sit like Mary at the Saviour's feet, at- that the wisest moralists of the wisest natending to the gracious words that pro- tions and ages represented the desire of ceed from His mouth :-his is the fruit revenge as the mark of a noble mind. of the Spirit; the work of meekness. We But how much more magnanimous-how must come to our heavenly Teacher with much more beneficial is forgiveness! It is the same consciousness of ignorance, the more magnanimous, because every genesame destitution of prejudice, and the rous disposition of the human mind is resame implicit submission of the under- quired to practise it. And it is more bestanding, as little children go to their fa- neficial, because it puts an end to an eterther. We must come to learn of Christ nal succession of injuries and retaliation." in the language of Samuel: Speak, There are few subjects, on which our Lord, for Thy servant heareth.” We Lord lays greater emphasis, than the nemust come in the language of Joshua: cessity of forgiveness. "If thou bring "What saith my Lord, unto His thy gift to the altar, and there remember servant?" We must come in the language that thy brother hath aught against thee; of Paul; "Lord what wilt Thou have Me leave there thy gift before the altar and to do?" We must come in the language first be reconciled to thy brother, then of Cornelius, "Now we are all here pre-offer thy gift." In the form of prayer sent before God to hear all the things that are commanded of God."

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2. Christian meekness inspires resignation to the Divine will. When the dis pensations of Providence are dark and intricate, and the heavy clouds of adversity gather thick around, meekness bends with cheerful submission-kisses the rod and says, "Here am I, let Him do to me as seemeth good to Him:" I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against Him:" Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him." "Why should a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sin?" Job had wave after wave rolling over him with impetuous fury; and unable as he was to trace the footsteps of Jehovah in the labyrinth, he could quietly say, "He knoweth the way that I take, and when He hath tried me I shall come forth as gold." "All the ways of the Lord are mercy and truth." He "does not affiict willingly." "All things work together for good to them that love Him."

which Christ delivered as a model to His disciples, He particularly connected the forgiveness of those who have injured us with the promise of pardon from God. This too is the only part of the prayer, on which he makes any comment. He assures us, that a forgiving spirit is a positive criterion of our Christianity. "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." The same language is also expressed in the eleventh chapter of the Gospel by Mark, the twenty-fifth and twenty-sixth verses; and again, in the eighteenth chapter of Matthew, where is brought before us the parable of the servant, who owed his Lord ten thousand talents, and who would not forgive his fellow-servant a hundred pence, and was therefore delivered to the tormentors. "So likewise," said our Lord, "shall My heavenly Father do, if you from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses." Peter, doubtless wishing to extend charity to the utmost limits, asked-"Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Till 3. Christian meekness loves to forgive seven times? Jesus replied, I say not injuries. The men of the world say, Re- thee until seven times, but until seventy sist injuries, Retaliate, Never submit to times seven." Being reviled, we must be struck, Have recourse to law. They bless; being persecuted we must suffer think it just to return the same measure it; being defamed we must entreat. they have received, and are indignant at is reported of Mr. Dodd, that when he reevery passenger that crosses their path, ceived a severe blow from a person who and are enraged at the very appearance was enraged at his close and convincing of a missile in preparation for them. "To arguments, he meekly said, "See here, love and forgive injuries," says an ingeni-you have knocked out two of my teeth and ous writer, " was a lesson so new and utterly unknown till Jesus taught it by His doctrine and enforced it by His example,

"Peace, all our angry passions, then :
Let each rebellious sigh

Be silent at His sovereign will,
And every murmur die."

It

that without any just provocation; but on condition I might do your soul good, I would give you leave to dash out all the

confines of the celestial world, and to
have gathered immortal fruits from the
tree of life.
How ardently did he desire
communications from his God; to be
quickened, counselled and directed! How
importunate to be led in a right way, and to
glorify God in the highest possible acts of
devotion! How careful to exemplify the
gentleness of wisdom, and to act consis-
tently with the mildness of Christian prin- |
ciples under all the odium and reproach
heaped upon him! under the per-
secutions of Saul, the churlishness of
Nabal, and the cursing of Shimei! "So
let him curse," was his reply; "let him
alone, for the Lord hath bidden him."
"My soul is even as a weaned child."

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went out and wept bitterly." James and John would have called for fire from heaven to consume the Samaritans ; but He mildly said, "Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of." This persuasion cometh not of Him that calleth you. The Scribes and Pharisees endeavoured to find something objectionable in His words and to cavil at His doctrine and His deeds; but He silenced them by proposing questions, which, with all their learning, they were unable to solve. The Jews reviled, buffeted, spit upon and crucified Him; but He breathed out His departing soul in prayer for them—" Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!" "Let the same mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus."

"He gave His life a sacrifice,

To raise our souls above the skies;
Oh! for a strong immortal lay,

To sing His praise from day to day."

deemer at their head, were the lights of
the world, the reprovers of the ungodly
and the salt of the earth. Regard them
as your models.

