narrow way by curious questions and subtle arguments on matters of secondary importance, making taste and feeling and prejudice their rule rather than Scripture, reason, and authority? And, while they are busying themselves to find in some quarter or other an infallible guide in all their doubts and difficulties, they neglect to purify their hearts, and apply themselves to self-knowledge and real mortification, and to make due use of such guides as God has placed within their reach, and thus have "erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.' In short, there is no end to the various forms which Satan may and does put on, to deceive, if it were possible, the very elect, and to lure away from the narrow path of holiness, those who would fain walk therein.

And here, again, I would call upon you to observe and be thankful for the Church system, which, if carried out in practice as designed in theory, would be found fitted to afford the most effectual help in overcoming those difficulties. Her daily service, her hours of private prayer, her weekly and occasional fasts, her festival and other holy seasons regularly recurring, her frequent communions, her fellowship of saints now living, or who have departed hence in

God's faith and fear, are all so many encouragements and helps to persevere in that narrow way of holiness which alone leads to heaven. Could Christians walk so unworthy of their high calling as many notoriously do, if they were true and consistent observers of the Church system? Let them only live as her Prayer-book teaches, and as her saints set the example, and they need not go beyond her pale in any direction, for inducements and assistances to reach the greatest purity of heart and life which, while they continue in this world, they can attain unto.

But, my brethren, if such be the difficulties in the way of salvation, strive to obtain, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Be not drawn aside by the new opinions and ingenious theories for the world's improvement which are every day springing up, from the old and tried principles of truth, by which saints and martyrs have in all ages been trained to holiness on earth and to glory in heaven. Be jealous of any departure from "the faith once delivered to the saints," by whatever argument or authority it may be supported. Be assured that the truth of God is one and unchanging, that it is the only source of peace of conscience and holiness of life, and that

Satan is constantly trying by fraud or violence to corrupt or destroy it. Strive then to maintain in all its integrity the truth delivered to you in God's Word and Sacraments, and be assured that you cannot do this without casting off some natural prejudices and popular notions which are contrary to it.

2. Strive not only to receive and hold fast the truth, but strive also to make that truth fruitful, to add to your faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, charity. Let it be ever present to your mind that barren truth, truth not productive of godly living, is no truth at all, it is only the shadow of truth, not the substance.

Strive then, to adorn

the doctrine of God your Saviour by a life such as becometh saints. Not only strive to cleanse yourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God," but strive also to extend the kingdom of God in your family, your neighbourhood, and in the world at large.

And so striving, depend upon it that your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. You shall not only have cause to "rejoice because your names are written in heaven," but also to be thankful that you have been instruments of

bringing others into the kingdom of God, who would never have sought it but by your persuasion, never have found their way to it but by your guidance. And, when your allotted time of trial has passed away, as soon it will, you will be enabled, through God's great mercy, to takę up without presumption the Apostle's words, and say, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing."

JOHN HENRY PARKER, OXFORD AND LONDON.

Sermons for the Christian Seasons.

FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY.

OUR DEPENDANCE ON GOD.

LUKE xvii. 17. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?

We are wholly in God's hands. Even when we serve sin and withdraw ourselves from obedience to Christ, we are still in the power of God. Though we serve Satan, God can still do with us what He wills. Nay, Satan himself is in the power of God, and so must all his servants be. The servant is not greater than his lord; if God is Satan's Lord, how much more is He the Lord of Satan's servants, of rebellious and sinful men.

We are all, I repeat, in the power of God, whether we be good or bad, true or false disciples of Christ, the servants of the devil or the faithful soldiers and servants of our Lord Jesus Christ. We may sometimes fancy ourselves free and think we are our own, and feel no yoke, either of God or of the devil upon our neck, and stop