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necessary to conduct all things with decency and order; yet sensible, so far as I could judge, that these did not form the substance of religion, but that it was something altogether different. Some of them, I think, are deeply and unfeignedly devout. Such I noticed, especially at the Kauakaua and Maraeti; though I ought by no means to deny the occurrence of proportionate instances at the other stations.

solicited Captain Harding to leave with the missionaries such stores of flour, sugar, and rice, as could be spared from his ship, engaging to replace the same on our return to Port Jackson; and I left a small supply of money for the purchase of similar articles, and of animal food, for the use of the sick and convalescent. These measures were adopted in conformity with the judgment of Mr. Ford, the surgeon attached to the mission, and of the surgeon of the Pelorus, T. H. Nation, Esq., who most obligingly, at my request, visited and prescribed for the sick, and furnished a supply of medicines for the most urgent cases. On my return hither, I preached a sermon in St. James's Church, Sydney, on behalf of the suffering people, whom I had visited; and the same thing was done at St. Philip's Church, by the rev. W. Cowper. The amount of the collections was sufficient to cover the entire expenses which had been incurred by me, and to enable us to despatch a further small supply of medicines and necessary comforts, which I earnestly hope will fulfil the benevolent purpose of those who charitably furnished the means of supplying them. My opinion is, in a few words, that the general state of health among the natives is not satisfactory; that there is some cause, not very obvious, by which their constitutions are undermined; that the investigation of that cause has not been pursued with due energy, or attention to system; and that the wants of the natives, in point of clothing, warmth, and comfort, especially during the winter season, deserve and demand the attention of the Church Missionary Society, and of its charitable supporters, who can feel for the situation of these their destitute brethren.

The great problem at present, I think, is, how they may be preserved, to form a Christian nation; for such, if they be preserved, they assuredly should become. But, in mournful sincerity of heart, I express my own opinion, that their numbers have diminished in a fearful ratio since our first connexion with them; and that unless preventive measures can be suggested, the race is wearing out, and will, at no very remote period, altogether disappear. The missionaries refer to instances throughout the country, where the numbers of natives are less by one-third, or even one-half, than they were on the first establishments of Europeans being formed. It presented itself to me as a most remarkable circumstance, that wherever we went the children were very few; very few indeed compared with the number of adults, and compared also with the proportion of children among the missionaries themselves, who have generally large families. To what causes this disparity could be attributed I was diligent in endeavouring to ascertain, but came away without receiving satisfaction. The effect of wars is spoken of, as accounting for the diminution of the population; but any one, who reflects for a moment, must be sensible that the wars of the present generation are mere bloodless skirmishes compared with the combats of their forefathers. The introduction of fire-arms has tended much to abate the effusion of blood. Formerly, the hostile bands marched front to front, and with their native weapons almost every man slew or wounded his opponent; so that the slaughter was quite tremendous. But now they are, generally speaking, content with firing from a distance, without doing one another much harm. I was assured, indeed, by an eye-witness of some of the latest conflicts in the Bay of Islands, that he had known many thousand shots to be fired, and, as the result of all this, no more than five or six on each side to be wounded. It seems, indeed, very clear, that the population was greatest when wars were most sanguinary, and is declining most rapidly where wars are nearly extinct. The practice of infanticide, I hope, and believe, does not prevail among any who are Christians by profession; but in their native state there can be no doubt that it does prevail. I think that the very infant which I baptized had been saved from death by its mother's hands, through the interposition of Mrs. Fairburn, giving clothing for the child, the want of which would have led to the desperate determination of destroying it as soon as born. If it were not this very infant, yet I am quite sure that an instance of that nature was related to me, and mentioned as having many parallels. Cannibalism, among those who associate much with Europeans, and especially among those under instruction by the missionaries, may be considered as extinct. I believe that the people whom I chiefly saw had no more disposition to devour one another, or any one else, than the same number of our own countrymen would have felt. How, therefore, to account for the perceptible and unceasing diminution of their numbers, I am utterly at a loss. The epidemic which was rag-ized, through the power of the Holy Spirit accoming while I was there, and which had visited them in former years, appeared, undoubtedly, to lay very serious hold upon their constitutions; rapidly prostrating their strength, and, I have no doubt, laying the foundation of other fatal disorders. So deeply was I impressed with the persuasion that deficiency of proper nourishment, formed one very sensible cause of their falling victims to this insidious disorder, that I

