tempt or hatred the customs of the world may have inspired towards his class; if providence throws him in the Christian's way, the Christian's eye will see in him a brother whom by the inviolable ties of nature and religion he is bound to pity and relieve. Without this disposition to charity, all professions of religion are hollow and fruitless. The priest and Levite pass by on the other side, while the good Samaritan exhausts his oil and wine on the wounds of an unfortunate stranger. It is not, however, by declaiming in general terms on philanthropy, that we can either serve or excite others to serve their fellow creatures. A man's views should be limited by his means. Few men have the power of conferring essential benefits on great numbers of their species, and in our endeavours to do good we ought therefore to aim rather at what is practicable than at what is desirable. A Christian minister may desire to convert the whole heathen world to the saving faith of his Master; but if his judgment be commensurate with his zeal, he will begin by improving those who are within his reach, rather than exhaust his means and his influence, where it would be impossible that they should prevail. He may desire to bestow food and raiment and employment to all the indigent in his country but knowing the impossibility of accomplishing his wish, he will be content

with affording relief to the extent of his power. It is only by adhering to such a rule as this, that the endeavours of beings whose faculties are so circumscribed can be productive of success. It is true, that the possibility of failure should never deter us from a virtuous undertaking, and while we keep the rule in view we are not bound to be over-nice in the calculation. Of many of our means we know not the extent till we have tried them; and as the race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, much after all must be left to the disposal of Providence. It is sufficient that we commence a deed of charity with a rational prospect of success; at certainty we can never arrive. Paul may plant, and Apollos water, but it is God that must give the increase. On the whole, My Brethren, you are to learn from the Scripture we have discussed, that among all God's creatures, there is no such state existing as that of perfect independence. That the whole chain of created beings hangs one link upon another, with the last link on God; that whether small or great, we all depend on him, for through him we live and breathe and have our being; that no man has a right to consult his own selfish ends without regard to the community of which he is a member, or to the individuals whom his conduct may affect. And that, finally, if we wish to inherit the kingdom of

heaven as well as the reputation of morality we must preserve the harmony of the union by a solemn recollection that "none of us liveth to himself."

Y

SERMON XXXI.

THE LAST CHARGE OF JOSHUA TO THE ISRAELITES.

JOSHUA XXIV. 14, 15.

Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt, and serve ye the Lord. And if it seem evil to you to serve the Lord, choose ye this day whom ye will serve ; whether the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell; but for me, and for my house, we will serve the Lord.

THE scene, in which these words were originally introduced, was one of extraordinary interest and solemnity. Whether we consider the character of the speaker, the subject of his speech, or the time in which they were spoken, they will be found to deserve our very serious attention.

It appears from the chapter before us, that Joshua, the venerable and successful leader of the hosts of Israel, had convened the whole magis

tracy and people under his government unto Shechem, and there in the land of their fallen enemies, the land of the ejected Amorites, summoned them to consult on the most important topic of human deliberation; the choice of the religion by which they were to abide.

This holy chieftain, before the blasts of whose trumpets the walls of a hostile city had fallen to the ground, and who, under the auspices of his almighty Master, had triumphed over every nation that was set in array against him, was never more to conduct his followers to victory,but, to use his own emphatic expression, 66 was going the way of all the earth." Convinced by the experience of a long life, and by the miraculous events which had crowded into it, of the paramount importance of truth and sincerity in religious matters, he could not die in peace until he had done his utmost to fix and purify the faith of his countrymen and their posterity.

Now, therefore, when rest had been given to Israel, when they had time and leisure for the performance of every part of their law, and when the recollection of his long and brilliant successes, and the anticipation of his approaching dissolution, commanded a more than common interest in his auditors, he chose this happy opportunity to urge on them with effect the momentous question, on which their secular and eternal welfare both depended.