unto you, but ye cannot bear them now," John has united the compendious road of sensation vi. 12.

to the more circuitous one of reasoning, for the If we are unable to digest public discourses preservation of our body. What is noxious to of the description which we have been giving, the body, makes itself known to us, not only much less are we disposed to bear with the by a process of reasoning, but by certain disprivate admonitions of a judicious and sincere agreeable sensations, which warn us to keep at friend, who is so faithful as to unveil to us our a distance from it. Whatever contributes to own heart. What a treasure is a friend, who its preservation, makes itself known by pleakeeps constantly in view, I do not say our ho- surable sensations, and thereby engages us to nour only, our reputation, but more especially make use of it. our duty, our conscience, our salvation! What 3d Proposition. It by no means involves a a treasure is a man, who employs the influence contradiction, to say, that if it was the will of which he may have over us, only for the pur- God, in the order of nature, that the compenpose of undeceiving us when we are in an er- dious road of sensation should supply the more ror; of bringing us back when we have gone circuitous one of reasoning, he may sometimes astray; of assisting us to unravel and detect be pleased to conform to the same economy, in the pretences which the deceitfulness of the the order of grace. "human heart uses to justify to itself its wan- 4th Proposition. We are assured not only derings and weaknesses! What a treasure is a by reason, that God may adopt this mode of man, who has the honesty to say to us, accord- proceeding, but Scripture and experience teach ing as circumstances may require: “Here it us, that he actually does so, in the case of cerwas your want of experience that misled you; tain Christians of a superior order. there, it was the prejudice of a faulty educa- I compare those sensations of grace to the tion: on that occasion you was betrayed, movements by which the prophets were anithrough the seduction of those flatterers, in mated, and which permitted them not the whose society you take so much delight: on power of doubting whether or not it was the this, it was the too favourable opinion which effect of the presence of God in their souls; you had formed of yourselves, which would movements which produced conviction that persuade you, that you are ever sincere in God intended to make use of their ministry, your conversation; ever upright in your inten- and constrained them in many cases to act in tions; ever steady in your fellowships!" contradiction to their own inclinations. Never

Nevertheless, we usually look upon this was mission more glorious than that of Jere. precious treasure not only with disdain, but miah. Never was mission more difficult and even with horror. It is sufficient to make us more burdensome. He was called to open his regard a man with an eye of suspicion, that he mouth in maledictions, levelled against his felhas discovered our weak side. It is sufficient low-citizens, and to be himself exposed as a for him to undertake to paint us in our true butt to the execrations of that people. Overcolours, to be perfectly odious to us. A real whelmed under the pressure of a ministry so Christian employs all the means with which distressful, be exclaims, “Wo is me, my mohe is furnished, to unveil his own heart to him- ther, that thou hast born me a man of strife, self. By dint of study, he acquires the know- and a man of contention to the whole earth,” ledge of himself. Having acquired this im- chap. xv. 10. He does more. He forms the portant knowledge, he seriously and resolutely resolution of renouncing a ministry which has sets about personal reformation; and he makes become the bitterness of his life: “The word progress in it. He examines this new state of the Lord is made a reproach unto me, and a into which divine grace has introduced him; derision daily; then I said, I will not make and finding within himself the characters of mention of him, nor speak any more in his Christianity, he lays hold of its promises. He name," chap. xx. 8, 9. 'But God lays hold of becomes assured of its being in the class of him, by invisible bonds, and which he finds it those to whom they are made. And what is impossible to shake off: “ the word of the Lord it to possess such assurance? It is to have an is made a reproach unto me, and a derision anticipated possession of all the blessings which daily; then I said, I will not make mention of are the object of it. It is to be already quick- him, nor speak any more in his name: but his ened, already raised up, already made to sit in word was in mine heart, as a burning fire shut heavenly places together with Jesus Christ. up in my bones, and I was weary with for

