lect for the seventh Sunday after Trinity; and it is full of meaning. The natural branches of a wild stock are cut away, and a portion of a good tree is inserted. The new principle, thus introduced, is carefully cherished; and the wild shoots which the stock pushes forth continually are destroyed as fast as they appear; for, being suffered to remain, they would starve the graft. Thus the better principle gradually gains strength, till it draws. into itself all the vigour and juices of the plant; and though the stock and root remain the same, the increase of the graft overpowers the original tendencies of its nature, and it becomes in effect a new tree. In all this we observe the analogy between the operations of Nature and of Grace.

There is one more point of resemblance. The end and object of the renewed heart, as of the renewed tree, is to bring forth good fruit. Failing in this, the same sentence will go forth" Cut it down, and cast it into the fire."

In the fifth chapter of Isaiah, the great Hus bandman vindicates the judgment He was about to bring upon his unfruitful vineyard, by recounting the care which He had bestowed upon it in vain. "What could have been done more to my vineyard that I have not done it: wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?"

The lessons for to-day illustrate this appeal. They recount God's goodness and care, his discipline and correction towards Israel: they describe the good and pleasant land in which He was about to plant them; declare what He required of them, and warn them of the fatal consequences of disappointing his just expectations; a warning, which in the end was most awfully accomplished. The evening lesson, after shewing that it is only by the help of God that they overcome their enemies, and only from his undeserved goodness that they obtain their blessings, cautions them for the future, by bringing to their remembrance the past; reminding them how unfaithful and unworthy they had always been; and how often they had deserved, and narrowly escaped utter condemnation.

We therefore, who are planted in Christ's Church, ought to tremble; lest, deceiving our own souls, we rest on the possession of our privileges, and forget the duties they require. In vain are we hearers of the word, unless we are also doers. Fair and flourishing may be our profession; but we shall be counted cumberers of the ground, if we bring not forth good fruit. Not the forgetful hearer, but the doer of the word is blessed.

The duty required of us is not grievous. God's service is a perfect law of liberty, because the renewed heart freely chooses, and entirely delights to do his will; and this is the test which distinguishes between the empty and the sincere professor. The description which St. James in the epistle gives of pure and undefiled religion is altogether practical. It is to control every unruly temper, expressed by bridling the tongue; to abound in works of charity; and to keep ourselves pure.

As the epistle teaches our duty, the gospel shews how we may obtain strength to perform it. Prayer in the name of Christ is effectual, through his prevailing intercession, and

No. VIII.

CHAPTER VII.

The Church and Dissent, their Influence on Religion.

THE objects of an institution for the religious instruction of the community may be classed under the seven following heads; - duly to set forth all the Scriptures: to provide for the religious instruction of every part of the Country: - to direct the religious education of the young-to preserve the truth, especially in times of national corruption :-to promote personal religion:- to afford comfort, and help, to all who are restrained from the privileges of public worship: - and to influence the character of those who are generally indifferent or hostile to religion. A simple statement of almost self-evident facts will shew how the Church provides for these; and how entirely Dissent fails, in each, and all of them.

I. The Church appoints the Old Testament to be read through in the course of a year, except those parts which refer exclusively to details of Jewish polity. The books are taken in their regular order; except that Isaiah is passed by in its turn, that it may be read last of all, in November and December; because its evangelical character makes it peculiarly suitable as a preparation for the festival of our Lord's Nativity. The New Testament, except the Revelations, of which only select portions are used, as lessons appointed for

particular days, is read through in four months; and the Psalms, every month. The portion appointed for daily reading, therefore, includes two chapters from the Old Testament in their order; a chapter from the Gospels, or Acts; another from the Epistles; and on an average, five Psalms. Daily service is held only in cathedral and collegiate churches; but it is, I believe, a very common practice with decided followers of the Church, especially with females, to make the appointed lessons a part of their private devotions; and independent of the knowledge of Scripture which it imparts, the advantages of this plan are very great. When the extent of private worship depends on the feelings of the worshipper, it is very liable to be hurried over, unless he should already be found in that devotional frame of mind, which it is an important object of worship to create and, what is worse, while his words are addressed to God, his heart and thoughts will be too often divided with the business to which he is in haste to proceed. But when the stated religious services, to which it is strictly made a point of principle to attend, are of some length, their extent not depending on the choice of the individual, they become the business of that portion of time which is appointed for their performance. A connexion is created between the successive acts of devotion by the orderly reading of the Scriptures, which greatly increases the interest and

