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"charge of the duties of his station; preparing for "the world the blessings of elegant instruction; "tendering to the mourner the lessons of divine "consolation; guiding the young by his counsels; "aiding the meritorious with his influence; and "supporting, by his voice and by his conduct, the "civil and ecclesiastical institutions of his country.

"With such dispositions and hat, ts it was natu"ral that he should enjoy a distinguished portion "of felicity. And perhaps there never was a man "who experienced more completely that the ways "of wisdom are ways of pleasantness, and that all

"her paths are peace. His country was proud of

"his merits, and at different times conferred on

him, through the hands of the Sovereign, the "most honourable and substantial proofs of her "approbation: foreign lands learned from him the

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way of salvation; he saw marks of deference "and respect wherever he appeared; and he felt "within himself the gratulations of a good con"science, and the hope of immortality. It was "peculiarly delightful to see him, in the latest pe"riod of his life, at the venerable age of eighty"two, looking back on almost threescore years " spent in the public service of his God, pleased "with the recollections which it gave, possessing a "mind still vigorous and clear, the delight of his "friends, sensible to the attentions which they "paid to him, burning with zeal for the good of "the Church, and with all the ardour of youthful "ambition, preparing the materials of a new claim "to the gratitude and admiration of posterity.

“ In this active state of preparation, with the lamp “ of life still clear and bright, he was found by " the Great Lord of all when he came to say, 'It “ is enough ;' and after a single night of pain, to “ call him gently to his rest.

“ He has gone to give an account of his stewards ship.-The Church mourns in him the loss of “ her brightest ornament.-Let us submit to the « stroke with resignation and reverence ; and, as “ the most acceptable proof of respect to his me"mory, let us learn to practise the lessons which “ he taught.”

J. FINLAYSON.

EDINBURGH, March 13. 1801.

SERMON I.

ON THE UNION OF PIETY AND MORALITY.

Acts, x. 4.

Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a

memorial before God.

The High and Lofty One who inhabiteth eternity, dwelleth also with him who is of an humble and contrite heart. In the midst of his glory, the Almighty is not inattentive to the meanest of his subjects. Neither obscurity of station, nor imperfection of knowledge, sinks those below his regard who worship and obey him. Every prayer which they send up from their secret retirements is listened to by him; and every work of charity which they perform,

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how unknown soever to the world, attracts his notice. The text presents a signal instance of this comfortable truth. In the city of Cæsarea, there dwelt a Roman centurion, a military officer of inferior rank, a Gentile, neither by birth nor religion entitled to the privileges of the Jewish nation. But he was a devout and a benevolent man; who, according to his measure of religious knowledge, studied to perform his duty, prayed to God always,

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gave much alms to the people. Such a character passed not unobserved by God. • So highly was it honoured, that to this good

centurion an Angel was sent from heaven, in order to direct him to the means of full instruction in the truth. The angel accosts him with this salutation, Cornelius, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

It is to the conjunction of prayers and alms that I purpose now to direct your thoughts, as describing the respectable and amiable character of a man, as forming the honour and the blessedness of a true Christian ; piety joined with charity, faith with good works, devotion with morality. These are things which God hath connected, and which it is impious in man to separate. It is only when they remain united, that they can come up

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