in which the 
 hand and goodness of the Lord may be distinctly seen. A man of 
 true spirituality of mind will acknowledge this, and aliyp to the 
 benefits alike of mental enlargement and of mental rcfincmci^, which 
 these blessings are designed and calculated to impart, and alive also 
 to the degradation and mental imbecility of all that are strangers to 
 them, while enjoying even the least of them, he will notftiil to lift 
 up his hands and heart to heaven and say " The Lord is the portion 
 of mine inheritance and'of my cup. Thgu maintaincst my lot. 
 The lines are Menunto me in pleasant places ; yea I have a goodly 
 heritage. I will bless the Lord who hath given me counsel ; my 
 rains dso instruct me in the night season." I can/hcre speak for 
 myself and say without boasting tjiat the more I see of God's 
 goodness in the earthly blessings of my lot, tlie moi^e I am disposed 
 to appreciate and to enjoy and to improve "for His name's glpry," 
 "the spiritual blessings, in heavenly places, in Christ Jesus '^ that 
 on every hand surround me. When I look at the si|(owflake, as it falls 
 in such beauty, and so gently to the ground, or at the leaf of my little 
 plant that I seek to shelter from the winter's fro^, and find grounds 
 in them for thankfulness to my heavenly Fa^er who hath given 
 them to me for my^instruction and comfort, shap I blindly pass over 
 the provisions of His bounty and the arrangeirients of His paternal 
 carcj that are designed by Him to lead the guflty to repentance and 
 to enrich and comfort the life that has been already ennobfed by His 
 
 grace. • ■ v ■;.'"'".■ ' i ■ . ... ^ 
 
 : Our grounds for gratitude are by no me^ns exhausted^fpr ,we 
 

 11 
 
 have blessings riclier fiir than all that I have mentioned, blgssings 
 of whicl^ many, it iri to be feared, are destitute in tho more thinly 
 scattered sections of the province -and blessings which many posecgB, 
 and hold by, "without any intelligent appreciation of their value or of 
 the purpose for which they have been given to man. Who can> 
 express the value of Tiie Holy Bible, the book of books, the one 
 book of ail others that wo can never prize too highly nor study too 
 intently— that lights up with a more .than earthly lustre the dwellings 
 in which it is daily opened, and cheers witli more than earthly com- 
 fort the heart that makes it a welcome guest. God's'word qievery 
 house, and God's Lovo in every heart would make Canada a pjumdise 
 and her people a praise on the earth. ' 
 
 Our Sabbaths— Ihe pillars of a just liberty— the chiefcst earthly 
 
 joy of a free people. The Holy. Sabbath which the gracious Lord 
 
 calls on us to ^^mnembir," is indeed the spring time of our weekly 
 
 life Its hours of holy sunshine and of heavenly showers cau^o the 
 
 germs of life to shoot forth in the bud— -and the bud to expand^into 
 
 the blossom— and the bloSeomho Tippn into tlie pleasant fruit, which 
 
 the Beloved will come into the garden to eat with the Spouse. The 
 
 "Lprd of the Sabbath descends then to walk in the garden that is full 
 
 ^of plants that His own right hgnd harfi planted these. He watches 
 
 with jcaloits care arid waters every moment. The sun cannot smite 
 
 them, for He- is their keeper. The frost cannot blight them, for He 
 
 is their shield. Pity the man, the family and nation that knows 
 
 no Sabbath./ ;:'.. ; 
 
 Our Sanctuaries— the holy places throughout the land where 
 God's tribes assemble from Sabbath to Sabbath ; the true ornaments 
 of uny land — ^humble and unpretending structures, without the 
 ornaments of age to gild them, or the funiishirigs of luxury and 
 wealth to attract towards them the cold eye of taste •, op6n where- 
 ever they raise their fronts alike to the lofty and to the lowly, with 
 their primitive and simple services, and a ritual that,J;hough unread, 
 dates farther back than any that kings have qomiuanded or parlia- 
 ments coniirmed— that speaks to us of a history antecedent* to 
 Reformation times, and that links us in the use of it with the Apos- 
 tles and Confessors oK the church's earlier d^ys. With these 
 honoured institutions, revered because they are ancient ; loved 
 
 I 
 
 ^esfcaiaBini II III iiiiii ihiii 
 
IP(^RW**«P» 
 
 12 
 
 beoauae they are tbe fruits of victories which our fathers won ; and 
 dung to with all the strength of the soul's affection, because they 
 are God's gifts of enduring mercy ; with these we cannot but be a 
 happy and prosperous people. They are the foundation^ on which 
 •ocial-order and public tranquility are securely built i^°; .the props 
 of that righteousness by which a nation is exalted, and enemies of., 
 sin that is the reptoach of any people. / ; 
 
 This imperfect review of our grounds for thankfulnefc may well 
 suggest to an earnest man the propriety of rigid and impartial 
 scrutiny of his own heart, and also of the evils that continue to sur- 
 