I

which consist chiefly of Scripture reading, are doubly delightful to those who are accustomed to dwell with pleasure on the Bible. They who desire instruction, will study all the Word of God. Where chapters are selected without a plan, favourites will be continually chosen, which may stimulate the imagination, or gratify the taste; and the rest will be passed by.

A select course of Scripture reading is appointed for the Sundays, and principal holidays, which may present in every year an orderly and complete system of doctrine, discipline, and duty. By this arrangement, the two lessons from the Old Testament, with the selected portions from one of the epistles, and gospels, unite to illustrate some important truth, to set forth the practical duties which that truth involves, and to offer needful caution against any probable abuse of it. On the chief festivals, suitable New Testament lessons, and Psalms, are also appointed: otherwise, those are read which are appointed in the calendar. Thus, persons unable to read, if they attend Church on Sundays and holidays, will have heard in the course of the year about 140 of the more important, and practical chapters of the Old Testament; with selections from the New Testament to illustrate them; in addition to which, they will hear the whole of the New Testament in little more than two years, and the whole Psalter every seven months. This, the care of the Church to nourish her flock abundantly with the pure words of Scripture, may justly be deemed her chief glory; nor does it appear easy, or possible, to devise a plan, by which this most important object may be more effectually attained.

The practice of dissenters upon this point may be stated in few words. Whenever a sermon is preached, usually twice on Sunday, and on one evening in the week, a single chapter or Psalm, forms part of the service. At prayer-meetings, of which one is usually held on Sunday, and one or more on weekday evenings, the Scriptures are not read. Altogether, therefore, about 160 chapters, or Psalms, will be read in the course of a year; which would require seven years to go through the Bible. And as they are not read according

selected from which the minister takes his text, they cannot make the same impression, as if they were brought before the people in a regular order. We are warranted, therefore in declaring, that a person who depends upon what he shall hear for his knowledge of the Scriptures, can never acquire this knowledge in a dissenting Meeting.

If it be said, in excuse for this neglect, that the people read the Scriptures at home, it may be answered, that the disinclination to hear them in the House of God augurs but unfavourably. If the sermon of three quarters of an hour were shortened by one-third, and the time thus gained were devoted to another chapter, and one or two Psalms, the service would be far more profitable, and ought not to be less attractive. But if many do read and study the Bible as they ought, there are many who neglect it, upon whose attention it ought to be enforced; and many who cannot read it, who have a peculiar claim that it should be duly set forth to them.

A serious evil arises from the minister choosing the Scripture lessons. It enables him to make the Bible speak only his own views and feelings; by selecting chapters which accord with his own ideas, and omitting whatever would clash with them.

11. A Church, neglected, persecuted, and oppressed, may keep the truth; but it cannot instruct the Country, unless the means be afforded. All who can appreciate the blessing are therefore bound, to the extent of their power, to obtain it for their dependants: parents, for their children; lords, for their tenantry; the rich, for the poor. Nor is the duty of mere private obligation. Rulers, also, are required to promote the eternal, as well as the temporal interests, of the people whom God has committed to their charge, by affording that needful encouragement, and help, by which Christian truth may be brought home to those, who from indifference would not seek it, or from poverty could not obtain it, or from ignorance could not appreciate its value. God has given them power to do this, and they are accountable to Him for the right use of it. If it be their office to advance the prosperity of the nation, Religion is the only