IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 / 
 
 
 
 7/^ ^ 
 
 :/. 
 
 
 
 -?/ 
 
 t/j 
 
 A 
 
 1.0 
 
 I.I 
 
 1.25 
 
 Ii5 
 ran 
 
 «■ > 
 
 ilM 
 
 IIIM 
 
 1^ 
 
 1^ 
 
 2,2 
 
 1.8 
 
 1.4 
 
 11.6 
 
 6" 
 
 PW^ 
 
 <^ 
 
 /a 
 
 
 A^,. 
 
 
 
 '^ %V" /-^ 
 
 .^' 
 
 uy^ 
 
 PhotDgrdphic 
 
 Sciences 
 Corporation 
 
 s 
 
 ^ 
 
 \ 
 
 S 
 
 ^v 
 
 \\ 
 
 "% 
 
 V 
 
 1^ 
 
 
 6^ 
 
 
 U 
 
 ■%-'- 
 
 23 WEST MAIN STREET 
 
 WEBSTER, NY. 14S80 
 
 (716) 872-4503 
 
i 
 
 CIHM/ICMH 
 
 Microfiche 
 
 Series. 
 
 CIHM/ICMH 
 Collection de 
 microfiches. 
 
 Canadian Institute for Historical iy/licrorepror>uctions / Instttut Canadian de microrepi-oductions historiques 
 
 ►> 
 
1 
 
 I 
 
 Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques 
 
 The Institute has attempted to obtain the best 
 original copy available for filming. Features of this 
 copy which may be bibliographically unique, 
 which may alter any of the Images in the 
 reproduction, or which may significantly change 
 the usual method of filming, are checked below. 
 
 L'Institut a micro'ilme le meiileur exemplaire 
 qu'il lui a Pt6 possible de se procurer. Les details 
 de cet enemplaire qui sont peut-dtre uniques du 
 point de vue bibliographique. qui peuvent modifier 
 une image reprodu.te, ou qui peuvent exiger une 
 modification dans la m^thode normala de filmage 
 sont indiqu^s ci-dessous. 
 
 D 
 
 Coloured covers/ 
 Couverture de couleur 
 
 I I Covers damaged/ 
 
 Couverture endommagde 
 
 □ Covers restored and/or laminated/ 
 Couverture restaur^e ot/ou pelliculie 
 
 □ Cove 
 Le ti 
 
 D 
 D 
 
 Cover title missing/ 
 
 ire de couvarture manque 
 
 I I Coloured maps/ 
 
 Cartes g^ographiques en couleur 
 
 Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ 
 Encre da couleur (i.e. autre que bieue ou noire) 
 
 Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ 
 P'anches et/ou illustrations en couleur 
 
 r~/' Bound with other material/ 
 I y I Reiii avec d'autres documants 
 
 □ Coloured pages/ 
 Pages de couleur 
 
 □ Pages damaged/ 
 Pages endommag^es 
 
 □ Pages restored and/.ir laminated/ 
 Pages restaurees et/ou pelliculees 
 
 rrpr^ Pagas discoloured, stained or foxed/ 
 I '^1 Pages decolories, tachetdes ou piquees 
 
 n Pages detached/ 
 Pages d^tachees 
 
 [""T^Showthrough/ 
 LIlJ Transparence 
 
 I I Quality of print varies/ 
 
 Qualite indgale de I'impression 
 
 Includes supplementary material/ 
 Comprend du materiel supplementaire 
 
 n 
 
 n 
 
 Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion 
 along interior margin/ 
 
 Lareliure serree peut causer de I'ombre ou de la 
 distorsion le long de la marge intdrieure 
 
 Blank leaves added during restoration may 
 appear within the text. Whenever possible, these 
 have been emitted from filming/ 
 II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajoutdes 
 lors d'une restauration apparaissant dans le texta, 
 mais, lorsque cela dtait possible, ces pages n'ont 
 pas iti filmies. 
 
 D 
 
 D 
 
 Only edition available/ 
 Seule Edition disponible 
 
 Pagas wholly or partially obscured by errata 
 slips, tissues, etc., have beon refilmed to 
 ensure the best possble image/ 
 Les pages totalement ou partiellement 
 obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, 
 etc.. ont it& film^es d nouveau de facon a 
 obtenir la meilleure image possible. 
 
 V , 
 
 D 
 
 Additional comments:/ 
 Commentaires suppl^mentaires; 
 
 This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ 
 
 Ce document est filmb au taux de reduction indiqud ci-dessous. 
 
 10X 
 
 
 
 14X 
 
 
 
 
 18X 
 
 
 22X 
 
 
 
 
 26r 
 
 
 
 
 30X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 12X 
 
 16X 
 
 20X 
 
 24X 
 
 28X 
 
 32X 
 
lis 
 
 u 
 
 lifier 
 
 ne 
 
 age 
 
 The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks 
 to the generosity of: 
 
 Metropolitan Toronto Library 
 Canadian History' Department 
 
 The images appearing here are the best quality 
 possible considering the condition and legibility 
 of the original copy and in keeping with the 
 filming contract specifications. 
 
 L'exemplaire filmi fut reproduit grAce A la 
 g6n6rosit6 de: 
 
 Metropolitan Toronto Library 
 Canadian History Department 
 
 Les images suivantes ont 6t6 reproduites avec le 
 plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et 
 de la nettetd de l'exemplaire filmi, et en 
 conformity avec les conditions du contrat de 
 filmage. 
 
 Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed 
 beginning with the front cover and onding on 
 the last page with a printed or ilijstrated impres- 
 sion, O! the back cover when appropriate. All 
 other original copies are filmed beginning on the 
 first page with a printed or illustrate^ impres- 
 sion, and ending on the last page with a printed 
 or illustrated impression. 
 
