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suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will, with the temptation, also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it 1."

1

And are there any here, my brethren, who shall be tempted to think that the reflections, suggested by this passage of Scripture, come not home unto their own hearts, with an authority and application as cogent as unto him to whom we have addressed this admonition? Are there any here who dream, that they are standing upon that high vantage ground, from which they can calmly look down upon their fellow-mortals, and speak to them the language of cold dictation, whilst their own hearts are untouched, their own affections unsubdued? God forbid that we should be so deceived, or so deceive others! Let all of us, who think that we stand, take heed lest we fall. If the Apostle speaks, at the conclusion of that chapter which immediately precedes the present, of the necessity that was laid upon him to "keep under his body and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means, when he had preached to others, he himself should be a castaway 2;" who amongst ourselves can dream of ease or safety, or think that he is exempt from a life of struggling, of watchfulness, of prayer? Whatsoever admonition, therefore, we may have addressed to the youthful disciple of Christ, whatsoever thoughts of seriousness

4 1 Cor. x. 13.

2

1 Cor. ix. 27.

may have been excited within us by the reflection of his vows, or his responsibility, let all these centre in our own hearts; there let them be preserved in the spirit of earnest and thankful humility. For have we not all taken upon us the same vows? Are we not all subject to the same responsibility? And if more years have rolled over our heads, since we first renewed the solemn profession of our Christian allegiance, has that diminished aught of our difficulties or our dangers? Has not that lapse of time rather brought us nearer to our great account; to that period, when time wasted, and talents abused, and means of grace despised, shall rise up in judgment, to condemn the careless, and put the proud to everlasting shame? Let us then "be not high-minded, but fear;" fear to offend God, fear to provoke His anger, fear to reject His love. He has spoken to us this day in the accents of solemn warning. He has led our hearts to think upon those things, which, by His grace, shall cleanse and strengthen them; and if the recollection of one, who is about to enter upon the path of life, with all the strong energies of the youthful spirit, shall have led ourselves to ponder anxiously upon the means which can alone enable him to finish that course with joy; if it shall have awakened within us a feeling of thankfulness, that he has been thus far protected amid the dangers of this frail estate, and been

1 Rom. xi. 20.

2 Acts xx. 24.

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enabled to understand and to give "a reason of the hope"" that is in Him; let us recognize in all this an additional motive and encouragement unto ourselves, "not to be weary in well-doing 2." Let us eagerly confess this as a great and special cause for thankfulness, amid the mercies vouchsafed unto us; and pray unto the Lord of all power and might, who is the Author and Giver of all good things, that He would graft in our hearts the love of His name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and of His great mercy, keep us in the same: through Jesus Christ our Lord '.'

1 1 Pet. iii. 15.

' Gal. vi. 9.

• Collect for Seventh Sunday after Trinity.

SERMON IX.

EZRA READING THE LAW.

NEHEMIAH viii. 9.

And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the Lord your God; mourn not nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.

THE portion of Sacred History contained in the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah is, not unfrequently, I believe overlooked amid the multitude of solemn and affecting truths which fill up the Volume of inspiration. They contain, it may be thought, no specific prophecies of our Saviour's days, nor of the nature of His kingdom. They do not immediately connect themselves with the consideration of our Saviour's Ministry: and, therefore, we are tempted to pass them by. Yet notwithstanding, they form part of "the whole counsel of God 1."

1 Acts xx. 27.

They are written, like every other part of Scripture, for our admonition. They reveal that which must especially claim the attention of all who seek diligently to compare spiritual things with spiritual, viz. the steps by which God's providence prepared the way for the coming of Him who was "the Desire of all nations," and who should fill His latter house with a glory greater than that of the former, and give, in that place, peace unto His people'. They describe, moreover, scenes not only of deep and touching interest, in their own character, but such as are calculated, by God's blessing, to guide, instruct, and encourage the spirits of all who pray that "through faith and patience," they may "inherit the promises 2" and be ever mindful of the noble works which God hath done in their days, and in the old time before them 3.

These Books relate, for instance, the return of the Jewish people to Jerusalem from their long captivity in Babylon; the rebuilding of their Temple and City, notwithstanding the opposition of open enemies and the treachery of false friends; the restoration of Jehovah's statutes, and the renewal of Jehovah's ordinances. The history of all these leading events is attended with marked and peculiar circumstances. Many years were required to bring them to their completion; and, during those years, the hearts of God's people 1 See Haggai ii. 7-9. 2 Heb. vi. 12. The Litany.

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