destroyed, the tempers and feelings which animated too many of the worshippers.

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Let us strive, even in this fallen world, to cultivate that spirit of harmony which, to use the beautiful similitude of the psalmist, is "like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard, that went down to the skirts of his garments; as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore." This spirit pervades that glorious company redeemed from all iniquity, which no man can number, and which through eternity shall celebrate the praises of the "Prince of Peace." Let us pray that such a spirit may always animate our bosoms, for it will alleviate many of life's sorrows; it will raise us above life's afflictive trials; it will teach us to view with compassion, while we seek to lighten, the distresses of others, with whom we cannot in all respects agree ; it will show forth the beauty of the Christian character; it may lead some gainsayer to embrace the truth, and thus be instrumental in saving “a soul from death." It may not be the spirit of the Samaritan generally, nor of the Jew; the spirit which has enflamed the bosoms of many champions of the truth, whose names stand high in the annals of religious warfare,

who have lighted up the fires of persecution, and fulminated Heaven's vengeance with no unsparing hand; but it is the spirit of that meek and holy Jesus, whose mind we are to seek to possess ; in whom there is neither "barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free," and whose prayer, not merely for his apostles, but for them also which believe on him through their word, was, "That they all may be one, even as he and the Father is one :" It is the spirit of that honourable exception to Samaritan bigotry, the traveller who showed kindness to the man who had fallen among thieves, and whose wounds excited not the compassion of the Priest and the Levite, who passed by on the other side.

"Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded one toward another, according to Christ Jesus; that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." May he hasten that glorious period, when the Christian church shall present the beauteous spectacle of "one fold under one Shepherd," that Shepherd who shall lead his ransomed unto living fountains of waters; when "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."

SERMON VIII.

PERSECUTION.

LUKE ix. 54, 55.

"And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of."

THE refusal of the Samaritans to admit our blessed Lord into their cities "because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem," affords a very melancholy, though by no means uncommon, instance of bigotry and prejudice. To that conduct our attention was directed in a former discourse, and we proceed to consider the effects which it produced on the minds of the disciples. "When James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire

to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?" The disciples here referred to the destruction of the captains of Ahaziah, upon whom the prophets called down fire from heaven, testifying at once his commission from on high, and his displeasure at the idolatry of their kings, for messengers had been sent by Ahaziah to inquire of Baalzebub, the god of Ekron, if he should recover from an accident which threatened a fatal termination. James and John were anxious that a similar calamity should befal the people of Samaria; that, like their forefathers, they should immediately suffer the merited displeasure of Heaven. But their divine Master would not sanction such an act of violence: "Ye know not," said he, "what manner of spirit ye are of;" ye know not how utterly at variance such a request as this is, with that kindness, and tenderness, and forgiveness, which has been so often inculcated by me. You think to appear more sincerely devoted to my cause by an over expression of zeal. Alas! you wholly misunderstand the nature of that kingdom which I am come down from heaven to establish: the very request you have made is a lamentable proof of your ignorance, how little you have profited by my discourses, and example, how much you have yet to learn before you can become qualified to preach my gospel. How different

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was the conduct of the Father of the faithful, who interceded so earnestly for the cities of the plain, whose language so powerfully illustrated the humility of his heart, the tenderness of his disposition, and his entire acquiescence in the will of God.

We may consider, first, the spirit which manifested itself in the disciples; and secondly, How much the same spirit has pervaded the visible church of Christ, with the manifold evils of which it has been the source.

I. The first feeling which arises, in adverting to the question of the disciples, is that of astonishment that they should have profited so little by their intercourse with the Saviour, that they should have testified a spirit so diametrically opposed to the benevolent and forgiving spirit of Jesus; that their zeal for the honour of their Lord should not have been testified by kindness to their fellow-men. We cannot wonder, indeed, that they should have felt hurt at the dishonour cast upon their divine Master; that the same feeling of honest indignation which induced their Lord to drive the money-changers from the temple, should have induced them to seek to convince the Samaritans of their error; but it should have been done in a very different manner from that proposed. They had not only witnessed