And thus, by the power of the cross, were touched, were convinced, and converted, and three thousand added to the Church. And when his brother apostle went forth in the strength of the same principles, it is written, 'then mightily grew the word of GOD and prevailed.'

"It is, therefore, necessary, and indispensably so, to consider the triumphs of the Gospel as obtained by the very simplicity of this impressive doctrine.

"The once bigotted Jew, and the profligate Gentile ;-the proud member of the only true Church then on earth, and the polluted Idolater;—the nations which slept in darkness, and practised and justified every abomination; the luxurious worshipper of Jupiter and the Pantheon; and the naked and savage Druid of the British isles;-all these, reclaimed as we now behold them, from ignorance, and guilt, and blood, are to be regarded as so many witnesses to the power of the doctrine of the Cross; that momentous truth, that the Son of GOD 'gave himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice for sin.'"

3. Once more-It is the method CHRIST himself pointed out. There is one passage of Scripture, very seldom thought of, and very seldom quoted in this connection, but which, nevertheless, conveys to my mind a most wonderful emphasis of meaning: "And I," says the Lord JESUS CHRIST, "if I be LIFTED UP will draw all men unto me." It refers unquestionably, in its primary bearing, to the solemn fact of his crucifixion, when he was lifted up on the cross, like the serpent in the wilderness, "that whosoever believeth on Him may receive eternal life;" but it had a much more extensive reference. The lifting up of CHRIST is the full and faithful preaching of the doctrine of my textJESUS CHRIST a sacrifice for sin ;--"who made, by his one oblation of himself once offered, a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice."

Why is it, that among that class of nominal Christians who deny the divinity of CHRIST, and the saving efficacy of his atonement-why is it, that among them we hear of no revivals of religion, no anxious inquirers pressing with most painful and intense anxiety the question, "What shall we do to be saved?" No zealous effort to convert the world to the truth of JESUS? Why do we hear of no such things among them? Because the

animating impulse of it all is wanting; JESUS CHRIST is not lifted up. He is rather sunk down to the level of frail humanity, and the attractions of his cross denied. Why is it, that even among Churches which are sound in principle, we do often find so much coldness, and lukewarmness, and indifference, and worldliness?— It is because while what is preached may be truth as far as it goes, CHRIST is not yet "lifted up" as he should be: moral suasion, or some mere technicallity of sectarian peculiarity, is substituted for the attractions of the cross. Taking the word of CHRIST for a guide, it were sufficient for us to come to the determination, that men are to be converted, they are to be drawn to him, only when he is "lifted up." And this is a grand and paramount reason why "we preach CHRIST crucified."

Brethren, it is peculiarly adapted to the solemnities of this day to present before you the fact, and on that fact the doctrine, of JESUS CHRIST and him crucified. Sinners, careless and unconcerned, it is the cross that I lift up before you this day. On that instrument of torture hung the Savior; who there for you poured out his soul, even unto death; and yet instead of feeling an interest, such as should be felt by those whose only possibility of salvation rests in the sacrifice there made, and the blood there poured out, you are indifferent-unconcerned-impenitent. There are no movements of gratitude upon your hearts-no language of gratitude upon your lips. There are no tears of sorrow in your eyes— and, in the whole of your life and conversation, not one living exhibition of the least concern. This day I charge, in the name

of GOD, upon every unconverted man and woman, that you stand around the cross of CHRIST, the cold and heartless spectators of a scene of agony unparalleled; while it was for you that all this suffering was so calmly, so patiently endured. But let me not utter one syllable which may this day seem like harshness or reproach. No! not even may I reproach sinners with ingratitude; for from the lips of Him who was crucified there fell no language but that of prayer for his persecutors; there were no reproaches but the eloquent reproaches of agony and blood! Have the stripes in the judgment hall of Pilate no voice for sinners? Hath the crown of thorns no argument? Is there no pleading in the weary and blood-stained pathway up the hill of Calvary? Is there no

tongue in the nails which pierced his hands and his feet, or the spear which entered into his side? Is there no eloquence in the silent suffering of the cross-its shame, its agony, its blood? What will not the heart withstand which can withstand the sufferings on Calvary's mount endured?

"For me those pangs his soul assail,

For me this death is borne;

My sins gave sharpness to the nail,
And pointed every thorn."

To draw you to this Savior; to touch your hearts; to save your souls; Osinners! I this day tell you, "we preach CHRIST crucified."

