limited. They are apt to consider the sphere of their religious duties, and that of their earthly concerns, as two departments essentially distinct and unconnected with each other. The former they regard as a holy land, sanctified and consecrated to the service of the Almighty. The latter they look upon as an allotment assigned to themselves for their own use and benefit, on condition they pay the Great Landlord of whom they hold it, their periodical tributes of homage; and provided they do not violate the restrictions which he has specifically established. If, therefore, they be punctual in the due performance of their devotional exercises at the beginning and the close of each succeeding day; if, on that which is in an especial manner devoted to the Lord, they be careful to comply with the obligations which are attached to it, and adhere strictly to the terms of limitation which he has expressly prescribed, they conceive themselves to be in other respects at full liberty to give the whole of their attention to the prosecution of their worldly interests of aggrandizement, or of pleasure, without any reference whatsoever to any ulterior object. But when the Spirit of God diffuses over their minds his celestial illumination, their views are rendered at once more enlarged and correct. The wall of separation which their deluded imaginations had fondly erected between the hallowed territory of the living God, aud that exclusively appropriated to themselves, like the baseless fabric of a vision, vanishes into

air; and in whatever direction they cast their eyes, they behold no other domain than that of the Most High. Whatever may be their rank and condition in life, in whatever occupations or pursuits they may be engaged, they consider themselves invariably as his servants, and as such, they labor with incessant industry to discharge with fidelity the duties of their stations. Their religion is no longer made to consist in occasional tributes of religious homage, but in that habitual temper and disposition of mind, which prompts to deeds of universal goodness; to fervor in their devotions, government of their passions, to a meek, compassionate, and benevolent conduct towards their fellow creatures, and diligence in complying with the various obligations of their respective callings. It urges them, in short, to fashion their wills in all things to a perfect conformity with that of their Father who is in heaven; to make the promotion of his glory the principal object of their occupations and pursuits; and to consecrate to him their whole being without restriction or reserve. Such, my friends, are the effects suggested by the Gospel of this Sunday, which are produced by the Spirit of God, both on the souls of sinners, and on the partial observers of the religion of Jesus Christ. Do you, my friends, apply with fervor to that same divine Spirit for his celestial aid? Entreat him to accommodate his multiform influence to the various demands of your respective exigencies; to enlighten your understandings, to inflame your

hearts, to remove your prejudices, to subdue your passions, to soften your tempers, to invigorate your resolutions, and to establish, in short, within you, that heavenly frame of mind, which may qualify you for the society of the blessed inhabitants of God's everlasting kingdom.

SERMON XXII.

THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER.

ON THE DUTY OF PRAYER.

GOSPEL. St. John, xvi. v. 23-30. At that time, Jesus said to his disciples, Amen, amen, I say to you, if you ask the Father any thing in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto you have not asked any thing in my name: ask and you shall receive, that your joy may be full. These things I have spoken to you in proverbs: the hour cometh when I will no more speak to you in proverbs, but will shew you plainly of the Father. In that day you shall ask in my name; and I say not to you, that I will ask the Father for you, for the Father himself loveth you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again I leave the world, and go to the Father. His disciples say to him, Behold now thou speakest plainly, and speakest no proverb. Now we know that thou knowest all things, and thou needest not that any man should ask thee. By this we believe that thou camest forth from God.

It was related in the Gospel of the Sunday before last, that when Jesus perceived a secret disposition prevailing among his Apostles, to request an explanation of the language in which he had spoken of his approaching departure, he did not wait for their specific application to him for that purpose, but, that having stated to them the subject of their perplexity, to shew that he was not ignorant of their most secret thoughts, he proceeded to inform them, in the first place, of the troubles in which they were about to be involved, and in the next, of the

unalterable joys by which those troubles would shortly be succeeded. The greatest part of the Gospel of this Sunday, is a continuation of that reply, which was certainly well calculated to give additional comfort to their distressed minds. For it announced to them, the powerful efficacy of his mediation in their behalf, and the important benefits they might expect to derive from it. It assured them, that thenceforth the choicest blessings of Heaven should be imparted to them, if they would only sue for them in his name. "Amen, amen, I say to you, if you ask the Father any thing in my name, he will give it you." This mode of presenting their petitions to the throne of the Most High, was indeed, he observed, perfectly new to them: and no wonder; since they had not hitherto been instructed to resort to it. But he prescribed it to them now, as a sure means of procuring the highest degree of happiness which, in their probationary state of existence, they were capable of enjoying. "Hitherto you have not asked any thing in my name: ask, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full." The intelligence however which he had been delivering to them, he acknowledged to have been conveyed in terms which might justly be deemed mysterious and enigmatical. But alluding to the descent of the Holy Spirit, he added, that the period was not far distant, when no obscurity whatsoever would attend the communications which should be made to them respecting divine truths; but that these truths should be perfectly