SERMON III. CONSECRATION OF A CHURCH. GENESIS xxviii. 16. Surely the Lord is in this place. Is this so? Is that Being who stretched forth the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth -whose throne is that heaven, and whose footstool is this earth-before whose glory the archangel vails his face-at the foot of whose majesty the cherubim casts his crown-Is he here? Does that presence, which, vast as infinity, cannot be contained even by the heaven and the heaven of heavens, and which, when we would seek to cover ourselves with the darkness, turns the night into day-does that presence fill this temple? YesGod revealed the gracious promise of mercy to the patriarch in the visions of the night. Excited and awed by this manifestation of the divine glory, he exclaimed "Surely the Lord is in this place." And the same Almighty Lord fulfilling the promise, "In whatever place I record my name, I will come unto thee, and will bless thee," and thus revealing, in this temple set apart for his service, his truth, his mercy, and his grace, in the word which is to be preached, in the worship and the ordinances that are to be celebrated, and in the ministry by which these are to be dispensed,-the same sentiment of excited and deep awe which solemnized pics, in all their variety and richness, it should be the especial study of the Christian minister to explain and enforce; for in explaining, and with holy fervour enforcing them, consists his office as the herald of salvation. But whatever may be his literary and theological attainments, if he is destitute of spiritual qualifications, the labours of his office will be a drudgery, his work will be neglected, his ministry will be dishonoured, and he will fall under the condemnation of bringing to the altar of his God a heart which is corrupt, and hands that are defiled. He must shine forth with an understanding enlightened from above, a heart renewed to holiness, and a life an example of all that is dignified and all that is lovely in Christian duty. Thus will the Christian minister preach, in his character and in his life, with an eloquence calculated to warm every heart into the admiration, the love, and the pursuit of that holiness which is set forth not only by the tongue of the preacher, but in the life of the man. We have good reason to trust that this will be the eloquence of those persons who are now to be commissioned to the order of deacons. Having passed through the Theological Seminary of our church with great reputation, they bring, we are happy to say, to this holy office those literary, theological, and spiritual qualifications which will adorn their ministry, and we hope, render it honourable to themselves and a blessing to the church. Bear in mind, my young friends, that your office in the church, though a most honourable, responsible, and important, is still an inferior office. The constant impression of the subordinate station which you occupy, will excite you, by diligently pursuing your studies, to qualify yourselves for the superior office of the priesthood, and to cultivate that modesty and humility which peculiarly belong to your station, and will therefore most eminently adorn it. In the inimitable language of the office prescribed by our church, by which you will be admitted to the order of deacons, let me exhort you to be modest, humble, and constant in your ministrations; to have a ready mind and will to obey all spiritual discipline. Preserve the testimony of a good conscience; continue stable and strong in your Lord and Master Jesus Christ; so well behaving yourselves in this inferior office-using the office of a deacon well, you will purchase to yourselves a good degree, an honourable rank in the church-you will be found worthy to be called into the higher ministries of the church. Pray to God for all these things. It is the unction of the Holy One enlightening, sanctifying, and strengthening you, that must fit you for the work before you. Never lose sight of the great object of the ministry -to save the souls of men; and this must be done, not by the vain speculations of philosophy, not by erudite disquisitions, not by ingenious dissertations, not by the portrait of virtue drawn by the pencil of human fancy, but by the exhibition, in their simplicity and purity, of the doctrines of the cross. There is no honour more exalted, none that will obtain brighter trophies on earth, none for which are reserved higher rewards in heaven, than that of faithfully preaching the cross of Christ. It was the resolution of the apostle-be it yours-" God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." Finally, be instant in prayer, be watchful, be diligent; and God will enable you to fulfil your ministry-to turn sinners to righteousness, to edify the church; and eventually your reward will be a crown of glory. May God grant this for Christ's sake; to whom be ascribed all honour, power, majesty, and dominion, world without end. SERMON III. CONSECRATION OF A CHURCH. GENESIS XXviii. 16. Surely the Lord is in this place. Does Is this so? Is that Being who stretched forth the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth -whose throne is that heaven, and whose footstool is this earth-before whose glory the archangel vails his face-at the foot of whose majesty the cherubim casts his crown-Is he here? that presence, which, vast as infinity, cannot be contained even, by the heaven and the heaven of heavens, and which, when we would seek to cover ourselves with the darkness, turns the night into day-does that presence fill this temple? YesGod revealed the gracious promise of mercy to the patriarch in the visions of the night. Excited and awed by this manifestation of the divine glory, he exclaimed-" Surely the Lord is in this place." And the same Almighty Lord fulfilling the promise, "In whatever place I record my name, I will come unto thee, and will bless thee," and thus revealing, in this temple set apart for his service, his truth, his mercy, and his grace, in the word which is to be preached, in the worship and the ordinances that are to be celebrated, and in the ministry by which these are to be dispensed,-the same sentiment of excited and deep awe which solemnized |