III. Finally, the believer is quickened, he is bearing, and I could not stay,” ver. 9. raised up, he is made to sit together in heavenly Lord, thou hast deceived" (enticed) “me, and places, by means of the foretastes which he en- I was deceived," (enticed:) “ thou art stronger joys of his participation in the exaltation of the than I, and hast prevailed,” ver. 7. Saviour of the world. Should any one accuse I am persuaded that many among you have me, of myself running under this head, upon experienced in your vocation, something simithat rock of the marvellous, against which I lar to what the prophet experienced in his. I cautioned my hearers, under a preceding branch am persuaded that many of you have been atof my discourse, I would request his attention tracted by those irresistible bands, and have to the following series of propositions, which I felt that sacred flame kindle in your soul, barely indicate in so many words.

which the Holy Spirit communicates to the 1st Proposition. God possesses a sovereign regenerated, and which puts these words into empire over all perceptions of our souls; he is the mouths of the disciples, who were travelable to excite in them such as he pleases, either ling to Emmaus, “Did not our heart burn with the concurrence of external objects, or within us, while he talked with us by the way, without that concurrence.

and while he opened to us the Scriptures": 2d Proposition. In the order of nature, God | Luke xxiv. 32.

Now, if you call upon me to go into a more, ing himself the glory of a triumph, but in realiparticular detail on this subject, I will say to ty from the fatal charm which betrays him into you, that however mysterious this operation of defeat. We have no encouragement to expect the grace of God may be; whatever difficulty divine support to resist and overcome temptamay appear in exactly ascertaining the time of tion, when we rashly throw ourselves in the its communication, it is imparted to believers, way of it: “ He that loveth danger," says the in five situations chiefly. 1. When shutting Wise Man, “shall perish therein." I speak the door of his closet, and excluding the world of those trials, which the believer is called to from his heart, the Christian enjoys commu- encounter, either from some supernatural innion with Deity. 2. When Providence calls terpositions, or simply from the duty imposed him to undergo some severe trial. 3. When by his Christian vocation. How often do they he has been enabled to make some noble and appear to him so rude, as to awaken despair generous sacrifice. 4. When celebrating the of overcoming? How often, when abandoned sacred mysteries of redeeming love. 5. Finally, for a moment to his frailty, he says within himin the hour of conflict with the king of terrors. self, “No, I shall never have the fortitude to

1. When shutting the door of his closet, and bear up under that painful conflict: no, it will excluding the world from his heart, he is ad- be impossible for me to survive the loss of that mitted to communion and fellowship with child, far dearer to me than life itself: no, I Deity, in retirement and silence. There it is shall never be able to fulfil the duties of the that a commerce is instituted, the charms of station to which Providence is calling me. which I should to no purpose undertake to How can I give my heart to what I hate, and display, unless they were known to you by ex- tear it away from what I love?” Christian, be perience. There it is that the believer com- of good courage. See that thy resolution be pensates to himself the time of which he has upright and sincere, "to him that believeth all been constrained to defraud his God; and there things are possible,” Mark ix. 23. it is, that God compensates to the believer, There are resources of grace with which the delights of which the commerce of the thou art yet unacquainted; but which thou world has deprived him. There it is that the shalt know by experience, if thou pray for believer pours out into the bosom of his Father them, and make it thy unremitting and sincere and his God, the sorrow excited by the recol- endeavour to walk worthy of such exalted exlection of his offences, and that he sheds the pectations. God himself will descend into thy tears of a repentance which love has enkindled, soul with rays of light, with fresh supplies of and expresses in terms such as these:

strength, with impressions so lively, of the pro“My God, I know that love is thy predomi- mised recompense of reward, that thou shalt nant character, and that it cannot be thy will not feel the pains of conflict, and be sensible I should perish: but I am ashamed of my own only to the pleasure of victory; that thou shalt weakness; I am ashamed of the little progress raise the shout of victory, whilst thou art yet I have made in religion, since the time thou in the hottest of the battle. hast been pleased to grant me a revelation of 3. I said that those transporting foretastes it. I am ashamed to reflect that such an ac- are communicated to the believer, after he has cumulation of benefits as thou hast conferred been enabled to offer up some noble and geneupon me, should have still produced so slight rous sacrifice. I can conceive no transports an impression upon my heart.”

