how much more should you
you this fine building for tl.
for the solemn performances
responsible to Almighty God
Let not then slight excuses I
courts of the Lord.

Almost all other religionists
guor and indifference of nominally
punctual are the Mohammedans
gious offices, how devout in appear
solemnly silent before the ministe
profound their prostrations! Where
abstain, at our pleasure. We arriv
happen. We sit unconcerned, perhap
acts of prayer and praise. We listless
tion of curiosity in the sermon to be
seems to occur to our minds except the
ought to swallow up all others—the ho
and Saviour in whose presence we appea
we are under to worship him, " in spirit
portion to our clearer light and more a
The beautiful church of Delhi will conden
ing, those who neglect the public worship
which it has been so piously and mun
celebrate.

id in making known the greatest benefit which God and Saviour has ever bestowed upon man, kust "keep Christ's word" in the presence

people around us-we must enter in at the ed door" of his providence and grace-we scribe on the temple of Britain's glory, the our God.

us. If we "keep his word," he will set before us here, in a more exalted sense than he has yet done, an."open door." Nothing can be more honourable, more dignified—if I may be forgiven for saying so, or influenced by higher intentions, than the civil and military services in India. Let only the piety and love to Christ, which is now, I trust, diffusing itself more and more throughout those services, go on increasing, and the blessing of the great Arbiter will rest still upon British India.

If, however, we fail to enter in at the door which he is opening to us, we must not wonder that the fearful judgments which have fallen on the Asiatic Churches should ultimately overtake us. Where are now these ancient cities? Ephesus is lost; Sardis reduced to a miserable village; Pergamos and Thyatira covered with Mohammedan darkness; Laodicea is a complete desolation. Smyrna and Philadelphia alone have been saved. "Amongst the Greek colonies and churches of Asia, Philadelphia," observes Gibbon, "is still erect, a column in a scene of ruins." And, may we not in like manner say, where are the European nations, who preceded us in the career of Indian power? Where the Portuguese, the Dutch, the French? Would we, therefore, contribute in the highest sense, to the safety of our country-would we strengthen the foundations of her dominion-would we raise her name amongst the christian powers who have ruled in Asia-would we diffuse a community of feeling between our native subjects and ourselves-would

we aid in making known the greatest benefit which our God and Saviour has ever bestowed upon man,

66

we must "6 keep Christ's word" in the presence of the people around us-we must enter in at the opened door" of his providence and grace-we must inscribe on the temple of Britain's glory, the name of our God.

516

SERMON XXV.

EPHESIANS iii. 14-21.

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

CHRISTIANITY is the religion of devotion. Prayer is her appropriate work. Every division of our preceding discourses, therefore, calls on us, now that