SERMON.

ACTS v. 42.

"AND DAILY IN THE TEMPLE, AND IN EVERY HOUSE, THEY CEASED NOT TO TEACH AND PREACH JESUS CHRIST."

THUS it was that they who were first called to convey the glad tidings of Salvation, through a crucified REDEEMER, to lost mankind, fulfilled their divine commission. Such was the manner, in which they were wont to execute the solemn duties of their high and holy office.

And we too, my reverend brethren, servants of the same Master-sent on the same errand-invested with the same authority to teach and preach-supported by the same promises—and clothed with the same awful responsibility must exhibit the same painful and untiring zeal, if, like them, we would "make full proof of our ministry," and "both save ourselves and them that hear us." "Daily," yea, all the day, "in season and out of season," abroad and at home, "in the temple and in every house," we, like them, must "not cease to teach and preach JESUS CHRIST." 3

12 Tim. iv. 5. 21 Tim. iv. 16. 3 Acts, v. 42; and 2 Tim. iv. 2.

This we have already vowed to do. When the Bishop, the representative and successor of those very Apostles whose work we are considering, laid his hands upon us, and gave us power to execute the office of a Priest in the Church of GOD, we each of us solemnly promised to "give our faithful diligence always so to minister the Doctrine and Sacraments and the Discipline of CHRIST, as the LORD hath commanded, and as this Church and Realm hath received the same, and to teach the people committed to our charge with all diligence to keep and observe the same: "-we promised to "be ready with all faithful diligence to banish and drive away all erroneous and strange doctrines contrary to God's word; and to use both public and private monitions and exhortations, as well to the sick as to the whole within our cures, as need should require and occasion be given:"- and we furthermore promised to "be diligent to frame and fashion our own selves and our families according to the Doctrine of CHRIST; and to make both ourselves and them, as much as in us lay, wholesome examples and patterns to the Flock of CHRIST." Thus we solemnly pledged ourselves, that, in Apostolic phrase, we would "not cease both in the temple and in every house to teach and preach JESUS CHRIST."

And, GOD be praised! we may hope and feel assured that, for the most part, they who have made this solemn vow unto Him, have laboured, and are labouring faithfully to act up to it.

'Ordination Service.

How is it, then, it may be asked, that we see not a harvest in any degree commensurate with the care and diligence which they bestow? How is it, that, despite of all their exertions, "iniquity abounds, and the love of many waxeth cold?" Wherever we turn our eyes, we behold an uneasy, rolling, and heaving flood of ungodliness, which threatens to bear down every thing before it. We see error in all its infinity of guise, endeavouring to overspread the fair face of the Church; -heresy after heresy, and schism after schism, in perplexing variety, rending its unity, and cutting off its members from the Body of CHRIST. We see assize after assize finding its full calendar of crime-our most venerable and sacred Institutions one after another assailed the integrity of the Empire threatened — and, dearest and most valued of all our civil blessings, the Monarchy itself, openly menaced, of which, apart from the religious obligation of honour and obedience, the many excellencies of our beloved Queen would, we might imagine, have been a sufficient safeguard.

And all this, too, at a time when so much is being done that might be expected to produce a contrary result. For never, surely, was there a period in the history of our Nation, when such strenuous and varied efforts were made to amend both the spiritual and temporal condition of the people. We see Parochial Schools, in almost countless numbers, for the children; Universities, and Colleges, and Higher Schools for the 1 Matt. xxiv. 12.

youth; and Institutes and associations of every form and feature for those of mature age. In the midst of all, we behold the Clergy, (I say it with humility, but I may say it with confidence of them as a body;) we see the Clergy labouring with zeal and anxiety, intense and unabated, in this general effort for the people's weal; earnestly and affectionately preaching CHRIST; striving, "according to their power, yea and beyond their power," to inculcate the pure doctrines of our Holy Religion, and thus lending their help in the wisest and, we might reasonably hope, in the most effective manner, in checking the spirit of anarchy and confusion, and supporting the fabric of social order. How is it then, that we see not the result in any way proportionate to the vast and mighty efforts made?

First, it may be, and no doubt is, a judicial punishment for our own past sins and omissions in this respect, and those of our forefathers, that now, when we are striving to repair our former neglect, we should seem to be labouring almost in vain.

Again, it may be said, Why should we expect the harvest now, when the time of harvest may not be come?—that it is our's "in the morning to sow the seed, and in the evening not to withhold the hand:" as "Paul to plant, or Apollos to water;" but that "GOD only can give the increase" in His own good time; and that "it is not for us to know the times or the seasons which the FATHER hath put in His own power.' 12 Cor. viii. 3. 2 Eccles. xi. 6. 31 Cor. iii. 6. 4 Acts, i. 7.

Again, the failure may be imputed to the enormous mass of Infidelity, secret or avowed, which abounds in these days. It may be said, and said no doubt with perfect truth, that "the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it."1

We

But, over and above all these, there appears to be one, and that, to my mind, a most clear and sufficient reason, why, referring especially to the exertions of the Clergy, our ministrations lose much of their intended effect, and our labours find no adequate return. do not, (I speak it with all deference to the better judgment of many who hear me ;) we do not, I think, to the same extent, and with the same pains, "teach,” as well as "preach, JESUS CHRIST." Our instruction of our people at large is not of a sufficiently elementary character. We take for granted, without having taught it them, that they know a great deal more than they really do know. When as babes we should be giving them "milk," we give them "strong meat," which they cannot properly digest, and from which consequently they either derive no nourishment at all, or something positively injurious to their spiritual health. We are instant in "preaching CHRIST to every man," and in warning every man;" but are we as diligent and careful in "teaching every man in all wisdom," without which we can never expect "to present every man perfect in CHRIST JESUS?" I think not. And herein it

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1 Heb. iv. 2. 2 Col. i. 28.