 The last recorded frame on each microfiche 
 shall contain the symbol -^ (meaning "CON- 
 TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), 
 whichever applies. 
 
 Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at 
 different reduction ratios. Those too large to be 
 entirely included in one exposure are filmed 
 beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to 
 right and top to bottom, as many frames as 
 required. The following diagrams illustrate the 
 method: 
 
 Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en 
 papier est imprim^e sont filmds en commenpant 
 par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la 
 dernidre page qui comporte une empreinte 
 d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second 
 plat, selon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires 
 originaux sont filmAs en commandant par la 
 premidre page qui comporte une empreinte 
 d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par 
 la dernidte page qui comporte un? telle 
 empreinte. 
 
 Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la 
 dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le 
 cas: le symbole —^ signifie "A SUIVRE", le 
 symbole V signifie "FIN". 
 
 Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre 
 f ilmds d des taux de r6ductic n diff brents. 
 Lorsque le document est trop grand pour §tre 
 reproduit en un seul clich6, il est filmd A partir 
 de Tangle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, 
 et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre 
 d'images n6cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants 
 illustrent le m6thode. 
 
 ata 
 
 ilure, 
 a 
 
 j - 
 
 3 
 
 2X 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
<*■- — 
 
M 
 
 A SERMON. 
 
 BY TUB 
 
 Venerable EDWARD WIX, M. A. 
 
 Archdeacon of NewfutrndlamL 
 
 rSINTEO BY J. RYAN, KIXO's PRINTER. 
 
 1831. 
 
 1 
 

 mm: 
 
 r'^'H«=>c^ 
 
 
 ^t- 
 
 r 
 
TliiiilW 
 
 r 
 
 DEDICATION. 
 
 X 
 
 O tliose LatUea who are joint ratronesises, with my dear 
 wife, in tlie Sale for tlie bpnefit of lUe St. Jolm's Churdi -Suiulay 
 School*, the profits of this priutt'd t^ermou arc preaeiitetl, fur 
 the furtherance of Uieir excellent objects. 
 
 Among tliosc- to ivhom the Sermon is affectionately 
 Dedicated thoy mu»t allo'-v me, however, to incUtde, with 
 thomselves, our yo»ng friends, ns well male ns fcinule,— -to 
 whom I, in common witli our wortly Rector, and tho rest of 
 the Conf^regation of fc't. John's, oiu no much iiuUhted for the 
 fidelity and zeal with which they conduct the Tarochtal 
 Swodiiy Schools. To persons who ^'Ive such unequivocal 
 proof of the cbtiniutiou in which they hold the claims of Sunday 
 SchooU upon tlic members of tliet'hurth, the sGntlmenls of this 
 Kermon, wl*ich nntst bo in corajdetu acoovdaiice with their 
 own, will be ii's bt^st rccommcudation. TIjc discourse has, I 
 am rtwar«, no other merits tlian those of eincerity, of sound- 
 ness, and of soberness : But if tliis partial publication of it 
 shall "iv0 to tl»o sacr«d caune in which we are cmbarhed a 
 presen'. stinmlus and a lasting interest, I sliall be more fuUy 
 gratiftcd, by the result of my present selection, tirdtn I could 
 have been by a pveterencc of other manuscripts, which might 
 have given greater evidence of profes»>ional industry or ability. 
 
 May tloo bless you in (iuje and in eternity I— »/ok, your 
 dear young charge, and all around you. 
 
 K.W. 
 
 III 
 
 i 
 < 
 
 St. John's, yt^ufuuttdknd,^ 
 August U<,1H3I. ) 
 
 ' ) 
 
.9 » 
 
 P*-- * 
 
 % 
 
4 
 
 
 SERMON, 
 
 And the men of the city mid unto Eh'sha, 
 Behold, I pray thee, the uitmtion ofihU city 
 isplensmtt, as my lordtteeth : bui the water is 
 naughty and (he ground barren. 
 
 And he said. Bring me a new cruse, and put 
 salt (herein. And (hey brought it to him. 
 
 And he went forth unto the fipring of (he 
 teatersy and cast the salt in there, and said. 
 Thus sailh the Lord, I have healed these wa- 
 ters; (here shall not be from thence any more 
 death or barren land. 
 
 So (he waters were healed unto (his day, 
 according (o (he saying of Elisha which he 
 
 spake. , . 
 
 11, Kings, ch. 2, v. 19—22, inclusive. 
 
 Ti 
 
 HE continual miracles which were wrought 
 by EUtsha were testimonies from Heaven of his 
 divine mission. The divided waters of Jordan, 
 and the healed spring at Jericho, were evi- 
 dences to himself that what he had entreated 
 of his late Master would be granted to him 
 
 W 
 
 \ \ 
 
 4! ^1 
 
 .1 4 
 
 i' 
 

 u 
 
 it 
 
 «< 
 
 il 
 
 nn«l fitat a dnt^le portion of Elijah's spirit 
 rested upon him ; and they proved to ilie sons 
 of rthe Proplicts in j^eneral (hat, though their 
 late siiirttuul father had heen removed from 
 them, tlicy still Imd a Prophet amonj? them. 
 
