sive, much-injured and immaculate class of men, the only preservers of Ireland's peace, and the great guardians and benefactors of the state of England, if not of the whole world!!-A Discourse upon the Three Unclean Spirits, preached for the Continental Society, about nine months ago;-A Discourse upon the last Times, preached before the Presbytery of London ;-A Discourse concerning the Curse upon the Earth, and involving the question of the Demoralization of the People, and of the Abolition of Slavery ;--and one or two more of a less general character. Now, there is not one of these questions in which you have not taken an active part, and in most of them formed the very rallying point of those who contended upon the right side. To whom, therefore, should I dedicate them but to you, acting on the principles on which I have always proceeded hitherto in the dedication of my writings? So much have I to say to you personally, my much honoured friend.

And now I have to address you as the head and representative of a small body of mistreated and patient men, who are looking out for the personal advent and reign of Christ, and endeavouring to warn the church and the world, whom you have twice assembled under your roof, and entertained in a most bountiful manner. I am sure that every heart which tasted the banquet of wisdom and understanding spread for us by these two assemblies of wise and holy men, will long live upon the godly savour of it, which abides in their remembrance, and will abide there for ever. Oft have I said, that never till his kingdom come, shall I enjoy that harmonious association of spirit, and large communion of saints, which I have done these two several times at Albury Park: and as oft as I have said so to the associate brethren, they have replied with their hearty Amen. It ought to comfort you, my brother, under all afflictions and vicissitudes, which God in time to

come may see good to afflict you and your noble lady withal, that, like Abraham and Sarah, you have entertained such stranger guests, of whom I may speak with the more freedom, as never deeming myself worthy to be named amongst them. For I am but a rough rude man like my fathers, formed for border warfare, as God may please to call me out; to hew wood and to draw water for the camp of his saints. Yet will I fight for the King with the spiritual weapons of our warfare until the end; though I be rather a sort of pioneer and forerunner of the Elias-dispensation which is to introduce the kingdom, than a herald of the kingdom. But I know my infirmities, and my infirmties God maketh to glorify him: therefore in my infirmities I both do and will glory.

And to the men who are engaged with you in this most noble conflict with a self-satisfied and vain-glorious generation, for the setting forth of a fair, literal, and honest, interpretation of the words of Scripture, against spiritualizers and utilitarians, who will try God's word, and every thing besides, by the one sufficient test of what effect it seems to them likely to have upon the mind and spirit of man; as if they were the Father of the spirits of all flesh," and "the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world;" Stand fust, brethren, against these treacherous dealers with, and sublimers of the substantial word of God, and fear them not; for they are but as a vapour, which will soon be dissipated by the whirlwind of the Lord. They stand upon no rock, they hold no foundation, but veer with the wind of opinion, and toss up and down upon the waves of sentiment and feeling. Bring them to the law and the testimony, and they give up the ghost. Let them float and flit about in the dim twilight of their own chaotic and confused spiritualities, and they have a certain spectral appearance of something undefined; but close with them, and grasp them in the arms

of faith, and they are empty spectres and mere shadows of theologians: I mean in all those respects in which we are at issue with them; for to preach against a fashionable vice, and describe a spiritual frame, and obscure a doctrine so that no one shall know whether it be Calvinistic, Arminian, or Pelagian, they skill full well. Do you give God the glory, my fellow-heralds of the King who is about to come, that he hath opened for you such a wide door; let us enter in and follow Him whithersoever he may lead you. To you I would address the words which Christ appropriated to the Philadelphian church, opening the mys tery of the experience of a church which was set up for the witness of his kingly character, and from every line of which I think you may gather wisdom. "These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie: behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God; and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."

Farewell, my dearly beloved brethren, cease not to blow the trumpet of the Kingdom; which is the only hope of the land. The Protestant anathema against the Apostasy, heretofore our palladium, is about to be surrendered; and after that, nothing is left but to stand to our posts, whether the pulpit, or the press, or the argument of discourse, and maintain this last position against the triumphant Infidelity. If God prosper us to arouse the church to think of these things, there is hope for the land: if the church reject this voice, and the nation authorize the Papacy, all is lost. Oh, how much of religion, of patriotism, of Christ's cause, and God's glory, is reposed in your hands! The Lord be with you, brethren: Satan will make a desperate effort for your overthrow; but your God will not suffer him to harma hair of your head beyond what he seeth to be for his own glory. Be of good courage. Stand fast in the Lord, girt about with truth. Remember the words of Malachi the prophet, with which I will conclude this tribute of my affection: "Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another; and the Lord hearkened, and heard it: and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels ; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked; between him that serveth God, and him that serveth him not.”—Dearest friends, and wellbeloved brethren in the hope of the glory of Christ which is about to be revealed, that you may fare well in this world, and reign with Christ in the world to come, is the prayer of your brother and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ,

EDWARD IRVING.

National Scotch Church,

10th Jan. 1828.

781

DISCOURSE I.

(PREACHED IN SURREY CHAPEL, FOR THE LONDON BRANCH OF

THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLedge in

THE HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS OF SCOTLAND, May 1825.)

ON EDUCATION.

PSALM Xix. 7-9.

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple: the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes: the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

THERE is no subject at present so prominent in the public eye, or which, in one way or another, engageth so much of the generous care of public spirited and religious men, as the education of the people, which hath, by various devices, new and old, proceeded within the last half century, and is now proceeding to a degree heretofore unexampled ;-insomuch that those who formerly opposed, are fain to be silent, or to adopt some mitigated form of the innovation; and every where new inventions are brought out and patronized,