 ' round him. Causes for thankfulness, and an iiiteUigent thankfulness of 
 heart do not always exist together. The former we have always and 
 6v«rywhere beside us,"* but with' the latter it is rare to meet. It 
 is rare to meet with it in others— it is rare to find it in ourselves. 
 It is a gift that cometb only from the Lord, and diyly have we need 
 to ask of Him " Lord give me a thankful heart." It acts in the 
 little, but busy world within, as the melodies of King David's harp 
 did in Saul's chamber. It soothes and cheers the disquieted soul, 
 and leads it by the hand into the arbour of its mercies, and there 
 satisfies it with good things. It throws open the shutters of pride 
 and selfishness, and floods in the blessed sunlight of peace and con- 
 tentment. Look at a thankless, man— how horrid the picture— no 
 spirit out of hell so dark and forbidding as his. His very shadow is 
 a blight wherever it falls, and his lips continually distil poison. He 
 
 * tolants the miseriesof each day ^ round the walisof his chamber, so 
 that standwhere be may, or sit.where he may, hfe looks forth only on 
 a mise^ ; and ,vhen he ventures to look in upon himself, he shrinks 
 aghast from himself the greatest misery of all. A thankful man on 
 the other hand^ees mercy in 6very oup^ucks sweets from ievery 
 flower— silences the whbpers of suspicion and envy, and raises the 
 key note of praise even in dark and troublous times. He is no 
 Strang?* to himself— and none sees so well as he the imperfections 
 that mar the harmony of his life, and hence rebuke him and reprove 
 him he b still thankful— thankfiJ that one friend is so honest as 
 faithfuUy to warn him of his danger, and has interest in his wdl- 
 being suflficient to lead him to rebuke him for his sin. , ' 
 
 - — i^hould f^l as if I h a d perform e d only a part of my duty if a fter 
 
setting in order Wore jou your meroiee, 1 did not endeavour to 
 draw your attention to existing evils in the midst of which our 
 mercies are enjoyed. Indeed true thankfulnew will quite naturally 
 lead us to search ourselves— and then to Entreat the Lord to search 
 us also. Though by no means so. grateful a work as that in which 
 we have just been engaged, it seems to me to be not less a part of 
 our rightiful work on a day of national thank^vihg. ^ 
 
 * the second of the passages of holy scripture read this morning 
 brings before us perilous times indeed— but as the Apostle's wakeful 
 eye saw them, they were not times of actual desertion and barrenness 
 —times in which all mercies were withdrawn-r-but rather times in 
 which mercies abounded, co-incident with manifold and glaring sins. 
 This indeed it is that renders such times full of peril, and therefore 
 in enumerating our mercies it behoves us carefully to try our spirits 
 ill regard both to our enjoyment arid improvement of them. 
 Although the profession of religion is wide spread, I fear muchHhat 
 there is about that profe^on a declension from the vigour and 
 earnestness of true life. I do not say that the Bi^e as God's word 
 is generally neglected,' or that its pure and blessed ordinances are 
 lightly estimated. Nor do I say that vital Godliness has passed 
 from amongst us, or that its restraints are now powerless ; but what 
 I lament is the want of heart and earnestness in the life of faith, and 
 the apathy and uftconcem as to personal religion that seem to prevail 
 in the .multitude. I compare the present highly favourable season 
 of the Church's history ^ith times of clouds and darkness that have 
 preceded it, and Ido noil find that the comparison sets the Christian 
 life of our day at all in a favourable light. I can see a manifest 
 declension now from the honesty, uprightness, and moral purity, and 
 nearness to God in personal^ family, social apd public li|p by which 
 our fathers were characterized, and which have won alike for the 
 Puritans of England and the Presbyterians of Scotland an honoured 
 and Unviable name. God lived^ in and ruled them. The world too 
 largely lives in and rules us. This forms the grand distinction 
 between our life and theirs! TheyUved as under; God's all-seeinK 
 eye. So tj»ey prayed and praised. So they bought and sold. So 
 ■ they labourk and so they rested, their watchword was « Thon 
 God seest flae." But thi s ever-present a nd o mni scient God was their 
 
friehd—their portion— their Father ond their God. They loved 
 Him. They wnlked with Him while they bowed before Him. Hia 
 presopgo with them was their strength, by which they believed in 
 Him and suflFcrcd for his sake. Their nearness to Him was t^eir 
 joy and delight. Their prayers wcve as bolts shot into Heaven, and 
 their praises -were as income that rose in volumes to the pkies. 
 Now it is very fur otherwise. It is largely the desire of men 
 now-a-days to keep God shut m) within the church. Men do not ' 
 want to bo overlooked by that holy— searching eye, from which it is 
 declared that thcro is nothing hid. They do not yrant God to see 
 them when they buy and sell, and when they lend and borrow, and 
 when they go out and come in, and when they sit in converHO with 
 their neighbours. Yea, it is to be feared that even in holy places 
 and' at holy times God's pvcscrico is not desired. : And that there 
 are not a few who would wish God to be out of the church when 
 they, are invited to give a part of the money that God hath entrusted 
 to their caro to any one of God's many pensioners. They do not 
 want that God should sec the vast disproportion between their givifig 
 to God and their getting from Him. Let men once lose sight of the 
 truth that " the eye of the Lord is in every place," and let them 
 . any where or at any time act as if God saw them not, and ere long 
 the perilous and blasphemous idea will be found firmly wedged into 
 the heart, God has nothing to do with. my givings— God has 
 nothing to do with business— God has nothing to do with politics. 
 Ah ! conceal it from themselves 'as man may, the simple truth of such 
 language is just this— that when they transact their business or 
 fulfil their duties as citizens, they do not want , that God should see 
 