 The men of Jericho came, wo art* informed, 
 to Ellslia, to make a request which shewed 
 their belief tliat he was truly sent by Goo.— 
 The stream wIiicJi watered their town was 
 unwholesome : ** and the men of the city said 
 unto Kllslia,— Uphold ! I pray thee the situ- 
 ation of this city h plea&ant, as my Lord 
 seeth," 
 
 The situation of their city must have hem 
 pleasant iiuleeih It had tempted Hiel, the 
 Bethelite, in defiance of the well-known curse 
 of Josliua, (VI. 2(5,) to rebuild the city, laying 
 the foundation of it, as had been threateiied, in 
 the death of his Ihst-boin, gradually losing his 
 ehddreu, one after another, as he proceeded in 
 his in^jJious wark, ntul finishing it, or setting 
 up the oatcs of it, in t he «!eath of his y oungest'f 
 Closer*, of old, had alKidoil to its beauty, and 
 had callctl it the city of the palm trees.^!?— 
 But pleasant as its situation was, ami great as 
 its former advania;j;es of soil must have been, 
 1 1. Kini;^, XVI. 'JA. * iJeut. xxxiv. 3. 
 
 / 
 
 ■ 
 
s sptril 
 lie sons 
 ;li their 
 ♦d from 
 [hem. 
 formed, 
 shewed 
 Goii. — 
 nn was 
 ^ity said 
 he Nitti- 
 ly Lord 
 
 ve bci?ii 
 iel, the 
 vn curse 
 
 :euedy in 
 mxi<^ his 
 [jcded ill 
 setting 
 ingest,'^ 
 nty, and 
 
 •cej*,^^' 
 
 ^reat as 
 ;e been, 
 3. 
 
 
 ^bick conbl imlucc people to dwell on a spot 
 su accur.sed, and so near to the noiwjnic lake 
 of Sodom, >et the H\m of its inhabitants Ci^ui'ied 
 a curse to cleave to it. The Lord, wL^ t«r- 
 neth "rivers into a wilderness, and tlie water- 
 "sprinj;^ into dry j^round, and a fruUful land 
 " into barrenness, for the wickedness of 
 « them tliat dwell therein," t >«a»^<^ *^"' 
 waters of this deH*;htful spot nnwholesoine, 
 and its soil nnfrnitfid. " The .situation of this 
 city is pleasant, as my lord seeOi, bnt the 
 water is naught and the gr '" ' barren." 
 '^^When Elisha heard th . est he K<?ems 
 
 to have resolved lo gi^e roof of the 
 
 power of his Goi», wlio cyi by instru- 
 
 ments the most simple. He pu. A tlie «une 
 course in this instance which be pursued, after- 
 wiirils, in the case of Naaman the leper, § — the 
 same which our blessed Loiin still pursues it: 
 His own sacramental means of «;racc. That 
 the excellency of the power mii;ht appear to 
 be Gon*s, and not the clFect of man*s skill, he 
 recommended a seenungly Jnadequate remedy. 
 By this course ho tried the faith of the people. 
 He said, " Bring me a new cruse, and put salt 
 therein.'* They i\ld not ask cavilling and cap- 
 J Ps. cvn. rj3. 34. § II. King*. V. 10. 
 
 5 i 
 
 ■ 
 
 J 
 
 m£Si 
 
 KaMMMN 
 
 i > 
 
t 
 
 I 
 
 tiutts questions upon ihU. - They did not iay» 
 « Why a crMw*/*" "Why a wwoner' "Why 
 «a//in it?" "Can a greater <|uantity of salt 
 lessen the brckwh t!a»/ur of streams which 
 are too salt already f * or "what can a sniali 
 erusc of it avail, tli^ugh its vktue t»houUl be 
 equal to that of our ohm hal^am tree?" 
 
 Like tiio faithful parent who, beneath the 
 Christian dispensation, does not stop to ask 
 "what virtue can there be in the water of 
 sprinkling?" "How can the prayer of u Priest 
 be blessed to my child's regeneration ?" but 
 brings his child in Baptism to Chkist, that rt 
 may be " born again of water and of the Spirit^" 
 —Like the young believer who, when invia^d 
 to the apostolic solemnity of ConHrwation, does 
 not say " What can the blessing of a fellow- 
 man avail me?" but, " Lord, what wilt Thou 
 have me to do?"— Like the humble Christian 
 who, when reminded of the cHicaey and grace 
 which may attend the ministrdtions of a divine- 
 ly-conimtssioned priesthood, does not reply, 
 with Korah, " All the congregation are holy/' 
 biki listens with meek heart and due reverence 
 to those who are set over hin; by the Lord ; — 
 Like the faithful penitent w&o, when invited 
 to the Lord's Table, does not say "What 
 
 I 
 
r«ii 
 
 not ny, 
 "Why 
 
 of suit 
 s H'iiick 
 a siimll 
 ould be 
 
 rdih the 
 t to ask 
 M'ator of 
 ' a Priest 
 u?" but 
 ', that ?t 
 i Spirit;'* 
 ti invited 
 ion, does 
 a fellow- 
 ilt Thou 
 Christian 
 nd grace 
 a divine- 
 >t reply, 
 re holy/' 
 everence 
 
 Lord; — 
 n invited 
 
 « What 
 
 Cfin bread and mne avail io the mippoH of « 
 •oul bunleued with m\ ?" but cotnes and doe«» 
 as the Lord commanded, in rememftranco of 
 Himself: — so these believers at .J<'ri('lio, when 
 the Loi ys Prophet said " Biin;^ me a new 
 cruse, and put mil therein," brought it to him 
 without any hesitsition or doul)ting. 
 
 Then ElUh;* went forth with the salt-ttuse 
 in his hand 5 — But he did not look 4o the broad 
 and fonmint^ Jordan, which was near: i'. a^i 
 not seek the nearer rapids, which made up th« 
 affirrt'trate of the waters of Jericho : but he 
 traced the streamlet at !ic back of their city 
 through its mazy windings, tlirough groves uf 
 pulin, and swan |)s, and barrens, till at some 
 distance, it may be, on the rilderness of 
 Bethaven, he discovered a gushing fount, the 
 spring of the waters which brought disease to 
 the town's inhabitants and barrenness to thch* 
 soil. ** He went forth unto the spring of the 
 waiters, and cast the salt in ihere^^* 
 
 To this circumstance I would fix the attention 
 of my readers ; and may the Holy Spirit bless 
 tlie n^editations which a constdeniliou of it may 
 suggest to i»s. 
 
