brethren, to boast that our Church is founded upon Apostles and Prophets, if the spirit of neither Apostles nor Prophets is to be found in our memberswhat avails it to have a valid ministry, if we obstinately choose to remain invalids ourselves, while Christ stands ready to heal us of all guilt? Depend upon it, brethren, the most effectual means of promoting the prosperity of our Church, is by every individual's cultivation of a spirit of sincere piety. All other prosperity I should look upon with caution, not to say with suspicion-but this, this is solid, substantial. Give me a congregation of pious, enlightened, and devoted Churchmen, and I cannot picture to myself anything on earth more beautiful or admirable—for I look not merely at the lovely picture which they exhibit upon this frail stage of action; I look not at the praises they may receive for the works of mercy and of goodness which they perform on all hands-O no, but I see them gathering around the throne of the Lamb in the day when the trumpet has aroused them from their dreamless beds, and they rejoice, knowing that their redemption draweth nigh. O then I see their pale faces changed, and illuminated with seraphic fire. They are placed on the right hand of their Redeemer Judge, and enter into those joys which he has prepared for them from the first of time.

Thus adorn, then, dear brethren, the doctrine of God your Saviour, and you shall also thus adorn the Church which He purchased with His own blood. Be kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Be firm and consistent in your love of truth in every form, but especially when it comes to you in the simple but engaging form of

scripture truth. Bend your proud wills to the humble yoke of the Gospel before you are obliged to bend under the insupportable burden of divine wrath. Earnestly wrestle at the throne of grace for a blessing on your own souls and upon the souls of all for whom it is your business to pray. Let prayer become the habit, and posture, and language, and life, and joy of your soul. Living thus near to God, dear brethren, God would be very near to us; nay, God would be in the midst of us. We should not be moved.

early.

God should help us, and that right

A SERMON,

PREACHED IN ST. CLEMENT'S CHURCH, N. YORK,

ON THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EASTER, 1836.

BY REV. L. P. BAYARD, D. D.,

RECTOR OF SAID CHURCH.

1836.

SERMON.

1 Cor. xvi. 13, 14.-Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity.

The Church of Corinth, it is well known became at an early period the seat of division and disorder. The Philosophy of the schools, which constituted a great portion of the Pagan theology, had so imbued the minds of the people, that when converted to Christianity many of them brought into the Church an admixture of secular views and feelings far removed from the simplicity of the gospel. That which was highly prized among men was an abomination in the view of a pure and Holy God, and hence, the ambition, the pride, the vanity of these half made Christians introduced errors of faith, disorders of practice. The apostle who speaks in the text, as soon as he finds such a state of things prevailing, addresses himself to the work of cleansing the Church from these blemishes, and with, authority he denounces error, rebukes the gain-sayers, cautions the unwary, strengthens the feeble hearted, and seeks to promote a spirit of peace and love. To any age or situation of the Church, the charge contained in the text, addresses itself with authority and force, "Watch ye-stand ye fast in the faith-quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity." Here are five grand Christian duties