watchful in their thoughts and actions. These Scribes and Pharisees no doubt believed that had they lived in the days of their fathers they would have acted differently. They abhorred the idea of being guilty of killing the prophets. They felt as Hazael did when he was told of the evil which he would do unto the children of Israel. Is thy servant a dog, he asked, that I should do this great thing? And yet we find that notwithstanding the reprobation with which he viewed the conduct that was ascribed to him, he fell into the snare and committed the same iniquities which had been predicted by the prophet of the Lord. Hence we see, my friends, that we stand in slippery places, that we are in a state of continual jeopardy, and need prayer and watchfulness to guard against it, every hour and every minute of our lives. God protects the meek, and if we are watchful and humble we may hope for his aid to turn us unto righteousness. The Scribes and Pharisees were persons of learning and eminence, and hence they were introduced into the highest and most respectable stations in the church. But ambition grew up, and they were gradually seduced by the temptations of the world. Their declension was imperceptible-for men grow bad, as well as good, gradually. They said if

we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. But they knew not their own hearts; for when the blessed Saviour came and opened to them his divine mission, accompanied with the clearest evidence of its heavenly character, their minds were darkened. They could not comprehend it, nor yield to it their belief. When they could not gainsay the manifestations of his light, nor controvert his miracles, they reasoned upon them and said that he casteth out devils by Belzebub the prince of devils. Notwithstanding the fulness of the law of God, which shone forth in him in so marvellous a manner, and notwithstanding the example of patience and long suffering by which he bore testimony to the truth and divinity of his mission, instead of producing a change in that people for the better, it made them worse. And such is always the result of instruction and preaching; if it does not produce the good effect intended, it is sure to produce the opposite. And how bitter and malignant was the spirit in which the Scribes and Pharisees opposed the manifestations of the divine mission of our blessed Saviour! And what was the cause of that Spirit? They were afraid of their popularity. They were apprehensive of the consequences of attempting to destroy our Saviour lest the

people should come forth in his favour. Not on the feast day, said they, lest there be a tumult among the people; for they feared the people. It was the people only, and it is always the people that have kept them at bay. Mankind are the same now that they were formerly. We are constituted in the same manner. We are endowed with the same gifts, and possessed of the same propensities and passions. We are subject now as formerly, to one of two spirits; for if we are not under the influence of the humbling power of God, we shall be under the influence of a

spirit of evil. The same principle of action. will govern us that influenced the Scribes and Pharisees-and so it will be to the end of the world. It requires the same divine power in these as in former days to bring about a change in the heart, and to enable a rational soul to glorify his Creator. Man was created in the image of God, and he is possessed of the capacity to know, and of the power to perform the divine will. It is to the soul that God imparts his influence, and not to the outward man. The immortal soul and not the body, is destined to that eternal life or death, which is incapable of change. Fixed as the eternal purposes of Heaven, it will go on in the path prescribed, and advance continually in its progress, through the

endless ages of eternity. These reflections are calculated to make humble, meek, and lowly every rational soul who has witnessed the advance of those who are actuated by an evil and wicked spirit in their progress to degradation. It was this malignant spirit which influenced Cain to murder his brother Abel; and to this we may trace all the wicked actions which we find on the records of history. No matter what the situation of life may be of him who indulges it, so far as such a spirit prevails, it shows that murder, assassination, and the long catalogue of crimes is in their hearts. murder is in the soul of that man or woman who has the bitterness of feeling towards others of which I have spoken. Although they may possess the highest place in the Synagogue-although they be surrounded with the world's comforts and enjoy its honours, yet if they cherish this wicked spirit they are no better than the children of the Devil. Those who fill the highest stations in the Church are, often, of all others the most wicked, and the most difficult to reach. Such was the case of the Scribes and Pharisees spoken of. They no doubt thought that Jesus Christ was a dangerous Man. He introduced new doctrines calculated to overturn the settled order of things. His precepts were new and singular. Mo

ses they knew, and Jacob they knew, but who was he? They regarded him as one who was dangerous to them, and more especially as his doctrines struck at the root of their traditions. But they were hypocrites, of a sad countenance; for they disfigured their faces that they might appear unto men to fast.

And this brings into view another testimony, which is the great and false profession of those who have the form without the power of godliness. O that cursed propensity of man to pride and bitterness of spirit towards his fellow beings, which is nevertheless indulged under the profession of godliness! Bear with me, my friends, I feel different from what I did when I came into this house. I have entertained no feeling of bitterness towards any person, nor have I had any sentiments like the present on my mind for several weeks past. Yet I do not wish to distinguish myself from others. I wish to enter into the same search relative to my own heart, which I recommend to you-lest I also become a castaway. And I call upon you, my friends, to assist me in this search, with supplication and prayer. It is deeply interesting to us all. But O the dreadful consequences which must ensue from pride and ambition! We are all prone to be led astray by them, even those who have been met