when connected with zeal, without a practical expression of it in the active and useful habits of men, must be regarded as altogether useless. It may be the burden of a hidden sentiment, which perhaps the man himself enjoys, which may add to the happiness of the individual, or may perhaps seal his delusion; but when we find love united with zeal, and expressed in positive practical activity, can we go to any quarter whence we may have this practical activity confirmed into a habit, and fashioned into our daily habits, more efficiently to that great end, than the throne of grace ? Let the sinner who is looking, let the saint who is looking, for the diffusion of truth throughout the world, and for a stronger advance of the truth over the church, betake himself under the in- | fluence of love to God and to man, and under the influence of an animated zeal to works of usefulness, and let him walk in the midst of the activities that are prevailing around him; but he must return from them all, and it is at the footstool of Jehovah's throne that he rises above the difficulties that trammel him on his way, and by which he can wield, with a steadier purpose, the weapons of spiritual warfare, which he has taken to himself for the extension of the limits of the Saviour's kingdom.

But further, there will not only be found this activity in connection with a praying habit for the diffusion of truth, but there will also be found the exercise of patience resulting from this same habit. A man who is unacquainted with the trials and difficulties of the church, and the world, is ready to yield before them; he has the spirit of a novice in the great things of God. If he come forth in his own strength, influenced by this spirit, and an utter stranger, perhaps, to the experience which his elder brother may enjoy, he is likely to be found failing in his career; he is likely to be appalled by the first combination of power, that arrays itself against the holiness of his purpose and the ardour of his zeal. Let him come to the throne of grace; let him stand, and habitually enquire at the sanctuary of heaven; let him hear the declaration of the God of truth, and let that declaration be confirmed by the spirit of glory, in the answer given

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to his petition; and he comes, not in his own strength, but with the strength he has acquired in his secret retirement-he comes, not in his own name, but in the name of the God he has addressed-he comes, not in fellowship with the goodly train on whom he depends for the triumphs of the day— but he comes with hallowed patience, to grapple it alone with the adversary, if he can find none to help him in the holy warfare.

But further, there is not only patience connected with the habit of prayer as to difficulties that occur in the effort to diffuse the gospel; but there is also the feeling of hope connected with the same habit. By hope, says the apostle, we are saved ;' and hope, he says, "maketh not ashamed." Now, if the exercise of prayer be found associated with the kindlings of hope, if the ardour of those uniting affections is increased by the view which we have of God's condescension while we continue our habit of communion with him, we are then acquiring the very strongest possible addition of zeal that can fit us for the work before us. Take hope from the soldier, and all his atchievements are at an end; take hope from him while he is in the midst of his career of victory, and he loses, at once, all the success which may have crowned the earlier movements of his campaign: but inspire him with hope, and it will be found so strong that the terrors of death die before him, and his courage becomes invincible. Now, this same affection will be found to be derived by the Christian from his intimate communion with the God of hope; for God is so designated. The hope then inspired by heaven is something like the hope which once fired the armies of the living God, when, from the Holiest of all, the oracle spake from between the cherubim, and told Israel's hope, and Israel's certain victory, they lifted their heads with gladness, and with joy, which before laid prostrate in the dust: while they confessed their sins before the tabernacle, they buckled on their armour, and they went to battle. So it is precisely with those who are in the habit of praying for the diffusion of the truth of the gospel of the ever blessed God. Kindle their hope at the altar of God, and they go forth; and,

A Sermon

DELIVERED BY THE REV. E. IRVING, A.M.

AT THE CALEDONIAN CHURCH, CROSS STREET, HATTON GARDEN, ON SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 1824, THE SABBATH PREVIOUS TO LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE of the NATIONAL SCOTTISH CHURCH.

Psalm, cxxvii. 1.-" Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that

build it."

Now, the Psalmist, who had experience of the defeat and success of worldly hope beyond almost any other man, hath piously said in our text, that " except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it." And he hath beautifully said, that " they who sow in tears shall reap in joy; that he that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." In which sentence he toucheth, not with more tenderness than truth, that feeling with which the seed of every good enterprize should be cast upon the uncertain waters of this troubled estate, wherein there is such fluctuation of affairs, such combinations of evils and accidents, and withal such shortsightedness in those who advise, and such feebleness in those who execute, that by far the larger number of enterprizes undertaken by the soul of man, prove abortive and come to naught: of which uncertainty being prudently and feelingly aware, a wise man setteth no work on foot without apprehending all the hazards to which it is exposed, and with a certain sadness, committing it to the care and providence of the Lord. Yea, he droppeth a tear over his schemes, over these the children of his soul, as they go forth, with all their imperfections on their head, from their native home, with hope and desire within their breast, to force their way into existence amidst the trials of the world.

