as the graft by incision is let into the tree. It must "dwell in us, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding." It is not enough to bring the word into mere contact with the soul: it must penetrate to the inner man: it must sink from the ear to the heart, and make a deep and permanent lodgement there. How strong, as to this point, is the expression of the Psalmist! "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." And would we, my Christian brethren, benefit by it, we must in like manner welcome the word of God, and hide it in the deepest chambers of the soul. We must "ponder" upon it, "pray" over it, "meditate" upon it, "give ourselves wholly to it."-Think of this, you who, having bestowed perhaps a few reluctant minutes on the Word of Truth, instantly discharge the mind of all further concern with it, leaving the precious "seed" to become the prey of every passing occupation or event. Think of it, you who contend for the innocence or safety of a life of perpetual engagement or turmoil, who make no effort to snatch from the occupations or pleasures of life seasons of leisure, and repose, and devout intercourse with your God and Saviour; who so rarely "commune with your own heart, and in your chamber, and are still." Think of this, and tremble for the consequences of your neglect!

2. But again, the figure in the text seems, further, to teach us that the word of God must also live in the soul. The graft is not designed simply to adhere to the stock, in a state of lifelessness and inactivity; but to infuse into it new life, and to crown it with better and more abundant produce. And thus, in the case before us, the word

of God must not be merely appended to the mind, as a body of useless and inoperative truths or precepts. It must live and act in the soul. It must impart new life; and impregnate with new qualities and tempers the wild and hitherto unprofitable stock of human nature. It must enrich every hitherto stunted or unproductive branch with the fruits of holiness, and usefulness, and love.

But we are in danger, in these remarks, of anticipating our last subject of inquiry. Let us, therefore, proceed to consider,

IVthly. The DISPOSITION OF MIND WITH WHICH THE WORD OF God should be RECEIVED.

Consider the meaning of that expression in 'the text; "Receive with meekness the engrafted word."

In the first place, it is surely implied in this expression, that you should receive the word of God in a kind temper. "Let all bitterness,” says the Apostle, "and wrath, and clamour, and anger, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice." The graft of the word, my Christian brethren, will flourish only in the atmosphere of harmony and love. Harshness nips the tender bud, and no fruit comes to perfection. It was when the disciples "were together," were of "one heart" and of "one mind," that the "word of God grew mightily and prevailed." And it is under the influence of a like temper that we can alone expect much progress in our own religion, or in that of others. If you approach the house of God in a captious spirit, and with a disposition to cavil-if you require infallibility in your ministers; if you make them offenders for

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a word-how must their zeal be chilled and discouraged, your own hearts contracted, and the blessing of God shut out from the ministration of his Gospel!

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Again, you must receive the word with lowliness. Surely this is a state of mind peculiarly befitting a creature continually wrong, while receiving the lessons of a Being who is invariably right. Should not such a student approach the Sacred Volume with profound humility; with a deep conviction of his own ignorance and corruption, and of the infallible wisdom and condescension of the Great Father? But in how many instances does an opposite temper of mind prevail. The proud rationalist' in religion, for example, seats himself to the Sacred Volume as though he were privy to the secrets of Heaven, and as though the limits of truth were to be measured by the grasp of his own understanding.Nor do even the more devout readers of Scripture always escape from a somewhat similar error. Some, for instance, not satisfied with the plain meaning of the word of God, fancy a latent sense, which will be disclosed only to the bolder, and more prying, and ingenious inquirer. I mean not, indeed, to deny that a spiritual eye, under the guidance of the Holy Ghost, will make larger discoveries of the mind of God than others, and that Scripture will convey to such an individual many a lesson denied to the rest of mankind.-But I wish to expose that spirit of rash and presumptuous interpretation of Scripture, which transforms all that is simple into something mysterious and concealed; frames first a system in religion, and then bends every passage of the Bible to sustain it; converts a book of plain truths

sense.

for plain men, into a book of spiritual enigmas; founds a theory on a solitary word, and opposes to the results of modest and devout inquiry conceits struck out at the moment, and which, if admitted, would shake every foundation of orthodox religion, of sound morality, and of common "God is in heaven, and we upon earth." May this truth sink deep into the soul, fill us with suspicion of ourselves, and admiration of God; and dispose us rather to listen and learn, than to dispute and invent. Doubt, change, and distraction will almost infallibly follow a man who treads the hill of Zion as an unknown land, of which all the paths, and heights, and pleasant places are, for the first time, to be discovered and delineated by himself. Such an individual may begin in devotion, but he will ordinarily proceed in enthusiasm, and perhaps end in infidelity. Let us then be humble, and modest, and practical in our inquiries. The "secret things belong unto the Lord our God; but the things that are revealed, to us and to our children, that we may do them."

Again: you must receive the word of God with simplicity and honesty of heart.-How few can with justice appropriate to themselves, in regard to their application of the truths of Scripture, the language of the Apostle! "Our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity....we have had our conversation in the world." How much is the ingenuity of many employed in supplying glosses or interpretations of Scripture, by which its strength is diluted, its meaning distorted, and the Book of Truth constrained to "prophesy only smooth things" in the ears of those against whom

are directed the thunders of the violated Law, and who ought rather to be made to feel the terrors of impending judgment! It is for you, when listening to "the word," as in the case of the infant prophet when roused from sleep by the voice of the Lord, to say, "Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth."

Again you are to receive the word submissively and obediently. It is never promised that every doctrine, or even precept, of Scripture, shall be so brought down to the low level of a fallen mind as that we should be able, in all cases, to discover its perfect propriety and reasonableness. You may even have been pursuing, for a considerable period, the path pointed out by God as leading to peace and joy, without experiencing the happy consequences you had been led to anticipate. Like the king of Israel, constrained to wait from day to day without the appearance of the Prophet, your hopes of enjoying the promised blessing may be subject to many disappointments. Nevertheless, you are still, in obedience to God's word, to wait, to labour, and to persevere in earnest prayer and in the use of the other means of grace; in the sure confidence that "God is faithful who hath promised," and that he will, in due time, fulfil his promises to all who "seek him with their whole hearts." And, however tried and disappointed you are still to struggle on in the spirit of the disciples, who, though exhausted by the fruitless labours of the night, cheerfully complied with their Lord's request: "Nevertheless, at thy word, we will let down the net."

And, finally, you are to receive the word with strong, cordial, and affectionate reliance on the Holy