tions, and an angel's dignity. Destined to heaven, he turns away from everything opposed to its spirit, its glory, its songs of praise, and crowns of rejoicing; and as immortality unfolds itself to his mind, his enraptured soul rises into greatness at the grandeur of his final destiny; and emotions, such as the spirits of the just feel, take possession of his heart. 0 blessed doctrine this! Mightier, far inightier than all the powers of earth; and dearer, infinitely dearer than all its treasures.

Such, my brethren, is the gospel, and such are the great doctrines which render it the power of God unto salvation, which enable it to enlighten the ignorant, soften the obdurate, and reclaim the wandering. Such, too, is the gospel by which the Christian minister is to save his people, help the onward march of righteousness and peace, and convert the desolations of error and sin, into a paradise of love and joy. All who sincerely believe this gospel, will be made new creatures.

Other religions have power-paganism and Mahometanism exercise an iron sway over the people. The doctrine of endless misery has power. It can make the bosom of society heave with commotion, and send through community a wild spirit of excitement and terror, which makes men feel themselves to be mere victims of the cruelty of an angry divinity. Infidelity has power. It can blot out the star of hope, which points to the glory of heaven, break down the barriers by which the peace of society, the sacredness of home, and the blessings of liberty are protected. But in all these, the power is unto destruction, while in the gospel, it is unto salvation. Who then can be ashamed of the gospel? Ashamed?

"Sooner far, let evening blush to own its star!"

Ashamed? Why the gospel is the last and best work of the Almighty, the masterpiece of infinite wisdom and goodness, and the greatest blessing which Jehovah himself could give to man. God forbid, therefore, that we should glory in anything, save in that gospel which is the power of the Infinite One unto salvation.

I will only ask, in conclusion, whether those present receive the sentiments to which they have listened. Do you, brethren, own the incomparable excellency of the gospel! Do you acknowledge it as your guide, your hope, your salvation? If so, you

will not be ashamed to sit down to this table of the Lord now spread before us; for the communion is one of the institutions of this gospel. He that gave us the words of life, also said: "Do this in remembrance of me." And shall we refuse? Is not the same wisdom manifested in the institutions of the gospel, that is manifested in its doctrines? What can be more important than to remember the Savior? All his life was devoted to the work of man's redemption; though rich, yet for our sakes he became poor, that we through his poverty might become rich; though hated and persecuted without a cause he was always mild, merciful, and forgiving; and though rejected by those whom he came to save, he tired not in the work of benevolence, but moved on firmly and meekly till at last he completed his labors of mercy by dying upon a cross of ignominy and shame!! Now who can call to remembrance such a Savior, and not have his heart filled with thankfulness and praise? Come then, fathers and mothers! come ye aged and ye young! surround the table of your common Master and Lord. Partake of these emblems in remembrance of him, and you will find your faith strengthened, your love increased, and

your gratitude kindled into a flame; and when you shall have returned to your respective homes the holy influences of this occasion will be with you distilling like the dews of Hermon, and enriching your hearts with all the virtues of the gospel. May the blessings of the Father and the Son be with us áll for ever and ever. AMEN.

SERMON XI.

CHARACTER OF THE RELIGION OF JESUS.

BY REV. T. J. GREENWOOD.

"For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet peradven ture for a good man, some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."-ROMANS, V. 7, 8.

THE religion which Jesus and his apostles came to introduce into the world, every one conversant with their teachings, must perceive, is founded on the broad basis of unlimited benevolence and love. And these principles alone constitute the grand lever by which they hoped to move the moral world. And instead of representing the character of the Divine Being, as the commonly prevalent systems of theology manifestly do, as clothed in hatred, or indifference to the works of his hands, or any portion thereof, they invariably represent him as far, yea infinitely surpassing even the most noble and benevolent emotions of the human heart; even when those emotions in man, receive their impulse from the warm glowings of ardent and sincere friendship.

This trait in the religion of the Son of God, has been too long, and too artfully kept out of sight, by the cunning, or the policy of man; and instead of its soul-warming and sin-subduing grace, as portrayed in the character and purposes of the Universal Father, men have been taught to look on the

moral government of God, as resulting by Decree, or by permission (to use the mildest term), in an event, from which even hardened malevolence starts back with unaffected horror! And it is full time, that men who have the Scriptures in their hands-on a proper understanding of which, their happiness in life, and their peace and hope in the hour of death, depend― should understand what constitutes the difference between the religion therein taught, and those systems which are based on principles more limited in benevolence, and less efficient in their operation and influence on the human soul.

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The voice of friendship we all know, in the ordinary operations of mind, has a most potent charm over the soul of man. And under the influence of her spirit, there is scarcely any length within the bounds of imagination, to which man may not be led. Convince a man that you are in reality and unfeignedly his friend; let him learn this fact by long experience; let your deeds of kindness, love, and compassion, in all possible ways, bear to him the evidence that there is no deception on your part; minister to his wants in the hour of necessity; throw over his foibles, his follies, and his faults, the mantle of charitable forgiveness and forgetfulness; in a word, be kindly affectionate toward him in all your intercourse in life, and if his bosom be the seat of one kindly and grateful feeling, that feeling will be called forth in response to the spirit which touched its chords, and the harmonious numbers of friendship will flow like sweetest music to the soul.

Men, we know, under the influence of these feelings, have often periled comfort, wealth, and ease, and all the endearments of civilized and social life, on the altar of the heart's warm friendship; and have sometimes carried their heroic firmness even to the