you a disgust for sin. It is this realizing to oneself of the voice of God, exhorting, reproving, and encouraging, that gives us the mastery over our hearts. It was this intimate sense of God's will, though otherwise derived, which made Joseph exclaim, "How shall I do this great wickedness and sin against God?" Which caused Daniel, in a corrupt court, to cleave unto the Lord his God.

Finally, my brethren, ye more especially, who are called to be trained up as prophets in the Lord's house, if days be granted you, "Watch ye! stand fast in the faith'."

66

ners.

Young men I exhort," in the words of the apostle, "to be sober-minded 2." Take no low standard of morals, or piety, or manYou cannot tell how posterity may derive a blessing from the influence of this institution; what a decided tone and impression it may leave on society in this part of the world; if, steering between auste

1 1 Cor. xvi. 14.

2 Tit. ii. 6.

rity on one hand and lightness on the other; between formality and enthusiasm; ye seek to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour. What, then, is your standard? What Christ would require us to do for the glorifying of his name, were his holy presence now vouchsafed on earth; and what he did require of those, who were to go forth and preach his Gospel. Let this be our standard. Fools may deride, and the scorner may sneer; but God's blessing is the only thing worth caring for, on this side of the grave. I will barely remind you, as a subsidiary feeling, how many a parent's heart is beating with fond and trembling anxiety for your due employment of time. How many a prayer is daily offered up by those, whose chief wish on earth, is, to meet you in heaven, "that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith!" That being rooted and grounded in true religion, ye may become as the polished corners of the Temple! How often is the throne of God incensed with petitions, that

ye all may be pure-minded, lowly, open and sincere, docile and diligent, untainted by bad example, reverent, and fervent, and constant in your sacred duties, faithful and true in every word and work; and so living, as that if ye were suddenly called to your great account, Christ might present you, as members of his mystical body, blameless before God. Join humbly and unceasingly your prayers also for God's favour to this Institution, that it may be rendered a never failing spring, of sound learning, and holiness of mind and life. And pray likewise for them that watch over you, as they that must give a fearful account that, united with one heart and one mind, they may vigilantly, affectionately, and undauntedly discharge every duty belonging to their high office; and amidst much labour and thought, may sometimes rejoice in the expected salvation of souls in after-days, through the instrumental agency of them now growing up under their charge. Yea, brethren, pray for us,

that the Lord may prosper the work of our hands that He who alone can do it, may prosper our handy-work, through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

22

LECTURE II.

66

PSALM XXV. 7.

REMEMBER NOT THE SINS OF MY YOUTH, NOR

MY TRANSGRESSIONS: ACCORDING TO THY MERCY

REMEMBER THOU ME, FOR THY GOODNESS' SAKE, O LORD."

It is not an uncommon remark among close observers of human character, that the most exemplary of mankind are the most lowly: that they are more aware of their imperfections, and more contrite for their errors, than persons much below them in the scale of religious worth. We find this class of character fully drawn in scripture: “I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies'," exclaims the Patriarch Jacob. "The man Moses was very meek, above all on the face

1 Gen. xxxii. 10.