undoubtedly the strongest wish of his love. This should. always be the strongest wish of parental love. The parent whose strongest wish for his children is mere secular prosperity, desecrates the parental instinct. He who breathes into the spirit of his child the quickening thoughts of religion, confers a boon on him infinitely greater than if he bequeathed to him the greatest empire on which the sun ever shone : His death-bed exhibits

II. SYMPATHY WITH THE DEAD. This is expressed in his request concerning his burial. "He charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah,” &c. Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah and Leah, all of whom were in the grave, he felt a loving interest in now. We cannot divest our minds of the idea of consciousness, when thinking of the grave; hence we talk of the dark grave, the cold grave, &c. An American Indian, on seeing his brother's corpse lowered into a grave with snow at the bottom, is said to have exclaimed with horror at the sight: "Oh lay him not in the cold snow." A natural feeling this, though reason may denounce it. This feeling which Jacob now expresses concerning his burial, suggests two things—

First That there is something in man stronger than logic. There is nothing in reason to warrant this wish of Jacob's. Reason would say, "It matters not where you are buried, at home or abroad, amongst friends or foes, in the caverns of the earth or in the abysses of the sea, for your corpse will not be conscious of its resting-place;" still the heart says, "Bury me here or there, with these or those." I would not disparage reason, but it is well for us to remember, especially in an age when men are disposed to deify intellect, that there is something in man deeper and stronger than all the deductions of reason. For example, (1) The sentiment of immortality in man is stronger than reason. The intellect often denies it, where the heart holds it with tenacity.

(2) The sentiment of responsibility is stronger than reason. Intellect often argues man into an irresponsible machine, where the heart groans under a sense of its accountability. Herod is an illustration of this. (3) The sentiment of a God is stronger than reason. Intellect has often argued God out of an existence when the heart has cried to Him in distress. Volding in the storm is an illustration of this. This feeling of Jacob's suggests—

Secondly: That the dead exert a powerful influence upon the living. Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Leah, were names acting with power upon the heart of Jacob now. It is ever So. Thousands that are in their graves to-day are working in the memories of the living, and producing great effects. The grave confines not our influence. There are men who have long since mouldered to ashes, with whose names we may electrify a nation, and thrill the world. The dead rule the living. His death-bed exhibits—

III. HIS MAGNANIMITY IN ALL. How sublimely calm he seems as he lies on that bed. There is no perturbation. He is on the banks of the Jordan, and the cold stream has reached his feet, and is swelling around him, but he has no spiritual shivering, no fear ripples his nature; all is calm; he has finished his work, and he is ready to be gone. "When Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people." He adjusts his body and lays him down to sleep. Two things alone can explain this calmness.

First Faith in his future existence. Had the idea of annihilation seized him, would he have been calm? Would not a mere doubt about a future life have disturbed him? The eternal laws of human nature prevent it from committing itself with composure to annihilation. Jacob believed that he should live.

Secondly: Faith in the happiness of his future existence. Had he believed in a future existence, and regarded that exist

ence to be one of misery, he could not have been calm. The prospect of misery disturbs. But he felt that all was right with him in the future, that his peace was made with God, and that he was going to join the spirits of those with whose dust he wished his own body to sleep.

Brothers, in retiring from this death-bed, let us remember that the event we have witnessed is one which none can escape. We must all die. The hour hastens, when we, like Jacob, shall gather up these limbs and adjust them in their final posture. Let us, as parents, bear away with us the memory of Jacob's conduct towards his children, as an example for our imitation, and let us resolve to seek with renewed earnestness that faith by which the patriarch discharged the duties, and met the solemnities of the final hour, with such heroic calmness.

SUBJECT:-The True Foundation of Character.

"For other foundation cay no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."-1 Cor. iii. 11-15.

Analysis of Homily the Six Hundred and Forty-third.

NOTHIN

He

OTHING is so important to man as his moral character. (1) It is that alone which he can call his own. has produced it, no one else. (2) It is that alone which determines his real worth. As is his character, so is he before God and the universe. (3) It is that alone which decides his destiny. Out of it will bloom his Eden or flame his Hell. (4) It is that alone which he carries with him beyond the grave. Friends, property, and even his own

body he leaves behind, but character he bears with him into the vast unknown. The passage suggests certain important thoughts concerning character.

I. THAT THERE IS AN ANALOGY BETWEEN THE FORMATION OF CHARACTER AND THE ERECTION OF A BUILDING. "If any

man build, &c." The process of character-forming is spoken of in the Bible sometimes under the figure of a journey, sometimes under the figure of a battle, sometimes under the figure of tillage. Here it is spoken of under the figure of a building. It is like a building in three respects.

First In the variety of its materials. Buildings are generally formed, not of one material, but of several. "Stone, wood, iron," &c. Moral character is built up by a great variety of things:-the impressions that are made on us; the emotions that rise in us; the thoughts that possess us; the volitions we pass; all, in fact, that in any way affects us, goes to construct this character.

Secondly: In the unity of its design. Every building, however varied its materials, is formed on some plan. One design shapes the whole. So with character. The master

purpose of the soul—and every man has a master-purpose whatever it may be, gives unity to the whole.

:

Thirdly In the function it fulfils. Buildings are generally residences of some kind or other. The soul lives in the character. It is its home. In some cases the home is the mere stye of the animal; in some, the shop of the barterer; in some, the prison of the guilty; in some, the temple of the saint.

II. THAT CHRIST IS THE ONLY FOUNDATION OF A TRUE CHARACTER. "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." There are sometimes splendid edifices and poor foundations, and the reverse. characters are based upon some one idea.

All

First Some are based on the sensual idea :-Such as that on which the prodigal son started ;-Such as that on which

Dives built his all.

Millions now do the same. What shall

we eat, what shall we drink? is the grand inquiry.

Secondly: Some are based on the secular idea. On this Judas, the young lawyer, and Demas built; and on this thousands build now.

Thirdly: Some are based on the ambitious idea. Absalom, Haman, Herod, are examples of this. Such, too, are the Alexanders and Napoleons of general history.

Fourthly: Some are based on the Christian idea. What is that? Supreme sympathy with God; and this requires Christ for its existence. It cannot exist without Christ. Christ is its foundation, for He does the two things to generate the supreme sympathy in souls. (1) Demonstrates to man the propitiableness of God. (2) Reveals to man the moral loveliness of God. Thus He is the true foundation.

III. THAT TO CHRIST AS A FOUNDATION MEN BRING WORTHLESS AS WELL AS VALUABLE MATERIALS. "Some build edifices of gold, silver, precious stones," and some "wood, hay, stubble."

First There are edifices partially formed of "wood, hay, stubble." The mere creedal character is worthless. There are those whose Christianity is a mere matter of creed, a thing of idea, nothing more. Mere sentimental character is worthless. There are those whose Christianity is a mere matter of feeling, a thing of frames and feelings. Mere ritualistic character is worthless. There are those whose Christianity is a mere matter of form. All these characters are formed of "wood, hay, stubble;" things of no solidity, no value, no duration.

Secondly: There are edifices entirely formed of valuable materials brought to Christ. They are formed of "gold, silver, precious stones." The heart is in vital sympathy with Christ, as the Atoner for sin, the Exemplar of holiness, the Saviour of the world. The profoundest thoughts, the strongest sympathies, the gold and silver of the soul, are connected with Christ.