integrity, rather than with those who meanly purchase a residence in a polluted atmosphere, and the enjoyment of a little brief authority, at the expense of the most precious and noble virtues of the human heart.

III. On descending to private life, and looking at the narrower sphere of our social intercourse, we find similar examples of conduct, exhibiting the same spirit which has already passed under our consideration. Is it not too apt to be the case with us, that we most love and favor those who take pains to flatter our vanity; to concur with us in every thing, right or wrong; to vindicate our follies, and faults, and vices; to encourage and strengthen us in a course of error; and, by the expression of their favorable opinion, to make us better satisfied with ourselves in the doing of what is evil? It is even so, as proved by every day's experience among all classes and all ages, from prattling infancy to tottering four-score. We sometimes see a virtuous youth become strangely and strongly attached to vicious associates. Perhaps he knows their character, disapproves their practices, abhors their loose, immoral, irreligious principles; but he loves them still. They have found their way to his heart, and acquired over him an influence, by means of which they may gradually assimilate his character to their own, and lead him unresisting down the path of iniquity, and shame, and ruin. And how is this to be accounted for? The tongue of flattery has effected the mischief. They exhibit to him a show of high regard; they humor his inclinations, indulge his whims, play upon his foibles and passions, fulfil his wishes, and gratify his vanity. They zealously counsel and assist him to do whatsoever they perceive that his heart desires. This is the magic, this the secret charm, which makes him lavish his affections and favors upon the undeserving; and press to his bosom, as his dearest friends, those whom he ought to shun as the deadliest foes to his reputation and happiness. And in the meantime, how does he esteem those whose true regard for his welfare induces them to warn him of danger, to admonish him frankly, to rebuke and restrain him? They ought, indeed, to be objects of his warmest love, and of his highest confidence: but, alas! his heart is estranged from them. Its language is, "I hate

them;" for they do not gratify my will,-they cross my inclinations, they discourage and withhold me from the pursuit of pleasures which are dearest to me. "I hate them; for they do not prophesy good concerning me, but evil." Substantially the same things may be witnessed in persons of maturer age, and in every period of life. Do we not often behold men led, by what seems an unaccountable infatuation, to distrust and hate their best friends; to turn away from their candid and judicious counsels; and to lend a willing ear to the more honied accents of interested and wily men, till finally they become the victims of flattering sharpers and crafty fortunehunters? It has been said, though not with strict justice, that every man has his price; and it seems to be unquestionable that the price at which you may purchase, and hoodwink, and plunge into ruin, a very large class of persons, is the incense of skilful flattery. Find out the weak points in their character, whether love of pleasure, personal vanity, avarice, or ambition: humor them in these matters,-make them pleased with themselves, and they will be pleased with you; and you may lead them almost where you will, if it be down a precipice. How much better would it have been for Ahab, had he turned a deaf ear to the delusive promises of the lying prophets, and meekly received the unwelcome, but salutary truths spoken by Micaiah! How true is the maxim, that better are the rebukes of a friend, than the flatteries of an enemy!

IV. Lastly, we perceive in the text the reason why there exists, in many minds, so strong an aversion to the Bible, to pure religion, and to the faithful, uncompromising teachers of Christianity. Of these, the ungodly man would say, in his heart, "I hate them,"-because they will not let him rest in his sins; because they will not cloak his offences, flatter his pride, and encourage him to follow the devices and desires of his own wicked heart. He hates the Bible, because it describes the vileness of such as himself, and records against him the sentence of eternal condemnation and shame. He hates a religion whose pure light penetrates even into the recesses of his most hidden thoughts and intents, and startles and vexes his slumbering conscience. He hates the ambassador of God, whose candid

and faithful dealing is a continual rebuke for his ungodly and iniquitous practices. How easy would it be, if we could so grossly neglect our duty, and prostitute our sacred office to the purposes of a time-serving policy; how easy would it be to secure his approbation, and that of the multitude who are like It would only be to prophesy smooth things,-to proclaim peace, though there be no peace,-to speak lies unto them in the name of the LORD,-to pervert the Scriptures for their comfort,-to bid them fulfil their own desires, with the assurance that the mercy of GoD shall overshadow them,-to encourage them to go up to Ramoth-Gilead, with the blessing of heaven, though we well know that they will go to their own destruction, and will perish under the wrath of the ALMIGHTY.

