stable and firm under all afflictions. All the dogmatical reasoning of men would never move them, or turn them aside; because, this being the result of our own experimental knowledge of the power of God, we should feel that we were built on a rock, immutable, immovable.

I have been often instructed, when I have looked at the situation of Elijah, when he had fled from Ahab, "and when he was in mount Horeb, the mount of God; he stood in the mouth of a cave; and there passed by a great and a strong wind, and it rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: And after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: And after the fire a still small voice. And the voice said unto him, what doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts, because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy Prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life to take it away." And it remains to be a truth at the present day, that when this calm comes over the mind, we can pour forth unto the Lord our sorrows, our afflictions, and our troubles, (if I may use the expression) into the bosom of the Almighty Parent. It was

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here in this state of quietude and calm, that Elijah received that encouraging assurance, that there were yet "7000 in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him."

Thus it is that we receive instruction, immediately from the source of wisdom and power; and when it is sealed upon our minds, this is the preaching of the Gospel in faith and verity: For opinions are not religion, neither is declamation Gospel. This is the Gospel which is preached baptisingly-It is not the same as John's baptism, which only cleanses the earthly tabernacle. It is the blood, which is the spiritual life of Christ, life of purity, holiness, and self-denial, recommended immediately from God. It becomes our light, and we are governed by the same power, led by the same precepts, influenced by the same principles, and become partakers of the same nature, thus growing from a state of negative innocency, into a state of positive virtuè, and communion with God. And as we thus become willing to be taught, we become babes in Christ, willing to learn, of him, and to sit like Mary of old to understand the words of his mouth, and to experience daily growth in wisdom and knowledge; and according to the Scripture expression, we shall "grow in stature and in favour with God and men." Now will fruits be brought forth. And

what are the fruits brought forth by these two kinds of religion-the religion of Jesus Christ, and the religion of the Bible?

It is a great incontrovertable truth, that like begets its like throughout the creation. Suppose then we adopt it, and say, this is the word of God, and the only rule of faith and practice, as many do; what must be the effects which are produced by this kind of religion? There are many anxiously engaged to circulate the Bible;. and in their zeal for the formation of Bible societies, and missionary associations, they have descended so low, as to form mite societies, and cent societies. They have become as the daughters of the horse leech, crying give, give; which were represented as being insatiable. hence every manly feeling has ceased to distinguish this religion. And in the present day, instead of the gospel of Christ being freely given, it has become an object of trade and barter, and of profitable gain to the dealers therein.

And

Many of you know as well as I do, that there are individuals who pretend to teach, who are themselves denying the doctrines of the Gospel, by preaching for hire, and divining for money; and "whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things." But there are many of those, who if they had no pay, would do very little preaching-were it not for the gain in loaves and fish

es. Many of these are anxious for the spread of these bible societies, and missionary societies; but remember that like assimilates with like throughout the creation; and what proceeds from the scriptures gathers into them; and thus gives not a knowledge of God. There has been great anxiety to send bibles and missionaries to the heathen, while those who are so zealous, are themselves wallowing in wickedness, like the dog who returns to his vomit, and the sow to her wallowing in the mire. They had better reform themselves at home.

Let us carry the examination a little further. The vessels of the Lord's house are all holy; nothing impure can ever have admission there. Then can we believe that any will ever be converted by these efforts? If so it must be a conversion to their absurdities, if not into their actual wickedness, fulfilling the declaration of Christ, who said, wo unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, for ye compass sea and land, to make one proselyte; and when he is made, he is two-fold more the child of hell than yourselves, because they are in a situation to sin with confidence and spiritual pride.

Let us look a little and see whence these funds are drawn, to support these associations. Are they drawn from the pious? Are they drawn from those who are desirous that the

stakes of Jerusalem should be lengthened and strenghtened, and that it should become a quiet habitation? No. For we see among the most popular members, the blood thirsty warrior, the slave-holding oppressor; those who have taken the advantage of their honest creditors, all uniting in these popular associations. And we see another class even worse than these, who are converting the choicest temporal blessings into distilled ardent spirits; and the dealers in this poison, down to the lowest retailers, casting into "the Lord's treasury." Now can any man for a moment believe, that religion can be built on such a foundation as this? It may be likened unto the building of the "foolish man, which was founded on the sand, and the rains descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon the house; and it fell, and great was the fall of it." And this must fall; every thing which stands not in the power of God must fall, before we can come into unity of spirit, and the bonds of peace. Let us look a little in addition to this; for we see a great many rites and ceremonies, and ordinances; we witness a great deal of preaching, praying and singing. But I believe it is impossible for man, and for all the arts and sciences, and philosophy, and all the knowledge that can be procured from them, to qualify a single individual, for a preacher of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. And where