"Tread in the steps these worthies tro;
With them in piety ascend;
The path will lead direct to God,
And in eternal glory end."

Time would fail me to adduce other examples of meekness; to tell of Isaac, and Jacob, and Joseph, and Joshua, and Job, and Samuel, and Jeremiah, and all the prophets and apos-These characters, with our glorious Retles, martyrs and confessors, who by meekness subdued their own spirits, stopped the mouths of blasphemers, quenched the violence of passion, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, and by all this obtained a good report. These, however, had their blemishes; they were not altogether perfect; they were men of like passions with ourselves;" they were sometimes off their guard, and spoke rashly. Jesus Christ must be regarded as the greatest pattern of meekness. There is a sun without a spot, a character without a flaw, a copy without a blot. He" fulfilled all righteousness," and was a complete exemplar of all that is holy, just, and good. The whole series of events that marked his life disclose instances of invincible meekness, while "he endured the contradiction of sinners against Himself." He was all purity; entirely and intensely abhorring evil in its slightest stains. With

what meekness did He endure with His disciples, answer their enquiries, solve their doubts, calm their spirits, and heal their wounds! Three of His followers slept in the garden, while He was in an agony praying; and apologizing for their infirmities, He meekly said, "Could ye not watch with me one hour? The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Peter denied Him with oaths and curses; but instead of frowning him to perdition for his perfidiousness, He brought him to repentance by a gentle look; "and Peter

VOL. XIII.

IV. The advantages of Christian meekness.

It is associated with exalted privileges and inestimable blessings. The sands upon the sea-shore, the drops of the mighty ocean, and the stars that bespangle the firmament, are utterly inadequate fully to set them forth.

1. There is insured Divine guidance. "The meek will He guide in judgment; the meek will He teach His way.' They shall be led in a right way, in a wise manner, and to a glorious end. They shall be guided by His counsel, and afterwards received to glory.

2. There is insured Divine exaltation. "The Lord lifteth up the meek. The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down." "The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear Him; He also will hear their cry, and will save them." "The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear Him, in them that hope in His mercy.”

3. There is insured every good thing. No good thing will He withhold from

E

them that walk uprightly." Whatever is Dear hearers, do you wish to know how good in its nature or its effects, whether to obtain this meekness? Seek it of the pleasing or painful, enjoyment or priva- Lord. "Seek first the kingdom of God tion, indulgence or correction, health or and His righteousness." Set a watchful sickness, honour, riches, indigence or ob- guard over your tempers and passions. scurity, if they conduce to our advantage “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for they will not be refused. All things are out of it are the issues of life." "Be not ours, subjects to our real welfare; the rash with thy mouth, and let not thine blessings of providence, the precious heart be hasty to utter any thing." "The promises, the ministers of the Gospel, discretion of a man deferreth his anger." the ordinances of the sanctuary, prosperity "I would beat thee," said Socrates to and adversity, life and death, earth and his servant, "if I was not angry." "He heaven, all the blessings of grace followed that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly." up to the blessing of glory. O meekness! Often pause and reflect. Avoid temptathon source of happiness and peace! tion. Shun the appearance of evil. Be "what shall we render unto the Lord for much in self-examination. Endeavour to all thy benefits towards us?" Thou hast delight in the company of the meek. "the promise of the life that now is, and Study the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. of that which is to come."

THE TWENTY FOURTH OF A COURSE OF LECTURES

ON THE REVELATION OF ST. JOHN THE DIVINE.

BY THE REV. T. GOUGH, SEN.

DELIVERED AT WESTBURY LEIGH CHAPEL, ON LORD'S DAY MORNING, JUNE 17, 1838.

"Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked; I counsel thee to buy of Me gold, tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve that thou mayest see."-Rev. iii. 17, 18.

ONE of the grand consequences of and hast need of nothing," while the man's not knowing his own real state, is truth is, thou hast nothing, "and knowthe delusive cloak he generally sits un- est not that thou art wretched and miseder; and if he lives and dies in ignorance, rable, and poor and blind and naked.” you know the awful termination, name- Then the kind Redeemer goes on to say, ly, everlasting woe. It is of impor-"I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried tance that we should have a right know in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and ledge of ourselves and of God; for, founded upon this is all the genuine humility of the human heart; and connected with this, is all proper application to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

We have said, that this church was the worst of all; this appears by the language of our Lord; yet with all this blindness and deceivableness of soul, our Lord does not abandon them. But come unto Me,' says He, 'come unto Me; thou art utterly mistaken in the calculation thou hast formed of thy state, and thou canst only be rectified by coming unto Me.' "Thou sayest that thou art rich, and increased with goods,

white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear, and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see.'

I waive every thing now introductory, and call your candid attention to the awfully delusive state of this people, and to the Divine counsel given to this fallen church.

1. We are to consider the awfully ignorant and deluded state of this people. I do not want to dwell on those professors, who once resided in Laodicea. The thing is the same, whether the per