Ephesus on this very point: "Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins; keep thyself pure." The words are few, but, if weighed, will appear of awful moment. For from them we learn that it is the bounden duty of a Christian Bishop, to inquire into the character of those brought to him for ordination; and that if, through want of inquiry, he ignorantly ordains one, and surely much more if he wilfully lays hands on one, unworthy of the office, he becomes partaker in that man's sin, and in all the guilt which may arise from his neglect or unworthy discharge of duty. Such is the tremendous responsibility under which the Bishops are called upon to exercise their office of conferring orders upon bishops, priests, and deacons; the responsibility being greatest when called upon to consecrate another bishop. Surely, then, there is reason to desire that every obstacle should be removed which interferes with the conscientious discharge of their responsible office; because every such obstacle is both contrary to the will of God, and hurtful and injurious to men. It is hurtful to the bishops, who are thus tempted to swerve from their duty, and to incur the guilt against which the Holy Ghost has warned them; hurtful to the people, who must needs suffer,

1

2

1 Tim. v. 22.

2 On this subject see "A Claim for Relief at the hands of His Majesty's Ministers, in behalf of the Church of England, in the appointment of Bishoprics."-Rivingtons, 1836.

if the bishop fall into the temptation, and consecrate improper persons; but far more hurtful to those who cause the obstacle, and put a stumblingblock and occasion to fall in a brother's way; for though, alas! "it must needs be (as our Saviour said) that," in some way or another, "offences will come," yet "woe" is denounced against him "by whom the offence cometh." I will say no more upon this point, except that, as long as such obstacles remain, there is the greater need that all should offer up their prayers to God so to strengthen the hearts of the bishops, that, if driven to the alternative, they may have grace to fear God rather than man, and to be more anxious "earnestly to contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints," than to secure, by unworthy compliance, the continuance of that earthly rank and wealth which have been given to them by the kings of the earth, fulfilling their appointed office of being "nursingfathers" of the Church.

But to return. If the considerations set forth in this discourse have placed beyond all reasonable exception our obligation to attend to the warning and advice on matters of religion which are offered by the ministers of Christ, the stewards of the mysteries of God; and if men would but consider with what force of affection these warnings are made, namely, by those who, according to St. Paul, "watch for their souls, as they that must give account, that

they may do it with joy1;" by those who, as St. John speaks, "have no greater joy" than to hear that "their people walk in truth2;" nor any greater grief than to see those, for whom they must give account, erring from the right path, and hazarding their salvation. If, I say, men would consider the affectionate force and claim which these have upon them, they would have another, and a most pure and powerful motive, to attend to the message of God which they receive from them. They are the men of whom God speaks in Jeremiah, "I set watchmen over them, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet;" but too often it is now as it was then, they said, We will not hearken3." But why? If

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the watchmen were to cry the alarm of fire in the night, by which their lives might be endangered, they would rise up quickly and escape from it. And when the spiritual watchman gives the alarm of that "fire which never shall be quenched, where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched," will they not rouse themselves to escape from this?

Oh, then, my beloved brethren, if you are at all convinced of the danger of neglect, be it yours to pay attention to the warnings and advices, which, drawn from God's Holy Word, are in His Name made to you by His ministers, whether in public or private. And when either the danger of sin is

1 Heb. xiii. 17. 2 John iii. 4. 3 Jer. vi. 17. 4 Mark ix. 43.

pointed out, or you are reminded of the means of escape from it, by faith in God's mercy through the blood of Christ, by prayer, by repentance, by amendment of life, through the aid of the Holy Ghost, or by the devout receiving the holy Eucharist, be careful not to disregard these, but be willing to use them with joy, thankful to God, who, for such small things on your part, vouchsafes to offer, through Christ, so great salvation on His. For remember, my beloved brethren, all must give account to God in this matter; both they who preach, and they who hear His word. If they who preach it, "shun," through fear of men, "to declare the whole counsel of God," woe is unto them. And if they who hear the advice drawn from the word of God, do fail to profit by it, it will rise up in the judgment against them. And then how can they hope that they may be found acceptable in the sight of Christ, at His second coming to judge the world?

May God give us all grace so to discharge our respective duties that we may rejoice in that day, and rise to the life immortal, through Him who liveth and reigneth with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

SERMON XV.

THE CASE OF BALAAM.

2 PETER ii. 15.

"Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness."

THE chief instruction which we may derive from the account of this remarkable man is the warning which it affords to us to take heed to our ways, that we do not, by a continuance in any sin or careless way of living, provoke God to leave us to ourselves. Because if ever we should be so unhappy as to do that, there is nothing that can prevent our ruin. Neither the clearest knowledge of our duty, nor the fullest conviction of God's power and omniscience, nor the certainty of His future severe judgments, neither one, nor all of them together, will be able to deter us from running greedily after our own desires, and perishing in consequence. For this Balaam the son of