Jesus: not a transference of duties, our work having been done for us: not an apathy, we warmed not, stirred not, into an activity; but cooled, obliterated our stalwart manhood-instead of life, given to our spiritual accountability; not a sinking into another, or what another has done for us-but, contrary to this-as warns Jesus, "Not every one that saith. unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."

Can anything be more plain? Can language be more definite in meaning? Let it not be, that, hearing, we hear not; but let it enter into the portals of your heads-your understandings—your heartsyour spirit's receptacle, nurturing it as wisdom: and giving forth the conduct, establishing it, which iť enjoins.

The world were blessed indeed, were this the course which is general. But we all yet are rising from our Idolatry. Were we entered into the kingdom of heaven-this truthful, holy, condition of mind: were we thus doing the will of our Father who is in heaven, how would the condition, in the conduct, of the world be changed.

It is supererogation-it is subterfuge, speaking as we do, and doing as we do. It is chicanery, it is deceiving ourselves, it is doing wrong to others, for results not more tantamount or accordant to Christianity, to come forth. The Christian world, in its conduct, falls short of the Christian faith. And this rises from a fictitious, a futile idea, in its profession. It is, that, from its blessing, the popular faith expunges

all who are not within its own pale or peculiar denomination: while Christianity itself is embracive of the race. It is, concerning those to whom any calamity happens: "Think ye that these were sinners above all men? I tell you, Nay." It is, as in my text expressed, by Christ, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." All are his children; and according to their light they shall be judged. "Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required." It is not, the wrapping of ourselves imaginatively in our holiness-in our proscriptions of others-that we are more holy than they; but in our being righteous: not our looking on wretchedness, and passing it by on the other side; but our ameliorating it our assuaging wounds; and upraising the fallen. The Christian's is a faith, not by which are cut off others, who are not Christians; but by which is imperilled the Christian's salvation, unless proportionally the conduct is an accordance with the increased advantages. The Christian, it is, who is on his trial; who has incurred additional responsibilities: not that he can enwrap himself in his profession, and do nothing thenceforth. Sound, the warning, ever in your ears; and know, that it is philosophy, that it is truth, that it is equity, so to be: Not every one that saith, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of his Father which is in heaven: they who are truthful; who are honest; who are industrially virtuous: active, as vicegerents of God; enlarging the domain of

heaven, not circumscribing it: who, hearing, and doing, the words of the gospel, are like "unto a wise man, who built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and. the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock:" Christians being as the elder brother in this faith to the human family: invitingly, winningly, inducingly, bringing into it man, universally, to see the glorious truth, that the human family are the children of God; and that mankind thus are brethren lifting all unto heaven, and casting none down from it; but the top stone of the heavenly architrave being brought with rejoicing: it being for the one, and not for the ninety and nine, over which for their righteousness there need no rejoicing: but for the one, the unit, that there is joy: the key-stone of the immortal structure, that God may be all in all.

THE FIELDS OF HUMANITY,

WHITE TO HARVEST.

DELIVERED ON THE MORNING, OF THE HOLDING, IN THE AFTER NOON, OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE TEACHERS' SOCIETY OF THE MALE SCHOOL.

JOHN 4th, part the 35th verse.

"Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest."

How agreeable an injunction is this, at this season ⚫ of the year! How inviting, if addressed to us who are pent up in towns! How bracingly it acts upon our spirits, if I may use a corporeal figure in speaking of our minds! Our hearts are elated; and we joyously prepare ourselves to go through corn fields, and to pluck the ears as we go! Yes, this is nature! unimpeded by any circumstances that may obstruct us. And, for a few moments, we will indulge in our natural impulses; and partake of these streams of a sustenance that is nutritious to our best powers; and that is never cast forth into the draught for impurity.

Yes, nature beameth round us resplendantly! We are full of its sweet influence ! We inhale its sweetness! Our eyes are brimful of its beauties! Its many-voiced music charms upon our ears! Our senses, all, are, as a retina, portrayal of its perfec

tions, which are administrative to our increasing sensations; and we become, oh! glorious consciousness! an intelligence, descrying the beauty, the consummate skill, the beneficence, the universal providence which there is in all; and thereby reaching to, and imbibing, a knowledge of its author!

But to resign ourselves for a while to its swaying dominion and we cannot be the subjects of a more healthful government. Indeed, its lessons are as the suggestions of a paternal love. We relinquish ourselves, and feel ourselves to be allied, to its warm embraces. As a mother, it leads us, and it wins us, into the disportiveness of chilren. Nature, on her expansive bosom, succours us with the stream flowing with milk and honey.

I express myself thus, to induce in us a heart, that beats with the pulsation of the guilelessness of children. I am of opinion, from reflection, that our greatest obstruction to an understanding of the position which most nearly concerns us, is, not in our want of a knowledge that shall ravel abstruse propositions; but in our not relying on a simplicity which shall admit us into the truth.

Place we ourselves in the scene with which any, or every, portion of the country, at this time presents us. Beauteousness, plenteousness, gladness, are the exhalation, the inhalement, the habiliment, of nature! Birds, fishes, cattle, insects, are their participators and administrators. Trees, grasses, vegetables, flowers, are contributaries to the completeness. The hills laugh on every side! The valleys are full, to their asking a depletion! the fields are white to harvest!