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Distinct from this, yet not separate, is the effort to which Christianity calls us, for the benefit of our fellow-men, and for promoting the glory of God. These are perfectly harmonious, and are best prosecuted together. We are then doing most for our own Christian improvement, when we are most faithfully serving God, and most benevolently laboring for the good of mankind.

What a field of enterprise is here open to the Christian! I do not need to expatiate upon the evils and miseries which abound in the earth, for the removal or the mitigation of which the Christian is called to labor. You know that the poor, the wronged, the bereaved, the sick, the ignorant, the vicious, the impenitent, are every where; and that the Christian possesses what may bring relief or deliverance to as many as he can persuade to accept it. You know what mighty evils have become identified with the social and political institutions of mankind, and what conflicts are yet to be waged for their overthrow; and you know over how large a part of the race, paganism, and corrupt Christianity, and infidelity, hold sway. You know that every Christian is called to have part in these conflicts, and in order thereto, is exhorted to have on "the whole armor of God"-"for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

If one have these Biblical ideas, if this Pauline spirit possess him, could any other be more effectual to develop all his energy ? A dull and spiritless Christian-with such fields of enterprise around him, and such enemies before him, and such a crown above him-is such an anomaly possible?

2. Look at the MOTIVES to effort which Christianity supplies. These are indeed in great measure involved in the objects of effort already mentioned, but they are capable of distinct consideration. All the motives which appeal to one's regard for his own welfarehis desire for happiness, and for excellence of character-are furnished by Christianity in their highest and best forms.

The highest motives of gratitude are also present-" for the love of Christ constraineth us, because we thus judge that if one died. for all, then were all dead-and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him who died for them, and rose again." All the benevolence, too, which experienced Christianity awakens in the soul, practical Christianity continually addresses with the most moving appeals. It must surely be a hard and cold heart that, in such a world as this, among such beings as people it, in such a condition, and with such prospects, is not moved to the most energetic endeavors to help, to benefit, to save them.

3. Consider the EXAMPLES which Christianity exhibits.

What other field, what other cause can furnish nobler specimens

of heroic energy? Omitting to dwell upon the exertions of the Christian missionaries and the Christian philanthropists of our own time-passing over the heroes of the Reformation, and of the earlier ages, let us at once go back to the first age of Christianity, to the men of the New Testament. Of all these we have the fullest account of Paul, and to what other biography can his be compared unfavorably, in respect to the energy of character exhibited?-exhibited too, be it remembered, towards the objects, and under the influences which Christianity supplies. It were well if that biography were more diligently studied by all ministers and all Christians, till, catching its fervent spirit, we too should be "in labors more abundant," "in season and out of season," "becoming all things to all men," and "not counting our lives dear unto us," if by whatever pains, and by whatever exertion, we could "by all means save some;" till also, in regard to our own salvation, "forgetting the things that are behind, and reaching forth unto those which are before, we should press toward the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Nor is Paul the only New Testament example. Behold Peter, and the other apostles, before the rulers at Jerusalem, boldly announcing their purpose "to obey God rather than men."

Read the epistles of Peter and of John; read them attentively, and see if, while they are characterized by affectionate tenderness, they do not also burn with a steady and mighty energy. Familiarity with the life and writings of those New Testament men, while it chastens the spirit, is most effectual to rouse and to kindle it.

We may not, at first view, appreciate the energy of Him whom the New Testament exhibits as our perfect model. It is not like the rush of the tornado, nor like the crash of the lightning, nor like the tumult of the waves. Rather is it like the rising of the tide, or the movement of the celestial spheres-silent, calm, imperceptible-yet irresistible, and of how grand effect! It had been anciently foreteld of Him, He "shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street;" yet, also, in the same prophecy, "He shall not fail, nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth; and the isles shall wait for his law." How admirably was that prophecy fulfilled in the Saviour! With all his mildness and tenderness, what other being that has ever trod the earth, has moved on, along his appointed path, to the fulfillment of his appointed work, with such calm, such heroic energy?-energy that made no noise, yet that could not be driven back nor turned aside. The affection of kindred, the ambition of friends, the mistaken love of disciples, the applauses of the multitude, could never divert him from his course. The opposition of enemies, the authority of rulers, the rage of an angry populace,

the anticipated horrors of his last indescribable agony-all could not arrest nor impede his willing his steady progress.

The Scriptures teach us to look unto him-to consider him, "lest we be wearied and faint in our minds."

Tell me, is there any other source from which influences can come, so capable of giving the highest energy to human character, as from Christianity?

I hope it is apparent to you all, that these opposite elements of character are by no means antagonistic. Opposite they are, only as the arms of one body, or as the lights and shades of one picture, helping and supplementing each other. I hope you see that the energy which Christianity inspires does not mar the gentleness which is so beautiful an ornament of character; and that the gentleness which Christianity cultivates, does not soften and enervate the soul. The two elements do most harmoniously blend, balancing, and tempering-not at all hindering each other.