"It will probably be expected by the society, that I should offer some remarks upon the constitution of the mission, and its adaptation and probable sufficiency to accomplish the great and holy purposes of its estabishment. I have already spoken my sentiments as to the general character and deportment of the missionaries; in which observations I should wish it to be understood, it is my intention to include the lay catechists no less than the clergy. All appeared to me, so far as I was able to judge, to be animated by a good spirit, and a desire, according to their several abilities, to work the work of God. I am, however, in duty bound to state my persuasion, that the present missionary body is inadequate to the successful prosecution of that work and labour of love upon which their cares are bestowed. Indeed, they do not occupy, to the uttermost, even their present limits; and these require to be extended day by day, so that the necessity for additional help is becoming constantly more urgent. The society has been informed that Mr. Hadfield was added to their number while I remained; and since that time the rev. R. Taylor has proceeded to join the establishment. The services of one of these gentlemen must, however, be absorbed by the charge of educating the sons of missionaries; and the other will be required to institute a new missionary station at the East Cape, where there appears to be a most favourable opening. The mission, therefore, within its present limits, will continue as inefficiently supplied with clergymen for missionary purposes as before; and it is most earnestly to be desired, for the sake of the high and eternal interests which are at stake, that this deficiency should not be suffered to continue. The natives have now, to a certain extent, been Christian

panying the efforts of their teachers, and have hitherto lived in that simple and confident reliance on the truth and sufficiency of the doctrines taught them, and in that spirit of dutiful reverence for their teachers, the continuance of which was most earnestly to be desired; as such principles, united with liberty to search the scriptures, would best have ensured to them the enjoyment of the peaceable fruits of

righteousness. But it is easy to foresee, that this portion of Christ's flock cannot long continue, if it be even now, exempt from the aggressions of that spirit, concerning which, no less truly than of the gospel, it may be said, that its sound is gone into all lands, and its words unto the ends of the earth. If we are to contend successfully, it must be by a prudent use of those means to which God has promised and annexed his blessing, for the propagation of Christian truth; that is to say, we must not spare the agency of the word, the ministry, and the sacraments; accompanying them with our prayers, that they may be attended by that grace and power, through which alone they can be made effective instruments to build up this people in our most holy faith, as it was once delivered to the saints. "In my conferences with the missionaries, I found but one opinion prevailing as to the necessity of an immediate increase of the number of clergymen. Many stations are, from necessity, left without a resident minister; and the occasional visits which may be paid cannot be of that frequency or that duration which are necessary to make them fully profitable. The administration of the sacraments is neither satisfactory to those who officiate, nor so serviceable, it may be feared, as it ought to be, to those who partake of them; because the parties, being associated only during a very brief interval, are comparatively unknown to each other; and there cannot be that feeling of confidence on the one hand, nor that knowledge of individual character on the other, upon which the benefit of pastoral superintendence principally depends; neither can the services of lay catechists effectually supply the void between such ministerial visits. * The Church of England requires to be planted there, in the full integrity of its system, its ordinances administered by a clergy duly ordained, and the clergy themselves subject to regular ecclesiastical authority. I beg it may be understood, that I do not make these observations with any reference to the lay missionaries now in the employment of the society; all of whom, so far as I can venture to pronounce a judgement, have proved themselves zealous and faithful men. In considering the means of augmenting the number of ordained ministers, some consideration was given by me, in conversation principally with the rev. Messrs. W. Williams and Maunsell, to the practicability of admitting any of the catechists to holy orders. I confined myself to expressing my conviction of the eligibility of this proceeding, under certain supposed circumstances, but forebore to pledge myself until I should have an opportunity of consulting the feelings of the society upon the subject, and of profiting by their knowledge of the characters and attainments of the individuals who might probably be proposed to me as candidates

for the sacred office.

