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had proclaimed, I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, is by Divine grace enabled, in the solemn moment of dissolution, to exclaim, I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day*.

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Thus have we endeavoured to set before you our duty, in the hope that,-discovering what an important work is committed to us, and knowing our utter insufficiency to discharge it without the Lord's assistance, you may perpetually be presenting your supplications on our behalf before God. O may we ever address a praying people! A people, who pray for us! A people, who pray for themselves! that so our imperfect services may be succeeded with the Divine blessing and the word of his truth have free course, run, and be glorified.

* See an excellent Sermon on this text by the Rev. D. Wilson, occasioned by the decease of the Rev. T. Scott.

VIII.

Corruption and Encorruption;

OR,

DEATH WELCOME TO THE REAL CHRISTIAN.

PREACHED AT ST. OLAVE'S, SOUTHWARK,

ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1826,

OCCASIONED BY THE

SUDDEN REMOVAL OF MRS. AND MISS HOPKINS.

CORRUPTION AND INCORRUPTION.

JOB XVII.-14.

I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother and my sister.

In the ordinary discharge of the duties of the Christian ministry, there are, generally, but two parties to whom the ambassador of Jesus is anxious to be found faithful. The first his Sovereign Lord and Master, from whom he received his commission, and to whom he must, at the last, give his account. The second party is the congregation to whom his message is addressed, and concerning whom his heart often beats high in desire and prayer that Christ may be formed in them the hope of glory; that for

them to live may be Christ, and to die may be gain.

There are, however, occasions when the heralds of the Cross experience no small measure of tender solicitude respecting a third party. That third party some afflicted and mourning family, whose loss or losses may have given rise to feelings more acute and painful than usual. The minister of Jesus hears, perhaps, that some such family is about to worship with him in the house of prayer. They have, it is possible, only lately attended the mortal remains of some beloved relative or relatives to the house appointed for all living. The very temple in which they purpose worshipping, may have some painful associations from the recollection of

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Those they have known, and loved, and lost below. But, notwithstanding that nature is weak, and the mind depressed, to the throne of Mercy, to the courts of the Lord, they repair for instruction and support. To such the servant of Christ would gladly prove a messenger of peace, and a son of consola

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