 In vain might the Prophet have purged the 
 waters of their town with a continual miracle, if 
 
 I- 
 
 li 
 
 II 
 
 ill 
 
 II 
 
 1 
 
 ? 
 
 I 
 
 r «ft . • - «<• «■ 
 
 pi Carf <WiMM 
 
 M irTfTnaiK WirtnflTtI 
 
 I 
 
 :^ 
 
 ! f 
 
!! 1 % 
 
 iff 
 
 .1 
 
 N1 
 
 10 
 
 he had left the fountain-head uiUouched.— 
 They would have needed a tontimml cleansing, 
 Und the %va« crowd might, from time to time, 
 have waited the season of his coming with as 
 much anxiety as that with which the diseased 
 throng watched for the presiding angel iu the 
 cloisters of Bethesda.^'f 
 
 But the heaven-directed Prophet ** went 
 
 forth unto the spring and cast the salt in ther<>." 
 
 I. Now are we notj in this conduct of Elisha, 
 
 reminded of the method which every spiritual 
 
 physician should adopt hi his endeavoui-s to 
 
 eradicate the various symptoms of moral evil 
 
 which deform the world? Does it not hring 
 
 to our recollection the advice of the wisest of 
 
 men, " Keep thj heart with all diligence, for 
 
 out of it arc the issues of life V § Nay, are m'C 
 
 not reminded of the precepts of Chiust, — 
 
 "j" "• Those things which proceed out of the 
 
 mouth come forth from the heart, and they 
 
 defile the man: for out of the heart proceed 
 
 evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, 
 
 thefts, false witness, blasphemies; these are the 
 
 things which defile a man:'^ — and again, || in 
 
 another place, ** Either make the tree good and 
 
 * John V. 2-4. I IVov. u . 23. 
 
 t Matt XV. 18—20. j} Matt. xu. 32—31. 
 
 a' 
 
 > 
 

 touched.— 
 ' cleanKsiiig-, 
 lo to time, 
 ng uitlt as 
 ie diseased 
 igei in the 
 
 tet ** vumi 
 
 t in thert?." 
 tof Elisha, 
 y spiritual 
 eavom's to 
 moral i.'vil 
 
 not bring 
 5 wisest of 
 gence, for 
 ay, are we 
 Chiust, — 
 ^ni of the 
 
 and they 
 •t proceed 
 rnications, 
 ?se are the 
 igaiu, II in 
 J good and 
 
 31. 
 
 11 
 
 Ills fruit good, or, else, make the tree corrupt 
 jand his fruit corrupt, for the tree is known by 
 his fruit. O generation of vipers ! How can ye, 
 being evil, speak good things, for out of the 
 abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.— 
 A good man, out of the good treasure of the 
 keartf bringeth forth good things, and an evU 
 man, out of the evil treasure, bringeth forth evil 
 things." Are %ve not reminded of the case of 
 the Jews whose heart is, to this day, veiled 
 when Moses is read, and of the Gospel which 
 is now hid or veiled, to them tliat are lost ; % 
 who hug their delusions and are uncircumcised 
 ill heart and ears, and so deserve to perish ? 
 
 Let us begin the reformation of ourselves and 
 of the world around <ss, at the very spring and 
 well-head of the evil. It will be in vain to 
 endeavour to turn back the tide of evil passions 
 in their deep and turbid channel. Their course 
 eannoi be staid by such a method. Those who 
 strive against tlio stream, or expect the cure to 
 work up backwards to the secret spring, will 
 lose their labor. The fountain must be purged. 
 "Our heart,'- as Bishop Hall observes, " Our 
 ** heart is a well of bitter and venomous water ; 
 "our actions are the streams. Jn vain shall we 
 X 11. Cor. IV. 3. 
 
 ( 
 
 
 > 
 
V.i 
 
 t t '■ 
 
 , ); 
 
 > 1 
 
 in f 
 
 ;. I 
 
 t i 
 
 ! f 
 
 M 
 
 :i ! 
 
 12 
 
 "cleanise our bauds while our hearts are evil," 
 All washing which does not cleanse die dark 
 chambers of poilutioii which arc within the 
 heart will be but as the washing of Pilate, which 
 did not cleanse him from his iniquity,~-^r as the 
 painting of a Sepulchre, which leaves it still all 
 loathsome within. All moral reformation which 
 U built upon any other foundation than that 
 which is laid in the new creature in Christ 
 Jesus, will be but as an house built upon the 
 sand, or as the unskilful daubing of untempered 
 mortar. Let us, therefore, pray for the grace 
 of God's quickening spirit, that our hearts may 
 be renewed and a right spirit created within us, 
 that our hearts may be seasoned with salt, that 
 our thoughts may be purged, and that our 
 actions, in consequence, may glorify our OoD 
 and Savior in all things. Let us not flatter 
 others, or content ourselves, with the hope of an 
 imperfect reformation, lest it be said of us, m of 
 Judah, that "she turned not unto the Lord 
 with her whole heart, but feignedly." Let us 
 teach others, and learn ourselves, to love the 
 Lord with all our heart, and with all our «ouI, 
 and with all our mind. If we keep this first and 
 great commandment we shall find all other 
 duUes easy and natural. They ^ow from this as 
 