once to be compared with those which AbraAnd there it is that God wipes the tear from ham felt, on his descent from Mount Moriah. the believer's eye, and heals up the wounds of What conflicts must he have undergone from the penitent, saying unto him, “ I, even I, am the awful moment that God demanded his he that blotteth out thy transgressions, for Isaac! What a dreadful portion of time, I was mine own sake, and will not remember thy going to say, what an eternity was the three sins," Isa. xliii. 25. There it is that the be- days which passed between his departure from liever avails himself of the tender access which his habitation, and his arrival at the place God condescends to grant to those precious where this tremendous sacrifice was to be ofmoments, and that conversing with him,“ as a fered up! What emotions must that question man speaketh unto his friend," Ex. xxxiii. 11, of Isaac have excited in a father's bosom; “ behe asks him to bestow communications more hold the fire and the wood, but where is the endearing, more intimate: “ Lord, I beseech lamb for a burnt-offering?" Gen. xxii. 7. thee to show me thy glory,” ver. 8. Lord, Abraham comes off victorious in all these comscatter that darkness which still veils thy per- bats; Abraham binds his son with cords; he fections from my view; Lord, dispel those stretches him out on the wooden pile; he lifts clouds which still intervene between me and up his hand to pierce the bosom of this innothe light of thy countenance." There it is that cent victim. God arrests his uplifted arm. God takes pleasure to gratify desires so nobly Abraham has done his duty: he carries back directed: “Poor mortals, how unrefined, how his son with him; what a transport of delight! debased is your taste! How much are you to But this is not all. Will God be outdone in be pitied, with that relish for the neagre de- generosity by Abraham? He crowns the obelights of this world!” Is there any one that dience of his servant: he accumulates upon can stand a comparison with that which the him new marks of favour; he promises himbeliever enjoys in such blessed intercourse as self to immolate his own Son for the man who this

could summon up the resolution to devote his 2. When Providence calls him to encounter son at God's command. This is, according to some severe trial. I speak not here of trials St. Paul, the sense of those mysterious words; to which appetite prompts a man to expose “ by myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for himself, under the specious pretext of promis- because thou hast done this thing, and hast

not withheld thy son, thine only son; that in "henceforth know I no man after the flesh,” blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying 2 Cor. v. 16. I have no connexion, now, save I will multiply thy seed, as the stars of the with that “Jesus, of whom the whole family heaven, and as the sand which is upon the in heaven and earth is named,” Eph. iii. 15. sea shore; . . . . and in thy seed shall all the Witness that immoveable hope, in the midst nations of the earth be blessed,” Gen. xxii. 16 of universal desertion; "though he slay me, -18; Gal. iii. 8. Christians, true posterity of yet will I trust in him,” Job xiii. 15, “yea, the father of believers, you have a reward simi- though I walk through the valley of the shalar to bis.

dow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art 4. While he is partaking in the sacred mys- with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort teries of redeeming love, likewise, the believer me,” Ps. xxiii. 4. Witness that faith which feels himself quickened, raised up, seated, to pierces through the clouds, which the devil, gether with Jesus Christ.” I cannot refrain, and hell, and the world spread around his bed however, from here deploring the superstition of languishing: “I know that my Redeemer of certain Christians, which mingles with this liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day part of our religious worship, and from repeat- upon the earth: and though after my skin ing one of the advices which I suggested at the worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall opening of this discourse. Make not the suc- I see God; whom I shall see for myself, and cess of your communion to depend on certain mine eyes shall behold, and not another,” Job emotions, in which mechanism has much more xix. 25-27. Witness that holy impatience to do than piety has. It but too frequently with which he looks forward to the moment happens, that a man shall apprehend he has of his dismission: “I have waited for thy salcommunicated worthily, or unworthily, in pro- vation, O God,” Gen. xlix. 18. “Come, Lord portion as he has carried to a less or greater Jesus, come quickly," Rev. xxii. 20. Witness degree the art of moving the senses, and of those songs of triumph, amidst the very sharpheating the imagination, while he partakes of est of the conflict: " Thanks be unto God, the Lord's Supper. The touchstone by which which always causeth us to triumph in Christ,” we ought to judge whether we brought to the 2 Cor. ii. 14. “ Blessed be the Lord, my Lord's table the dispositions which he requires, strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and is the sincerity with which we have renewed my fingers to fight,” Ps. cxliv. 1. our baptismal engagements, and the exertions Witness, once more, those tender, those inwhich we shall afterward make punctually to structive, those edifying conversations which fulfil them.