"I am happy in thinking, that, by my late visit to the mission, a foundation of regard and confidence has been laid between the members of it and myself, which, through the divine blessing, may tend much to facilitate any future proceedings, connected with its extension. Upon any subject concerning which the society may be anxious to consult me, I shall always be prepared to offer the most candid opinion, and to give the best advice in my power. My heart and hope are fixed earnestly upon the success of this holy undertaking; the fruit of which, I trust, will be to spread abroad the knowledge of the truth, and to bring many souls to eternal salvation, happiness, and glory, through our Lord Jesus Christ.

"Praying earnestly that the endeavours of the society may be blessed to the establishment of his kingdom in the hearts of men, I remain, &c.,

"W. G. AUSTRALIA."

It is exceedingly gratifying to the committee to perceive that the statements of the missionary la

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bourers themselves are so powerfully confirmed anʼ elucidated by the enlarged views of the bishop, as communicated in his letter. The committee most cordially concur in the judgment of his lordship, "that the Church of England requires to be planted in New Zealand, in the full integrity of her system." This consideration induced the committee to request the Bishop of Australia to visit the mission, anticipating such information and suggestions as would promote that object. Since the receipt of the bishop's letter, other steps have been taken by the committee, directed to the same end. Should it please divine providence to favour their views, and to raise up an individual eminently devoted, and thoroughly rightminded, to exercise his paternal authority in the midst of this infant flock, the blessings to be anticipated to New Zealand would be truly great. Our readers, therefore, will clearly perceive how deep an interest this mission should have in their prayers— "God be merciful to us, and bless us, and cause his face to shine upon us" in this most holy and blessed work!

STATE OF THE JEWS AT JERUSALEM IN 1839. The Rev. Mr. Freemantle, a clergyman of the church of England, has recently arrived at Geneva on his return from a visit to the Holy Land and Jerusalem, where he continued shut up with his wife during the plague, which raged there, in order to make himself thoroughly acquainted with the state of the Jews and of the Protestant Mission. He related some of the results of his travels at the Sunday evening service in the chapel of the theological school, on the 18th August, which excited much interest among his auditors. The address is preserving of general attention, and we shall therefore give our readers a few extracts.

"Dear Christian Friends, I must beg you to give me a patient hearing, while I endeavour to engage your affectionate interest in the rights of the ancient people of God. I am deeply sensibile of my inability to treat the subject as it deserves, but I feel at the sume time that on an occasion like the present, it is my duty to come forward as an advocate for the cause. May God, the holy spirit, bless what I shall say, for the love of Christ.

"It is to be feared that the interests of the Jewish nation have been neglected by the majority of the Christian world. They have been in bondage for eighteen hundred years, and, except during the last thirty or forty years, no eye has been found to pity, no hand to succour them. But if we read the scriptures with attention, we discover the great responsibility laid upon us, who are of the gentiles, with regard to God's chosen people.

"Let us examine the present condition of the Jews. You will find an exact description of them in the proplet Hosea, (iii. 14); For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without toraphim.' I will endeavour to explain some of the testimonies of the prophets, first, as they relate to the country of the Jews, and then secondly, to the state of the people. With respect to the country, Palestine at present keeps its sabbaths. The land is almost wholly uncultivated, and its cities are destroyed. I may mention the condition of four of the chief cities of Judea. The prophet Micah (i. 6), says 'Therefore I will make Samaria as an heap of the field, and as plantings of the vineyard, and I will pour down the stones thereof into the vallies, and I will discover the foundations thereof." I have visited Samaria and I can bear testimony to the exact fulfilment of these words; the very stones of the walls are scattered, and many have rolled down to the bottom of the valley. Jericho