 V 
 
iiv 
 
 * are evil," 
 se die dark 
 
 within the 
 ilate, which 
 ,— or as the 
 es it still all 
 atioii which 
 I than that 
 
 in Christ 
 t upon the 
 mtempered 
 Y the <*:race 
 hearts may 
 i within us, 
 h salt; that 
 di that our 
 y our Cro» 
 not flatter 
 
 hope df an 
 of us, tm of 
 
 the Lord 
 " Let us 
 io love the 
 1 our 9ouI, 
 lis first and 
 
 aii other 
 rom this as 
 
 .^ 
 
 uneonst rained ly as rivers flow from the ]iaront- 
 sprino;:— "He that loveth Goo keepelh His 
 commandments." # Ho whose treasure is in 
 heaven has his heart there also.'f His conver- 
 sation will be »/' Heaven, and in Heaven. He 
 will steadfastly look up thither : In iieart and 
 mind he will be continually ascendinj^ thither; 
 and ihere he will continually dwell with his 
 ascended Savior^ till he sees those heaiens 
 opened, and the glory of God, and Jkstjs stand- 
 ing at the right hand of Goo* 
 
 IL Another very profitable reflection may 
 be drawn from the conduct of the prophet. 
 
 Were application made to hira to heal the 
 unxvholesomencss of the watens of which so 
 many in a crowded town complained, — would 
 he be regardless of the broad expanse, which, 
 like this before us, wafts the commerce of other 
 climes to our very doors, but, going to the back 
 of your town, would he trace some rivulet, 
 along it's marshy current, to it's source amid 
 the woods, and finding the spring, would he 
 cant the salt in there ? 
 
 My friends and neighbors! what would be 
 his course if we were to tell him that the Lord's 
 day is very often profaned among us ? that our 
 * John XIV. 15. t Luke xn. 34. | 
 
 / 
 
 / 
 
 ini u m ,m mk .« ti mi : mmM mim» m n t mi ttf -v^* 
 
 1 
 
mi 
 
 
 i«. i 
 
 
 itJ i 
 
 churches arc deserted, our .sacraments ne^Ierted, 
 
 — that our streets are frequently the scenes of 
 
 drunkenness, and that !i;oimds of revelry disturb 
 
 the stillness of our Sunday evenings ? What 
 
 if we were to tell him that there were several in 
 
 the present generation who do not regard tlw 
 
 chastity of their persons, or the souls of their 
 
 dependents, or the truth of their words, or tho 
 
 iiite^rrlty of their dealings ?^Why,~~he would 
 
 coniii>and os to train up the rising generation in 
 
 the way wherein they should go, that, so, when 
 
 they hecanie old, they might not depart from 
 
 it ; II that before the great and dreadful day of th« 
 
 Loud, the hearts of the fathers niioht he turned 
 
 to the children, § and the liearts of the children 
 
 to their tathers, lest the Loni* come and smito 
 
 the place with a curse. So would he go forth 
 
 unto the spring, and cast the salt in there. 
 
 The interest which the Prophet took in the 
 colleges of the sons of the Prophets, which 
 were at .Jericho and at Bethel, should inform 
 MS thi;^. hH not this example be lost upon 
 US. The prolligacy of the present race, and 
 their carelessnes.s in sacred things, is so noto- 
 rious, that, alas! all observation upon these 
 subjects has l?renme common-place. It would 
 I! Prov. xxn. 6. § I.uke i. 17. 
 
 Ill 
 
10 scenes of 
 elry disturb 
 s ? What 
 re several in 
 
 regard the 
 uls of their 
 ords, f3r th<! 
 — he would 
 eneratiou in 
 at, so, when 
 lepart from 
 ildayofth« 
 it be turned 
 he chihlreu 
 R and snuto 
 h(» ^o forth 
 
 then?. 
 took in the 
 lets, which 
 »uld iiiforni 
 
 lost upon 
 t race, and 
 
 h so noto- 
 
 ipon these 
 
 It would 
 
 n. 
 
 U 
 
 hv almost vaiu for the Preacher to pruuounce^ 
 from the House of God, warnings at;,ainst 
 sinners %vho never enter that s^acred threshold. 
 lie may steadily pursue hfs course, witli the 
 hope that the Word of Goo may, through his 
 means, be applied io the heart** of some formal 
 %vj>rshippers ; but with the melancholy certainty 
 that, to tlie cars and hearts of the greater 
 number who stand in need of his exhortations, 
 am! who never meet him there, they never can 
 gain access. 
 "One j^reat oxcelh'ncy of the House of Prayer 
 c<mststs, however, in this, that, in united sup- 
 plicaiion, w#' may there intreat the Lonn to turn 
 the hartlened from the error of their ways, that 
 they may l^e converted and live. Who knows 
 but that, in answer to our pmyers, the Lord 
 may, on Sunday next, turn and shed a blessin^jf 
 upon proiligate or drunkard, who may be 
 fnispcndin|[>; those very moments which we 
 shall be there striving in the Spirit to hallow 
 and to sanctify ? I dare to say that I shi^U be 
 alluding^ to feelings which many, who read 
 this, will understand^ when I say that, to the 
 widowed mother, the unrequited father, and 
 the deserted wife, who are not attended in that 
 House of God by all who shouhi lie with them^ 
 
 ( ;= I 
 
 
 ,^ 
 
J6 
 
 ml 
 
 : i f 
 
 J 5 r 
 
 n 
 
 h; I 
 
 the 
 
 lose prayers ami thos<» hopes are full of t-on- 
 solatlon. They Jmvo foiintl, aniJd their woiiiidcd 
 J^pirit^'* sufferings, that it has been ^iyoiX for 
 them to be tht>re. O ! ye, who, as ye walk t<i 
 Ziois, have no arm of earthly relation to lean 
 lipoii! may the petitions which you there niako 
 for your thouohtless oirspri!ii<,your backslidiuif 
 partners, your careless <toniestics, and your 
 jeering neighbors, be received J May Gow \\\ 
 His mercy listen i^ the int(»rce.ssion8 of Hi.<s 
 faithful people hi behalf of those who lio not 
 pray for themselves ! 
 
