who possess the gifts of God, and desire to use them as faithful stewards, can benefit those who are less favoured. This blessing they who are themselves instructed can give to others who are ignorant. This, they who have been. taught of God the value of the soul, can do for those who have no sense of its importance. And too often if we do not actually provide for this, we virtually forbid it. The children cannot procure instruction for themselves; nor always their parents for them, even if they knew its value.

And think of the blessed result, if God favour the effort, and the young are bred up "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." Such is human nature, that to be without knowledge is is to be without religion; not to be the servant of Christ, is to be the slave of sin. And to serve sin, is to serve that cruel tyrant, the destroyer both of body and of soul. How grievous is the return he makes, the wages which he pays! There is pain, anguish of body, ruined constitutions; there is, still worse, anguish of mind, the stings of conscience and of sorrow, ending, perhaps, in a broken heart; there is disgrace, indigence; there are prisons

banishment, death. It would be less, if this were all; if death, the last consequence of sin which we actually see, were indeed the last consequence of sin. But, beyond the death of the body," outer darkness" awaits the soul, "weeping and gnashing of teeth ;"" the worm that dieth not, the fire that never shall be quenched."

When, then, we ask you to provide the means of education, religious education, to those who would otherwise be wanting it, we ask the means of deliverance from all these. We ask that the children of corruption and the subjects of temptation may be brought to Him, who has engaged that sin shall not "have dominion over them," neither shall "the world overcome them." 7 He will show them what is safer than sin, and better than the world. Bring them to Him, and he will show them their real state, and raise them out of it; disclose to them the evil which is in their hearts, and cleanse them from it. Bring them to Him, who will teach them that industry is more cheerful than idleness, and contentment better than murmuring; that sobriety is happier than excess, and chastity than impurity. Bring

7 See Rom. vi. 14; 1 John v. 4, 5.

them to Him, who shows that godliness has real charms, that profaneness is hateful and abominable; that there is comfort in meekness and kindness, but none in malice and revenge. Bring them to Him, who shows that there is more blessing in "the peace of God," than in anything this world can give; who can bestow on them what they can never find elsewhere, rest of soul.

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SERMON IX.

THE GOSPEL A BLESSING TO THE POOR.1

MATT xi. 5.

The poor have the Gospel preached unto them.

WHEN the Son of God, now become the Son of man, was asked whether he was the Saviour who should come-the long-promised, long-predicted, long-expected Saviour of the worldthis was part of his answer, part of the proof which he offered,-The poor have the Gospel preached unto them.

It was not the only proof. He bade them attend to the miracles which he wrought. "The blind receive their sight; the deaf hear; the lepers are cleansed." All these things were spoken of by the prophets, as signs of the times of Israel's redemption. All these things are

2

1 Preached at the consecration of a church.

2 Isaiah xxix. 28; xxxv. 5, 6.

done.

Therefore be sure that he who was to come is come-look for no other: God has fulfilled his promises: the Son of God is become the Son of man.

But these miracles belonged to the dwellers in that age and country. The blessings which Christ should bring, would belong to every age and every country. These miracles were a blessing which began and ended with this present world. The blessings which Christ should bring, were not for time, but for eternity.

And therefore our Lord, looking forward through all time, and providing for eternity, concludes his reply by adding, And the poor have the Gospel preached unto them. The poor are no longer neglected and passed by, as if unworthy of eternal life. The Son of God is come into the world "to give his life a ransom" for as many as receive him, without respect of persons. And as he dies for all, so the tidings of his mercy shall be proclaimed to all. Provision shall be made that "all things pertaining to life and godliness," shall be henceforth supplied to those, who could not from their circumstances procure them for themselves. The proclamation of my Gospel is, "Ho ye, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and