and his heart are filled with heavenly themes and affections, he will reach the minds and hearts of others. There need be no labor of art to effect this. The interest and solemnity of the topics which he treats, and the deep and affectionate workings of his own spirit, will move and control those who hear him.

I am admonished, that it is time to turn my address toward those, who are most deeply interested on this occasion.

My friend, I welcome you to your scene of labor, of trial, of improvement, and of joy. It becomes not this occasion to indulge personal feeling; and, indeed, I could not, if I would, express to you how sincerely thankful I am to God, that I may henceforth regard you as an associate in the Christian ministry. The responsibility, which belongs to the station, which you are to occupy, is indeed momentous. But it is a responsibility, to which God in his providence is calling you. I would not lessen it, if I could. No, all that is great in character grows out of circumstances, which call for great efforts. God will never hopelessly bow down that soul which feels its responsibilities, and struggles faithfully to meet them. Every effort, which you may make in the spirit of your Master, will be an instrument of good to those whom you love, and of improvement to your own character. Go forth to your duties, and leave your happiness to God's care. Go forth, bearing with you the resolute determination to devote yourself to the religious interests of this people, and the fixed purpose of so forming your own character, and administering Christ's truth, that whoever shall revile you shall at the same time cast reproach upon the truth and spirit of Jesus. You will not want sympathy; and the prayers, which we are about to offer to God for you, may be regarded as a pledge of our continued remembrance, and remind you of that grace which is sufficient for you.

We congratulate the members of this society on the

bright hopes of this day. You have, in the steadfastness, liberality and zeal, with which you have labored to erect a new altar to God, shown an intelligent regard to the institutions of the gospel, and the highest interests of this active and thriving community. The want of another house of worship to accommodate a growing population was felt here; and you have given yourselves to the labor of supplying this want, holding in view that form of religious instruction, which you deem most accordant with the spirit of the gospel, and best suited to guide and comfort you and your children. You are now permitted to see the Pastor of your choice, and to commence under circumstances of great interest and promise, a new relation and new duties. We trust that a bright day is dawning upon you. We doubt not that the Pastor, whom we introduce to his office, will answer all your reasonable anticipations; that in his light you will rejoice; that he will awaken in some minds recollections of days gone by, when Belknap here dispensed the word of life. The remembrance of his instructions has not entirely faded away, and it may be to the seed here sown by him, that you are indebted in no small degree for the privilege of having thus happily the institutions of what we deem a rational and evangelical faith established among you. Rejoice then in the Lord. The privileges, with which you are blessed, impose upon you corresponding obligations. If the counsels of heaven are communicated to you, you are sacredly bound to heed these counsels. If the ordinances of Christ are here dispensed, you are to receive the nourishment which they impart. We commend our young friend to your kind regards, to your benevolent sympathy and to your prayers. Let his reputation and his happiness be precious to you. Expect not from him more than mortal man can perform. Give him your counsel, and let him rejoice in your love. But, above all, by a serious attendance upon his ministrations, and by lives of intelligent and devoted piety, show

him that you love the Master, whom he serves.

With

out this proof of attachment to religion itself, whatever may be your attentions to him, you will leave his heart sad and sorrowful. Forget not that you, as a religious society, stand in the midst of a jealous community, that the public mind has been industriously filled with prejudices against your faith, and that it is peculiarly incumbent upon you to shine forth in the brightness of the purest virtue. You may do much to dispel the illusions, which are betraying the interests of piety among us; and to cause that faith, which you regard as divine, to be so regarded by others. But, above all, remember that each one has a personal interest, an infinite interest to guard. This moment is connected with eternity; and so will be every future moment of your lives. Your improvement or abuse of the grace of God will have eternal consequences connected with it. Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest to your souls.

SERMON XXVII.

THE PIETY OF JESUS.

HEBREWS XII. 2.

LOOKING UNTO JESUS, THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH.

THE importance of frequent reference to first principles is apparent to every man, who thinks accurately upon any subject. But where are we to look for the simple elements of Christianity? It had its origin in a far distant age, among a people of different associations and habits from those, to which we have been accustomed. It has come down to us through many generations of men, and has been in the hands of innumerable hostile sects. Though it were in its origin as simple and as pure as the light of heaven, yet we might expect to find it robbed by human. management of some portion of its primitive beauty and grandeur. It has been so with other institutions. In the progress of time and in the revolutions of opinion, what institution is there, that has not more or less lost its original character? With human institutions this change may be improvement. It cannot be so with Christianity, which purports to come immediately from God, and to set forth his plan for redeeming the world. The principles and spirit of such a system, as exhibited by its great founder, must of course be perfect. There may be different modes

of explaining and illustrating these principles; there may be different forms in the administration of the discipline of Christ's kingdom, accommodated to different states of society, and to different degrees of human improvement; but the principles and spirit of the religion itself can never be changed with safety or innocence. Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. What then, amid the clashing of discordant sects, is to be the resort of Christians? Thanks be to God, we have a faithful and simple narrative of the life and teachings of Jesus. There is hardly a dispute in the church, which may not be settled by a devoted attention to the life, doctrines and spirit of the Saviour, as they are exhibited in the evangelical history; and this mode of arriving at first principles may be adopted with success by the unlearned, as well as the cultivated portions of society.

The author of the epistle to the Hebrews represents, by a beautiful figure, those whom he addressed, as encompassed by the patriarchs, judges, kings, prophets and righteous men, whose faith he had celebrated. They were contending amid the numerous trials of their earthly state, and those, who had successfully passed through the trial, are represented as looking down upon them, and witnessing their struggles, ready to afford encouragement by their presence, and to bestow plaudits upon the victors. But though these holy men are to be regarded with respect, Christians are not to confine their attention to them. They are to look beyond them, and to fix their most devoted attention upon the author and finisher of their faith. Jesus is to be their guide, their pattern and their Saviour. Him they are to obey; him they are to imitate; in him they are to trust for success.

My present purpose is to call away your thoughts from all human theories, and to fix them on Jesus. He is to be your guide and your solace amid the dangers and sorrows of your earthly state. But I shall not have time to enter