2. The very type and model of our own National Church. Man is not to be trusted with the care of his own soul, as he may be of his body. The State and the Country must care for him, provide for him by national assessment and legal imposts, that he may have a church and a priesthood, or he will soon deprive himself of both. A Christian State is as much bound to establish and uphold by law the Christian. Religion, as a parent is to use his authority to the same end in his own household. Toleration may be freely granted, but immunity from supporting the nation's Church-never! This hinders not the healthy operation of a voluntary principle as under the Mosaic dispensation, national provision should move along with voluntary offerings: and when churches are to be built, schools, &c., the paternal care of the State ought to meet and assist the free-will offerings of the people. It is by a wise admixture of both principles, that the true religion may, by God's grace, be preserved in any land.

III. THE EXTRAORDINARY

DISPLAY OF LIBERALITY BY

GOD'S ANCIENT PEOPLE ON THE OCCASION BEFORE US, is next to be considered:

They had been exhorted (ch. xxxv. 5) "to take an offering from amongst them unto the Lord," every one who was of a willing heart: and such a spirit was kindled among them, that men and women-old and young, all classes, contributed profusely (ver. 21-29); and those who could not give, worked with their hands, both men and women-till at length such amazing contributions flowed in, that it became necessary to stem the tide of benevolence by the proclamation contained in the text! What a glorious scene! how animating! Pious nation-holy, devoted people! When shall we see the like?

Similar demonstrations have generally accompanied any great religious movement or revival. See David and his people, (1 Chron. xxix. 6—20,) when £30,000,000 are calculated to have been contributed; Jehoash and his people (2 Kings xii. 9); Josiah (2 Kings xxii. 7); and in the opening of the Christian Dispensation, (Acts iv. 32,) when "all was in common;" and the poor saints in Macedonia, (2 Cor. viii. 1, &c.) "to their power and beyond their power," &c.

We do not yet know how to give in this country: hearts are not yet unlocked-the grasp of covetousness and selfishness not loosened. No great works can be accomplished until the example of Israel be followed.

IV. THE SOURCE WHENCE THIS LIBERALITY FLOWed. There was in this, and in all parallel cases, a moving

cause, an exciting influence, even God's Holy Spirit-their hearts were touched and so made willing. This is in all cases intimated, but more clearly as the Gospel day approached. So we are here told," they were filled with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge" (ch. xxxi. 31, 34,35); and if they were willing-hearted it was because the Lord had put wisdom into them! (ch. xxxvi. 1, 2.) David ascribes all the liberality of the people to God himself. (1 Chron. xxix. 13, 14.) At the building of the second Temple the same truth is affirmed. (Hag. i. 14, &c.) And in the Christian Dispensation, it was the Spirit which fell on them from on high to which all is attributed!

Hence we learn what we need in order to awaken similar devotedness now-viz." the inspiration of God's Holy Spirit." That for which our Church so ardently prays every Sabbath day. The Holy Spirit alone can teach us our need of Christ, by shewing us our sinfulness and corruption-the same Spirit alone can open our minds to see the sufficiency of Christ—and the same grace alone can induce us to forsake all for him, to take up our cross and follow him.

If these lessons were once effectually learned, the tide of charity would set in as it did of old; then money, property, influence, time, and talents of all kinds would pour in-" the love of Christ constraining"-churches would rise on every side-clergy would be multiplied-missionaries increased and "the desart blossom as the rose!"

Let us strive together in earnest prayer for God's Holy Spirit.

VI.

THE UNIVERSAL MALADY AND THE EFFICACIOUS REMEDY.

Revelation xxii. 2. And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

words.

BEAUTIFUL are the emblems both of Grace and Glory comprised in the passage connected with these There is also a forcible representation of the Holy Trinity-Here is the Throne of God and of the Lamb and from it, proceeding out of it, is "the pure river of water of life"-the Holy Spirit, God the Holy

Ghost,-proceeding from the Father and the Son, and yielding perpetually his purifying and sanctifying influence. Christ himself is presented under the figure of the Tree of Life, whose roots are watered by this river-whose juices are supplied by it-yielding twelve manner of fruits every month-and its leaves possessing a sanative power-" they are for the healing of the nations." All the virtues of the Godhead hid in Christ, and communicated to all those who believe in him, and are united to him!

God give us an understanding and a feeling heart, while we contemplate—

I. THE UNIVERSAL MALADY.

II. THE EFFICACIOUS REMEDY.

I. THERE IS A UNIVERSAL MALADY:

-all the nations are sick; or else there would be no need for the provision here made for them: the remedy provided, necessarily implies the prevalence of a malady.

And what is this malady?

1. The universal prevalence of sickness, sorrow, pain,

and death

-testified in all ages, countries, people. Old and young, rich and poor, learned and unlearned, all are sick and weep, and sorrow and die! New countries, continents, islands, are discovered-we become acquainted with people of strange habits; but as everywhere the physical conformation of the whole family of man is identical, so is it everywhere subject to the same phenomena of disease and death! The patient negro-the swift Indian-the luxurious Asiatic-the scientific European, all droop, and fade, and die! Men weep everywhere! There is no exception-the evils of Humanity are absolutely universal!