MEN and brethren, after long and anx-ple of peace, whose gate is never shut, ious deliberation, and many prayers, is constructed within her, to the praise intermingled with many fears, it hath at and to the honor of the Saviour of length pleased the God of souls, having men. proved our patience and trust in his aid, to grant the desires of the hearts of this people, by appointing a day during this week in which the house shall be founded wherein we and our children may worship the Lord God of their fathers. This is the most important event-the greatest blessing of the Lord, which hath come to us since we were united as a church of Christ : and it ought not to be passed over with neglect, nor to be treated with indifferent ceremony; but should be regarded, as it is in truth, the bountiful answer of many prayers, and the beginning of a good work which we have been honoured of the Lord to undertake, for the spiritual edification of generations which are yet to arrive. For, however frequent custom may wear out its impressiveness, and however dull ceremony may tread on its sanctity, to the minds of all thoughtful and pious men, the founding of a new church wherein the gospel of Christ is to be preached to perishing sinners, and the municipal discipline of the church administered over the souls of believing saints-this, however much custom may wear out the impressiveness, and dull ceremony tread upon its sanctity, is a most gracious and valuable boon to the flock for whose security the fold is to be constructed. To the church of Christ it is a token for good from her living head. To the city within whose bounds the sacred place is founded, as we shall show, it is an occasion for gratulation more worthy, than if a strong bulwark were added to her walls, or a high tower to her palaces: for, verily, a bulwark of righteousness is added to her from the Lord of Hosts, and a tem

Now, saith the Psalmist, such schemes and ideas of good as have been thus set forth amidst much carefulness, and even tears, these he pro

nounceth as sure, as far as anything in the future is sure, to be prospered by the Lord; and after the faithfulness of his people hath been sufficiently tried, to be crowned with success. And then cometh the time for joy; then the apprehensions of the soul are turned into gratulation; then our mouths will be filled with laughter, and our tongues with singing; and we shall be like those who dream, when we look back on the things which God hath wrought for us, whereof we are glad.

Nevertheless, though, at the beginning of every good work, it be right to take the Psalmist's instructions, and to join trembling with our mirth; it is not less right to join faith and hope along with our trembling. For, as that gladdened the evening of King David's days with a serene glory, and served his last hour with a most grateful theme for prayer, and praise, and pious rehearsal, to all the people, that he had been honored by God to receive the revelation for the device, and to bring together the materials for his holy temple, although he was not permitted to lay one stone thereof; so, I think, we ought now to rejoice and give thanks before the Lord, that we have been enabled to overcome the difficulties which stood in the way, and that he hath given us the means of carrying it forward, and that ere we meet on another sabbath we shall have set our hands to the work for which our hearts have long fervently prayed. The sabbath will come, and many of us I trust will be spared to see its dawn, when we shall assemble under the completed arches of that house, whose foundations we are about to lay in prayer and in righteousness. Then will be the time to look upon the work of our hands, and rejoice that it is good, to sing with acclamation to the Lord, and fill the house with the loud song of our praise; even as Solomon, with the leaders and congregation of Israel, being assembled in high pomp and ceremony, did consecrate with sacrifice, and with the voice of earnest prayer and supplication, and build with the triumphant jubilee of their praise, that house over which his father had exerted himself, while yet it had no being, save in the word and promise of the Lord." It came to pass as the trumpeters and singers

were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord; so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God."

In like manner, we hope, hereafter, to clap our hands, and make a loud noise before the Lord, when the Lord shall have made an end of blessing our work. But as it is written by the wise man, that every thing hath a season and a time, this present seemeth to us to be the proper time for considering the goodness of the work wherein we are engaged,-for strengthening our hearts to its completion, for proving the intents and purposes with which we undertake it; and having made them simply and sincerely for the glory of God, then to establish our trust and confidence, and rest assured that he, for whose glory it is undertaken, will surely in his own time bring it to a prosperous end: and this will we do if God permit us.