Jezreel is likewise totally destroyed. Of Jerusalem a description is given in Ps. lxxix., "Oh God the heathen are come into thine inheritance-thy holy temple have they defiled, and made Jerusalem an heap of stones." This city is now one mass of ruins; what once formed a hill is now a valley, and that which was a valley is become a hill. Some time ago, when the Pasha of Egypt wished to build some barracks, he was compelled to dig through the rubbish to the depth of 40 or 50 feet, in order to obtain a firm foundation. The ancient walls of the city have been levelled, and the temple so completely destroyed, that the stones, which once formed part of the building, may now be seen mingled with those of the present wall. The small portion of the ancient wall of the temple which still exists, only suffices to point out the site of that edifice. Can there be a more striking proof that God has indeed sent his judgments upon the land.

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is no more. I wished to see it, but I may truly say | synagogue of the Polish Jews, and immediately opened that the prophecy of its destruction has been so literally a discussion. The young rabbi who was fixed upon to accomplished that it is impossible at the present mo- dispute with him, strove, from the first, to draw M. ment to distinguish the spot where it stood. Perez from the authority of scripture to that of the Talmud and rabbinical interpretations; but M. Perez had himself been a rabbi, and being thoroughly instructed, he quickly succeeded in subverting the arguments of his opponent, and the whole synagogue was reduced to silence. Some days after, two rabbis of this synagogue repaired by night like Nicodemus, to M. Perez, and requested instruction. He consented, and supplied each with a bible. These young men now began to pass the evenings together in reading the word of God, but with their door closed for fear of the Jews. They were not long able to conceal the state of their minds from the chief rabbi of the synagogue; M. Percy was excommunicated, and the same sentence was pronounced against all who should have any intercourse with him. The women of the congregation repaired to the young rabbis and earnestly besought them, saying, "Kill us, put us to death, both us and our children; you will plunge us into poverty; O, do anything in the world rather than become Christians, fly from Jerusalem!" They, however, remained firm, and continued to road the bible. long after the rabbi who had been M. Perez's chief opponent, went to the young men and began to discuss the truth of Christianity with them. They advised him to read the word of God, and in a short time he joined them, thus making the third in this new association, which continued, with one accord, to read and study the New Testament, imploring the Lord unceasingly to guide them into the way of truth. This soon became known to all the Jews, and their rage against M. Perez and the three rabbis knew no bounds. Two of the rabbis went to Constantinople, and all further communication with M. Perez was suspended. It was the will of God that the society should send out at this time a medical man to assist the missionaries in Judea. The plague had broken out with great violence in Jerusalem, and this young man succeeded in opening a wide door to missionary exertion by his kindness and assiduity in attending the sick. The result was that M. Perez and his colleagues were immediately able to resume their connection with the Jews. These new labours were not marked by fresh conversions, but an opinion has become prevalent among the Jews at Jerusalem, that they are unable to resist the arguments from scripture used by the missionaries. Such is the real state of things at Jerusalem, and it affords us great encouragement to continue the work of the Lord in that country.

Of all the Jews those of Syria are the best informed. Their object in resorting to Syria is to keep up the service of the synagogue, and to study the Talmud and other branches of rabinical knowledge. They chiefly occupy four towns, which they designate holy cities, Hebron, Jerusalem, Tiberias,, and Saphet, but their number is not so great as is generally supposed. At Jerusalem there are about four or five thousand; at Hebron between one and two thousand; at Tiberias there are probably still fewer, in consequence of the earthquake which destroyed the city about three years ago; Saphet is exclusively inhabited by Jews, but it suffered much at the time of the earthquake, and its population was consequently greatly diminished. How much interest do these cities excite in our minds Hebron, probably one of the most ancient cities in the world, the place where Abraham lived and died: Jerusalem, where the Jews crucified our Saviour; Tiberias, which still exists as a witness to the scenes of our Lord's ministry on the banks of the lake of Gennesaret; and Saphet situated at the distance of eight miles from the very city which our Saviour cited as an example that a city which is set on a hill cannot be hid.' Here then, we see Jews living in the country, and in the very spots where the testimony was pronounced against them. They are all living in the most abject poveaty, and subsist entirely upon the relief they receive from Europe. The money thus transmitted passes through the hands of the chief rabbis, and when some is distributed to the poor, it is not given freely as it is received, but is placed to the account of those to whom it is given. The consequence is that they feel themselves in some measure mutually bound, and no person can leave the country till he has restored all the monies he has received, to the common fund. Thus, when one of these poor Jews becomes convinced of the truth of Christianity, and is led to embrace it, he finds himself reduced to the greatest distress.