 them, : i'^ ^- ■_;-■.■■ -■;. ■ ':. ^ ' :•■ 
 
 ^Vow as your well-wisher and counseUer, and as your servant for 
 Jesus's sake, I want you to understand that love to the Lord Jesus 
 Christ ought to be the very hegrt, and the glory of Christ the great 
 end of every duty ybu are called on to perform. It is declension 
 from this that I mourn over— for I believe it to be an increasing 
 evil in our day. It assumes many forms. I have given you one. I. 
 shall^^ire you another. ' *> 
 
 Confideno* betw^n man and man is 'declining. I do not mean 
 tha t highlr trust or confidence which we are warranted in reposing 
 
.A ■■;.■ 
 
 m 
 
 15 • 
 
 . ;■> 
 
 only in M; but feat. |tutual confidence between man and man 
 which is indiBponsable to the right and energetic working of the social < / 
 machinery. When the idea has gained ground in any. commanity, 
 that, for self defence against imposition and fraudulent dealing, it is 
 necessary to take every man for a rogue until you shall have proved 
 him to be an honest man, depend upon it that that community is 
 ripening fast for any atrocity, or for any ugly wprk that the devil has 
 on hand, and that the man who acts upon that idea is himself a dis- 
 honoured and dishonest man. The foundations of morality are 
 already sapped within him, and a very small spark of temptation is 
 needed to inflame the combustibles that have been heaped together ■ 
 in that man's heart. , 
 
 A truly Christian community never can be thus, nor can the shiir 
 dow af a suspicion of such a state of things rest upon it. The pre- 
 sence of the Holy Lord. God is felt by that community. ,T,he sanc- 
 tions of absolute rectitude influence the transactions of its most ordi- 
 nary life, and exhibiting confidence in his neighbour in so far as 
 Christian U-ht warrants bim in 4oing so, the Christian man will of 
 course desire that his peighbour shall place a similar confidence in 
 him. Thus only can the integrity of a high toned morality be pus- 
 'tained audits machinery be kept in harmonious and vigor6|p working 
 order. In the higher circles of commercial life the absolute necessity 
 for such a confidence is admitted ; although frequently abused, the 
 boon itself is seldom undervalued, and wh«n it comes to be -a^question 
 whether or not it really exists and o^rates freely, then what is called 
 «« a ammercua crisis' occurs. By far the greater number of those 
 commercial crises that occasionally stir communities to their very 
 centtes, and that even lay.a temporary >restment upon national 
 advancement, may be traced to a want of confidence between man and 
 
 man. '• " ■ ' '» -u ' '^ t 
 
 Intiniately connected with this is man's \sympathy with man. 1 
 do not meaumerely sympathy with suffering or afflicted man; that 
 in words at least, may be had cheaply in almost any market ; but I 
 do mean that real but mysterious power that links the living to the 
 living mrtn— that mak*es t\ie poor man feel that he is a man, as well 
 as he whom birth or rank or acquired riches have placed above tim 
 in the social scale; and that makes the rich man feel that he is but 
 
 .!l 
 
 ^ 
 
 wimiiirtiart <iiii III I III nil iiii 'nrni'iiiiimmn 
 
 mmtf 
 
"r^'^ff^'^p^^^ 
 
 
 
 
 *•• 
 
 ••;'•'"■• :-:^''"; *-Vv'- ■■:•*•■.'■■■•■■ '^ ' ■ 
 
 » man—and In everytWng that really conncoto him with his ipooiea 
 on a level with the lowliest of those that surround him. 
 
 I do not mean that all ranks should be annihilated and that all 
 di8tinction3 whether natural or artificial should be disallowed and 
 forgotten, but rather that, among the cUtsses into which human 
 looiety, even in its purer conditions, seems naturally disposed to 
 divide itselfjthercshould be felt all the power of a common brother 
 hood, and all the worth of a common interest. The lofty head and 
 the humble foot,— the hand of power, and the eye of keen perception, 
 all members of the same body, loving together, working together, and 
 in unison and strength carrying out their common purpose and an- 
 swering in this unison the one creator's grand design. This is sympathy 
 of man with matt; and my persuasion is that along with mutual 
 coiifidenoe this sympathy is declining. Both seem to have become 
 dislodged from the honorable pre-emijience which they once occupied, 
 and as a necessary connequcnce the bands that hold society together 
 are becoming weaker and society itself more liable to disorganization 
 and decay. Nor is the procuring cause of this difficult to find. The 
 love of the world, its pleasures and its wealth, yea the very love of its 
 Unh and businesses because of the wealth they promise to bring, has 
 taken hold of the heart and soul and strength and mind of the mul- 
 titude, giving birth to competitions and endless rivalries in business, 
 and fomenting jealousies and envyings even in the more private and 
 confidential depiartments of life. 
 