 But you to whose charge mnocent infants 
 are committed, who, having been introduced 
 into the Christian fold, are precious babes in 
 CiiRisT, you are yet strangers, (and strangers 
 may you ever, ever, be !) to the tormenting 
 apprehension* and the harassing pangs which 
 thei/ must experience whose children are undu- 
 tiful, ** without natural affection," neolecter* 
 of God, and followers of the paths which lead 
 to niiii here an<l condemnation hereafter ! 
 
 Would you rejoice in your children's increaso 
 in every Christian grace ? Wouhl you joy in 
 beholding them living together, like brethren, 
 and consenting to each other in mutual offices 
 9f love ? Would you have them become an 
 
 I 
 
 t .*"*»'t"»^:«w-ni'ff"-.b.^.. • ...». .^ . ,w ..4.., ..n..,.fl«i... 
 
lull of fOll- 
 
 ?ir wounded 
 1 ^ooci ibf 
 ye walk U% 
 on (ti lean 
 here uuike 
 »acksli(Iin:j: 
 ajul your 
 ay Gow iii 
 ms of Hi« 
 rhi» ilo not 
 
 nt infants 
 introduce*! 
 s babei^ ill 
 ; stran<^ers 
 onnenting 
 [»gs which 
 are uadu* 
 fteglecter« 
 'hicli lead 
 fier I 
 s increaso 
 
 «w joy in 
 brethren, 
 lal ofliccs 
 scome an 
 
 IT 
 
 ornametit to their christian profession, and an 
 honor ttt youi'selves ? and able, hereafter, to 
 upeak when your spiritual enemies are at the 
 p^aic. Then bind the tender branches in the 
 way ht whici* you would deliii;ht t6 see them 
 jiTow : What nature and reli<^ion more deci- 
 dedly require of you in the case of your natural 
 tiffspring, and of those for whose religious e<lu- 
 fation you became sureties at their baptism, — 
 i/iat kindness extend, also, to your poorer neigh- 
 bor's» — aye, and to every neighbor's, child ! 
 M(»uld the infant mind to holiness and purity 
 before sin can shed its blight upon it. Yes! 
 Parents and Teachers ! Pour to Heaven your 
 fervent entreaties that your pious labours may 
 be blessed — that ** tlieold Adam in these chil*' 
 ilren may be so buried that the new man may 
 be raised up in them ;" ** that all carnal afTec- 
 tions may die in ttiem, and that all thingii 
 belonging to the Spirit may live and grow in 
 them ;'* ** that they may have power and 
 strength to have victory, and to triumph 
 against the devil, the world, and the flesh ;" 
 " that whosoever is dedicated to God by our 
 office and ministry, may, also, he endued witU 
 heavenly virtues, and everla^thigly rewarded;*^ 
 Do yoti ask how soon religious instruction may 
 
 il 
 
 'nfcBu^'rin.inwi^wp.aiwiM 
 
r ' . 
 
 i' ! 
 
 i i 
 
 I 
 
 t 
 
 be commenced f Let the same sacramental 
 office of yi,ur Churtli, which stippHein y«u jiuch 
 forniH of supplication, instruct you that infants 
 " be taught no soon as they shall be able to 
 learn" what a .solemn vow, prtnnise, and profes- 
 sion, was made for them at their Baptism. |>o 
 yon I'sk, again, ** How soon they may be ablo 
 to lc?rn ?" Let the Pio|)het reply : #' « Whom 
 shall we teach knowledge ? and %vhom shall 
 we make to understand doctrine ? Them that 
 are weaned from the milk, and *lrawn from the 
 breasts : for precept must be upon precept, 
 precept npon precept, line upon line, line 
 upon line, here a little and there a little." As 
 soon a» their artless tongues can lisp the name 
 or " Our father who is in Heaven," lead them 
 to inquire, in the language of Job, f « Where 
 i» Gon, my maker ; who teacheth us more than 
 the beasts of the field, and maketh us wiser 
 than the fowls of Heaven ?" If you value, 
 j-ourselves, the benefits of Bedemption, and 
 of the knowledge of Gon's word, and of the 
 institutions of your Apostolic Church, ** Teach 
 them your children, speaking of them when 
 you sit upon your house and when you walk by 
 the 4»y, when you lie down and when you rise 
 ' *i8aiah :txvm. 9, 10. f Job xxxv. II. 
 
 
lacrainentai 
 
 that in fan Is 
 he able to 
 and pror(p». 
 [)ti.sm. |>o 
 lay be able 
 iv« " Whom 
 rhom shall 
 Them that 
 « from the 
 n precept, 
 line, line 
 ittle.'' An 
 * the name 
 lead them 
 ' " Where 
 more than 
 I us wiser 
 ou %'alue, 
 ption, and 
 mi of the 
 , ** Teach 
 em when 
 4 walk by 
 n you rise 
 .11. ^i 
 
 Id 
 up»"t Above all, address yourselves to their 
 hnitative instinct, and teach iheni by yonr own 
 example. You will thus stay the progress of cor- 
 ruption in the rising race. You will have gone 
 "forth unto the spring, and cast the salt in there** 
 
 You may gather confidence in such a course 
 from the success of our Prophet at Jericho. — 
 « When he had so done, he sai<i, Thus saith 
 the Lord. " After a faithful use of the re- 
 vealed means, he gave, (as you must give) all 
 the glory of the wonderful work io GOD : 
 « TViM* mith the Lobd, / have healed these- 
 waters 5 there shall not be from thence any 
 more death or barren land." 
 
