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guage, on the absence of method or of manner in him who speaks, but apply himself wholly to the solid truths and useful instructions which a welldisposed hearer cannot fail to discover in the least judicious teacher of the word of God. He will attend to the matter more than to the manner, to the substance, and not to the shadow. He will pass by as insignificant, the air and tone of the speaker, so long as his instructions, like those of St. Paul, are "weighty and powerful." He will not foolishly object, as we find some did to the Apostle, that "his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.” He will reflect that

all the deficiencies of the preacher can do him no injury, and that the wholesome truths, which he delivers may, by God's blessing, benefit his immortal soul; and that, though he is bound in charity to overlook the one, he cannot, without perilling his soul, neglect or despise the other.

With such convictions, he will not pass a hasty sentence on the labours of his minister; but leave him to account for his talents to the Master only who conferred them; preparing, in the mean time, his own account of improvement in those means of grace which God has supplied. And since the Almighty oftentimes employs the humblest instruments to advance the salvation of mankind-to manifest his own strength the more, that those by whom he operates are weak: therefore, will the lowly and devout Christian

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which "hunger and thirst after righteousness." The "wells" which naturally are "without water," He will, from some secret source, replenish. He will either remedy the defects which devout persons suffer from an imperfect minister, or He will abundantly compensate their wants by larger effusions of the Holy Spirit.

If the boon then be not denied, which we, the appointed servants of God, are, both for our own sakes and for yours bound earnestly to solicit, our Church has wisely ordained, that proper words shall not be wanting. Supplications to this effect make a constant part of the morning and evening services. As often as you pray in public, so often are you taught to ask, that "God would send down upon bishops and curates, the healthful Spirit of his grace, and pour upon them the continual dew of His blessings." As often as you approach the table of the Lord, you implore our heavenly Father to give grace to all bishops and curates, that they may, both by their life and doctrine, set forth His true and lively word, and rightly and duly administer His holy sacraments.

All that I can desire then is, that these supplications in my behalf may not merely drop from the lips, but issue from the deep of the heart-that they may rise in secret as well as in public-from your closets as well as from the Church. Then might I hope for greater blessings from my efforts, and amore productive harvest from

SERMONS.

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