take place between the dying Christian and It is true, nevertheless, that a participation his pastor. The pastor addresses to the dying of the sacrament of the supper is one of the person these words on the part of God: “Seek situations in which a believer most frequently my face;" and the dying believer replies, “ Thy experiences those gracious operations of which face, Lord, will I seek,” Ps. xxvii. 8. The our apostle is speaking in the text. A soul, pastor says, Behold, what manner of love whose undívided attention the Holy Spirit fixes the Father hath bestowed upon thee,” 1 John on the mystery of the cross; and on whom he iii. 1, and the dying person replies; “the love is pleased to impress, in a lively manner, the of God is shed abroad in my heart, by the great events which the symbolical representa- Holy Ghost which is given unto me,” Rom. v. tion in the Eucharist retraces on the heart; a 5. The pastor says, " Seek those things which soul, which, through grace, loses itself in the are above, where Christ sitteth on the right abyss of that love which God has manifested band of God:” the dying person replies, "I towards us in Jesus Christ; a soul which has have a desire to depart and to be with Christ," learned to infer, from what God has already Phil. i. 23. “My soul thirsteth for God, for done, what is still farther to be expected from the living God: when shall I come and appear him; a soul, which feels, and, if I may use the before God?” Ps. xlii. 2. The pastor says, expression, which relishes the conclusiveness “Run with patience the race that is set before of this reasoning, “He that spared not his own thee, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall of thy faith,” Heb. xii. 1, 2. The dying behe not, with him, also, freely give us all liever replies, “I have fought a good fight, I things?” Rom. viii. 32. Is not a soul in such have finished my course, I have kept the faith. a state, already " quickened, already raised up, Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown already seated in heavenly places, together with ) against that day,” 2 Tim. i. 12. “I know Christ Jesus?"

whom I have believed, and I am persuaded 5. But it is particularly when the believer is that he is able to keep that which I have comgrappling with the king of terrors, that he ex- mitted unto him against that day,” 2 Tim. iv. periences those communications of divine grace, 7, 8. “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and which transport him into another world, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of which verify, in the most sublime of all senses, God,” Acts vii. 56. the idea which the apostle conveys to us of it, Such are the wonders which the grace of in the words of the text. Witness that pa- God displays, in favour of those who are in tience and submission under sufferings the earnest to obtain it, and give themselves up to most acute, and that entire acquiescence in the its direction. And such are the treasures, unsovereign will of God: "I was dumb, I opened happy worldlings, which you are sacrificing to not my mouth; because thou didst it," Ps. a transient world, and its lying vanities. Such Xxxix. 9. Witness that supernatural detach- is the felicity which you experience, which ment from the world, which enables him to you have already experienced in part, happy, resign, without murmuring, and without re- happy Christians, whose condition is so far preserve, all that he was most tenderly united to: ferable to that of all the rest of mankind.

What now remains for me to do, after hav- I took delight in disclosing the most secret emoing employed my feeble efforts to draw you tions of my soul: and if it were still possible to God, by attractions so powerful: what re- for any thing to call me back, now that my mains, but to address my most fervent prayers God is calling me away, it would be the into him, and to entreat that he would be pleased clination I feel, to prolong the happy days to make known those pure and exalted de which we have passed together. But though lights, to those who are, as yet, utter strangers the bands which unite us are close and ento them; and that he may, powerfully confirm, deared, they must not be everlasting. It was even unto the end, those to whom he has al- in the order of human things, either that you ready graciously communicated them. With should be called to close my eyes, or that I should this we shall conclude the solemn business of a be called to close yours. Providence is now deday of sacred rest. We are going, once more, claring the supreme command, that I should to lift up to heaven, in your behalf, hands pu- travel before you, the way of all the earth: it rified in the blood of the Redeemer of man- was my wish, before I undergo the irreversible kind. Come, my beloved brethren, support decree, once more to behold the persons whom these hands, should they wax heavy: perform I have ever borne on my heart, to call to refor us the service which Aaron and Hur ren- membrance the sweet counsel which we have dered to Moses, as we are attempting to render taken together, the connexions which we have the service of a Moses unto you. Assist us in formed: and thus too it is, that I would take moving the bowels of the God of mercy:- leave of the world. After having given away, And graciously vouchsafe, blessed Jesus, who, for a moment, to the expansions of my love on the memorable day, of which we are now for you, I rise above all the objects of sense; I celebrating the anniversary, wert“ made higher am swallowed up of the thoughts which ought than the heavens; set on the right hand of the to employ the soul of a dying person, and I throne of the Majesty in the heavens;" and hasten to submit to the will of the Sovereign who presentest unto God, in “a golden censer, Disposer of life and death." the prayers of all saints:” vouchsafe, blessed Jesus Christ, in the institution of this holy Jesus, to give energy to those which we are ordinance, is doing somewhat similar to the reabout to put up, and to support them by thy presentation now given. His disciples were all-powerful intercession. Amen.