 Truth between man and man has lost much of its natural and 
 conservative power. The virtue and excellence which God with such 
 holy jealousy assumes to Himself, in that He is hot only the living 
 but the TEUE Ood, and in that Jesus declares Himself to be " the 
 truth," is now in many things very lightly estimated among men. 
 That it stands so high in heaven might well make it the fairest gem 
 in any creature's crown, yet is it otherwise, and thdugh it be written 
 as with a sunbeam on the page of inspiration that there entereth into 
 the kingdom nothing that defileth, " neither anything .that maketh a 
 lie," and idso that " all liars shall have their portion in the lake that 
 bnmeth with fire and brimstone," yet in the face of these is lying prac- 
 tised not only among the competitions of business but even in the 
 very pri v acies of life. The nam rof^ a liar is still h e ld in ab hor 
 
 the vice itsel 
 flaunting aroi 
 in public life, 
 by a shrug of 
 tenance, as bj 
 in a man's vc 
 as in any woi 
 quently dtesec 
 imperilled. 
 
 It has 001 
 shonld not al 
 closely allied 
 your childrei 
 iBut instead i 
 but when he 
 his life be th 
 head of trutl 
 this become 
 greater meas 
 and strifes, 
 and the sorh 
 paraded befc 
 ber would m 
 uttered by tl 
 weak mind I 
 
 The print 
 and simplici 
 Very diflFerei 
 "the truths 
 written as it 
 renders it in 
 there is a coi 
 at once be i 
 every man tl 
 man's glory- 
 or anywher 
 
 j^gja^Sijyiftjiaifeimaitotii 
 
 ^.\i r^ 1^''i' t*l 
 
.iiltlKH.i- 
 
 ^ ;■ ■ ' . ■ .' ^ ' %itk' •„ ■ '. mC- :■'• ''■■■'■''!•■ ■ ■■ ' I-.- 
 
 . •■ . ■' . ^ilp' ': .'.'•• '■".. * .- , .'■"'' *. ■-' .-■■.' ■:, ■ ■ 
 
 I . . ■ I 
 
 the vioQ itself dressed out anew in the habiliments of virtue and 
 flaunting around its borrowed plumes, finds.a place alike in private and . 
 in public life. Lies are told as well by impressions left on the min^ 
 by a shrug of the shoulders^ a wink of the eye, and a oast of the coun- 
 tenance, as by words of positive falsehood thrown upon the ear — yea 
 in a man's very silence there may be a falsehood as powerful for evil 
 as in any words that he can utter. By these the fireside is too fr0- 
 quently desecrated and the oonfidenoes of private life and friendship 
 imperilled^ . ■ .^/ ;.■/■ | ■. 
 
 ■v It has come to be an adage in very common use '* The truth 
 should not always be told;" and it is ii^ general regarded as being 
 d^ly allied with prudence in ordinary life. Teach this adage to 
 your children and you instruct them in the Very alphabet of falsehood. 
 iBut instead of that let the words be " man should not always speak 
 but When he does, let his every word bo true, and let his looks ahd 
 his life be ihc echo of his words,*' and you place a crownvupon the 
 head of truth which your children will tiever cease to wvei^ Let 
 this become general, and humanity shall henceforth be spared its 
 greater measure of griefs and its interminable round of bitternesses 
 and strifes. Were it possible tp count the tears that are daily shed 
 and the sorrows and anxieties that are daily endured in silence or 
 paraded before the eyes of any community, by far the larger num- 
 ber would most likely be found to have taken rise in a lie either 
 uttered by the lips of malevolence and envy, or iinpressed upon some 
 w^ mind by a shrug of the shoulders or a sigh. 
 
 The principle of God's word is expressed with utmost plwnnesa 
 and simplicity, "speak every man the truth with his neighbour." 
 Very different is this from the common saying already adverted to— 
 "the truth should not ^ways be told." The principle above stated, 
 written as it is both wve Law and iiwthe Oospel by no means 
 renders it incumbent oi^tn to be alwa^|»eiaking ; indeed where 
 there is a constant readiness^to talk— a love of talking— Uiere it may 
 at once be assumed that there is also a tendency to lying. "Speak, 
 every man the truth with bis neighbour." The tongue is said to be 
 man's glory— and surely it b much to be deplored that it should ever 
 or anywhere be employed id the utterance of aught but truth. 
 
 a lthfiid a nd vigorou s - a nd the l<»re of 
 
 I 
 
It 
 
 Chrint is folt in itn Hwout, conntriiininp; powofL there truth in everything 
 U do.4irod mid Mou^ht ui^er, and truth |>68tfOHiM)d m lionourod and 
 rovorod. TIkj very purstiitx uiid buHiaoasomof life in thoiMBelveH and 
 in ntatiH ooaduct of thum are truth. The iitturanoeM of tho lips are 
 truth— for truth when it dwellcth in the heitrt, wlicrtt tho true God 
 doHiri!.-) it, nuiHt noeds show Jtsolf — Hh preHc|ico and its i)owor in all 
 that the (Miristiuu in,' and Muys, and doos. 
 
