dictions of the later prophetical writers, those of Isaiah especially, to say nothing of his own, fulfilled-had he seen, as we have seen, their glorious accomplishment in the New Testament - the incarnation and resurrection of Christ, the plenary gift of the Holy Spirit, the fulfilment of types, the substantiation of shadows, the solution of figures, the destruction of Jerusalem, the wide propagation of the everlasting Gospel, and that in far more tongues than were heard on the day of Pentecost, had he seen a Bible in every cottage a little seminary of Christian institution in every village -had he beheld the firm establishment of the Christian Church, no longer opposed but supported by secular powers, after having conquered opposition by weapons purely spiritual-had he seen a standing ministry continued in a regular succession, from the age of the apostles to the present hour-had he seen, in addition to these domestic blessings, England emancipating Africa and

evan

evangelizing India, commerce spreading her sails to promote civilization, and Christianity elevating civilization and sanctifying commerce had the Royal Saint witnessed this combination of mercies in one single country, what had his feelings been?

He who so passionately exclaimed, Oh "how amiable are thy dwellings, thou "Lord of Hosts! - my soul hath a de"sire and longing to enter into the courts "of the Lord blessed are they that "dwell in thine house -one day in thy courts is better than a thousand- one "thing have I desired of the Lord, that "I may dwell in the house of the Lord "all the days of my life, to behold the "fair beauty of the Lord, and to visit his "temple" this conqueror of the heathen, this denouncer of false gods, this chosen monarch of the chosen people, this fervent lover of the devotions of the Sanctuary, this hallowed poet of Sion, this noble contributor

to

to our public worship, this man after God's own heart, was not permitted to build one single church we in this island only possess ten thousand.

out to act.

But some may say, the apostles had supernatural supports, which are withheld from us. Their supports were doubtless proportioned to the fervency of their faith, and to the extraordinary emergencies on which they were called But as we had occasion to remark in a former chapter, these assistances seem to have been reserved for occasions to which we are not called; and to be dispensed to them for others rather than for themselves. We do not find that they who could cure diseases, were exempt from suffering them; that they who could raise others from the dead, escaped a violent death themselves. We do not find that the aids afforded them, were given to extinguish their natural feelings, to lighten their burthens, to rescue them from the vicissitudes of a

painful life, from poverty or sorrow, from calumny or disgrace. Though Saint Paul converted the Philippian Jailor, he had nevertheless been his prisoner; though he had been the instrument of making" saints even in Cæsar's house. "hold," he was not delivered from perishing by Cæsar's sword.

It does not appear that in their ordinary transactions they had the assistance of more than the ordinary operations of the Spirit. These, blessed be Almighty Goodness! are not limited to prophets or apostles, but promised to all sincere believers to the end of the world; communicated in a measure proportioned to their faith, and accommodated to their exigencies. The treasures of grace, unlike all other treasures, are not to be exhausted by using; but like the multiplication of the loaves, more is left to be gathered up after the gift is used, than was imparted in the first instance.

IF we, in this favoured country, and at this favoured period, are not as internally happy as we are outwardly prosperous; if we do not reach that elevation in piety, if we do not exhibit that consistency of character, which, from the advantages of our position might be expected; if innumerable providential distinctions are conferred without being proportionally improved; if we are rejoicing for public blessings without so profiting by them as to make advancement in private virtue and personal religion; should we not diligently enquire in what particulars our deficiencies

chiefly