I would conclude by remarking, that there are two lessons deducible from the preceding reflections; and we shall all do well to imprint them upon our memories. 1. You are in continual danger, in this wicked world, of becoming dupes, in one way or other, to unprincipled, designing men, who would make gain of you, blind you to the light of truth, and lead you in the way of transgression and death. Be on your guard against flatterers and deceivers. Beware of the soothing and pleasant counsels of those who are enemies to true godliness. Their words will eat as doth a canker. By their fruits shall ye know them. 2. On the other hand, you are in danger of contracting an indifference or antipathy to those who feel for you the purest friendship; because this friendship may, when circumstances seem to require, be manifested in the giving of plain advice and wholesome cautions, which may not, at the moment, exactly harmonize with your plans, your prejudices, or your passions. Remembering your liability to err, endeavor to keep your minds always open to the reception of truth, however unwelcome to the natural heart. Never reject it because it comes in a form that you dislike, or from a source that you hate. In all your undertakings, see that you act not in opposition to the Divine will; and resolve to be guided by those counsels which are in strict accordance with the holy Scriptures. So shall the protection and blessing of GoD attend you in all your ways, and you shall finally receive the crown of life.

BY THE REV. C. E. GADSDEN, D.D.,

RECTOR OF ST. PHILIP'S CHURCH, CHARLESTON, SOUTH-CAROLINA.

Jeremiah vi. 16.-" Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein."

Ir is useful, from time to time, to consider the institutions and usages of our Church, not merely to ascertain, whether, as becomes good members of it, we are indeed conforming to and sufficiently guarding them; but to cherish our attachment to those venerable principles and customs, by looking into the reasons on which they are founded, and their conformity to scriptural principles and precedents; their adaptation to wellknown principles of human nature; and the approbation which they have won from the experience of many ages and different states of society, not only from those who have adopted them, but from impartial observers of other denominations. If we "ask for the old paths" of our Church, that is, inquire what they are, if from the testimony of Scripture, serious reflection, and long experience, we become satisfied that in them is "the good way," we should undeviatingly walk therein; and discountenance whatever may lead to a departure from these "old paths, where is the good way.”

To examine all the distinctive principles and practices of our Church, or even the more prominent, such as respect the ministry, as consisting of three orders; or doctrine, as that of the Trinity, of salvation by faith in our Lord JESUS CHRIST,of the redemption of all mankind, and not of the elect only; VOL. IV.-12

or worship, that it be by the united voices of minister and people, and not by the voice of the former only, and not in the extempore mode, but by a "form of sound words ;"-to enter on the vindication of these views and customs would be to open too wide a field, and would require not a sermon, but a volume.

To one of the distinctive principles of our Church and the usages growing out of it, I would invite your attention at present, because it is a very comprehensive one, and yet liable to be overlooked. There are many sound and sober members of our Church, who, not having reflected on the subject, are not aware of the existence of the principle to which reference is now made; it is this, that a preference is due to stated rather than to extra services of worship and religious instruction ;—in other words, our Church aims to accomplish the great ends of the Gospel, which are, or ought to be pursued by every Church, viz. the conversion of unbelievers and the improvement of believers, by arrangements which have been well considered and are settled by the "ecclesiastical authority;" not by such as are formed without deliberation, in haste, at a moment's warning, and by persons not having the proper delegated authority; by arrangements fixed and not changeable, recurring at stated times, and not dependent on the mere temporary convenience or inclination of comparatively few persons. As the purposes of the Church are momentous, it is obvious that the means for effecting them ought to be selected with care, with a reference to the light of holy Scripture, to the experience of enlightened piety, and to the character of the community in which these means are to be used; in short, with due deliberation and by the wisdom of the Church, concentrated in her counsels. The decision of the Church, in preferring to arrangements made for the occasion by unauthorized individuals, those which have been duly considered and approved by her authorities, must commend itself to every candid and reflecting mind. But to be better understood, to make a more distinct impression of the wisdom of the Church, in the principle referred to, we must bring to your