 Our d;iy witncst'^cs a snd and I four n ^ro^ng defection from this 
 divine cxcolloiice, ami thou;^'h it *be cotncidant with u wide-Hpread 
 profes-sion of religion, our times are thefebv imiio perilous tinios 
 ■indeed.' , .;;; .,^ ' ... , \.^ . VW • ' 
 
 pARKNTAf/ w>.TciiFrr.MES3 AVD ovKR.siffltiT lire lc88 constant 
 and 8c.irchinj», and as a conscrjueuco filial obcaiciieo and respect are 
 on the decline. Thra latter evil meets the eyolmost readily, bccauso 
 it affeots in its o})crutioiis intorcHts at onec ho numerous and tender. 
 It inmost assruredly increaslnj,' amongst us, and i^fanifestin*; itself in 
 forms and ways, that in their earlier developejncnt, never meet the 
 public eye, thout^h they do awaken •;rcat anxiety in niany a parent's 
 hcitrt." Already has the evil reached a mai^nitudo that calls for wise 
 and judicious consideration. It does not affeet parents alone how- 
 ever, but exte.nds to teachers, and indeed^ to all recognized authoritiea 
 — as niitiistcrs and magistrutes. XThat I may be clearly understood 
 i state it again as my conviction that disobedience to parents and 
 want of respect for teachers and rainMeis and mngistratcs arc on the 
 increase amorig tho youth of our day.V In aX/hristian community 
 there is ever manifested a respect and reverence for age. It is both 
 the dictate of tlRpdivirit) law and the natt^ral feeling of a refined 
 nature Jlinyfters are regarded with aiTection — ^Elders with honour 
 -r-Toaeher^Xs temporary representatives of parents are treated with 
 confideage and obeyed with a cordial afFection— Magistrates and 
 Judges as being tho ministers of civil law and the constituted guar^ 
 dians both of individual and social rights are held in honor and 
 respect by every trulj- patriotic mind. Their very presence is an 
 encouragement to virtue and a restraint upon vice and a protection 
 to every virtuous member of the community— where these fail and 
 insubordination and youthful rowdyism replace them, it is not a time 
 for a lover of his country to be silent. The evils exposed may be 
 
 only in the j 
 
 T,lie higher i 
 
 to fninntt. 
 
 Oantion and 
 
 regard to it- 
 
 than nimply 
 
 kindly consli 
 
 of pafcut.»j aji 
 
 When a y 
 
 which he hiis 
 
 whom ho i«, 
 
 he has come 
 
 saunter by t 
 
 or to tho siiii 
 
 been as.xociat 
 
 a reckless ini 
 
 parent»d com 
 
 kindly rostra 
 
 iHcstic life is 
 
 he becomes 
 
 hinj to regar( 
 
 tramnicls of 
 
 something w 
 
 have imbibed 
 
 or from his o 
 
 ved, and ider 
 
 and to his ov 
 
 But parents 
 
 bo something 
 
 For your ow 
 
 parents to poi 
 
 unutterable 
 
 head ; for it ; 
 
 may justly b« 
 
 you fathers a 
 
 right earnest I 
 
 It is marvellr 
 
 .£t^,.£UiMl^f 
 
 i'Sfc-^JE' 
 
10 
 
 only In the goriu nn yet, but how itdvcr IhHic tlnio to dwtroy tliom. 
 XIjo higher Jinil iimturer fociiil cvIIm nre ennily trncenbic iodinohnfinio'. 
 to i>o)rui». Here tie iiinnifoHtntion of the evil uiny b<5 Knid to begin. 
 Caution niul a judieiouH teiuU<niehM niiiht doubtleHH ho tniployed with. 
 regard to it — but no better encouriigenient enn possibly bo given to it 
 than nimply an apathetie iiidifforcnce. To the (nmk and honeHt bu' 
 kindly coiislderatioti of this matter let nio invite the attention both 
 ofpufcntH and youth. 
 
 When a young man has come to prefer nnotlier liieMido to that by 
 whieji ho h»H been biought up, or another eirclc of fi iendn to (lio>e with 
 whom ho iM.by nature, and (Uight to bo, by aircclioii united, or when 
 he luiH come to pre I er the corner of the street, or tlio idle loungi'lig 
 Haunter by tlic highway, to tlu- quieter or more' thoughtful Keenes, 
 or to tho hlmple,'lie;dtliful recreutiouH with wliicli his early yearw have 
 been asf<oei;ited, when he has come to nmiiifiwt the fitvst Hymptonm of 
 a reckless insubordination and dlsobcdienee, refu>ing the dictates of • 
 parentrtl counsiel, and kicking against the goads of a necoHPary but 
 kindly rostniint ; when ho lias reached the idea tliat the order of do- 
 mestic lii'e is hcverity, and its ncees.-nry restraints bondage; or when 
 ho becomes the victim of an overweening selh-conceit that, prompts 
 him to regard himself as wiser than his fathers, and to .shake eft" tho 
 tramniels of their oversight and example, then there is assuredly 
 something wrong, essentially and vitally wrong. The youth may 
 have imbibed nmch evil from tho example of his selected companions, 
 or from hi."? own innate depravity of heart principles may have ovol- 
 Tcd, and ideas of things may have taken rise at once opposed to truth 
 
 and to his own interc.>its and usefulness in life. All thi.s may be. 
 