undoubtedly his most powerful attachment to the earth. The kind of death which he was

about to suffer, demanded the undivided attenSERMON LXXVI.

tion of his mind: but before he plunges into

that vast ocean of thought which was to carry FOR A COMMUNION SABBATH. him through the sharp conflicts prepared for

him, he wishes to behold again, at his table, PART I.

those tender objects of his affection: “ With de Malachi i. 6, 7.

sire,” says he to them," I have desired to eat this

passover with you before I suffer,” Luke xxii. A son honoureth his father, and a servant his mas- 15. Had I not good reason for expressing myter: if then I be a father, where is mine ho- self as I did? Though this spectacle did not nour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? directly interest ourselves, it would be highly saith the Lord of Hosts unto you, O priests, worthy, considered in itself, of detaining our that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein

eyes, and of fixing our attention. have we despised thy name? Ye offer polluted But what closeness of attention, what conbread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein centration of thought does it not require of us, have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The ta- if we consider it in the great and comprehenble of the Lord is contemptible.

sive views, which animated the Saviour of Though the spectacle, which the solemnity the world, when he instituted the sacrament of this day calls to our recollection, did not di- of the supper! Behold him prepared, that rectly interest ourselves, it would, nevertheless, divine Saviour, to finish the great work, which be altogether worthy, separately considered, heaven has given him to do. He comes to of detaining our eyes, and of fixing our atten substitute himself in the room of those viction. Men have sometimes appeared, who, tims, whose blood, too worthless, could do nofinding their last moments approaching, col- thing towards the purification of guilty man. lected their family, summoned up their remain. He comes to fulfil that mysterious prediction: ing strength, expressed a wish, in a repast of “Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire, love and benevolence, to take a last, a long mine ears hast thou opened; farewell of the persons who were most dear to come; in the volume of the book it is written them, and to break asunder, by that concluding of me; I delight to do thy will, O my God; act of social attachment, all the remains of yea, thy law is within my heart,” Ps. xl. 6—8. that human affection which tied them down to He comes to deliver up himself to that death, the world.

the very approaches of which inspire the soul What an object, my brethren, what a heart- with horror, and constrain him to cry out, affecting object does that man present, who, “Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I beholding himself on the point of being re- say?" John xii. 27. “My soul is exceeding moved from all those to whom he was most sorrowful, even unto death,” Matt. xxvi. 36. tenderly united, desires to see them all assem- What shall he do to support himself in the bled together for the last time, and, when as- prospect of such tremendous arrangements sembled, addresses them in terms such as these: What buckler shall he oppose to those onve" It was to you, whose much loved society con- nomed arrows, with which he is going to be stituted the joy of my life, it was to you Il transfixed? Love, my brothren, formed the ge

Lo, Í

191 nerous design of the sacrifice which he is ready We find traces of this shameful history, in to offer up; and love will carry him through the prophecies of the two first whom we namthe arduous undertaking. He says to himself