Their public worship is not much better managed. The first act of their worship is to sell to the highest bidder the right of opening the cabinet which contains the manuscripts or rolls of the synagogue. In the next place they sell the permission to carry the roll from the cabinet to the place for reading it, and finally they sell the privilege of opening the roll which is to be read. They are loaded with debts to a large amount, their synagogues are mortgaged, and they are exposed to the most violent tyranny and persecution from the Mahometan government. Notwithstanding these obstacles and the misery which surrounds them, the work of the Christian missionaries at Jerusalem has been greatly blessed. Not long ago, M. Perez, a converted Jew, was sent as missionary to this country by the London Society. He commenced by a visit to the

That you may form some idea of the state of the City of Judgment, I am about to give you a description of a Sunday I passed at Jerusalem. At daybreak we experienced the shock of an earthquake, and soon after discharges of artillery from the fortress of David ushered in the feast of Mahomet. The town had been shut up in quarantine for three years. There being no sewers in Jerusalem to carry off the refuse of the town, which is inhabited by a very dense population, the plague, whenever it makes its appearance, rages with the utmost fury, and the doors being closed on account of the disease, the people were reduced to a degree of suffering and deprivation, amounting to famine. Here there is a testimony that the three sore judgments of God were united in this unhappy city, famine, the pestilence, and the sword, for at the present moment Jerusalem is wholly subject to the military despotism of Mehemet Ali. It was under such circumstances that we assembled a little congregation in an upper chamber, where we presented ourselves in humble supplication before the throne of Him who had been crucified in this very place. Could you but witness scenes like those, you would indeed experience the deepest feeling of pity for the present condition of the Jews. With respect to the state of the

mission at Jerusalem, I will only add that the Christian | will, to raise them to even greater splendour? I services performed, are in the Hebrew language ac- | plead the cause of the Jew as of an elder brother under cording to the rites of the church of England; the sentence of condemnation, and with a veil upon his liturgy of the Anglican church has been translated heart. He resembles the man attacked by robbers on into Hebrew, as well as a book of hymns. The build- his way to Jericho, and neither the priest nor the leing of the chapel is in a state of forwardness, and a vite will have pity on him. Let us act like the Samaconsul has been established by the British govern- ritan, pouring balm, wine, and oil, into his wounds, ment for the protection of English travellers and the and bringing him home to his own land. Remember converted Jews. I shall now pass on to the last part of that from a Jew you have received the gospel, the first my subject, and having taken a view of the past and preaching of the gospel, and that our Saviour was present state of the nation, will consider the declara- himself a Jew. Remember how much the Jews were tions of scripture with respect to their future condi- honoured of God, and that Paul says to the Jew first, tion. A tradition is current among the Jews, of two and also to the Gentile. Remember the unhappy conrabbis, the one named Nathan, the other Israel, who dition of the Jews at Jerusalem, the difficulties with were one day walking on Mount Sion; during their which they have to contend, the persecutions to which walk, they observed a fox running along the hill; they are exposed, and the sentence which lies upon rabbi Israel began to weep, but rabbi Nathan to laugh, them. You will then understand that we are faithfully and the latter asked, "Why dost thou weep, rabbi Is- fulfilling the will of God, in devoting the first fruits of rael?" "I weep to see the holy mountain profaned our efforts to their assistance. And may we have to by an impure animal; but wherefore," asked he in his rejoice in this first fruit of our repentance, that from turn, "wherefore laughest thou? "I laugh," replied Geneva, administration of aid and succour may be he, "because just as I now see the accomplishment of sent to the now suffering city, Jerusalem. I can speak God's prophecies in our humiliation, I contemplate confidently of the success of the missionaries estheir fulfilment in our future glory" (Lam. v. 18). tablished there. The society which employs them has "Because of the mountain of Sion which is desolate, fifty missionaries in different parts, of whom twentythe foxes walk upon it." This is an example of the four are converted Jews. During the last ten years manner in which we must look at the fulfilment of the 1,400 persons have been converted to the faith, as it prophecies concerning Israel. is in Jesus, by means of this society. And now having Let us return to the same passage in Hosea, and we thus stated the facts which relate to the past, and preshall find that it is exactly what he has foretold. "For sent, and to the hopes of the Jewish nation, I recomthe children of Israel shall abide many days without a mend them to your charity, and your prayers, exking, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and horting you to remember these words, Pray for the without an image, and without an ephod, and without peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper that love thee terophim; afterward shall the children of Ierael re- (Ps. cxxii. 6)." turu and seek the Lord their God, and David their king, and shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days." If you compare this passage on the restoration of the Jews, with the prophecy of the power of Christ's kingdom, in Ezek. xxiv., they will be found to agree in proving that the restoration of the Jews will precede the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

