closer than ever to your Saviour's service.

"Himself believed, and his whole house!" See the force of example: "his whole house believed!" The mas

ter converted the whole family! He told them of the love of Jesus, of his power, of his truth, and immediately they enrolled themselves as candidates henceforward for Gospel salvation.

What a blessed circumstance, when those who bear rule in families will propagate religion by their own example! when masters will feel an interest for, and persuade, and instruct, and encourage their children and dependents to walk in the tranquil paths of piety and virtue! They will have much to answer for; because their power in this way is very extensive. May God unite us all in a holy emulation to advance in grace. May the great and wealthy proceed in the right road, and the poor follow

may

(as they always will do) in the same direction. Thus, while "the earth is filling with the knowledge of God, as the waters cover the sea," families shall dwell together in unity, in peace, and in religious affection,

The grand result is fast approaching to every one of us, when outward and earthly pageantries shall vanish away: when the noble and the common, the high and the low, the learned and the ignorant, the rich and the poor, shall all lie down upon an equality in the dust together! No distinction will avail then, but the blood of the Lamb stamped upon "the lintel of the door" of our hearts: no garb, but the wedding garment:" no pride, but the humble "glorying in the cross of Christ:" and therefore, may that mighty Director of every will, who healed the dying child at Capernaum, and of whom we all are the sons and daughters, purify us from the blighting leprosy of a worldly life: so that "in

that day, when the Lord maketh up his jewels, we may be his," in body and in soul; "and he may spare us, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him."

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SERMON IX.

PSALM lxxxiv. 4, 5, 6, 7.

Blessed are they that dwell in thy house, they will be alway praising thee. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are thy ways :

Who going through the vale of misery, use it for a well; and the pools are filled with water.

They will go from strength to strength; and unto the God of Gods appeareth every one of them in Sion.

WE all know that these beautiful compositions-Songs of Zion, and the refuge of piety in every age,—were written at different times, and upon various occasions: some in trouble, and

some in joy; some in a melancholy spirit of penitential prayer; and others in strains of grateful acknowledgment to the divine Giver of every good gift. The Psalm before us is of rather a peculiar nature. Although commentators are not quite agreed as to the principal character in it, yet it is generally supposed to refer to David himself, when, at the time of Absalom's revolt, he was driven from the Holy City by his rebellious son, and while he was prevented, by the pressure of this sad calamity, from attending the service of God's house, and from joining especially in the annual visitations to the great temple of Jehovah, on Mount Zion at Jerusalem. Of these visitations, there were three every year, in which the whole Jewish nation, at great distances, and with amazing personal fatigue and trouble, travelled to the metropolis of their country, and appeared before the Lord in his holy mountain.