and folly. Shall we continue in sin that Grace may abound? God forbid—says the great Apostle of the Gentiles: and so says every honest and enlightened minister of the word of Christ.

If we fly to the Cross because we have sinned, and have made no atonement, felt and expressed no penitence, nor turned from the evil of our ways-we fly, not to a merciful Saviour, but to an avenging God. Prayer, penitence, entire prostration and humiliation of heart and mind, are, at the foot of the Cross, the claims which we are to offer up for pardon, and the conditions upon which, alone, that pardon can be procured. The Christian dispensation wins us over from the repetition of sin, by softening the asperities of the Mosaic dispensation: but if we, now, cease to be influenced by such gracious assurances, or such gentle remedies, we shall doubtless relapse into our original morbid condition, and the last state of us will be worse than the first. Let us all lay these truths seriously to our hearts; nor let us be lulled by the treacherous unction of that creed, or of those principles, which would deprive man of the noblest energies of his mind, and the world of the advantages of the brightest patterns of meek

ness, sincerity, humility, and deeply rooted christian resignation! If, on the one hand, our sin must be ever before us, as a terror and a warning not to relapse into it-so, on the other, the promises of the Gospel are held out to them, who strive, heart and mind, body and soul, to make their calling and election sure of whose labour of love, God is not forgetful, and for whose righteousness of conduct, there is reserved a Crown of Glory that never can fade

away.

SERMON IX.

Mark x. latter part of 14th verse.

Of such is the kingdom of God.*

THESE HESE were the words spoken by our blessed Saviour, to those who were disposed to prevent little children from being presented unto him. The context runs thus. "And they brought young children unto him, that he should touch them; and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not-for of such is the kingdom of God." Our Saviour then goes on to address those seriously, and apart, who were instrumental in thus interfering observing, " Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter

Preached at St. Mary's, May 9, 1824, subsequently to a CONFIRMATION in the same week.

therein." Then turning towards the children, thus flocking around him, "he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them."

Such were the memorable words of our Lord respecting the vital interest taken in the present and future welfare of children. He first observed to those, who officiously intruded, respecting the keeping of them back from his presence, "Suffer little children to come unto me," which is followed by something of a command not to keep them back" forbid them not :" that is, not only "let them freely approach me, but on no account forbid their advance." It is manifest, from the plain import of these words, that our Saviour was hurt and offended, as well as surprised, at the conduct of his disciples. The people-fathers and mothers— were anxious to present their offspring unto him; not only perhaps to gratify their eager curiority as to the identity of the mighty Character, of whom the fame was noised abroad throughout all Judea, but that they might receive personally (a circumstance so gratifying to parental feelings) some little mark of his notice and condescension: or, as the Gospel says, that he might touch them.

They crowded therefore around our Saviour, and were anxious to present their families unto him. But the disciples, under the impression, no doubt, that they were occupied in the faithful discharge of their duties, rebuked them: restrained and kept back the pressing multitude from the presence of their master. "But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased;" and told them, not only to suffer the children to come to him, but on no account to forbid their approach-for of such was the kingdom of God. He then further remarked that, whosoever did not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, should in no wise enter therein: meaning, that, comparatively with the real state of knowledge, which they ought to possess, towards the attainment of everlasting happiness, their minds were in a perfect state of ignorance and infancy; and, further, that, if they did not receive the truths of the Christian religion, which he had promulgated, or was about to promulgate, with the unqualified obedience, and unsuspecting innocency, of little children, they would on no account be remunerated with those rewards which his Father had laid up for them in heaven.

Then, to shew, not only his fondness for