hour of duty, to animate our exertions; -at the altar of salvation, to kindle our gratitude to him who died that we might live But most of all, in hours like the present, when we are leaving that altar, to strengthen our resolutions of future amendment, and to impress upon us, the immortal value of that repentance in which the host of Heaven itself deigns, in these concluding hours, to rejoice.

We are now to return, my brethren, into the world,-to our various duties and occupations; but perhaps, also, to the same scenes which have witnessed our errors, and to the same society which has led us into guilt. These are the deepest holds which sin has ever had upon the human soul. In the might of our Master, let us here arm ourselves against the danger. Let us remember, that there is another society in which the regenerated spirit lives; and

that there are greater spectators than man, who surround the repentant soul.

In the repentance of the humblest, or of the lowest among us, in these late days, Heaven, with all its inhabitants, has " rejoiced." Let us then again enter the world with this sublime impression upon our minds.-Let us feel the importance of that frame, which, while it is united to dust, is yet born for immortality. Let us think ourselves now as acting, not only in the sight of ignorant or mistaken men, but in the sight of the God of the universe, and of the Saviour of the human race;-in the sight of every being who is great before the throne of Omniscience ;-in the sight of Those whom death has for a while separated from us, but who now look down, with all the anxieties of love, upon the course which we pursue; and whose aged or whose infant hands prepare for us those

"wreaths of glory," and "those palms "of peace," which shadow out in mercy to our feeble and fearful souls, not only "the wisdom," and "the knowledge," but the " joy," the social, and, dearer than all, the domestic "joy" of Heaven.

May such, my brethren, be, in these hours the sentiments of all our minds! -In this spirit may we leave the altar of salvation !—In this spirit may we again enter into the world! And, far more, in this spirit may we so conduct ourselves in it, that, by" patient continuing in welldoing," we may inherit, with all the good and wise that have gone before us, the promised glory and honour of immorta

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SERMON XXII.

ON THE POWER OF CHRISTIAN FAITH.

ST JOHN, V. 4.

"Whatsoever is born of God, overcometh "the world; and this is the victory that "overcometh the world, even our faith."

THESE words, which are prescribed by our church for the instruction of this day, are taken from the Epistle of St John; and there is perhaps no portion of Scripture more proper for our medita

First Sunday after Easter.

"wreaths of glory," and "those palms "of peace," which shadow out in mercy to our feeble and fearful souls, not only "the wisdom," and "the knowledge," but the " joy," the social, and, dearer than all, the domestic "joy" of Heaven.

May such, my brethren, be, in these hours the sentiments of all our minds ! -In this spirit may we leave the altar of salvation !—In this spirit may we again enter into the world! And, far more, in this spirit may we so conduct ourselves in it, that, by "patient continuing in welldoing," we may inherit, with all the good and wise that have gone before us, the promised glory and honour of immorta

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