 The compiler of these sacred records, from' 
 which the text is taken, is supposed to'^be 
 Basra, and to have collected them four hundred 
 years after the event here noticed. He adds 
 his own testimony to the miracle: "So the 
 waters were healed unto ikts dat/^ aceording ic^ 
 the saying of Elisha which he spake.'* To thb 
 we may add the testimony of a modern travelltf 
 D'Arvieux has mo'^t diligently searched among 
 the numerous brooks and gardens, which mark 
 the site of ancient Jericho, for bitter water and 
 for barren ground 5 but wvvam. . ' 
 
 % Deat VI. 7. 
 
 I 
 
 

 ■ I * 
 
 i '1 ! 
 
 
 •;m'! 
 
 ;? f 
 
 s. ■ 
 
 J- 
 i' 
 
 I' 
 
 SO 
 
 Such blessmy. „i,h j„ g„^.„^ ■u.ttuo,^^ 
 l'Ur«.M«, (.ealinj;, cleansing, wo, too, may e,. 
 pcct to come d„w., up.,n th., .-arly instruction 
 wiiicJ, we give our ci.il.lro., an<l the little «i,,>., 
 •round u«. Ah patriots, who know ihat « rieh- 
 fc«u«„e». exaketh a nation," wo are c«ll.<j ,hus 
 to go "forth unto the sp^i«J,^" A« parous 
 who need not to he infi.rme.J that "a foolish 
 SOI. m a j;r;,.f to his father and bitfornoss to h.-r 
 that bare him," we ar« called t« «ca,t tho 
 sa t n. there." As reaioning heiui,.*, who m« 
 asked by one inspired apostle « what mm !,, he 
 Whom the .father chastcneth not?" and ar« 
 informed by another that « the promise » to 
 u» and to our children," we are engaged not 
 to spare the salt : . A, follower* of Cansr, w« 
 »Kbi>aad to feed Bis lam&t. ■ ...: ■ . 
 
 *; But, in this evil gej^ration, m whicij fajsw 
 pbdo^ophy, on the one side, would reconimena 
 »cl«fines of education in, which KehVion has no 
 l»r*,-and a scer.tic libemlity, on' the other, 
 would urge the adopfiomo(.:son.e 8pimou, creed 
 divested of all the essentials of that reli<,ioM 
 irbich alone deserves the name of Christiai^ityy 
 —we cannot be too cautious that the salt which 
 we "cast into the spring," and the «i.aU» 
 which we hatK ,•„ our,eke», be tlie salt of the 
 
 > 
 
i« iiifluoiice 
 Ki, may est* 
 insti-uction 
 - little <atif\<i 
 hat ** rijL^h- 
 vall*?*! <hu9 
 L* |F>arf'nf!«y 
 **a foolish 
 ntiss Ui' h<*r 
 **ca!«t tfao 
 », hIkj are 
 it Aioii fs iie* 
 ^' and are 
 mise w to 
 ?aj?e(l not 
 'iliil^Ty W© 
 
 faiVia false 
 
 on has no 
 
 he othef^ 
 ious cree^l 
 t religion 
 ristianityy 
 iaU which 
 
 u 
 
 5» 
 
 ^ali 
 lit of the 
 
 21 
 
 & ^nrttiary, ptiro ami without alloy. ** Xalt 19 
 j^fMjd; Imt if the salt have lost his savor, it w 
 thf^nc4^fortli j^ooil for nothIn<^, hut to Ix! cast 
 out attd to h(* tnxhfon inul i'ool ofnipn.^^J 
 
 For tho purity of the education with ivhich 
 h«»f rishiij^ ji,eneratioii shall be salted, the church 
 haH made every pnivision;— and the priests of 
 the church are the surest <^uarant(^es. We look 
 with the most lively inteiost to the infaots of 
 mir Hock, and we wouhi wish so to speak from 
 the ptilpit that they iijij^ht hear and under- 
 stand each wonlt we say upon each returuiuj^ 
 8uifida3'. Next in the foiul parents whom they 
 have ill the llesh, tf^ho nuiy be conceived to take 
 a deeper interest in their welfai<», than we in 
 whose arni^; they were dedicated to the Loan 
 who bought them ? — than we, th^ir spiritual 
 fathers who have begotten them ttgain iit 
 CnhisT Jbsls, through the Gospel? 
 
 I declare that, when f look around upon a 
 Christian congr^'iiation of various ranks and 
 ages, the respect which I feel for tlie hoary 
 head which is in the way of wisdom — the reve- 
 rence i» which 1 hold the poor wlio retain their 
 integrity amid temptation — and the bonds of 
 Christian communion in which I fee J myself 
 ^ Matt. v. 13. 
 
 J~ 
 
 ■'A 
 
 > 
 
: i 
 
 ■-- ? 
 