 But parents will allow mc to suggest the question, " May there not 
 bo something wrong about tho habits and arrangements of home?" 
 For your own peace and for your children's welfare I want you 
 parents to ponder this .jucstion, and looking tho evil in the face with 
 unutterable sorrow of heart, I wish you to try and tiaco it to its 
 head ; for it may be that much of the evil of which complaint is made 
 may justly be charged against yourselves, I have that confidence in 
 you fathers and mothers that leads me to hope that you will begin in 
 right earnest to .«cTutinizo your own domestic arrnngements and habits. 
 _It is marvellous how large an influonco these have in the formation 
 
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 ot mind And in tho direction of oharaotor. You may pMall 
 that lomo of tbotiQ that woll auffiocd for your children mhih^fkn/mtj 
 Wfr« of tender yean, Moaroely suffice for thoni now thil the thought "' 
 and apeech and underHtauding and aapirationa of <|f||pning man and 
 wouianhoo<l are beginning to replace tho Mimplo tauten and oonfidcnoea 
 of early childhood. It behovqa yoti to oonaider that there ia a growth 
 in mind aa well oa in body in every healthful and rational child, and 
 M that that mental growth piuat aa aurely be the object of your care and 
 
 •f . t itudy and aolicitudo. It behoves you to make tho homes of your 
 4 children truly iioMttu|||lttliem, where they shall find that pure sym- 
 
 f pathios have full pli^fand mutual confidence full power ; scenes of 
 
 alternate rest and reorv^Aon, of alternate amusement and serious and 
 thoughtful reflection ; where tho rude, rough ways of the w;orld with- 
 out are not admissible, and where there is felt to be a power preacpt 
 and ever at work that smoothes tho angularities of youthful character, 
 lights up the domestic circle with a softened and refining love, ind 
 links together all its members in holy and lasting afieotioo. This 
 when combined with clqanliness, order and tocial regularity, and all 
 flowing forth from a heavenly Father's hiudka^i^wqctcncd with his 
 blessing cannot fail ^Attach your chi l^P fiBMBtf' homef^u^ to^> 
 yoa their parents as being next in ihelrmtUBB^ff^. ItlfflloveB 
 ; you to supply your children with books. This ia as truly a duty as 
 to give them in Qod's name their daily bresd. In ao far as your en- . 
 deavours can prevail, there is no more hopeful antidote to the allure- 
 |efi(|pj»f passipn, and to the power of youthful lusts, than in an un- 
 Ing bjiit well assorted collection of bobks in ai|y home— when 
 "ehildro^^Y^ free access to them, the use of them will create a 
 ij^'tff readi^and reading will store the memory with facts and inoi- 
 oents and principles, and lead at the same time to habits of reflection. 
 Thus yon shall have done your utmost to prevent the life of your 
 children from ever beoongiiiig the mere creature of ciroumstanoes or 
 the sport and plaything of undisciplined desire. 
 
 Let your conver$ation in presence of your children be always pure, 
 affectionate, kindly and respectful; respectful both to those that are 
 present and conoerning those that are absent. It may be, that much 
 of that want of respect for ministers, magistrates, and teachers, of 
 idiioh I h ave com plain ed, a rises from the unguarded conversation of 
 
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 their i^nion, to their nuapicionii and fault finding, often m uufjrn- 
 •roM M it ia onjilat ; and they lay it ap in their yotwig \mtin, and it 
 ranklea there, lile poiaon injected into the vory«ood^ until ttenda in 
 what may very nfttarally be ezpeeted, a want of reii^<t to thoao of 
 whom the evil haa boon apoken, and a growing defection from tht 
 love and obedionoc duo to thoae by whom unhappily it Wtta apoken. % 
 do not hoHiUte to oipreaa my conviction that tho paro»t who citbw 
 by word ordeOd enoouriigoa diareapoct to acknowledged authority on 
 the part of hui children, may naturally expect to reap » haryeat of 
 diaobedienco aoorior or later towarda himaelf. * 
 
 I now turn for a few momenta eapecially to tho youth that are be 
 fore mc. To yoa, my deor young fViond»;T jay, that I li^^e that 
 oonfidenco in you which cncouragea me to hopJihat admitting tht 
 exiatonoe of theao evila which I have now mentioned you wil try to 
 aet your hearta and minds against them. You may not thwk them 
 to be 80 great and so perilous as a riper experience knows then to be; 
 but when your own experience convinces you, as I know it d»s even 
 now, that they are hurtful to your own cnjoymcntr-for an uA)ving 
 disobedient and wayward child cannot bo happy, -you miy weU 
 judge, that that which ia in itself unlovely, and hurtful to yomr pro- 
 s*nt happiness, v»hile it is only in the bud, will not be less so, when 
 allowed to expand into blossom and to ripen into fruit. I would 
 remind you to^y that in the Holy Book of God it is written for 
 you, " (Children obey your parents in tho Lord for it is right :"- and 
 •Iso of the first commandment in the second table of the taw 
 "Honour thy fetber and thy mother ihat thy days may be long in' 
 the land which the Urd thy God giveth thee." These are the com- 
 mandments of the Lord and you see that they are addressed to you 
 You think you would like to be remembered by tho Lord Jesus 
 among His loving friends. Well then remember that Jesus saith- 
 ye are my fViends if ye do whatsoever I command you." To those 
 of you who are at sphool in the town or in the country let me say 
 that the above commands embrace obedience and honour not only to 
 parents but also to teaohem, and to all that are in authority either by 
 ageor oflioeoverus. Your teachers are, in the matter of your early 
 training, m tho room and phnse of^youFparents to you ; and thereT 
 
