families. He will rejoice to recollect that his counsels were ever freely given to all who sought them, and that in a variety of ways he endeavoured to promote the happiness of all around him.

ground of rejoicing: on this foundation will he build his hope. And who can think of him thus rejoicing, as he passes along the vale of years, and kindling with yet a livelier hope as he draws near its close, without admiring "the hoary head,” and acknowledging that it is indeed "a crown of glory."

And if the retrospect of the past reflects so much honour upon the hoary head of the righteous, does it not gather an additional brightness

These things are the gems, which adorn the crown that encircles the hoary head of the righteous. But do they minister to his pride? No: for it is the aged Christian of whom I am speaking, he that has walked with GOD through Jesus Christ: to no other could the term "righteous," be ap-from the thought of what is to come? plied. Of men unaided from above and relying on themselves, it is written, "There is none righteous,-no not one." He therefore, whose old age we are contemplating, will be one who can answer to the apostolical description; "being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of GOD." The works which I have enumerated as having been done by such an one, and from the retrospect of which he will derive happiness, will have been the results of his faith, the offerings that he has made to GOD in testimony of his belief in the Lord Jesus Christ. Imperfect as all his acts of goodness will have been, however pure their motive, they will have been perfected through the righteousness of Christ, and will therefore be accepted as a sacrifice without spot and without blemish. This the aged Christian will feel, and will derive from the feeling, a confidence and a joy that he could not otherwise have known. He will feel that his works, having been "by Jesus Christ," that is, performed in a reliance upon his merits and an obedience to his precepts, and hence, receiving the impress and character of righteous-existence, which he has endeavoured ness,-are, "unto the glory and praise to employ to the honour of Him who of GOD;" that is, have contributed to gave it. swell the greatness of Him who inhabiteth eternity. This will be his

It has one conflict yet to pass through, one triumph' yet to achieve. There is the valley of the shadow of death, the terrors of which appal the boldest heart that is not supported by its GOD. As the righteous man enters that dismal vale, even with all the infirmities that his gray hairs may have brought with them, he is not dismayed or troubled. The staff of his divine Shepherd supports him: the hope of immortality cheers him on. He sees the goal that he has so long been seeking, and blesses GOD that he has now all but reached it. He is thankful that he has been enabled to "keep the faith," and trusts that "henceforth there is laid up for him a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give him at that day"-at that day, when all shall receive according to the deeds done in the body. We talk of human greatness, and we bestow our commendations on human courage: - but there is nothing upon earth so truly great, so truly worthy of admiration, as the aged Christian serenely looking in the face of the last enemy of man, and in a pious confidence calmly yielding up that

These thoughts should teach us, that, as I observed in the commence

ment, there is a respect due from us to the aged; for we see that there are those amongst them, who in a manner consecrate the entire body of the old. There are those amongst them whom we can never admire too much, or venerate too highly. Oh how thankful ought we to be, if one such character has been permitted to add a grace to our family circle! How earnestly should we desire and endeavour to testify our respect and regard. What if some traces of human weakness still adhere to such a hoary head, reminding us that it is not yet wearing its heavenly crown; what if a little querulousness be some times heard, or an occasional symptom of irritability appear; let us remember our own unnumbered failings, our own daily and hourly violations of temper or of justice; and refrain from harshly judging the last glim- | merings of frailty in one who has so many claims upon our esteem. Let us feel, and be humbled by the feeling, as we look upon our venerable relative or friend, how little hope there is that we should pass through a protracted term of existence (if indeed our existence should be so protracted) with equal honour, or descend into the vale of years with an equal title to veneration. Instead, therefore, of dwelling upon the slight amount of imperfection that still attaches to the hoary head, let us reflect how much it has done with a holy resolution, how much it has probably borne with Christian resignation, whilst it has been advancing to its present point "in the way of righteousness; and how great will be its reward, how honourable the station that it will occupy, in the world of spirits.

"

the mention of whom within these walls will not be inappropriate; for he was connected during more than half a long life with a neighbouring institution, which is devoted, like our own, to the relief of sorrow and the reformation of guilt. The late chaplain of the Magdalen Hospital, the Rev. John Prince, has gone to his reward, venerable with years, and "filled" indeed, " with the fruits of righteousness." To him, the sentiment conveyed by the wise man in the words of the text might be applied in all its force: for, as he passed through the vale of years, there was gathered around his head the respect and the affection of all who knew him, in a degree as great as ever fell to the lot of man. He was indeed one of those, whom it seldom pleases the Almighty to raise up amongst us,―unexceptionable in every part of his cha

As a minister of Christ, he was equally estimable, devoted to his pious calling, zealous in the highest degree, but ever judicious in his zeal. His faith was as perfect as the breast I intimated that I had been in some of man is capable of cherishing, and degree induced to lead your minds to it evinced itself in his whole life and this train of reflection, by the recol- conduct. He would seem to have lection of one particular individual; | followed the Saviour's words, where

he bids us become as little chil- confusion into calmness and holy dren,” in order to qualify ourselves confidence, he had often to implant, for the kingdom of GOD; for he was and more often to revive, a knowindeed a child in humility and harm-ledge of GoD and of his Son Jesus lessness. Yet was he "a Master in Israel;" one whom the wisest Christian might consult on subjects relating to the religion of Christ, with the certainty of deriving benefit and instruction from his lips. As a practical instance of his Christian zeal, it should be mentioned, that when the church of the parish, with which he was connected in the country, was struck with lightning and partly destroyed, he collected amongst his friends and acquaintance (for all who knew him were anxious to contribute) no less a sum than £1700, with which he was enabled to restore the sacred edifice, and render it again fit for the service of that Master whom he honoured and loved and feared.

