up a certain number of men wherein to act | to God's heavenly courts, and, as a tender their part well, and obtain an honourable shepherd, to lead them into the fold of Christ, competency; though every authorized minis- to enjoy with himself endless peace and blesster of Christ is entitled to his reward, and the edness. When by any means this happy conpeople ought cheerfully to contribute towards sequence of his ministerial exertions comes to his comfortable and respectable support, yet his knowledge, he rejoices and thanks God; a Christian minister is to be looked upon in it gives him satisfaction to know that religion a much higher capacity, than a merely pro- is taking hold upon the hearts of any of his fessional man; he is to be esteemed as an people; that the word which he preaches ambassador of God, as one who has objects of makes an impression upon them; that the the greatest importance to accomplish; a con- careless are rendered serious, the ungodly are fidence should be placed in him, and his in- leaving off their sinful practices; that the structions, while consonant to the word of God, proud and self-righteous are humbling themshould be implicitly received; his reproofs selves at the cross of Jesus Christ: his great and warnings, and even censures, should be delight is to spread abroad the glories of his attended to without producing any other re- Redeemer, and to bring men under the yoke flection in the minds of those who are the sub- of his free and willing service; that so they ject of them, than the personal inquiry, whe- may prove by their lives and conversation, that ther they are applicable, and then a firm they have not received the grace of God in endeavour to profit by them. Next to the vain, but that it is the source and principle pain and sorrow occasioned to a faithful mi- of all those works of righteousness which nister in witnessing the neglect and contempt adorn their profession, and constitute them of religion by his people, is the distress he Christians, not in name only but in deed and feels at having his motives misunderstood, and in truth. This may be affirmed to be the wish his attempts, which he conscientiously makes and intention of a minister in the sermons he for their good, scanned and scrutinized upon delivers, and this his satisfaction when they worldly principles only, without any reference are productive of good; for what other wish to the paramount obligations he lies under to can he have? If popular applause or worldly his great Lord and Master, faithfully to dis- advantage were his object, he would, doubtcharge his ministerial duties, and uprightly less, pursue that mode of address which was to adopt that mode of instruction which he most likely to gain his end: instead of bringverily believes to be most necessary for the ing forward what he, in his conscience, thought cases and circumstances of his respective most profitable for his hearers, he would hearers. Let me then, at this time, from the bring forward what he thought most prowords of my text, set before you what is the fitable for himself, what was most likely real intention of every faithful minister in the to promote his own end. If St. Paul had discourses which, from time to time, he is de- been an impostor, or an enthusiast; had he livering to the people; and what should be the studied his own ease and reputation he would temper of mind in which they are to be re- not have delivered those faithful admonitions, ceived by those to whom they are addressed. those awful warnings, those fearful denunciaBoth minister and people should frequently tions of punishment, which he addressed withask themselves Why do we preach and hear? out discrimination to high as well as low, to Sermon after sermon is heard, but where the rich as well as poor; had worldly interest benefit? what are we bettered by our attend- and temporal advantage swayed his mind, the ance on this mean of grace? The preacher, if passions of joy and sorrow would have been he be a faithful one, will feel very deeply the raised in proportion as prosperity or adversity importance of his office; he will recollect the became his lot; they would have been unafnumber of sermons he has preached; he will fected by what we know alone raised themthink of the various subjects which have been the success and the want of success in his the matter of those sermons, and then he will preaching. Had these been his feelings the look round his congregation and anxiously words of the text had never been uttered, nor think whether his design to do them good has those striking ones in the first chapter of the been accomplished. It is to be regretted that epistle to the Philippians: "Whether in prea minister knows so little of his people beyond tence or in truth Christ is preached, I rejoice, their attendance at church; this is probably yea, and will rejoice, according to my earnest an unavoidable evil in large and populous expectation and my hope, that Christ shall places; but, though there is this want of per- be magnified in my body, whether it be by sonal acquaintance, a faithful minister is not life, or by death." indifferent to the people who make up his congregation; he is gratified with meeting them in God's earthly courts, and he earnestly wishes to be instrumental in conducting them Now, therefore, brethren, seeing that such were the holy and disinterested motives which actuated the apostle, and which likewise actuate every faithful minister who desires to make the word of life, and pressing on with ardent desire for the prize of my high calling of God in Christ Jesus? If any feel compelled to say that such an effect has not been produced in them, we further ask, what is this owing to? where does the fault lie? Doth it lie with your ministers? Sensible as we are of the infirmities and imperfections of our ministry, yet-knowing that the word we