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pose, by endeavouring to "bring all men to "the knowledge of the truth," and, if they have gone astray, to recall them to "the Shepherd and Bishop of their souls "."

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b

This is the highest exercise of Christian charity, the surest means of promoting "Glory "to God, peace on earth, and good-will to"wards men c." The glory of God is promoted, when He is "worshipped in spirit "and in truth "."-Peace on earth is diffused, when unanimity prevails in Christian faith and Christian practice, when the same principle of conduct actuates the whole body, and men live in unity and concord here, by keeping steadfastly in view those hopes and promises, those duties and obligations, which lay the foundation of their meeting together hereafter, where everlasting peace and harmony shall be found among "the spirits of just men "made perfect."-Good-will towards men, individually as well as collectively, cannot also but be increased, when every one is thus intent upon working out his own salvation in the way which God hath appointed, and is zealous in persuading and encouraging others to do the same. That such may be the blessed result of all our labours for the glory of God

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b 1 Peter ii. 25. e Heb. xii. 23.

c Luke ii. 14.

d John iv. 24.

and the good of mankind, let our fervent prayers be offered up to the Author and Giver of all good things, that "His will may "be done in earth as it is in heaven;" that "His continual pity may cleanse and defend “his Church ;" and that "because it cannot "continue in safety without His succour, it 66 may be preserved evermore by His help and goodness, through Jesus Christ our Lord."

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SERMON XXIV.

MATTHEW v. 16.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

WERE we to rest the perfection of our blessed Saviour's character as a public Teacher upon the evidence of any one of his discourses in particular, his Sermon on the Mount might be selected as affording, perhaps, the most remarkable proof of his divine pretensions. Distinguished as it is for extraordinary simplicity and clearness, in developing those principles of human conduct which were thenceforth to be considered as binding upon all who would embrace His religion; it at the same time discovers such an insight into human nature, and such an elevation of sentiment, as never yet were attained by mere philosophical instructors. Whether we view it with reference to active or to contemplative life; whether we apply it to men's interests in this present world, or to those which await I i

VOL. II.

them in a future state; it points to each with the effect which authority only, authority unimpeachable and infallible, could produce. In this respect, it may well be said to be commensurate with those other "demonstrations "of the Spirit and of powera," by which his heavenly mission was more directly verified.

Our Lord had, indeed, already obtained among the people a reputation of no ordinary kind. The declarations of his forerunner John the Baptist concerning him, and the fame of his wonderful works, had begun to raise expectations of his being the great Deliverer foretold by the Prophets. Those very expectations, however, while they served to awaken the attention of his hearers, laid him so much the more open to rigid scrutiny. They exposed him, on all sides, to such animadversions as must speedily have silenced his pretensions, had he failed in any instance to sustain the character he assumed. It is no inconsiderable proof, therefore, of his just claims to that high character, that he was able to abide this ordeal; that in no instance did he administer to the corrupt affections or erroneous prejudices of his followers; but with uncompromising firmness, yet at the same time with the utmost mild

a 1 Cor. ii. 4.

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