In the discharge of his duties in that institution, the nearness of which to our own has brought his memory under our notice here, his usefulness was so highly estimated, that at the advanced age of upwards of eighty years, it was felt that he could not be spared. He remained therefore at his post, arduous and painful as it must often have been, even to his last hour, bringing home to the family of GoD souls that had strayed from the fold. Peculiar as was the misery which it was his lot to relieve, it is impossible to estimate the amouut of consolation, which he must have been the means of administering. To him it fell to console breasts rent with the bitterest anguish, to raise spirits sunk to the lowest depths of wretchedness,-to kindle hope where despair had cast an almost impenetrable gloom. He had to turn remorse into penitence shame and

Christ. He was indeed called upon to follow and imitate the Saviour in one of his most interesting characters, viz. that of the Physician of souls. Yes-he had to cure, as well as comfort, the erring soul,-and sometimes therefore, to probe the wounds which sorrow had inflicted. He had to teach the injured victim to "bless and curse not," to forgive and pray for him, who had done her the deadliest wrong, reducing her to infamy in this world and possibly condemnation in the next. All this he had to do:-and so faithfully did he labourin his vocation and ministry, that many, very many an erring daughter of affliction was restored to society through his agency, and brought to entertain hopes full of immortality. In the great family of heaven, indeed, few will enjoy in a higher degree than he will, the blissful reflection, that they brought “many to righteousness" that they raised many to glory.'

I have thus faintly and inadequately endeavoured to give you some idea of a character, to a proper description of which I feel perfectly unequal. Yet it will be a consolation to me, in the remembrance of departed worth, to feel that I attempted to describe it. Let me add, that he was followed to the tomb by the whole body of the directing go vernors of the Institution, in which he laboured-who, having joined in this last tribute of respect to his memory, feel and acknowledge that his loss cannot be supplied, that his place is indeed vacant.

A Sermon,

DELIVERED BY THE REV. W. BLUNT,

AT TRINITY CHURCH, CHELSEA, SUNDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 24, 1833,

Jeremiah, xxiii. 6.- ." This is his name whereby he shall be called, The Lord our

Righteousness."

of the desk and the address from the pulpit, which our church appears always to have attempted, I have selected a subject to which our consideration would, necessarily eventually lead us, and which has been brought before us in the epistle of this day.

Let us, then, this morning, no longer remain at the door of the spiritual edifice, but seek by divine grace to enable us to cross the threshold, to enter into the temple; and there, even within the holy of holies, to see the king in his glory, and all those treasures of "the unsearchable riches of Christ,” by which he is surrounded, and which are not more really, not more certainly his own, than they are yours and mine, and shall be given to whomsoever he pleases who faithfully seeks them, and is willing and desirous to appropriate them unto himself.

In the last discourse it was my object | gree of harmony between the service to state, plainly and scripturally, for what purpose the law of GOD was originally given. By investigating these questions in the light of the divine word, we discovered that the law, although originally bestowed as a covenant-" Do this and live”had long since ceased to stand in that relationship; for a broken covenant is no covenant. We discovered still further, that the law was continued to us for these two great and important objects first, of convicting every individual of sin; proving, most undeniably, that he is a sinner in actions, a sinner in duties, a sinner in his nature; and, secondly, to afford a rule of life, to all God's redeemed and reconciled people, by which, when renewed in the spirit of their minds by the Holy Ghost, and made one with the Lord Jesus Christ, they shall learn in what manner to regulate their lives and conversation, so as to bring the largest amount of "This is his name whereby he shall glory to God, and to cultivate, in the be called, The Lord our Righteoushighest degree, peace, kindness, cha-ness.". Of all the blessed titles of rity, and good will to men. These, brethren, are very important subjects of Christian instruction and Christian practice; yet, still, they are but initiatory. They lie, as it were, before the door of the spiritual house, but they are not the house itself.

It had been my intention to have set before you, this day, the law of GOD as a rule of life; but, desiring, when possible, to maintain that de

the Redeemer, most blessed, most consolatory, most delightful to the heart of every true child of God is this; to hear, in the very name by which his Lord and his Redeemer was announced, his own charter to

an

inheritance beyond the skies. But are there any here to whom this glorious appellation conveys no such distinct and definite impression; any who hear it as a mere title, as they