6th. "Contentment involves the moderation of those desires which are directed to worldly enjoyments." He who bends himself upon satisfying the cravings of his soul with earthly good must be utterly disappointed. Though he may gain all other things, he will not gain peace.

7th. "Contentment involves self-approbation." Conscience must approve and smile, before serenity can shine upon the world within. But when it is "void of offence," there is a calm and peace which no outward commotions can disturb.

And there is abundant reason assigned by the apostle why christians may be contented. "For He (God) hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." With God for our portion, we need give ourselves no unnecessary concern as to what we shall eat, what we shall drink, what we shall put on, or how we shall get through the sorrows of this world. If we "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, all these things shall be added." And it remains yet to be shown that those who rest their confidence in God for the supply of their wants are ever forsaken. "If God be for us, who can be against us?"

II. Christians are to remember their teachers. "Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God; whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation; Jesus Christ the same yesterday, to-day and for ever."

1st. Christians are to bear in mind the instructions of their teachers. He that ascended far above all heavens, the great author and finisher of our faith, "gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." But how, indeed, can christians be perfected and edified by ministers, unless they heed and remember their instructions? Divine truth, to be of any service, must be received into the soul and appropriated there as food is appropriated for the nourishment of our animal nature. But in order to do this, there must be a diligent cherishing of the weekly messages that come from the pulpit.

2nd. Christians are to remember their spiritual instructors to follow their example of faith. It is a gratifying fact, that, though

there is here and there a Judas or a Demas, the vast majority of christian preachers in this country are pious, devoted, evangelical men; men who love God, and love his cause, and love to win souls to Christ; men who have experienced in their own souls the renewing power of the Gospel, and hope through it to reach an everlasting habitation in another world. The faith of these men christians are to follow. In their holy footsteps they are to tread. Their godly example they are to imitate. And for this cause they should be remembered.

3rd. Christians are to remember their spiritual instructors in their trials, so as to support them by their prayers. Like Moses interceding for Israel against Amalek, the hands of Christ's ministers often become heavy and droop. Christians, like Aaron and Hur, are to stay them up. The apostles often found it important to call upon the churches for an interest in the prayers of the saints; and much more do preachers need this assistance now. But ah, what coldness and indifference do people often show to their preacher! How little they sympathise with him! How often do they add insult to his sufferings, and mock at his very tribulations! And at best how little do they think of the overwhelming burdens which rest upon his hands! Christians, pray for your ministers, not only as men, but as men who are charged with the care of souls. When you kneel in supplication for help under your own trials, remember also those who have the rule over you.

4th. Christians are also to remember their ministers as men of temporal wants like other men. Giving themselves up as they do to the work of Christ, they cannot pursue any worldly employment, and hence are entirely dependent upon their parishioners for the means of life. And it is altogether just that they should look for support from the people. God has also commanded, that "they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel." It is also said in the Scriptures, "Let him that is taught in the word, communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things." And the man who professes the name of Christ, and voluntarily neglects to perform this branch of christian duty, is a sinner in the sight of God. These remarks are not made in the way of personal allusion, but as the truth of God, which is not to be suppressed. Only be careful, my brethren, that you always attend to it.

III. Christians are to be stable in the doctrines of the Gospel.

"Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines: for it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace."

The "divers and strange doctrines" here alluded to, are such as are contrary and foreign to those taught by the apostles. Such, for instance, as those urged by the Jews concerning the ceremonial observances and traditions. Paul declares of these, that they "have not profited them that have been occupied therein." It is far better that the heart should be established with grace-that the love of God should be permanently rooted and grounded in the soul, than to be concerned about meats, and ordinances, and traditionary laws. Let those devote themselves to these things who will, we have a more important matter to claim our attention. "We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle." There has been a sacrifice made, of which none can partake who cling to these things. "For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp." The very plan and order of the ancient services gave intimation, that when the reality which they prefigured should be revealed, it would be something distinct from and exclusive of everything relating to the old Jerusalem."Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate." His religion has nothing to do with the Jewish ceremonials. And to show this, when he came to erect his altar, and make his glorious sacrifice, he left the temple and the gates of Jerusalem behind him. He suffered outside of the gate, and nothing that is within it has any right to be mingled with his religion. Christians are therefore to cling to the pure and spiritual doctrines of the cross to the utter exclusion of everything of Jewish ceremony or worldly pomp. It is true, it may cost us some self-denial. It may render us unpopular and contemptible in the eyes of men, if we refuse to go with the tide of fashion. But what is this? "Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach." At most it will be for but a few days. "For here we have no continuing city." The places that now know us, will soon know us no more. "The fashion of this world passeth away," and we shall pass away with it. Soon will come death, and the shroud, and the coffin, and the grave, and we shall be "where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest." What then will be reproach to us? What is the taunt of the Jew, or the jeer of the infidel, to the man