2. Let the Deist and the Sceptic account for this!

Denying or passing by the scriptural reason assigned for them, we confidently affirm, that the suffering state of the human race is incompatible with the benevolence of a Supreme Being! If God is almighty, and perfectly benevolent, and if man be innocent-Why are such rivers of blood and sorrow, and pain and death permitted? Let the philosopher examine, and probe the disease-let him study its absolute universality and uniformity-and then let him assign an adequate cause!

3. The Bible says that it is sIN!

It affirms that the state of man in this world is not simply probationary but penal; that this is a cursed world, (Gen.

iii. 17,) and that every form of sorrow, grief, pain, and death, is the immediate result of this one cause, SIN-which is as universal as are its effects. (Rom. v. 12; iii. 9: 1 Cor. xv. 56: Gal. iii. 22: 1 John i. 8: Isaiah lxiv. 6.)

This is confirmed by facts.

(a) Sin is universal as to the whole individual man: all his powers, mind, soul, body; all are tainted, warped:-conscience is defiled and swayed by evil, and blinded. "Body, instrument of unrighteousness," &c. The affections diverted from God, &c.

(b) Universal as to all nations: is not sin found everywhere? It may assume new forms, as the symptoms of the same disease differ in different persons: but where is not man selfish, proud, vain, quarrelsome, passionate, licentious, cruel? What fair land has been discovered where man is not vile? The structure of man's body, and the sorrows to which he is subject, are not more uniform, nor more universal, than is his character as a sinner! Compare heathen and christian lands, and shew their corresponding vices! The white and black savage rival each other in sensuality.

(c) Sin is universal as to all periods in the history of man, ancient and modern. No difference: sacred and profane-all speak the same thing! A history of crime, oppression, cruelty, ambition, fraud, &c.

(d) Sin is universal as to individuals: there is not one single exception in the countless myriads of our race. Each man and woman and child, is altogether a sinner!

Hence every woe! Man is everywhere and always a sufferer, because man is everywhere and always a sinner: the one single fountain which supplies every tear! Why weeps the widow? Her husband sinned and died! Why the young mother over the corpse of her infant babe? Because it was conceived and born in sin, and therefore died! Infinite as are the forms of woe, they are uniform in their source and origin—Sin—and Sin alone! Angels never weep, only because they never sinned! Eulogize man in glowing epitaphs as you may-but just add that on such a day he died —and THAT proves him a sinner!

II. SEE THE UNIVERSAL REMEDY:

—of adequate, sufficient, of unfailing efficacy! "There is a balm in Gilead," &c. (Jer. viii. 21.) See this stately tree, whose wide-spread boughs stretch over the whole earthhidden virtues are concealed in it-"Its leaves are for the healing of the nations!" What is this but Christ? "The tree that sweetened the bitter waters," &c. "I am the Lord that healeth thee." (Exod. xv. 26.) Whose touch is health and a cure! (Matt. ix. 20.) To whom the dis

eased multitude crowded-labouring under every kind of disease, mental and bodily-" and there went virtue out of him and he healed them ALL!" Exhaustless fountain of health and salvation to a guilty world!

Men may prescribe palliatives; false teachers may, like empirics, recommend nostrums of their own-but none but Christ can heal the Soul.

1. He died on the cross to take away the guilt of sin, and relieve the guilty of their load!

In him is virtue, to atone, to justify, to redeem: in him abundance of pardon for the condemned. Let the guilty penitent take a leaf of this tree, and his eyes shall be opened like Jonathan's, (1 Sam. xiv. 29,) and he shall see all forgiven, God reconciled, and no condemnation to him!

2. Christ died to heal and purify.

Whom he justifies he sanctifies-whom he pardons he heals new life, new principles are infused; and as now by chemical process new properties can be infused into the sap of a living tree, changing the colour of its blossoms, and the very nature of the wood- -so Christ pours his Spirit into the soul and body of man-and he is a new creature! Out of Christ he draws continued supplies of holiness-purity— peace-love-joy-and every becoming grace. The fountain of sin is dried up within, or healed, in them to whom he has imparted his own virtue!

3. Now the Gospel Ministry is designed to scatter the leaves of this tree in all lands, at home and abroad.

God's servants take these leaves and present them to every man, woman, and child—to every one a leaf: they all are sick, whether they know it or not-death temporal and eternal is concealed in their bosoms-they are urged, entreated to take of the tree of life, and live for ever!

No form of sin can resist its efficacy, no habit of iniquity but it will yield to the virtue of this healing leaf! No man's sin is too great to be pardoned, no man's lust too strong to be conquered!

Motives of the most stirring character are afforded in this very chapter, for urging all men to avail themselves of this mercy without delay!

(a) The Judge is at hand!

"Behold I come quickly," &c. (ver. 7, 12, 20.) The