, ed, particularly in those of Haggai. There that the memory of this death which he is go- we have displayed, the excuses made by that ing to endure, shall be perpetuated in the wretched people, to serve as a colour to their churches, even unto the end of the world; that, criminal negligence: “Thus speaketh the Lord even to the end of the world, he shall be the of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is refuge of poor perishing sinners. He says to not come, the time that the Lord's house should himself, that through the whole world of be- be built," chap. i. 2. We have a censure of lievers, whom the preaching of the gospel is this spirit and conduct, proportioned to their going to subdue to his love and obedience, this enormity, in ver. 4, “ Is it time for you, O ye, death shall be celebrated. He himself insti- to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house tutes the memorial of it, and taking that bread lie waste?" But, what is still more awful, we and that wine, the august symbols of his body behold the tremendous judgments, by which broken, and of his blood shed, he gives them God avenged himself of guilt so atrocious, in to his disciples; he says to them, and, in their ver. 9—11. “Ye looked for much, and, lo, it person, to all those who shall believe in him came to little; and when ye brought it home I through their word, " Take, eat, this is my did blow upon it. Why? saith the Lord of body; this is my blood of the New Testament, hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, Drink ye all of it,” Matt. xxvi. 26–28. “This and ye run every man unto his own house. do in remembrance of me: For as often as ye Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit. the Lord's death till he come,” i Cor. xi. And I called for a drought upon the land, and 24–26.

upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and O shame to human nature! O the weakness, upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon shall I call it or the hardness of the human that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon heart! And must it needs be; must the sweet men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour composure of this holy exercise, be this day of the hands." marred, by the cruel apprehension, that some How awfully respectable is a preacher, my among you may be in danger of profaning it, brethren, when the indignation of Heaven sewhile they celebrate it? Must it be, that in in-conds his voice! When the pestilence, mortaliviting you to that sacred table, we should be ty, famine, add weight to the threatenings checked by the humiliating reflection, that which he denounced! Haggai, supported by some new Judas may be coming there to re- this all-powerful aid, at length attained the: ceive the sentence of his condemnation? It is object of his ministry. The Jews did that from in the view of doing our utmost, to prevent the constraint which they ought to have done from commission of a crime so foul, and a calamity a principle of piety and zeal: you might now so dreadful, that we wish, previously to our see them labouring with emulous fervour, to distributing unto you the bread and the wine raise the august edifice, and the temple arose which sovereign wisdom has prepared for you, out of its ruins. to engage you in deep and serious reflection on

But scarcely was the house of the Lord rethe words which have been read. You will be built, when they profaned the sanctity of the abundantly sensible how well they are adapted place, and violated the laws which were there to my purpose, when you shall have placed to be observed. The observation of those laws yourselves, in thought, in the circumstances was burdensome. It required not only great wherein the Jews were placed, at the time mental application, but was likewise attended they were addressed to them. With this I with very considerable expense. The avarice open my subject.

of their sordid spirits made them consider every The prophet Malachi, whose voice God is thing which they dedicated to such purposes, here employing on a message to his people, as next to lost. They durst not, at the same lived a few years after the return from the cap- time, venture entirely to shake off the yoke of tivity. He succeeded Haggai and Zechariah. religion. They did what men generally do, These two prophets had been raised up, chiefly when the laws of God clash with their inclinafor the purpose of stimulating the Jews to un- tions: they neither yielded complete submisdertake the rebuilding of the temple. Malachi sion, nor dared to avow open rebellion. They was specially destined to urge them to render attempted to reconcile the dictates of their own unto God, in that magnificent edifice, a wor- passions with the commands of heaven. To ship suitable to the majesty of him to whose comply with the commands of heaven, they service it was consecrated. The same difficul- presented offerings; but to gratify the cravings ties, which the two first of those holy men had of passion, they presented offerings of little to encounter in the discharge of their ministry, value. he encountered in the exercise of his. What This idea of the circumstances in which the desire more ardent could animate men, who Jews were at the time when our prophet flourhad lived threescore and ten years without a ished, is one of the best keys for disclosing the temple, without altars, without sacrifices, with real sense of the words of the text. If it unout a public worship, than that of beholding in folds not to us the whole extent of its significathe midst of them, those gracious signs of the tion, it furnishes at least a good general explidivine presence? This was, however, by no cation. Malachi severely censures the priests means the object of general ambition and pur- of his day, that called, as they were, to mainsuit. They looked to the rearing and embel- tain good order in the church, they calmly lishing of their own houses, and left to God the overlooked, or avowedly countenanced the care of building that which belonged to him. open violation of it. He reproaches them for