After this statement the professor who presided, having reminded the assembly that it seemed good to the Achains and Macedonians of old, to make a contribution for the poor Jews which were at Jerusalem (Rom. xv. 26), announced that a collection would be made at this for the purpose of supplying the wants of the poor converted of Israelites at Jerusalem. The proceeds of this collection, 402 francs, were transmitted to London to be thence forwarded to the brethren in Judea.

THE GOOD AND FAITHFUL STEWARD:

A Funeral Sermon,

To the memory of the late Rev. Joseph L. Trimingham, A.B., incumbent of the parish of Aylesford, Nova-Scotia, preached at St. Paul's Church, Paget,

Such is the language of scripture upon the subject. We may further notice the opinion universally existing among the Jews that the time is at hand when they shall be restored to their own land, and it is a singular fact in connection with this belief, that 30,000 Polish Jews have presented a petition to the Russian emperor, requesting him to sanction their repairing in a body to Palestine, to await the coming of their king during three years, at the same time entering into an agreement to return to Poland and embrace the great faith, should he not appear by that time. This took place not more than four months ago.* There is beside, a continually increasing interest excited in favour of the Jews in the Christian world, and the fact that a deputation has been sent into the East by the Archdeacon of Bermuda, now Lord Bishop of Newchurch of Scotland, to inquire into the condition of the Jews is full of encouragement. Observe, on the other hand, that the "drying up of the river Euphrates," in other words, the dissolution of the Ottoman empire, seems to pave the way for the restoration of the Jews. This is the more worthy of attention because the Turkish empire does not fall from the blows of Christian

nations, but Turks are fighting against Turks, and thus effecting their own destruction, as the drying up of a river. Palestine has ever been a disputed country, and a source of difficulty to all the powers of Europe; why then, as European states interfered to procure the restoration of the Greeks, may they not one day do so

with regard to Jews, and concur in their national reestablishment? To conclude: if God, by his own power, could once raise them to such a height of glory and grandeur, who can doubt his ability, if it be his

Mr. Fremantle added in private conservation, that the Jews of Palestine had warmly dissuaded their brethren from prose

cuting this design, to which it is besides very improbable that the Russian government would have acceded.

BY THE RIGHT REV. AUBREY GEORGE
SPENCER, D.D.,

foundland.

MATTHEW, Xxv. 21.

"And his Lord said unto him, well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

:

Or all the parables in which our blessed Saviour has deigned to communicate his divine instructions to his followers, there is none that surpasses, in deep interest and practical importance, the excellent lesson in which these words occur.