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 fore the hoqor and obedience and love, vrith which Ood requires you 
 to regard your parents, are also required for those to whom parental 
 responsibilities and -duties are for the time being transferred. 
 
 To those of you that are rising up into man and womanhood I 
 
 need scarcely say that uU your interests, your well boing and well 
 
 ■ doing lie very near my heart. Next to my own and my family's 
 
 Salvation licH the desire to behold you "walking in the truth.*'! 
 
 ,know that you believe this— ^and hence I feel constsained to address 
 
 you with great plainness and freedom of speech. I have some ideas 
 
 still of what arc the ardent wishes and hopeful aspirings of youth ; 
 
 and of the peculiar temptations- that assail you, both as to their 
 
 character, their forms, and their issues, I feel that I have a just 
 
 though perhaps an inadequate perception. You are just now at or 
 
 near that stage, at which you take on the form and shape that shall 
 
 mark your moral and your spiritual life, more Or less, during ^11 the 
 
 years of 'your after pilgrimage ; and hence the necessity that exists 
 
 for acquiring right principles to guide you, and riglit motives to 
 
 action at the very outset of your career. , You liave reached an age 
 
 at whidi you ean comprehend, and at which, if you will give reason 
 
 and conscience their proper sway, you can to some extent appreciate 
 
 the Divine counsel " Seek ye first the Kingdom of <3rod and his 
 
 righteousness, and all these things shall be ad.ded untpyou." Our 
 
 Father in heaven knows tliiit wc have need of food and ^x'iok and, 
 
 clothing— and he will enable us to provide ourselves with them. 
 
 But we need also a higher and a better good. We need " the 
 
 Kingdom of God." We cannot cat our bread with gladness, nor 
 
 drink our wine with a merry heart if unpardoned and unreconciled 
 
 to God-^if God dwell not in us and walk not in us— wiei. His people, 
 
 and He our God. " Wyiat shall it profit a matt, if he shall gain the 
 
 whole world and lose his soul ?" Beware of. indifference as to this 
 
 momentous question ; for interests liiore stupendous than tho 
 
 b%hest interests of time may hang upon the consideration which 
 
 you now give to it. Be persuaded to begin to make your relation to 
 
 God your personal concern. Separate* yourselves, each from , his 
 
 companions, even for one short hour, and give all the force and 
 
 vigour of, a "fixed heart" to tK^ questions What am I? Where 
 
 am I ? and whither am I going ? Am I in Christ ? Am I 
 
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 must I do 
 
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 you— the £ 
 
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 highest atti 
 
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 ^ urging on . 
 
 I would no 
 
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 rather have 
 
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reconciled to God through Christ? These are plain but trying and 
 searching questions -worthy of the individual engagement "of a 
 human heart and of the highest human, understanding. In order to 
 a right and just consideration of these things, ask of God His Holy 
 Spirit to give you light and heart in and for 'fhis work of self^inspec- 
 , tion. I long to see you personally engaged about this-^ven 
 troubled by a sense of personal sin,and by a c(iisciou8rtcss of personal 
 i danger=-,urging as from "the depths " the pdrsonal inquiry "What 
 must I do to be saved?" I long to sec you Ipcrson ally closing with 
 . theXord Jesus C^ist- and publicly acknowledging y6ur acceptance 
 - of Christ as your ©rophet, Priest and King-|^Blanding up for J6sus 
 mall places and at all times, and tesUfyiug for Hinr boldly. Oh 
 then— then ^dfOnly then, when breaking away fromiall your i^ls 
 and even from all your rightdausncsscs as grounds of hope i/g^'s 
 forgiving mercy, you flee for refuge to lay hold on the liopejfet before 
 you-the first great battle of life is over, and the victor/is ,«ecurcd 
 for truth and holiness. Morally and spiritually your paih can never 
 after be long a doubtsome one, nor can your progroS towards tljc 
 highest attainments of which your rc-cncrated natu/es arc capable 
 bo for any great Ictigth of time arrested. Only let Clirist be in you' 
 and.you_are safo-for ever safo.. <i Believe on thc/ord Jesus Christ 
 ytfnd T'/iOM shalt be saved." I ^ 
 . But whila thus cpmmendiit^ to you the Lov/ Jesus Christ and 
 urging on you to seek,, and to seek first a pcrs/ial interest in Ilim 
 Ivrpuld not have you to bo rcgardlci^s cithcrA)f your hcalthfulness 
 of body or of your companionships and ass/ciations ; for these are 
 largely helpful both to your mentarrefin/ment and to your per- 
 sonal usefulness in the worid.. I would n/t be understood as su^- 
 ^^sting that you should so tie yourselvcsyto your own home« or ?o 
 attach yourselves to the members of you/own ihmilios, as to shun all 
 society besides, and to avoid all intcix^eurse with your neiohbours 
 So far is this from being my coun/el to you, that I wou?d much 
 rather have you to cultivate societjy4ut alw;iys such a Society as may 
 not only benefit you, but also receive benefit from you ; and to culti- 
 vate and cherish such companionships as may act and rcJ-act, the one 
 ^ upon the other for good., Those companions alone are to be trusted 
 Whose spirit is truth-whose principles are fixed, and whose character 
 18 holy. • 
 