NOTE. Having been unexpectedly asked by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Meade to preach in Alexandria at the time when several members of the seminary were to be ordained, the author, having no sermon with him more appropriate than the present, added the following remarks:

In drawing this discourse to a close, I would address myself to those who are this day to be invested with the sacred dignities of the ministerial office. My dear friends, what can I say to you, or what ought I to say to you, which is not directly connected with my text? I might speak something as to your personal demeanor, for in the charge of an apostle we find it written, "take heed," not only to "thy doctrine," but "take heed unto thyself." Not only the personal piety, but the outward demeanor of a minister of the Gospel are matters of extreme importance. By the mercies of God I beseech you, as you are young, to be particularly circumspect as to your intercourse with the world. I do not ask you to be austere, but I wish you to be grave and dignified; always maintain such a conduct as may indicate self respect, and never give room either for yourselves or for your religion to be treated with levity. I leave you to read what Paul said to Timothy and Titus, for I have no time to enter into the minutiae of these matters. My subject relates to the preaching of the Gospel. Let that be "JESUS CHRIST and him crucified,"-nothing else. I do most earnestly beseech you to examine every sermon you now

have, and every one that you may hereafter write, for the express purpose of acertaining whether they be full of JESUS CHRIST. If they are not burn them; do not inflict on any people to whom you may minister, the curse of a Christless sermon. I have heard discourses in which even the name of JEsUs did not occur, and though I am aware that He may be named in a discourse, and that frequently, where there is no real spirituality, yet it is even better so than that there should be a discourse without both. Even the name of the "precious" Savior and his cross carry some energy along. It is "as ointment poured forth." But what I mean is, let CHRIST be the sum and substance. This implies, that every discourse recognises the totality of man's depravity, his need of a Savior, his perishing condition without CHRIST. It implies, that every discourse directs sinners to JESUS CHRIST, as "wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption ;" and to the HOLY SPIRIT as He who "takes of the things of CHRIST and shows them unto us." It implies that every discourse speaks of repentance, and faith, and conversion, and sanctification. What! bring all these things into every discourse? Yes! bring every one of them into every discourse. Let not one ingredient be wanting. There can be no good sermon in which every one of them will not naturally appear, or from which the implication is not too obvious to be mistaken. You may preach fine discourses, elegant discourses,--discourses which may make the people look at you with amazement, and all without CHRIST; and yet every one of these discourses will be labor lost, and more than lost. Let me assure you, my friends, that of all the temptations which ever besets the path of a young minister, and many an old one too, there is none so strong as the temptation of preaching a discourse which may show HIMSELF. Nothing will check this disposition to raise one's self but that true humility of heart which determines, by the grace of God, to make CHRIST prominent. Lift him up, and hide yourselves behind him! My dear young friends, preach "CHRIST crucified," and your message to sinners will be blessed. There is no attraction like that of the cross. Genius, talent, rare intellectual attainment, may excite to yourselves admiration, but the cross of CHRIST draws sinners. Let that cross be your personal attraction, and all will be safe and well. God be with you.

Amen.

BY THE REV. JOHN GRIGG,

RECTOR OF TRINITY CHURCH, ATHENS, GREENE COUNTY, N. Y.

St. Luke, xviii. 13.—"GOD! be merciful to me, a sinner !”

THERE never rose to Heaven more acceptable incense than this short, this comprehensive, this heart-touching prayer. It is an epitome of devotion adapted to the child as to the hoary head, to the ignorant as the sage, to the wavering sceptic as well as the matured in grace. It is the purest model proposed for the imitation of the Church, and which, used in the spirit that breathed it, will render JEHOVAH propitious to the suppliant. Behold the person from whose lips it emanates! A wretched publican, an extortionate tax-gatherer, enters the courts of the temple to offer up his devotions. Pale, solitary, and dejected; he is overwhelmed, amidst thousands, by the weight of his iniquity. Every faculty of his body proclaims the depth of his emotions. foot, palsied by fear, stands afar off from the altar, shame at the abuse of its mercy. His tear-swollen eye, downcast with suspense, fears, like Belshazzar, to read the horrors of its sentence. His hand, too worthless to be clasped, beats in indignation his agitated breast, while his mouth, his tongue, his heart cry aloud in concert, the language of the bitterest remorse; GOD! GOD! be merciful to me, a sinner! Such was the prayer which CHRIST assures us justified the contrite publican, and which he thus holds out as a model to instruct us in the matter of our devotions.

His faltering trembling in

Would you be informed, brethren, of the cause that rendered this prayer so effectual, and which obtained from the Redeemer VOL. II.-31