that new and more complete faith which was effectually developed after the death and resurrection of the Redeemer. In the portion of Scripture which has already been recited, we have seen that the centurion believed in the miracles of Jesus, and hence we can only infer that he was ready to receive as true every thing which Jesus taught, or was about to teach, to the world.

To all intents and purposes, therefore, we regard the centurion as equal to the most perfect Christian, for he believed in the word of God, and in the divine mission of Jesus Christ. More than this, he erected a place for the worship of God, in conformity with the new faith which he had embraced.

When we consider these facts, coupled with the declaration of our Lord himself, that he had not even found so great faith in Israel, we may be assured that the centurion's faith was of that practical and perfect kind through which, by the grace of God, he may be saved; through which, by such means, he may be rendered everlastingly happy in heaven!

My object in selecting the words which have been placed at the head of this discourse, has been to propose the conduct of the heathen centurion, of one who was at least born and educated a heathen, as an example to yourselves; and this I do at a moment when I am called upon to exhort you, by such arguments as may appear just, and based upon the sacred word of God, to lend your aid towards a society which has been established for the purpose of promoting the erection and repairs of churches; of

X

those sanctuaries which, according to the rites and doctrines of the catholic and apostolic church of our country, are dedicated to the honour and service of the Most High. If, brethren, you reflect upon the conduct of the heathen centurion, you will most assuredly do this to your shame, unless you come forward on the present occasion to contribute, each one according to your several abilities, to the purpose of the most excellent and pious institution above named.

Contrast only the situation in which you stand, and the many advantages you possess, and have always possessed, with those of the individual who has been so highly extolled by our Lord, and you must at once perceive that any unwillingness on the present occasion can only redound to your condemnation; can only produce against you the just censure of one who seeth not as man seeth, who is acquainted with the inmost recesses of the heart, and by whom every one, every individual among you, is already condemned, who shall refuse to give something of his abundance in furtherance of an object, on the success of which may depend the everlasting happiness of millions who are yet unborn!

In addition to the magnificent temple of Jerusalem, many of the materials of which were provided by king David, which was actually founded by Solomon, and which, at the expiration of one thousand years, existed in its restored state in the time of our Saviour, there were various other places of worship, scattered throughout the country, termed

synagogues, which were used for purposes of ordinary devotion by those inhabitants of the provinces who were too far distant from the temple, which was indeed resorted to, as far as it was possible, by every male throughout the land, at the celebration of the three great feasts, viz., the Passover, the feast of Pentecost, and of Tabernacles. The temple, therefore, and synagogues may fairly be regarded as typical of, or analogous to the religious edificesthe cathedrals and parish churches, and their dependent chapels of this country, and of other countries where the religion of Christ has been established. Indeed the words "synagogue” and “church” have precisely the same meaning, inasmuch as they both signify places erected for the reception of those who congregate or assemble themselves together for the worship of God, according to such directions as are contained in God's word.

When, therefore, the centurion, at his own cost, erected a synagogue or church for the accommodation of members of the Jewish persuasion, he of course did this because such synagogue was necessary, either to replace one which had fallen into decay, or in consequence of an increase in the popu

lation of the district where he lived. And such a fact very naturally suggests to our minds the consideration, whether, for similar reasons, synagogues, or, as they are now called, churches, are or are not necessary in very many localities and districts of this Christian country. This question has already been answered in the letter, called the Queen's

Letter, which has been presented to your notice. This letter is signed, according to the custom of our constitutional government, by the late Secretary of State for the Home Department, that is, by that minister of the sovereign to whose immediate superintendence the internal and domestic affairs of this great country are entrusted. The information contained in this letter has been extracted from a memorial or representation conveyed to the sovereign through the party above-named, from the society also before alluded to; the object of which society is to promote "the enlargement, building, and repairing of churches and chapels." And on such authority does the letter inform you, that by this society, during the space of eleven years, the period of its incorporation, the sum of £107,588 3s. 8d. has been collected in the different parishes throughout the kingdom, and not only collected, but likewise distributed and applied to the great purit has in view. The Queen's Letter moreover pose informs us, that "the said society has effectually promoted the good and laudable objects for which it was instituted;" that during the entire period of its existence, that is, during ten years preceding and added to the period before named, 1,606 parishes "have been assisted by it, in increasing their church accommodation, by means whereof 435,000 additional sittings have been obtained, of which number 318,000 are free and unappropriated." We are, likewise, here informed, that the society had contributed, "before its incorporation, when for the

space

of ten years it was merely supported by the contributions of its own individual members, and subsequently to its incorporation, up to the 31st of last March, £262,616 towards the procuring of this great increase of church accommodation; and has thereby given encouragement to the additional expenditure of more than one million and a half on the part of the different parishes which have applied to it for assistance." You see, therefore, brethren, that the value of this most useful and important society is not merely to be estimated by the direct good, but likewise by the indirect good, which it accomplishes; for while it applies on its own account, and from its own funds, upwards of £260,000 towards the building and repairing of churches, it induces others, the different parishes, localities, and districts of the kingdom, to expend in their own behalf, I mean for the purpose of building and repairing churches for themselves, more than five times this sum! And such an effect may be easily understood, if we but apply the point before us to ourselves. Let us suppose it necessary to rebuild the church; the small and unpretending building in which we are now assembled; if such a fact were represented to many persons, at the same time that subscriptions were solicited from them, they might probably reply, "It is useless to give any thing, because it is impossible that we can raise a sufficient sum." If, however, such persons were at once told that, if a certain sum were subscribed, the necessary total would be made up by the "Church Building