become, what we have every reason upon earth to become, a contented, a thankful, a united, a virtuous, a religious people. Let this place be the unchristian sentiment

every

grave of and passion; let this day be the era of general harmony and concord. We have met here in joy; let us depart in peace. Let us, both as individuals and as members of the community (for the precept applies to us in both capacities) be "kind and tender-hearted one towards another," watchful over ourselves, respectful and dutiful to all our lawful superiors, grateful and obedient to God.

If these be our resolutions respecting our future conduct, we may then safely apply to ourselves that sublime benediction with which Solomon dismissed the people, when the great business of the dedication was closed: "May "the Lord our God be with us, as he was with 66 our fathers; let him not leave us nor forsake us. That he may incline our hearts unto "him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep "his commandments, and his statutes, and "his judgments, which he commanded our "fathers. And let these my words, where"with I have made supplication before the

66

"Lord,

"Lord, be nigh unto the Lord our God, day maintain the cause

may

" and night, that he ❝of his servant, and the cause of his people, "at all times, as the matter shall require. "That all the people of the earth may know "that the Lord is God, and that there is 66 none else. Let your heart therefore be

66

perfect with the Lord our God, to walk in "his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day*."

46

* 1 Kings viii. 57-61.

SERMON XVI.

LUKE X. 41, 42.

JESUS ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO HER, MARTHA, MARTHA, THOU ART CAREFUL AND TROUBLED ABOUT MANY THINGS: BUT ONE THING IS NEEDFUL. AND MARY HATH CHOSEN THAT GOOD PART, WHICH SHALL NOT BE TAKEN AWAY FROM HER.

WE are now once more arrived at the

commencement of that season*, which the Church of England has set apart for the purpose of enquiring into the state of our account with God, of reviewing our past and present way of thinking and acting with a critical and searching eye; of looking well if there be any way of wickedness in us, of turning

* Lent.

turning from it, if there be, of confessing and lamenting our disobedience and ingratitude to our heavenly Father, of imploring his pardon, of entreating the assistance of his Holy Spirit, and under his guidance forming the most serious resolutions to correct and amend, without delay, whatever we find amiss in our temper, principles, and conduct. This is the true spirit and meaning of the religious solemnity of this day*, and the holy season which follows it; this is the substance and the essence of what is called in Scripture language, and in the epistle we have just heard, “turning "to the Lord with weeping, fasting, and "mourning." And what is there in all this, but that sort of solicitude concerning our spiritual condition, and our future prospects, which every man of common sense, if he thinks them worth his notice, must see to be not only highly reasonable, but indispensably necessary? Is there a man who has any important end in view for the advancement of his fame, his fortune, his rank or consequence in life, who does not frequently think and reflect upon it, who does not give up a large share of his

* Ash Wednesday.

time