mestic scene; glorifying God alternately by cheerful obedience and placid resignation; amidst the tide of flowing fortune humble and benign; serene amidst the decays of nature; in death itself peaceful and happy-these are indeed just claims to our affection and respect, that deserve to live in our remembrance -proofs of sound judgment, of substantial worth-the result of daily study and delight in God's holy law-of following its dictates with conscientious care-of transcribing the best of precepts, the divinest of examples, into the tablet of a pure mind. And is not this true happiness? a soul which dissolving nature, and even the hand of death cannot unharmonize-is it not strung high, and attuned to a loftier tone, than they who know no other than earthly and transitory good, can reach, or easily imagine?

While fortune favours, and the world continues to smile, happier than the happiest of its votaries are the children of virtue and piety: and when the world dissolves and

passes away, there yet remains a happiness to which all its splendors are but vanities. When the scanty rills of transitory enjoyment are dried up-Lo! the overflowing ocean of Eternal Goodness rolls before them. When earthly glories fade, like glimmering starlight, Lo! the day spring from on high! the sun is about to rise that shall never set. When each beloved object vanishes from the closing eyewhen the accents of true affection sink in silence-" when flesh and heart fail"-God is the strength of their hearts, and their portion for ever.

O let not God's word and providence-his bounties, his judgments, and his compassions, speak to our hearts in vain. May each, and all of us" be followers of those, who, through faith and patience, are inheriting the promises." Amen.

SERMON XIV.

THE HARMONY OF THE PRIMITIVE DISCIPLES.

ACTS iv. 32. And the multitude of them that believed, were of one heart and of one soul.'

TO this pleasing picture of primitive amity and union, when wearied with the public contentions and private animosities which distract the world, every good mind will turn with delight, as to some region of peculiar fertility blooming in the wilderness; or some green island rising out of the watery waste. Numerous, and promiscuous, and recently embodied as was the first christian community, such was

the delightful harmony which reigned among the members of it, that we are told " they were all of one heart and of one soul."

Let us then endeavour to enter, more largely, into that train of sentiments which the first Christians had imbibed; and which had so desirable an influence in abolishing all those evils that men too often inflict upon each other; and in rendering them mutual blessings.

The Primitive Christian Church was chiefly drawn from the lower ranks of the people, if you regard the distinctions of power and affluence; but raised by their virtues above the highest. Acknowledging one Master, inspired by one hope, exposed to one common scene of dangers and trials, bound by one great law, the law of love-with all these powerful and endearing bonds of union, no wonder they were" of one heart and of one soul!"

So sweet and gentle was the temper, so

beautiful the precepts, so divine the life and conversation of our Saviour, that they who were careful to form themselves after his model, would be so superior to every thing sordid and selfish, so compassionate to the weaknesses and errors, so candid to the merits and good qualities, one of another, so humble in the estimation of their own-so 'cautious of offending, so desirous of doing good, and studious to provoke each other to love and to good works-that each individual, surrounded with such bright examples, could not but feel "how delightful it is for brethren to dwell in unity and affection," and, with heart and soul respond to the blessed and heavenly influence.

Thus mutually endeared as a community of sincerely pious and good men, the primitive disciples were also inseparably united by those ties of everlasting gratitude which bound them to their Master. Brought out of darkness into his marvellous light-raised from the bondage of corruption and mortality