increase of the Church. "Wisdom and knowledge shall be thy strength of salvation;" or strength of welfare

or victories.

That sort of piety which gives stability to the movements of a Church, will give also an increase to its members. We may, however, overrate, as well as underrate, the spread of Scriptural knowledge. It does not appear that systems of error will crumble and fall just in proportion that knowledge advances. Instance the Church of Rome, which is said at least to have stood its ground, notwithstanding the immense progress of knowledge. It has been justly said that the polity of that Church is a masterpiece of human wisdom, or it would not have borne up such doctrines against the assaults with which it has had to contend. But unless assiduous efforts to promote a better acquaintance with Christianity had been put forth, Protestantism, in all probability, would not have stood its ground. We confidently hope, however, that we have no just ground to fear; for an enlightened piety, unless prevented by unholy influences, will produce an earnest piety. And when we have fully secured the power of knowledge, and the determination of earnestness in the Church, instead of having anxiously to anticipate, we shall joyfully prove that her conquests are glorious. Then Popery, notwithstanding all her worldly wisdom, shall be defeated and overthrown. Her doctrines of purgatory, and transubstantiation, and indulgences shall be exploded and for ever contemned. Her pictures, crucifixes, and waving censers shall be utterly abolished; and the cry shall be heard from many a redeemed and liberated spirit, Babylon the cause of the abominations of the earth is destroyed, for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her."

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A more enlightened, comprehensive, and only Scriptural piety would be productive in many more conversions-in

"strength of salvation." Kings and princes, judges and nobles, may take counsel to frustrate the Divine decree, but the Lord shall have them in derision; for He "frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; He turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish; while He confirmeth the word of his servants, and performeth the counsel of his messengers." (Isaiah xliv. 25, 26.) Messiah has established a kingdom, against which the powers of darkness cannot prevail. His conquests shall be multiplied, until He shall "send forth judgment unto victory;" until truth shall be victorious over all its enemies. Then shall the saints of the Most High "Speak of the glory of Messiah's kingdom, and talk of his power; they shall make known to the sons of men the Saviour's mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom." (Psalm exlv. 11, 12.) "Wisdom and knowledge" shall be the stability and extension of Messiah's kingdom, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. When our minds are filled with the knowledge of God's will, and our hearts with the purity of heavenly wisdom, then may we confidently look for the full accomplishment of the prediction in the text. Then shall be seen as an undoubted result, "strength of salvation"-abundance of spiritual deliverances. "A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation." Zion shall then "extend her peace like a river, and her glory like a flowing stream."

III. THE CONSEQUENT OBLIGATION OF CHRISTIANS TO

POSSESS AND DISSEMINATE ENLIGHTENED PIETY TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THEIR POWER.

Can we, as Christians, observe the diligence and selfdenial with which some persons cultivate their minds, with no higher object in view than a worldly business or profession, without being strongly reproved thereby? We ought certainly to be as diligent as they, while we ought

to have a higher end in view. To cultivate the mind merely, with respect to business, is to make the mind serve the body, which is an inversion of God's order.

But some persons urge as a plea for neglecting selfculture, that they possess no native power to cultivate. Granted that there is considerable variation in natural gifts, still we think the great difference is to be found elsewhere. Sir Isaac Newton is related to have said, that if he had done anything, it was all owing to industry and patient thought. Besides, is not a person who possesses one talent, under the same obligation to employ and improve it, as if he had been entrusted with ten. While you cherish the injurious thought just alluded to, you can form no idea of the position to which determined effort, industry, and perseverance would raise you; because education is to man what the skilful hand of the sculptor is to the unformed, unpolished block.

Others, again, satisfy themselves, while they neglect making any effort for self-improvement, by saying, that they have not the means to purchase books; and that if they possessed them, they have little leisure for reading them. But it is a true statement, that where there is the earnest desire for self-improvement, the means cannot be wanting. It is not necessary that a person should either have many books or much leisure to improve his mind. "Those who are discouraged on this ground," says an American writer, "should consider that the grand volumes, of which all our books are transcripts,-viz., nature, revelation, the human soul, and human life,-are freely unfolded to every eye." The great sources of wisdom are experience and observation; and these are denied to none. To open and fix our eyes upon what passes around and within us, is the most fruitful study.

When the mind, however, is bent on the acquisition of knowledge, we cannot have too deep an impression of the

great danger there is of losing sight of the grand end, and misapplying what we may acquire, as well as of pursuing a wrong kind of knowledge. It is quite possible to pursue and acquire that kind of knowledge which in years to come would make us wish for ignorance. Knowledge simply imparts or increases a power which may be either used or abused. When, however, the power is acquired, and then used for the glory of God, on such a person the eye of heaven rests with peculiar favour. In order to possess and disseminate enlightened piety, we must especially seek for Scriptural knowledge. The Truth-the Word applied by the Spirit, is the grand means of purifying the soul. Apart from the purity, majesty, and moral excellence of the Bible, there is an influence promised to accompany it, which we have no warraut for expecting when reading any other book. So that the knowledge of Scripture is directly calculated to accomplish what all the stores of other knowledge would never accomplish,-viz., to awaken, regenerate, and sanctify the soul.

Let us each, then, endeavour to combine in the highest possible degree mental improvement and spiritual profit. And, if we possess, we must not forget our obligation to promote enlightened piety in others. "The liberal soul," or the soul of blessing, "shall be made fat; and he that watereth, shall be watered also himself." When we labour to induce others to turn to their offended but merciful God, the benefit of the reflex influence our own souls shall realize. The benefit is mutual, extending to him that gives, as well as to him that receives. This thought may encourage and stimulate Sabbath school teachers who are striving to acquire and communicate Scriptural knowledge. A child is justly said to be "God's problem, waiting man's solution;" and as your office occasions you to have something to do with the solution of these problems, think no painstaking too great to bestow upon them.

And before enlightened piety can extensively prevail, parents must be aroused to a sense of their responsibility in the training of their children. There is an amount of ignorance and crime here which could not easily be told, and the sight of which makes the heart bleed, and causes tears of painful sympathy to flow. From an instinctive affection some parents provide their children with food and clothing during the week, and when the Sabbath comes, they send them to the school for the sake of being free from them a few hours. As far as any direct effort on the part of parents is concerned, many children would remain ignorant even of the alphabet of their language. But all parents act not in this way; in the minds of some there is a laudable and growing solicitude for the welfare of their children. If only those families, the heads of which are professedly Christian, would faithfully adopt and carry out the disciplinary measures which are necessary for repressing the evil and eliciting the good, for subjugating the will and enlightening the understanding, the effect would soon be seen in a more enlightened and earnest piety. In every human being, in every child there is the germ of greatness, the spark of immortality. Let every parent then estimate their responsibility in the assurance, that the state and operations of the man will greatly depend on their present effort. "Train up a child in the way he should go," &c. (Proverbs xxii. 6.) If we strive to promote in ourselves and others a more enlightened and earnest piety, the effort will doubtless receive its promised return. In this our highest safeguard as individuals, and our prosperity as a Church will be found. "When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee." (Proverbs ii. 10, 11.