of disobeying spiritual authority-if the people are ignorant, it his duty to teach them better.

Lastly, While men continue to be thinking and reflecting beings, there will always be found great difficulties, and many who go astray, and err, in matters relating to the Christian Faith. It is right therefore that there should be something to bring them back again. This is done by Creeds, and Confessions of Faith, being used in the Church, which remind both Ministers and People of the Gospel doctrines, and keep alive the flame of Gospel truth in the world. The history of the Church tells us that from the time at which the Creed of Athanasius was drawn up, and publicly used, the Arian heresy declined, and for a long time it was shivered into atoms by means of this very Confession of the true Catholic and Apostolic Faith which I have been considering. It has done as much for the Church ever since; for it continues from age to age to remind people of what the true Faith is. I am well aware of its difficulties, because I know that it treats of mysteries far above the reach of the human intellect; yet it contains a series of truths which are of the first importance, and which may all be confirmed by Scripture.

I feel it very probable, my brethren, that I may not have satisfied every one here as to its

reasonableness, or its Scripturalness; nor indeed have I said as much about it, as might be said, for it is work for a Volume. However, if any one in this place feels any difficulty, or any scruple, on the subject of this Creed, or on any doctrine stated, or declared, in it, I can only say that I will most gladly converse with him respecting it, if he will but apply to me in a Christian spirit of peace and good-will.

The Faith of the Gospel has remained the same from the time of Christ and the Apostles to the present hour. No new discoveries, no new views, no new systems, can be derived from the Word of God. The fashion of this world passeth away, but "the Word of God endureth for ever"-the principal doctrines taught in the Gospel have been, in the main, held by the great body of Christian Churches from the beginning, and they will always be held by the Catholic and Apostolic Church until the consummation of all things-neither are we at liberty to doubt, or to disbelieve, any one of them. Whenever we are thinking of innovation, or improvement, in the Christian Faith, let us be reminded of our folly, by the sentence of St. Paul-"JESUS CHRIST-THE SAME, YESTERDAY, TO-DAY, AND FOR EVER-BE NOT CARRIED ABOUT WITH DIVERSE AND STRANGE DOCTRINES."-Heb. xiii. 8, 9.

In conclusion, I shall, in a spirit of Christian kindness, as I trust it will be received, offer to those who may be wavering, or hesitating, upon any one of the great Christian doctrines, a serious and candid consideration of the following passage of St. Paul, in which the doctrines of our Lord's Divinity, the Atonement, and the operation of the Holy Spirit, are very solemnly mentioned. “If we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' Law died without mercy under two or three witnesses;-of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the Covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of Grace. For we know Him that sayeth, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge His people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."*

* Heb. x. 26, 31.

LECTURE X.

THE LITANY, PRAYERS, AND

THANKSGIVINGS.

Philippians, iv. 6.

BE CAREFUL FOR NOTHING; BUT IN EVERY THING BY PRAYER, AND SUPPLICATION, WITH THANKSGIVING, LET YOUR REQUESTS BE MADE KNOWN UNTO GOD.

A FIRM dependence on the good Providence of God is one of the most striking doctrines taught us in the Bible. We are every where told to do our duty, to pray to God for His blessing, and to leave the event to Him.

However, in the words of the text, the word "careful" must be understood in its proper sense. Our Lord says, "take no thought for the morrow"-meaning, according to the original, no anxious, or distracting, or harassing thought. St. Paul says,

says, "be careful for nothing," i. e. be not distressed, be not over anxious, about any thing

in all your troubles, and sorrows, in all your prosperity and good fortune, "by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God."

That Prayer to God is part of a Christian's duty, and occupation, and that it ought to be a great part of his delight and pleasure, will admit of no doubt in the mind of any one who is familiar with Holy Scripture. From the first periods of the world men poured forth their prayers and supplications to Almighty God. Thus we read of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, Solomon, Hezekiah, and the prophet Daniel, communing with their God' in Prayer. In the New Testament our Lord taught and commanded us to pray, and Himself set us the example; while St. Paul, in his Epistles, is continually urging us to the same duty. He says, "pray always with all manner of prayer," i. e. with public, private, and family prayer. "Pray without ceasing," says He, i. e. never neglecting the duty-and, in the words of the text, he says, “be careful for nothing; but in every thing, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God."

So that he is a Christian in name only, who does not pray. "We should remember," as said an ancient Christian," that when we read the