I find, my brethren, that I should trespass too much upon your time, were I to extend these observations farther. The concluding incident of the chapter, from which my text is taken, brings before us, in the most beautiful manner, the second great subject on which the faith of the Christian is exercised,-the firm belief that the Master whom he serves is the Conqueror, not only of sin, but of death. The narration, however, requires no illustration; and I shall merely give it to you, in the words of the Evangelist,-" Be"hold there cometh one of the rulers of "the synagogue, Jairus by name. And "when he saw him, he fell at his feet, "and besought him greatly, saying, My "little daughter lieth at the point of

death; I pray thee come and lay thy "hands on her that she may be healed, ❝and she shall live. And as Jesus went "with him, there came from his house

"certain, which said, Thy daughter is "dead; why troublest thou the Master "any farther? As soon as Jesus heard "the word that was spoken, he saith un"to the ruler of the synagogue, Be not "afraid, only believe. And he cometh "to the house and seeth the tumult, and "them that wept and wailed greatly. "And when he was come in, he saith "unto them, Why make ye this ado The damsel is not dead, "but sleepeth. And they laughed him

❝ and weep

?

"to scorn; but, when he had put them all

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out, he taketh the father and the mo"ther of the damsel, and them that were " with him, and entereth in where the "damsel was lying. And he took the "damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Damsel, I say unto thee arise. And straightway she arose.”

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I shall now, my brethren, conclude, for this season, these very imperfect elucida

tions of the Gospel of St Mark, having it in view again to recur to them, if I shall be permitted to see the commencement of another year; and I have only to express my hope, that, feeble as this attempt may have been, it may yet have had some tendency to recommend to your own private study and meditation, the invaluable contents of the Sacred Volume.

On the day which I have chosen for the conclusion of these inquiries, for the present, the day on which our Church brings into view the sacred doctrine of the ever blessed Trinity, it might be supposed that I should have spoken of Faith as it relates to mysteries in Religion. Scripture mysteries, however, appear chiefly to be so when they are treated of in the words of men,-as they are found, in the simplicity of the volume from which they are deduced, they in

spire merely sentiments of awe and veneration, without perplexing the understanding; and it is unwise to scrutinize them with the presumption which is frequently employed, whether it be for the purpose of weakening or supporting them. To the humble reader of Scripture, they will commonly present themselves in that form which is most beneficial to his soul;-and while he is there taught to adore the mercy of the Almighty Father, he will feel that he must look for it only through the mediation of the Son, and under the influences of the Holy Ghost!-To whom, in the unity of the Godhead, be ascribed all glory and praise, now, and ever!

DISCOURSE XVII.

ON THE DISTINCTION OF RANKS IN SOCIETY.

ROMANS, xii. 4, 5.

"For, as we have many members in one

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body, and all members have not the

"same office; so we, being many, are one

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body in Christ, and every one members "one of another."

THESE words contain a very beautiful view of the principles on which human society is founded, and lead to many important considerations on the duties of men to each other. On a cursory examination, there seems to be much irre