who has gone down beneath the clods of the valley? Will those eyes once sealed in death's cold sleep ever see the pointed finger of scorn? Will those ears be any more disturbed by the voice of detraction? Will anathemas, or bulls, or the howling of wolves in sheep's clothing, arouse from the leaden slumber of the tomb? Why then should any one be wavering in his faith to evade reproach for the little time we have to stay on earth?

Nor are we only without a continuing city here, "but we seek one to come." When the Savior left the world to go home to his throne in heaven, his consoling words to his disciples were, "I go to prepare a place for you." Paul says concerning believers, "God hath prepared for them a city." To this city we hope, through Divine grace, to come. There we shall be more, far more than compensated for every privation which we can be made to endure for the Gospel on earth. For every tear shed here for Christ, we shall there have a thrill of rapturous delight. Every reproach worn for christianity here, shall there secure to us everlasting honor. Every pain felt here in the service of God, will there add a gem to the crown of our rejoicing. Let us, then, be firm and settled in our religion. That is a trait of false zeal which at one time shines out like a blazing comet, and then dwindles down again into a taper ready to expire. Christianity is a thing of fixed and steady principle. It calls for firmness and decision. Its professors, like rocks on the seashore, lashed and beaten by the waves, must yet stand unaffected and unmoved. Like tall oaks of the forest, though scathed by the fiery bolts of persecution, still let us lift our heads and hands to heaven. Though the winds and tempests howl around us, still let us cling with unyielding confidence to the Rock of Ages. With roots of faith strongly girt about such a foundation, we shall stand when the storm is over, and the lightnings flash no more.

And how delightful to see a soul thus clinging to its Savior! The angels bend from glory with interest in the scene. Ten thousand spirits around it, watch it with delight. And the eternal Jehovah himself applauds, "Well done! well done! Enter thou into the joys of thy Lord."

IV. Christians are to give unto God the sacrifice of continual praise. "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his pame." As we have an altar whereof they have no right to eat

who serve the tabernacle, so we are also to adorn it with the proper offerings. We are to offer on it continually the sacrifice of praise, and the fruit of our lips. Praise and thanksgiving constitute one of the great duties of the redeemed. Duty, did I call it? After God has created us, and while utterly undeserving, preserved us, and when ready to sink to perdition, gave his only son to die to redeem us, must it be urged upon men as a duty that they should praise him? Shame, shame to the human heart! Should it not be the natural and spontaneous impulse of the soul? Can any one be so destitute of feeling as to withhold it? Does it not become every one of us to go and sit down with our harps aside of Israel's sweet singer, and say, "Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all tha is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercy; who satisfieth thy mouth with good things, so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's? .. Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the Lord, all his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. Bless the Lord, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul."

"But

V. Christians are to cherish a warm benevolence of heart. to do good, and to communicate, forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."

I had occasion, in another lecture, to speak of the duty of christians to give according to their ability for the relief of all sorts of suffering and want. We are ever to be ready to contribute what we may have more than our own actual necessities demand, whenever we see that in so doing we will be able to benefit our fellows, and promote the Divine glory. With the christian, it is not only duty, but it is a luxury to give and do good. It is blessed, more blessed than to receive. It is a feast to the conscience. It makes us feel that we are doing right; and that is a feeling for which kingdoms and worlds have been offered on a dying bed. And then the idea of mingling in the sorrows and joys of others, is a pleasing one. To fill some poor sufferer with happiness by a liberal contribution, will shed a glow of sweetness over one's own heart that seems like the sunshine of heaven.

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