them, which owes all of excellence it possesses to the faith it has defrauded and oppressed: for the sins of Judah, these dreadful calamities have befallen it. Let us think of this and be careful, lest haply a like judgment be executed on us. Remember, we are but the wild olive that has been grafted in, because some of the branches of the choice tree have been broken off; if God spared not the natural branches, we must take heed lest he also spare not us. Would we receive the Holy Spirit, we must-there are no other means open to us—we must, in a self-mortifying, self-abasing feeling, continually and unremittingly pray for it. To speak with other tongues is not vouchsafed to us, neither do our necessities require it; but, though we bear not about us these undoubted evidences of authority, still we have something, almost as wide in its operation, almost as varied in its power-we have within

the treasure house of inspiration, the secret of a tongue, which will make us understood wherever we go; which will surround us with every comfort we can desire; our mastery in which, no defect of memory can weaken, no decays of the mind can impair. This universal language is the language of love-love in its purest and holiest sense-sincere, unchanging, Christian love. Would you attain a thorough knowledge of this language, the whole range of literature is not to be traversed; you will have but one book to read, one instructor to regard; the book, the Bible-the instructor, God! Study this precious manual; you know not, you cannot estimate its worth; study it fondly, assiduously, devotedly; but ere you sit down to read it, pray that some portion of that Holy Spirit, which first lighted on the saints upon this Feast of Pentecost, may descend to animate and invigorate you;

pray to God that every day you may understand and feel more and more of this principle of love; neglecting not the chiefest part of all, the truest test of proficiency, to exercise, be you with whomsoever you may, be your thoughts on whatever subject bent, as far as you can, the knowledge you have acquired, Recollect, "love worketh no ill to his neighbour :" if you work ill, or think ill, which is the first step to working it, you know but little of the language it is in your power to acquire; study it betimes; think what he declared who gave it to "Heaven and earth shall pass away, you, but words shall not pass away." my Now to God, &c.

SERMON VII.

LOVE OF GOD AND OF OUR NEIGHBOUR.

MATTHEW xxii. 34.

But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.

THE Jewish nation, (as is not unfrequently the case with other nations,) preserving a perfect uniformity of sentiment on certain essential points, nevertheless entertained a variety of conflicting opinions on many points which were considered of less importance. Several of their parties are faintly shadowed out in the course of the sacred writings; but those which are presented to us in the strongest light, are the Pharisees and the Sadducees. With regard to the former,

to ascertain their precise character is not easily attainable. From our Saviour's severe, and facts (independent of the authority of the speaker) warrant us in believing merited, reproaches, we should imagine them to have been a captious, morose, hypocritical race of formalists, comprising all piety within a routine of, for the most part, idle and burdensome ceremonies, "having" indeed " a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof." Josephus, himself a Pharisee it must be admitted, but an exceedingly able, penetrating, and most candid historian, paints them in colours widely dif ferent. With him, the Pharisee is described as living a strict and abstemious life; refraining from the ordinary pleasures in which persons in general are in the habit of indulging themselves; sedulous in his attentions to the aged; receiving their admonitions with respect and deference, and never, on any occa