ignorant multitude. When I reflect back upon what I have seen, and heard, and done, I can hardly persuade myself, that all that frivolous hurry, and bustle, and pleasure of the world, had any reality, but I look upon all that is passed, as one of those romantic dreams which opium commonly occasions; and I do by no means desire to repeat the nauseous dose, for the sake of the fugitive dream. Shall I tell you, that I bear this melancholy situation with that meritorious constancy and resignation which most people boast of? No-for really I cannot help it: I bear it, because I must bear it, whether I will or noand I think of nothing but killing time, now he is become my enemy. It is my resolution to sleep in the carriage the remainder of the journey." Such a confession, at such a time, and from such a character, needs no comment: we shall only contrast it with that of a truly humble and eminently pious man; one who lived in obscurity, but who walked with God-Richard Hooker, (the Rev. and well-known Author of the Ecclesiastical Polity ;) to whom those who knew his character and talents, and were capable of estimating the powers of the one, and the excellency of the other, gave, as with one consent, the epithet of "the judicious." Hear the last words uttered by this admirable man, immediately before he expired. "I have lived to see that this world is made up of perturbations, and

I have been long preparing to leave it, and gathering comfort for the dreadful hour of making my account with God, which I now apprehend to be near-and though I have, by his grace, loved him in my youth, and feared him in mine age, and laboured to have a conscience void of offence towards Him and towards all men; yet, if thou, Lord, should be extreme to. mark what I have done amiss, who can abide it? and, therefore, where I have failed, Lord, shew mercy unto me; for I plead not my righteousness, but the forgiveness of my unrighteousness, through his merits who died to purchase pardon for penitent sinners. And since I owe thee a death, Lord, let it not be terrible, and then take thine own time: I submit to it; let not mine, O Lord, but thy will be done. God hath heard my daily petition, for I am at peace with all men, and he is at peace with me: my conscience beareth me this witness, and this witness makes the thought of death joyful! I could wish to live, to do the church more service, but cannot hope it, for my days are passed as a shadow that returns not."More he would have spoken, but his spirits failed him; and, after a short conflict between nature and death, a quiet sigh put a period to his last breath, and so he fell asleep. And now he seems to rest like Lazarus in Abraham's bosom-" let me here draw his curtain; till, with the most glorious company of the Patriarchs and Apostles,

and the most noble army of Martyrs and Confessors, this most learned, most humble, and most holy man, shall also awake, to receive an eternal tranquillity, and with it a greater degree of glory, than common Christians shall be made partakers of."-(See Walton's Life of Hooker, and, Bishop Horne's Letter to Adam Smith.) My brethren, when the hour of your departure shall arrive, you may copy the example of the believer, or the man of pleasure and of the world, as to you seemeth best; but I must freely confess, I have no opinion of that man's head or heart, who will not, on the consideration of these two characters, exclaim, as I find myself obliged to do, "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his."

SERMON VIII.

LUKE xvi. 8.

"And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely for the children of this world are in their generation, wiser than the children of light."

As the parable from whence these words are taken, is liable to be much mistaken and perverted in its meaning, by those who have not taken pains to inquire into its scope and object; it may be advisable to consider it particularly; and especially in those points most likely to be misunderstood; and to endeavour to draw from it the excellent instruction, which our Lord intended to convey to those, who profess to be his disciples, and children of light; and likewise to notice the solemn warning which is given to those, who are very wise and prudent in their forethought for temporal concerns, while they

are altogether careless and negligent in providing for their eternal interests.

It is stated, in this parable, that there was a certain rich man, whose steward, being accused of wasting his substance, was determined to call him to an account, and put him out of the stewardship; the steward, on hearing that he was immediately to lose his employment, not choosing to labour for his bread, and being ashamed to beg, instantly turned his thoughts to the easiest and most likely way of providing for his future necessities; in this he considered self-interest alone, and resolved, at his lord's expense, to make himself friends, who, when he was put out, would receive him into their houses; it was the last opportunity he had, of enriching himself by the situation he held, and he was resolved, at all events, to improve it to his own advantage: it was this, his worldly policy and wisdom, which, it appears, his lord, not our Lord Jesus Christ, commended; he could not have been otherwise commended; the title given him, in the parable, of an unjust steward, proved him to be a wicked man; and his conduct, on being discovered and discharged, proved him to have been incorrigible. It was, therefore, only the wise forethought he evidenced, in instantly providing means for his future support, and securing it, at all hazards, that his lord commended-his wisdom was commendable; but, the means by which he effected