tinue profane and careless. But we would urge it upon your consideration, that God, who is merciful, is no less holy and just; that Jesus Christ, who is benevolent, is no less zealous for the honour and glory of God, and will not tolerate or connive at the desecration of that honour and glory. We would urge it upon your further consideration, that, as God is holy, so is he mighty: that, as Jesus Christ is zealous for the glory of God, so is he powerful to confound those who dishonour God in the course of their lives, and who profane the courts of his house by entering it with unhallowed feelings, or from low and unbecoming motives. We would especially endeavour to impress it upon your minds that, as Jesus Christ in the days of his humiliation compelled the traders to flee before him, awe-struck with the majesty of his presence,-much more in the day of his visible exaltation, when he "shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ," will he drive away the ungodly into eternal exile," who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power." Oh then, ye careless and profane, who have dishonoured God and endangered your own souls, hear and tremble:-listen to the warning voice which urges you to flee from the wrath to come. Implore forgiveness through Jesus Christ; seek the grace of God in him, that you may indeed repent, and bring forth fruits meet for repentance. Henceforth honour

the house, and duly observe the sabbaths of God. Banish from your minds all thoughts and desires of a worldly character, whenever you enter the precincts of the sanctuary; and be it your earnest prayer that you may set the Lord always before you.

2. We address, secondly, the orderly and thoughtful. There are many who may be so designated, the full praise of whose character is comprised in that designation. To such, be it understood, our address is at this moment exclusively confined. From every instance of direct and open profanation of the name, the house, and the ordinances of God, you would doubtless revolt with just and unfeigned abhorrence. You are punctual in your attendance upon the outward observances of religion, and your attention is deeply fixed when you are in the house of God. You feel a degree of interest in the services of the sanctuary, and utter the language of prayer, and hear the Word of God with some seriousness of mind. But at the same time your views of the character of God, and of the relation in which you stand to him, are erroneous and defective, and the services in which you engage have only the form, not the power, of godliness. You are not really humbled before God as sinners, and do not rightly know your need of Jesus Christ as the Saviour who must solely, through his own exclusive merits and atonement, deliver you from the consequences of sin. Hence, though you do not directly dishonour God, or profane his hallowed courts, yet you are not glorifying him, in his ordinances, and exalting him in your hearts, while you bow before

him in his holy house. There is much of the spirit of the Pharisee in your formal worship, while you want the humility, and real consciousness of guilt and sin, which characterized the emphatic prayer of the penitent publican. Oh then! weigh the observations which are now faithfully and affectionately addressed to you. Earnestly pray for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, that you may be instructed aright; implore a spirit of humility and faith; a spirit of godliness and devotion; a spirit of energy and zeal; and may "the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ!"

3. We address, finally, the truly devout and pious. We call upon you to remember with gratitude, that the house of God is a house of prayer. It is therefore a house of distinguished privilege, in which you are encouraged to seek the Lord, and implore his blessing and grace, with the lively hope that he will hear and answer you,-that he will be merciful to you, and regard the voice of your supplication. With this privilege then in view, from time to time, "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise be thankful unto him, and bless his name.' Worshipping before him in the beauties of holiness, pray for an increase of every Christian grace, and a growing preparation for the services of that heavenly temple, in which those who enter into it shall worship for ever and ever. In the mean time, learn, from the example of your Lord and Master, to reprove profaneness and impiety, and to shew your zeal for the glory of God, whenever a suitable opportunity of

so doing is presented to you. Let not the fear of man deter you from the faithful discharge of your duty, in bearing testimony to the truth as it is in Jesus, in upholding the cause of vital godliness, and in reprobating every thing which is opposed to the interests and progress of spiritual religion. "The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe." May the Spirit of God be with you continually, to direct and help you in all things: and having followed the steps of the Lord Jesus Christ to the end of your earthly course, may you at length be received into his presence with exceeding joy, and dwell with him through the endless ages of eternity!

DISCOURSE XXIII.

THE DRAUGHT OF FISHES.

LUKE V. 10, 11.

....And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

IMPORTANT instruction is not unfrequently conveyed with as great effect by means of symbolical language, or emblematical actions, as by plain and direct address. A great variety of examples might easily be adduced from the Sacred Scriptures, of the seasonable employment of this mode of communicating information, or inculcating duty. It needs no other recommendation than the well-known fact that it was adopted by our blessed Lord. His use of symbolical language appears in his numerous parables and other striking observations, suggested by surrounding objects, familiar customs, or events with which his audience were well acquainted. His employment of emblematical actions. may be observed, as on other occasions, so in the performance of some of his most remarkable miracles. We have an instance in that which we are now