From these considerations, we are moved to treat this event, which custom hath secularized, but which custom should never have been permitted to secularize, as a great spiritual blessing which it behoveth us rightly to consider; and we would treat of it as a dispensation of the grace of God, not as a work of man: we would fill our hearts with joy in believing that the Lord hath heard and answered our many prayers: we would consider the spiritual magnitude of the work to us and to our children, that we may strongly contend with all its hindrances. We shall show the goodness of the work, in the highest sense, to our immortal souls; and then show the common interest we have in its completion; that our hearts and souls may be as the heart and soul of one man, while we labour in the work, and when we would commit it for success or a defeat, for good or for ill, into the hands of him who hath written" Commit thy way unto the Lord, trust also in him, and he will bring it to pass."

Now, brethren, if in this subject

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CITY FLOURISH BY THE PREACHING OF

which I propose to handle, there were | the land, piously prays, MAY OUR any sinister or secular intention, any object of worldly or ecclesiastical honor, my tongue should cleave to the roof of my mouth, sooner than, from this holy place, it should utter one word under so unholy an impulse. But being conscious within my breast, and I trust it is so within the hearts of this people, of a higher and holier motive, of a true and spiritual kind, I propose to lay before you these spiritual considerations, which ought to fill and enlarge your soul towards this spiritual work; and filling your souls, expel all temporal, all worldly, and all pecuniary considerations, and cause us to labour in it with steadfastness, with the consciousness of those who are labouring for the Lord, and for the prosperity of the church of Christ, which is the pillar and and ground of the truth.

Now, that your hands may be strengthened, and your hearts encouraged in this undertaking, I set before you, in the first place, the interests which the people at large have in such a work; that is, the universal benevolence of it. Secondly, I would set before you the reinforcement which it brings to the Church of Christ; that is, the spiritual good of it. Thirdly, The advantage to the Scottish people residing in this metropolis, and who form so large and so influential a part of its population; that is, the national good of it. Fourthly, The blessing which it promiseth to us and to our children, to this congregation and this flock, and to the pastor of this church. At present I intend to treat only the first head. The second and third I reserve for the day on which the work is to be undertaken, and the last I reserve for next Lord's day; which, brethren, I would recommend to you to make a day of thanksgiving, that hitherto the Lord hath helped us.

The two chief cities of that land which is the honoured mother of so many of us, have surrounded their great seal with a motto significant of their pious trust in God for the continuance of their municipal welfare. The one, the capital of the country which is the honored mother to so many of us, hath her seal bearing to this intent: "UNLESS THE LORD BE WITH US, WE SHALLCOME TO NAUGHT." The other, the commercial capital of

THE WORD." And much it had blessed these two cities, even beyond their present measure of blessing, had their counsellors and their chief magistrates, during the last century, been as careful of the fold of God and the preaching of the word, as their ancestors wished them to be; for then, to the intellectual and scientific prosperity of the one, would have been added, a corresponding growth in faith and charity, which might have checked the enviousness of literature, and moderated the pride of science, and softened the fellowship of human life. And to the large commercial prosperity of the other, would have been added, growth in moral purity and religious principle, without which large and manufacturing cities are the sore, and the canker, and corruption of a land. Now, I have not yet had time to learn whether any similar inscription surroundeth the seal of this the great city of our habitation; but this I know full well, that the spirit which breathes in the two mentioned above, ought to move the hearts of her governors also, if they would have her to be purified of those abominations which she containeth within her more than Babylonish extent. If business should call you in the early watches of the night, or if, moved with compassionate feeling, you go forth on a voyage of observation into the streets of this crowded city, and behold the works of mankind, and of womankind, which cross your path, each one of them as well gifted of their maker, and many of them as fairly launched into the sea of life, as you who muse on their form; if you remember that these forlorn creatures, whom headlong passion, or seducing pleasure, has driven out of their heaven-ward course, and wrecked almost outright from their hope of salvation, are not, like the wrecks of the ocean, for a beacon or a safeguard to warn others from the fatal ground; but as seducers and beguilers, possessed each with a bad and malicious activity against the safety of others, throwing themselves into the way of thousands, to beguile as many as they can-in this respect resembling (to take a similitude from fiction, for nature furnisheth no instance so wicked) -resembling the enchanted ships, in the traditional Tales of Scotland,