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 Nof would I commend yoa to abstain firom healthful, manly, and 
 invigorating recreation. So far from this, I tell you, that were I « 
 young man, and had I six evenings of the week, or even tWo, at my 
 own disposal, I would try conscientiously to divide them between the 
 enlargement and refinement of my mind, and the invigoratinga|my 
 bodily health ; and while mainly intent on the formervll^||^uld 
 eindeavour to make the latter subserve thesame great enJifQ.fOuld 
 avail myself of such i^vileges as I could command fdr tJoih|ihe one 
 and the«ther. I may mention by' way of example— the Bible class 
 4Uid the Library for the one— and the drill room during these winter 
 evenings for the other. In the more genial months of the year you 
 have the highways open for you on every hand, the healthful and 
 bracing cricket ground, and the invigorating exercise of rowing. 
 Should your tastes incline you, you have a field for acquiring geo- 
 logical knowledge, second to none in Canada, while the gentler but 
 not less interesting science of botany lies wholly within your reach. 
 I have not spoken of anything you perceive that lies beyond your 
 reach or that requires unusual exertion or self-sacrifice to obtain it. 
 All the al>pliances whether for mental culture or fpr bodily exercise 
 which I have mentioned are at your command. Without money and 
 without price, or almost so, they are yours. Without the suspicion 
 of invidiousness I may say that, of all the means for healthful and 
 invigorating bodily exercisie with which I am acquainted, I know 
 none better than the cricket field in summer, and the drill room in 
 the winter months; and of this latter I may say from personal 
 knowledge that its routine, and discipline of sinew, n^uscle, and bone, 
 have been instrumental in restoring strength to the frame that at one 
 tiine threatened to yield to the attack of wasting disease. ?^ 
 
 And now, having exposed certain evils that thr^tened to rise into 
 strength in the land, and having also prescribed certain remedies, 
 let me further counsel you in a few words to avoid mental sts^na- 
 tion. Of all pestilential marshes that curse the abode of man, a 
 stagnant miitd is the most perilous. In its neighbourhood " all life 
 ^es and death lives." Avoid unprofitable and unprincipled com- 
 panionships^their vaunted liberality is the very soul of slavery-- 
 their steps lead down to death. Avoid the comers of the streets. 
 EvU lurketh there— for it is the place of Uie scorner, and the begiur 
 
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ning of ruin to many a thougMleM youth. ' Avoid the places where 
 
 drinking and gambling are allowed— their owners will flatter you - 
 
 while you have a shilling to spend, and will kick you when penniless 
 
 to the door. Those who enter them know, when they do so, that 
 
 they can only meet with the ungodly there, whose company is poliu" 
 
 tion, and whose end is never-dying death. 'p 
 
 I have sought to set before you to-day our mercies ii| their multi- 
 tude and our sins increasing in their numiber and tiieir aggravations • 
 •—and these our sins increasing while our mercies are being multi- 
 plied. They are not sins of ignorance, but rather sins against 
 knowledge. Surely thb might awaken even the most careless and 
 inconsiderate. Might not the Lord say concerning us ^'What 
 could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in 
 it. Wherefore when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, * 
 brought it forth wild grapes ?'• Analogous to this is the picture I 
 have sought to set before you of our own times, in which we have 
 Ood mulliplying His mercies unto us, while we, receiving them, are . 
 ^multiplying our sins against Him. It b this that makes them 
 perilous times. It sometimes seems to me as if it were one of Qod's 
 ways of showing us how very wicked we are, and how fast the 
 ungodly are ripening for Uie judgment of the great day; If thus it" 
 be, are not our multiplied mei-cies rather harbingei^ of approaching 
 judgment than tokens of good to us. Oh I conde; and search out our^ A 
 sins in order to forsake them ; and bo bring glory to the Lord by 
 returning to Him '[ before He cause darkness and before your feet 
 stumble on the dark mountains ; and while ye look for light He '. 
 turn it into the shadows of death, and make it gross dukness." 
 
 A.nd now, having fulfilled a duty, with 'pleasure, pain, and hope 
 «tra^jgely but strongly blended, "I commend you all to God and to 
 the n^rd of His grace." .And " now the very God of peace that 
 brougm i^n from the dead our Lord Jesus, tibat greai Shepherd 
 of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting Covenant, make 
 you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that 
 which is well pleasing in His sight, through Christ Jesus ; to whom ' 
 be glory for ever and ever. Amen. ' •*. . 
 
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