life, which is but a moment, and less than a moment compared with eternity, is the beginning of an existence that shall never end. Teach us therefore, patience and resignation, amidst the brief disappointments and afflictions of this world. Give us love to Thee, and charity for all mankind; that here we may serve Thee and help one another, and hereafter enjoy Thy glory, in the communion of beatified spirits, forever.

AMEN.

SERMON XV.

THE BENEVOLENCE OF CHRISTIANITY, DEFENDED IN A SCRIPTURAL EXPOSITION.

BY REV. G. W. QUINBY, SACO.

PROVERBS 1: 26.

"I, ALSO, WILL LAUGH AT YOUR CALAMITY, AND MOCK WHEN YOUR FEAR COMETH."

TO THAT mind which has faithfully investigated the claims of christianity upon the affections of the human heart, it is truly a matter of deep regret to behold the many gross absurdities with which it is loaded. The religion of Jesus, in its original purity, is full of beauty and simplicity; and being perfectly congenial with all the refined and tender and more sacred feelings and desires

of the soul, its beautiful doctrine, as it fell from the lips of the divine Master, dropped upon the heart like dew upon the tender herb, and the shower upon the grass.. The preaching of Jesus was marked with no terrific denunciation-no heart-rending cruelties -no deep and subtle hatred-no heartless maledictions; but, on the contrary, in every act of his life, and in every great truth he inculcated, there shines out a tenderness, a sympathy and benevolence as beautiful and glorious as the sunbeams of a lovely morning. He beautifully unfolded the great doctrines of the universal Paternity of God, and the common brotherhood of man. He taught the world that he came not to destroy, but to save. He inculcated the God-like sentiment of forgiveness to enemies; and at last, when in the very agonies of death, upon the cross, fully demonstrated the fact, that his soul was filled with the very spirit of this sublime doctrine, by praying for the forgiveness of his murderers. And what was the direct tendency of these manifestations of love, and these divine teachings, upon the soul, but to chasten the affections- to soften the asperities of nature to calm and subdue the tumultuous passions of the heart, and cause

the sincere believer to look up with confidence to heaven, and behold in his God a FATHER; to mingle in the great throng of human beings, moving upon the face of the earth, and behold in each man a BROTHER, bearing the same spiritual image of divinity, subject to the same trials and temptations with himself, and ultimately destined to the same glorious home in heaven.

Such is the doctrine of christianity as originally taught by Him "who spake as never man spake." So when Jesus travelled over the mountains and along the valleys of Judea, preaching the Gospel as he went, it is said "the common people heard him gladly;" and they that received the word and believed it, "rejoiced with joy unspeakable and full of glory," Yes, Jesus was a friend to even poor publicans and sinners. He pitied their condition. He endeavored to alleviate their sufferings to raise them up and bless them. His doctrine was adapted to their circumstances and satisfied their wants. And hence, when it was preached for the space of a few days in a certain city, it was said that, “there was joy in all that city."

Such, I repeat, was and is the religion of Jesus, as it shines out in the pages of the

New Testament. And, as such, how worthy it is of a most sacred place in the hearts of all good men. As such, how cheerfully and ardently and sincerely can the believing christian recommend it to the attention of his fellow-man, and exhort him to examine its claims-embrace it with his whole soulpractice its beautiful spirit, and live up to its reasonable demands.

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But alas! christian reader, "how has the gold become dim, and the most fine gold changed." How different is christianity, as exhibited in the doctrines and the creeds of men, of the 19th century, from christianity as it appears in the Gospel of Jesus! Oh, come, take up those doctrines and those creeds, and examine their claims. Where now is the simplicity of Christ? Where his beautiful doctrines of forgiveness and charity? Where his heaven derived compassion, his tenderness and his deep and undying love for the sinful and the wretched? And where, too, do we discover that beautiful representation of the character of the Father, which gives to the religion of Christ its brightest charms; and without which, it possesses but little, yea, nothing, to recommend it to the warm affections of the human heart?