commanded the attention and homage of men. Zeal, even when degenerated into fanaticism and separated from the aids of reason, has gathered followers and gained power. And reason, except when allied with zeal and active perseverance, has been little able to maintain, much less to extend, her rightful dominion.

God forbid, then, that the greatest and most important of all causes should be treated by its friends lightly and coolly; and that through any apprehension of being charged with "madness," they should avoid the earnest and burning "words of truth and soberness," and the ready self-devotion of those who "spend and are spent" to promote magnificent designs. A man without zeal lives to the condemnation either of his own heart, which is incapable of high moral fervour; or of his profession, which is unworthy of it. Zeal is doubtless a different thing in different men. In some men it cannot be excited to that passion, which it displays in others. But every man is susceptible of a moral energy of action, a devotion of spirit to some favourite object; and this is zeal-capable of cultivation and growth. Let it be cultivated and grow in the friends of religion, if they would advance their religion. It excites attention, sympathy, and co-operation. It is the spring of successful action. It is in character what eloquence is in language. It gives a man surprising power over the minds of others; it enables him to excite the hearts of the coolest, and engage the exertions of the most indolent. To act a great cause coldly is as disgraceful as to plead it sluggishly; and to do either is to aid in defeating it. It were better to be fanatical than indifferent, for then it might at least be seen that our religion has power to move and agitate. But where reason presides over the religious affections, the last thing to be apprehended is fanaticism; and success is not to be hoped or expected,

except men be addressed with fervour and earnestness, and their moral feelings be engaged by the beauty, grandeur, and excellence of what is in itself so holy and sublime, and so fitted to ensure the perfection of the human character.

At the same time, if we would cause the truth to be glorified, it must be advocated with Charity. There must be no bitterness, nor clamour, nor wrath, nor malice, nor evil speaking, in the Christian's zeal. All these are contrary to his Master's spirit, and hinder his cause. The spirit of intolerance and bigotry has been one of the principal obstacles to the progress of the church, and the improvement of man. It has led to the assumption of authority, which Christ never delegated, to the uttering of anathemas, which his word does not warrant, to the imposition of creeds, which bind the truth in fetters, and deprive the soul of its lawful light and liberty. Let all this be discouraged, here and elsewhere. Wherever Christ's proclamation of liberty has been heard, let not the pretensions of human bigotry be tolerated. It has shed the best blood of the church, and impiously striven to blot out the names of good men from the Lamb's book of life. In this blessed land its dungeons have been destroyed, and its faggots extinguished, and it has been cast down from the throne of power, where it wielded the magistrate's sword. But it still lodges in many an unhappy bosom, and blasts, with the venemous breath of its mouth, reputation, influence, and peace. As we honour the name of our Lord, let us wage against this foe a war of extermination. Let us not rest, nor hold our peace, till its power be utterly trodden under foot. Watch against it, pray against it, preach against it. Let not a word nor a thought plead for it in this holy place. No, my brother, though your people, with the madness of Israel when he asked a

king, should clamour for a creed that might exclude their own faith from improvement, and other believers from their fellowship, or should press you to fulminate from this place the denunciations of reviling and ill-will which have sounded from other pulpits; resist them to the utmost, and pay any price rather than so far forget the spirit and example of your Lord. And if you, brethren, should ever find in your pastor this sad breach of holy charity, fail not to remind him that he is unfaithful to his trust, and enter your loud protest against this dis honour to a good cause, this desecration of a holy office. True religion will triumph only as it is free. You set limits to its empire whenever you abridge the right of free inquiry, or allow any man to place himself on the judgment seat of Christ, or nourish in your own bosoms a censorious temper and a spiritual ambition.

But above all, in the last place, there is nothing which will so tend to promote the honour of the true gospel, as the faithful and consistent lives of its friends. Its highest eulogy is read in their elevated and uniform devotion, their trust in God, their equanimity in change and trial, their fidelity in every relation, their integrity, purity, humility, benevolence. To form these virtues in them, to render them "perfect in every word and work," is the very object to be effected by their adherence to the Gospel. If it be not effected, discredit is brought upon the religion itself, which they profess to advocate, for the sake of a good influence, which their own lives declare it does not possess. But when their conversation is according to the blamelessness and purity of the Christian doctrine, fashioned upon the model of Jesus Christ, and illustrious with the consistent beauty of his excellencies; it is a living and breathing eulogy of their faith, which every one sees, understands, feels, and acknowledges. The profound scholar, the

learned theologian, the eloquent orator, may demonstrate, illustrate, and adorn; but the devout and humble believer, who "shows his faith by his works," will do far more to convince and win. Has it not always been so? Is it not when adorned by the charitable and unspotted lives of its friends, that the religion of Jesus has been most glorious and admirable? And has it not been cast down from its honourable place, whenever worldliness and hypocrisy have marked the character of its advocates? Does not the history of the Church in all ages teach us, that however glorious our religion may be in itself, yet the ill conduct of its friends may obscure that glory, and their exemplary lives render it more conspicuous? So that we are to regard it as given into our hands, a precious, solemn, awful charge, to be by us adorned and recommended to mankind, or to be by us disfigured, obscured, and made a reproach among men;—even as it is written, "My name is blasphemed among the nations because of you." What a responsibility then is ours! God grant that we may be able faithfully to sustain it!

In occupying the time allotted me on this occasion, I have endeavoured to point out the principal means which it suggests, of advancing religion through its public institutions, and of recommending it to the faith and admiration of men through the character of the doctrine preached, and by the zeal, liberality, and consistency of life, with which the great cause is advocated. To you, my dear brother, these topics particularly address themselves. They concern your duties, your happiness, your success, in that calling to which you now devote yourself in the presence of God and man. It becomes the object of your life to uphold the worship and ordinances of the Gospel, and to labour for the advancement of its glory in the world. May God grant you a

great blessing! May he give you zeal, charity, and piety, and make you eminently serviceable to the cause of divine truth and human salvation. In the situation to which you have been called, there are circumstances of peculiar trial. They fill your mind with solicitude, and they demand from us expressions and acts of sympathy and aid, which I trust we shall not fail to render you. May they never be withheld, and never be ineffectual; and in every trial, may He especially be your support, who is nearer and greater than all earthly friends. There are also peculiar circumstances of encouragement and grounds of hope, which may well cheer and animate your exertions. May your best hopes of usefulness and happiness be fulfilled. May you find your separation from the friends of your youth, compensated in the kindness and fidelity of those, who welcome you as one of themselves. May you have the great happiness of witnessing the prevalence of pure and undefiled religion in all its heavenly and holy doctrines, in all its pure and comforting influences, in all its correcting and regenerating power; and having been with this people "fellow helpers to the truth" on earth, may you and they see the full glory, and partake the unspeakable felicity of the blessed in the eternal kingdom of God.

Brethren of this Christian Society-We offer you our congratulations on the auspicious occurrence of this day. Long and faithfully have you persevered in administering the worship and ordinances of God's house, according to the dictates of your consciences; and, faithful to their dictates, you still persevere. You have the good wishes and prayers in your behalf of your sister churches. May God smile upon you, and send you prosperity. May he abundantly reward "all your patience of faith and labour of love," and cause this day to be remembered with devout gratitude, by you and