deliver is not our own, but the word of God, and that his holy Spirit is ever present to make perfect our weakness, and through "the foolishness of preaching" (as it may appear to some, and as it really is if unaccompanied by the grace of God) to save them that believe, we must say, the want of your improvement by preaching does not rest with your ministers; the fault must be thrown upon themselves if any continue unreclaimed from their evil ways, unedified by the word of life from time to time St. Paul's the model of his instructions, what | real Christian, edified und nourished up by should be the temper of mind of those who receive these instructions? Why, doubtless, to receive them with meek docility, and self application. This temper is well expressed in one of the petitions of the litany, where we beseech our good Lord "to give to all his people increase of grace, to hear meekly his word, and to receive it with pure affection, and to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit." Oh, how pleasing would be your minister's duty if such a disposition animated his whole congregation; if sincere and hearty prayer were offered by each individual, that God would give him grace to attend to the word "preached, with meekness;" then pride and self-conceit would be exchanged for humility and self-distrust; our own opinions would not be set in opposition to the preacher's; instead of thinking whether his sermons please me, the thought would be, are they applicable to me? if promises were declared, the hearer would seek to know whe-proclaimed unto them. And this will always ther he were entitled to appropriate them to himself; if warnings and reproofs were uttered, he would look into his heart and conduct, and see whether they applied to him, and if so, a resolution would be formed to alter whatever was amiss, with thankfulness that his sin was brought before him that he might repent and amend; such docility of mind in the hearer would cause him to receive whatever he hears with "pure affection," with a sincere good will, with a hearty love towards whatever God's word declares: and then the result of the whole would be a bringing forth of the fruits of the Spirit; this docile and loving hearing of the word would lead to something beyond hearing, where, alas, too many of our congregation stop, thinking of nothing in the sermon beyond the little satisfaction it may occasion for the half-hour it may be in delivering-not so the hearer whom we describe, he knows that hearing is to lead on to practice, and that that is the best sermon which makes him think of his ways and renders him a better man; this, this is the ultimate end of hearing and preaching-without it both are in vain; they will answer no beneficial purpose whatever; they will altogether fail of that which Almighty God designs by them. Oh, let the serious inquiry go round to each individual in this assembly: What am I the better for all the sermons I have heard, perhaps for thirty, forty, or even sixty years? I have attended the preaching of God's word, what effect has been produced? am I reclaimed from my evil ways? do I see my natural depravity, and consequent inability to walk so as to please God without his grace assisting me? do I value the Lord Jesus Christ, and am I showing my veneration by loving him and obeying his commandments? am I a be the case as long as people attend the preaching of the word with any other temper of mind than that which hath been described. People will not be the better for all the sermons they hear if they come to church merely for form's sake, or from curiosity, to be amused with hearing what a particular preacher may say, what his mode of delivery is, his manner or appearance, or if they come to criticise and weigh all he says according to the system of religion they have embraced, delighted when they hear any thing that accords with that system, and displeased if they hear any thing opposed to that system, as if the preacher's duty were to square and fashion his doctrine, not according to what he believes to be the word of God, but according to the standard of some favourite notion which his hearers entertain. Any of these unhallowed motives for attending public worship will infallibly hinder the divine word from producing any good effect; the seed sown falls upon the ground altogether unprepared for its reception, nay, rather altogether disqualified for receiving it; for the heart of such a hearer, instead of being made good and honest by the grace of the holy Spirit, is cold and indisposed for true serious religion; it may possess the form, but it is destitute of the power of godliness. In order to hear with meekness and to receive with pure affection the word preached, there are two points mentioned in our text, which, if faithfully regarded, would promote this most desirable end; the first point is a high estimation, a profound reverence, for "the word," as the word of God and not of man. "For this cause," says St. Paul, speaking of the Thessalonians, "thank we God without ceasing, because when ye re ceived the word of God, which ye heard of Besides this reverent estimation of God's us, ye received it not as the word of men, word, our text intimates, that, in order to probut as it is in truth, the word of God." An fit, we must believe what we hear. Now, authorized minister of the word, one duly in- strange as it may seem, yet the fact is that the vested with the ministry of the word, when word of God is not truly believed by the genehe declares the truth of the gospel, promul- rality of hearers; they may not, with the scepgating the promises, the denunciations, the tic and infidel, profess their disbelief, but, when blessings, the woes of it; when he enforces the grand turning points of religion are urged this or that particular duty; when he protests upon them there is a secret disposition to against