 22 
 
 knit to all, vrho, overlooking the imperfec- 
 tion of the Minister, shew them.selve» hunibly 
 disposed to respect hi» authority and to receive 
 his exhortation!<»; ^all these feelinp*, warm as 
 thoy are, and pregnant %vith the deare.st inte- 
 rests to my fsoii!, must yield to the ailectionate 
 anxiety with which I view, at one time, these 
 young creatures lapped upon their parent's 
 knee, or, at another, directi.:^ inquiring eyes 
 towards tneir teacher, from every part of the 
 circle in which they are arranged to hear of 
 Christ and of His love, of holiness, and hea- 
 ven, and eternity! When I think of the 
 intricate conflicts of interest and ambition and 
 passion,^ in which their older brethren are im- 
 mersed in their pilgrimage,^of the erroneous 
 views which the n^iny entertain of the nature 
 of CiiHisT's kingoom, and of the dispositions 
 which are to make them tit for it,— I behold 
 my Havior taking some one of these little ones, 
 and setting him in the midst of ue, and swear- 
 ing, by Himself, # •* Exempt ye be converted, 
 and become** (not perfect, iideed — for perfect 
 here we cannot be) " Except ye be converted, 
 and become" (not perfect, indeed, hwipromU 
 mtg) "as this little c^iild, ye shall not enter 
 • Matt, xviti. a 
 
 > 
 
 i 
 
 "j 
 I 
 
 
 
imperfec- 
 es hunibly 
 to receive 
 t, warm as 
 arcst. iiite- 
 flectionale 
 me, these 
 r parent's 
 iriiig eye8 
 )art of the 
 to hear of 
 
 ami liea- 
 iik t>f the 
 bitlon and 
 n are im* 
 
 erroneous 
 the nature 
 ispositions 
 -I behold 
 ittle oneSy 
 ,nd swear- 
 converted, 
 for perfect 
 converted, 
 mi promt- 
 
 not enter 
 
 ihereui ;" and I hear the awful declaration 
 from the same lip of truth—** Whose shall 
 otTend one of these little ones which believe 
 in me, it were beUer for him that a millstone 
 were hanged about his neck and that he were 
 drowned in the depth of the sea." f 
 
 ' Do you deem that the counsel of the Church \ 
 and the efforts of churchmen, as regards the 
 early initiation of children into the mysteries 
 of evangelical truth, arc directed to a visionary 
 oh']cct ?—Let the pious author of " The 
 Christian Year" t plead for my young charge : 
 
 O ! say not— <Jreatn ijot,— heavenly notci 
 
 To chiUUsl. ear« are vain. 
 That the young mind at random floats, 
 
 And cannot reach the straio^ 
 
 • ■ • • 
 
 Was not our Lonn a little child, 
 
 Taught, by degrees, to pray- 
 By father dear and mother mild 
 
 Instructed, day by day ? 
 And loved Hk not of Heaven to talk, 
 
 With children in his sight; 
 To meet them in His daily walk, 
 
 And to His arms invite. § 
 
 Do not be unbelieving in your labor of love : 
 
 In due season you will certainly reap, if you do 
 
 t Matt, xvfii. 6. t Rev. J. Keble, Oriel Coll., Oxford. 
 § Article — " Catechism." 
 
-*» 
 
 -. I 
 
 24 
 
 not faint. To engage their lo\e — to be the 
 honored instranieiit of giving a moral direction 
 to their thoughts, and of training their young 
 Ideas to truth and evangelical holiness,—! 
 would forego the i'aniG which might reward the 
 eloquence of a Paul, or an A polios. I would 
 gladly rest my title to a seat among the saints 
 in Heaven, en my turning their young hearts 
 to righti^ousncss, on my going forth to the 
 spring and casting my salt in there. 
 
 I would make it known to every parent of 
 our communion, that the Sunday School is 
 open to his child ; and I would urge on every 
 one, who has the guardianship of the orphan, 
 the propriety of his applying to himself the 
 question of David-—" Is there yet any of the 
 house of my friend, that 1 may shoAv the kiud- 
 ness of Goi) uuto him.- " || Those, too, who have 
 been sponsors to any at lite|sucranient of their 
 Baptism, have an o))portwilty afforded them, 
 by our Sui lay Schools, o% rodeeming their, 
 pledge, and of shewing "the kindness of Goo" 
 for the children of their adoption. They may 
 provide for their youthful charge being taught, 
 at the priest's lips, all such things as " christians 
 ought to know and believe to thoir soul's health." 
 li II. Sam. IX. 3. 
 
 ■ 
 
26 
 
 -to be the 
 il (lireetion 
 lioii' youn^ 
 ol in CSS,— I 
 rewarci the 
 I would 
 ;; the saints 
 luio- hearts 
 rth to • the 
 
 parent of 
 School is 
 e on every 
 e orphan, 
 limself the 
 my of the 
 the kind- 
 >, who have 
 nt of their 
 ded them, 
 iiing their,' 
 ss of God" 
 They may 
 ing taught, 
 'christians 
 's health." 
 
 i 
 
 J 
 
 On the passas:;e of Jeremiah (xxxi. Si.)— 
 " They shall all know me, from the least of them 
 to the greatest of them, saith the Loud," some 
 have conjectured that the order is there signi- 
 fied in which the knowlcge of the glory of God, 
 which is to cover the earth, is to be communica- 
 ted; and that the sacred leaven is to spread, 
 from 1^ lower classes of society, upwards, to the 
 higM^ We need not hazard, however, any so 
 speculative a theory : But we may be convinced 
 that the foundation of any general reformation 
 must be laid in the improvement of all ranks 
 of the rising generation ; that out of the lips 
 of stammerers God has ordained praise ; and 
 that the hearts of parents may thus be savingly 
 turned to their children. 
 
 It is our truest wisdom, as it is our clearest 
 <luty, then, to go forth unto the spring and to 
 cast the salt in thert?. It may so be allowed 
 to us to exult with holy confidence, while we 
 ascribe unto the Lord the praise,— " Thus saith 
 the Loud, I have healed these waters." So 
 the waters /rotn this day shall be healed, ac- 
 cording- to the saying of the Loud which lie 
 hath spoken :— There shall not be, any more, 
 death, or dearth, or barren land, or unfruitful 
 tree, in the garden of the Lour Even so, 
 Lord, let it be ! Amen ! Amen ! 
 
 MM>n«