The text is the answer which our Saviour puts into the mouth of a certain lord, who, having entrusted various talents or sums of money to his household, receives an account from the most gifted of them, that, with the

five talents committed to him, he had gained, | tion derived from the parable which we have by active and honest exertion, an increase of discussed. Whether theirs have been the five talents more. The servant, to whom had possession of the one talent, or of the five been confided but two talents, used the same talents, is not the important inquiry; but diligence, and was blessed with the same whether they have buried their possession in success. The merit in either case was equal the dust, or improved it in the service of -and on each of those industrious and their Lord. The talents referred to are unzealous occupants, the equitable householder, questionably spiritual talents, and these, too, on his return, pronounces the same glad conferred in sufficient quantity on every sentence, "Well done, thou good and faith- Christian, to enable him to "make his callful servant, because thou hast been faithful ing and election sure." Though there be in a few things, I will make thee ruler over" diversity of gifts," the end for which they many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

The remainder of the parable contrasts with this joyous reception the fate of the unprofitable servant, who, from fear or distrust, and slothfulness, hid his single talent in the earth, and, omitting all the precious hours of his stewardship, returned it unimproved to his master.-"Take therefore," says the indignant lord, "the talent from him, and give it to him that hath ten talents; and cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness, where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

The meaning of this parable is obvious. Both it and the preceding one are, as our Saviour intimates, descriptive of the kingdom of heaven, or, in other words, of the gospel dispensation, of which he was the author and the herald. "The man travelling into a far country," is therefore, an allegory of our Lord himself. The goods which he distributes severally to his servants are the different degrees of gospel privileges, and the various assignments of Christian duties; the account taken of his respective tenantry is the final examination at the day of judgment; and the sentences pronounced on the faithful and slothful servants, prefigure, in words of irresistible clearness and application, the substance of the great distinction which shall then be made throughout eternity, between "the man that serveth God, and the man that serveth him not."

From the parable thus explained, we may deduce, a most important admonition, and a mighty consolation. The admonition embraces the whole field of Christian duties. The consolation applies to every suffering Christian who labours in the path of duty; and with peculiar emphasis to those who mourn over such of their departed friends as having fulfilled a faithful stewardship, have passed by the necessary transition through the valley of the shadow of death, into the joy of their Lord. Whenever we reflect on the fate of those whom it has pleased God to withdraw from this probationary state to their final destination, our hopes and fears may reasonably be influenced by the instruc

are bestowed-the advancement of the kingdom of heaven, and the salvation of the individual-is still the same; and though "there be diversity of operations, it is the same Spirit that worketh all in all." In one follower of the gospel we discern the distinguishing grace of God bestowed upon him, by his quick perception of scriptural truth, and his ready application of it to all the wants and purposes of life. In another, we trace the same gracious influence in the attributes of eloquence with which he is enabled to enforce the message of the gospel, and to speed it to the hearts and consciences of mankind. In a third we may remark the same liberality of a bounteous Providence, in the gift of wealth applied to the purposes of charity, and more especially to that branch of the virtue which promotes the spiritual improvement of our fellow-creatures. In all these cases, it is not by the quantity of good effected by the individual possessor of the talents that he will be judged, but by the just proportion borne by his good works to the means which he possessed to do them. It is unquestionable that the idle occupant of the one talent might have accomplished for himself the same happiness as that awarded to his better endowed fellow-servant, had he used the same fidelity and diligence-and though there be "in our Father's house many mansions," i. e. many distinctions and degrees of glory and felicity, we have no reason to believe that those distinctions will be governed by the different grades of our faculties in this life, but by the zealous and faithful use to which we have applied them, in prosecuting the work of our salvation.

În referring to these general principles, which I trust are those of evangelical truth, the character and history of my late excellent brother and fellow-minister of the gospel, to whose memory I am now to direct your attention, you will perceive that every possible consolation with which the scriptures abound, may fairly be suggested to those affectionate and numerous friends who knew his worth, and mourn his sadden departure. It was my good fortune to become acquainted with him at an early period of his life, and

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