this or that particular vice, founding doubt whether they are so indispensable to and establishing all his addresses upon the salvation as the preacher represents them. infallible scriptures, adding nothing thereto, For instance, men do not sincerely believe that and diminishing nothing from the volume unless they repent, they shall perish; they do of inspiration-he is then to be looked upon not acquiesce with all their mind in that scripas God's herald, as Christ's ambassador, as ture statement that God will bring every secret the messenger of heaven, deputed to utter, thing into judgment, whether it be good or in the name of God, what it is his pleasure evil, or that an entire reliance Jesus upon should be made known to the sons of men. Christ, and an internal sanctification of the When we call upon you to attend to religion, heart by the holy Spirit, are what alone conto provide for the welfare of your immortal stitute true religion; because they do not besouls, to secure an interest in the atonement hold with their eyes the realities of the other and righteousness of Jesus Christ, and to live world, they doubt and hesitate as to their according to his holy example, we do not do actual reality, hence they fancy that God will it upon our own authority; our exhortations, not be so strict as he is represented to be, advices, and reproofs, are not our own, they that so religious a course of piety is not so inare God's, who condescends to make use of us dispensable; in short they fancy that they shall as his instruments, and puts into earthen ves- have peace, though they walk in the imagisels the invaluable riches of the gospel minis- nations of their own hearts, and all these detration. Oh then that you would endeavour to lusions and mistakes arise from not believing Whereas raise your minds above the weak and feeble fully what God hath revealed. instrument who is addressing you, and listen where this belief is graciously acquired, where to him merely as the organ-the echo of the a man possesses that faith in God's word voice of God: then how powerfully would the which the apostle describes as "the substance word affect you; it would not be trifled with, of things hoped for, the evidence of things not it would not be disputed, it would not be ca-seen;" he feels so assured of their actual villed at, it would be listened to with profound attention as the word of the almighty everliving God; the word of him by whom we shall be judged at the last great day. "Where the word of a king is," says Solomon, "there is power;" but how much more power then must there be in the word of God, that King of kings, before whom the most potent monarch is not more considerable than the meanest subject. Only be assured that our addresses are, in effect, those of God, and they will prove profitable to you; they will Let all of us earnestly pray for this faith in be hearkened to with that profound venera- God's word, and for this respect for it, though tion which so solemn a consideration would delivered by men like ourselves; then the suggest: but, observe, while we claim this word preached will work effectually in us, we awful sanction to our word, it is only as that shall become not only hearers but doers of it; word accords with the bible; we only claim it will stir up our hearts and strengthen our this reverence where scripture is on our resolutions to obey it; it will put us upon conside, but, where it is, then our testimony is stant and sincere endeavours to live as we are to be received. "Son of man, saith God to there taught; it will lead us to a right knowhis servant, "I have made thee a watchman ledge of and interest in Jesus Christ, who will unto the house of Israel, therefore hear the hereafter prove our almighty Saviour, deliword at my mouth, and give them warning vering us from the pit of destruction, and from me;" or in St. Paul's language, "We exalting into the kingdom of his glory. Thus are ambassadors for Christ, as though God shall we, both ministers and people, have cause did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ's to rejoice; your minister may appropriate to stead, be ye reconciled to God." himself the words of our text, and that he may, reality that a greater impression would not be made upon his heart though he visibly saw the things presented to his faith; as a man flies from the burning flames, the overwhelming floods, or the yawning abyss, when he beholds these dangers, so a firm belief in God's word would make him fly from sin to righteousness, from endless perdition to endless salvation, by becoming the true and faithful servant of his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. is his earnest petition for you at the throne of grace, "For this cause thank we God without ceasing, because when ye received the word of God, which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe." THE CONVERT; A LEGEND OF THE SECOND CENTURY. THE reign of Marcus Aurelius was drawing to a close. Under a succession of wise and beneficent princes, the world, that portion of it, at least, which constituted the Roman Empire, had been enjoying a state of unprecedented prosperity and happiness for nearly a century. The virtues of Trajan and the Antonines had obliterated all trace of the vices of their predecessors; intestine divisions were forgotten; and, if the voice of war was occasionally heard amid the general tranquillity, it was principally to prevent or avenge the aggression of some distant barbarian. Cities had in all directions risen with redoubled splendour from their ruins; magnificent fabrics, either for worship or utility, had been everywhere erected; and the enjoyments of life were widely extended, and adorned by luxurious refinement. But nowhere, perhaps, was the beneficial influence of this auspicious era more felt than at Athens. With the loss of her independence, her