Doubtless amid the many imperfections of exemplified Christian character, none is more common than the distortion which arises from the prominence of one of these elements, in the absence of the other. Our gentle and amiable Christians are apt to be too irresolute, and our heroes are apt to be too rough and coarse. We should be lenient toward the errors of all sincere and earnest souls -and doubtless the most of us should be rebuked by the high attainments of any, in either one of those directions-yet let not any think that they would need to be less mighty laborers, if they should be clothed with a more Christ-like gentleness, nor that it would diminish their Christian amiability to have their souls possessed with the highest Christian energy.

In all our efforts at self-culture, let us seek for the attainment of both these elements in scriptural proportions and in scriptural combination. Let us cultivate that spirit which would befit us leaning on Jesus' breast, together with that which won the surname, "Sons of Thunder."

It is gratifying to our patriotic feeling to reflect that scarcely in all human history have we another so good example of this rightly-balanced character as in him who was our country's first chief magistrate. In this day of our country's peril, and of her anguish, what better blessing could the God of our fathers bestow, than to let us find the same character again illustrated in that high seat?

Whatever may have been our views or our attitude in respect to that fellow-citizen to whom God, in his providence, has intrusted these great responsibilities-however we may have opposed, or may have favored his elevation to power, according to our dif fering convictions-however we have regarded him, with distrust or with confidence-and whatever may now be our actual opinions of him-surely, as Christians, it behooves us to comply with his

public request, that his people will pray for him. Surely we can all join in the prayer, "that the Spirit of the Lord may come upon him," abundantly fitting him for his great office; and that, now and henceforth, God will give our nation rulers whose strong and rightly-balanced character shall be the element of the nation's safety a character like this invisible, pliant air, pliant to every right and lawful motion, but able, upon just occasion, to become a tempest to sweep away rebellion, able to blast treason like the sirocco-then in balmy and salubrious mildness covering all the land, and filling, with its benign and life-sustaining presence, the homes of the people.

Yet, let us remember that we can not, with confidence, expect God to grant us such rulers, unless we be such a people. Let us diligently and prayerfully use all the spiritual forces of the Gospel, by means of all its divinely-furnished instrumentalities, in our families, our schools, and our churches, to form in ourselves, and in those within our influence, this truly Christian character of balanced and blended energy and gentleness.

SERMON XXII.

BY REV. LEWIS SABIN, D.D., TEMPLETON, MASS.

THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD.

"WHEREFORE, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?"— MATT. 6: 30.

WHEN we think of the world in which we live, in comparison with the magnitude of creation, a sense of littleness comes over us, and a feeling of insignificance, which prompts us to say with the Psalmist: "Lord, what is man, that thou art mindful of him, and the Son of man, that thou visitest him?" This feeling has been appropriated to the use of irreligion and infidelity. It has been turned into a popular argument against Christianity. The smallness of the world in the immensity of God's creation-the littleness of man in the immeasurable realms of his sovereignty, it has been said, throws a suspicion over the truth of Gospel history. Are we befitting, worthy objects for the attention of the infinite God, and for that wonderful movement which was made in heaven for the redemption of man? This objection of infidelity was answered by Dr. Chalmers, in his masterly "Astrono

mical Discourses," in such a manner that the work will never need to be done again.

Still the feeling of our littleness, and a consequent apprehension of exposedness and insecurity is natural, and has power with many minds. There is much in our circumstances to force this feeling upon us, and to crush us into insignificance. Walking in the field, in a clear summer's evening, on one side of us the cornfield, on the other side the lonely wood, and above us the stars, in their courses, silent and beautiful, and the milky-way, with its myriad worlds along the blue expanse of night, it is natural and seemly for us to bow our head in lowliness, gratitude, and wonder, and say: "What is man?" Our weak "faith" staggers. Does the Almighty extend his care and protection to such an insignificant creature? Can it be that the Son of God has come to die for such atoms as I, and in such an atom as our world is?

But there is another feeling, quite in contrast with this, to which calm reflection, in our evening walk, may reasonably lead us, not less deep and powerful than the crushing sense of our insignificance. We look at the corn, faintly rustling at our side, which God has prepared to nourish us; we listen to the murmur of the old forest, every leaf of which, with its delicate tints and fibers, the hand of the Almighty has formed with unspeakable skill; we stretch out our hand to a flower, within whose fair bosom God has reared colonies and nations of animalculæ, in all the glow of their costume and in a perfection of beauty after which art toils in vain. So the world of littleness stretches away beneath our feet. Over all this microscopic littleness, as well as all that greatness brought to view by the telescope, our heavenly Father presides, and has given man the princely faculties to be lord of this lower world which he has prepared for him. From this survey, we may turn with reasonable loyal joy to Jesus, and listen to him as he speaks in the words of the text: "Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?" Shall he not care for you? Shall he not be interested in the redemption of a world that had wandered away from him? This is the proper attitude for us. Our feeling should be, "God cares for me; wherever I go, he tends me and watches me; the intimacy of his presence and attention and care reaches me every moment and in every thought."

I shall attempt, in this discourse, to exhibit some of the practical benefits of the doctrine of God's providence. In doing this, I must show what this doctrine is, and then we can discover how its application throws around the character of God an ineffable glory, and at the same time is of the highest practical utility to ourselves.

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