arts and philosophy had declined; and, though the passions of her Roman conquerors were at first too strongly excited to protect her from oppression, when the anarchy of civil tumult subsided, respect and admiration for the mother of civilization prevailed. By the first emperor she was treated with partial favour; but the munificence and taste of Adrian embellished her in a manner to excite comparison even with her past age of glory and command. Nor was it only in external decoration that Athens revived. Marcus Aurelius had early been impressed with an ardent love of philosophy; and a favourite scheme of his reign was the restoration of the schools on the spot whence they derived their origin. Previous to proceeding to the Marcomannic war, the concluding scene of his eventful and glorious life, he had gone through the ceremony of initiation into the Eleusinian mysteries, and thereby gained an insight into that store of traditionary knowledge, so long and successfully guarded against public profanation. Phi detraction known to have whispered his name. losophy, too, claimed him as one of the most zealous of her followers, and, as the tenets of the academy were those he professed, if he did not actually fill the magisterial chair, no voice was more effective in chaining the attention of his auditors, or more skilful in displaying and elucidating the subject of discussion. The doctrines of the Academy derived their origin from Plato. Offended with the arrogant pretensions of the sophists, that great philosopher, in enforcing the opinions of his master Socrates, taught the uncertainty of all human acquirement, and that the greatest height to which knowledge could attain was the consciousness of ignorance. In after times these tenets became abused to a most unwarrantable and unbounded scepticism; and, though reason had not been able long to shackle itself with universal doubt, still enough remained of incertitude in the speculations of the Academic to make his search for truth be pursued with cautious diffidence. Happy in the other circumstances of his life, Polydorus was not less so, in having adopted a code of | philosophy as his rule, which had for several ages reckoned the wisest and best among its sectaries, and which keeping a middle path between the apathetic rigidity of the Stoic, and the refined but unrestrained indulgence of the Epicurean, seemed, in the moral discipline it inculcated, to follow the dictates of nature and reason more closely than either. There was yet one point more in which Polydorus was blessed beyond the usual portion of humanity. Still in the prime of life, he had for some years been united to the object of his early and faithful attachment; nor was it possible to conceive a being more calculated to fix and rivet the affections. Words were inadequate to convey a just impression of such rare perfection; perhaps the nearest idea would be, to imagine one of those exquisite models of sculptured symmetry which yet remain to us from this gifted people, irradiate with life, expressing soul and intelligence in varying hues on the countenance. It were needless to say such union was perfect. Indeed, a single mind seemed to animate the two; and if a thought arose in the breast of the one, it appeared anticipated and mirrored in the eye of the other. On one subject only did their opinions differ. Euphrasia, by the tender care of her mother, had been educated in the tenets of a philosophy, which far exceeded all others in its views and expectations. Christianity had still kept root at Athens, though it could not be said to have flourished; and the severe discouragement it had for many years experienced, made a cautious secrecy necessary among its by no means numerous professors. Polydorus was aware of his wife's adherence to the new religion, but considered it a matter of little importance, and Euphrasia had long prayed earnestly, and sought diligently, for an occasion to Among her many distinguished sons at this period, Athens reckoned none more distinguished than Polydorus. The head of one of the oldest and wealthiest families in the city,nature and art seemed to have striven which could be the most lavish to him of its favour. Dignified in person, mild and benignant in countenance, the nobleness and simplicity of his manners were a true index to his character; while the cultiva-impress the reality of revealed truth on the mind of tion of his mind, and the extent of his acquirements, versed as he was in every accomplishment, and deeply imbued with all the learning of the age, made him as much respected as beloved. Indeed, among a people ever jealous of individual merit, it could only be attributed to the peculiar esteem in which he was held, that envy had never dared to look on him, nor was her husband. But directed by the advice of her spiritual guide, the aged and prudent Agathon, she had hitherto abstained from throwing seed on an unprepared soil, and trusted to time and circumstances affording some more favourable opportunity. It was one of those beautiful evenings towards the latter end of spring, which those who have ever wit impassioned unutterable tenderness, and, gently folding her arm round him, asked, "Is it so utterly incredible then that a future has been disclosed to us? Is it wholly beyond belief, that those powers, so prematurely crushed here, may more largely and fully expand in another state of existence? The seed which falls to the ground withered and dead, again springs up and runs its course of vegetation. Why may not this mor nessed in this enchanting clime can never forget. The sun was sinking after his course through a cloudless sky behind the distant island of Salamis. His beam, just appearing above the western front of the Parthenon, was throwing a blaze of gorgeous light on the awful and stupendous figure of the tutelary Minerva, which stood proudly towering above her unrivalled temple. The breast of Hymettus was burnished with gold. The far heights, which shut in the horizontal rise again to immortality? Yes, my beloved, the around, were covered with a blush of the richest purple, and such was the transparency of the atmosphere, that the sky was tinged with a soft and delicate hue of green, reflected from the bosom of the bay expanded below. Deity is revealed to those who will seek him; futurity is opened to those who will place their confidence in his faithful announcements! Follow me, follow me, Polydorus, to the altar of my God!" She spoke these words in a manner which seemed not to hold of earth; the voice of an angel may soothe, though it may not at the moment call forth hope. Polydorus regarded her with somewhat of awe; she spoke as if inspired, yet failed in awakening in him conviction of the truth; his hour was at hand, but had not yet arrived. The event so anxiously anticipated, at length occurred; Polydorus had the exquisite felicity of Polydorus and Euphrasia surveyed these surpassing beauties of nature with exquisite delight. They had retired to a villa a few stadia distant from the city, which their cultivated taste had embellished with all the refined luxury of the age. Blended odours arose from every species of aromatic shrub and flower; colours of each tint vied in exuberant profusion, and, amid the joyous emulation of song from innumerable | being greeted a father, but his joy was, alas! shortnative and far sought birds, the notes of an invisible lived; a few hours found him widowed and bereaved. and almost unearthly music would at intervals break What now was Polydorus? The bolt of despair had upon the ear. fallen on him. Miserable beyond the power of consolation, wretched beyond the reach of hope, annihilation, to one but yesterday so pre-eminent among his fellows, would now have been the greatest of mercies! To see that place vacant which a beloved object lately filled; to feel an awful silence around, where that used to animate; and to find no response to those thoughts which were wont to be participated in affectionate intercourse; these will produce a sense of weary loneliness and desertion, even to him most supported by confident expectation. But when no such expectation exists, when death has dissevered ties without a prospect of re-union, who can describe the withering, the overwhelming desolation? The sun of Polydorus seemed to have sunk for ever, and to have left him to utter, irremediable darkness! But grief, however agonizing, will exhaust itself at last. Polydorus again came forth composed, and calm in his demeanour, but it was pitiful to trace the effects on his countenance and frame. As he passed through the Agora, his head muffled in his garment, he seemed to shun, even to dread, the kind voice of friendship and sympathy; and if he occasionally reappeared among the groves of the Academy, his thoughts were abstracted from the matter of discussion, until something in it recalled him to a keener sense of the hopelessness of his situation. Happy then were this favoured pair, if happiness can be found on earth; the more so, since to fill up the cup of felicity, they were likely soon to be welcomed, for the first time, with the long desired name of parent. But differently did this happiness operate in each. In her, an indiscribable transport of gratitude glowed towards the God of revelation; she knew to whom she was indebted for all she enjoyed, and blest was she in the consciousness. In him there was a feeling indeed of thankfulness towards the Author of nature-but who, where, and what was he? All was doubtful, unsatisfactory, and obscure. In truth, with out securer basis than philosophy could afford, happiness itself could be but vague and transient. The first transport that such a scene occasioned past, a gloom spread over the brow of Polydorus. A rational being cannot involve himself entirely in the present; to the future he must look; and what was futurity to the pagan philosopher? After some minutes' silence, "The Epicurean is surely blind,” he exclaimed, “who denies that all this surpassing splendour and perfection arises from an omnipotent and omniscient Artificer! A presiding Being assuredly there is, who controuls and regulates the universe! But wherefore was this conviction granted to our perceptions, if all else be enveloped in obscurity and mystery? Why were those powers bestowed on us, if a moment may sink them into annihilation? Why these desires to mount upwards, and scrutinize truth in the glorious regions of light, if we are condemned to be hopelessly chained to earth? Why were we made susceptible of such exquisite affections, if, in their full luxuriancé, a breath of wind may pass over and sweep them away for ever? Surely the brute has a far happier lot, whose all is centred in the enjoyment of the hour, and who is not tormented with longings which can never be satisfied, nor wastes the present in striving to attain what, if it really exist, is far removed, at least, beyond the reach of reason and philosophy !" Polydorus was beloved by all, and all regarded him with affectionate commiseration; but there was one who seemed peculiarly inspired by this feeling. The venerable Agathon now approached, and by degrees almost assumed towards him the watchful tenderness of a father. Polydorus had no bigotted dislike to the religion his beloved wife had professed, but had rather considered it beneath the regard of a philosopher; and, since she had bequeathed him to the old man's he felt no reluctance in admitting his gentle assiduity, indeed was rather soothed and comforted by the presence of one, to whom she had poured out her last words of hope and confidence. care, Of course the new doctrines became gradually a Euphrasia gazed on her husband with a look of constant matter of conversation. Much cloud was |