woman here observed to our Lord, "How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, who am a woman of Samaria? For the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans." Our Divine Master, ever willing to assist mankind, addressed himself with equal benevolence to this person, although she had herself reminded him of the difference subsisting between his people and hers. But he was willing to instruct her in more liberal sentiments, and to teach the great truths he came to communicate, without any respect to the prejudice of his countrymen. Jesus answered and said unto her, "Whosoever drinketh of this water, shall thirst again; but whosoever shall drink of the water that I shall give him, shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." By which he means that the blessings of the Christian Covenant, in which he designed to instruct her, was of more spiritual advantage to the soul than that water would be to the body, which would prevent the return of thirst peculiarly troublesome in so hot a country. The woman soon dis.

covered that the person to whom she was speaking was a prophet, and took the opportunity immediately to ask for his determination of the question, relating to the right place of worship. "Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship?" He who came to teach us all things, discouraged this idle contention, and replies, "Woman, believe me the hour cometh when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what. We know what we worship, for salvation (or the promised Messiah) is of the Jews. But the hour cometh and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such to follow him. God is a spirit; and they that worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth." Thus does our blessed Master, in teaching the woman of Samaria, discourage that zeal which adheres to its own opinions, in such a manner as to become uncharitable to others. He considers not himself,-the hated object had long subsisted between the two nations, but takes every occasion

by his parables, and by his example, to remove their ancient displeasure. At the request of the citizens he entered into Samaria, and continued there two days, making converts to his doctrine; " for many more believed because of his own word; and said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying, for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world." Be this, therefore, my young friend, the model of your conduct towards others, nor ever entertain unkind suspicions of your compan. ions in life, because their sentiments are different to your belief. The true worshippers, as our Redeemer himself informs you, "must worship the Father in spirit and in truth." By this criterion you may properly examine your own devotion. If you are always recollected, humble, penitent, and sincere, before him who is a spirit; a God ever present, and all-knowing; then may you hope for his acceptance through the mediation of Christ. But I must again repeat, no light, fantastic, or impertinent imaginations, are proper to be indulged in your intercourse with the Deity. May you,

as you advance in years, cherish more and more the sacred influence of religious principles; and while you are even kind to others, of whatever denomination, both in sentiment and behaviour, may you be enlightened by the Almighty with the knowledge of the truth, as it is contained in the Gospel of his Son, and be enabled by his grace to persevere in an unshaken obedience to him here below, till you shall have completed the period allotted for your trial upon earth, and after death be admitted to those regions of perfect information and happiness, where you will no longer "see through a glass darkly;" but will there be illuminated with an increase of wisdom, and not only known in part and uncertainty; for "when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away."

SUNDAY XXIX.

ON PUBLIC WORSHIP.

THE subject of our present consideration has been slightly touched upon in the address on Private Prayer; but as much depends on the decorum of outward behaviour, and the recollection of thought during the seasons of public worship, I shall trouble you with some further reflections on that head. The stated periods of religious adoration are the employment of a day immediately devoted to God. You are then, my young friend, called upon by your Maker, to "enter into his gates with thanksgivings, and into his courts with praise; to be thankful unto him, and bless his name.' These are the chief purposes of the institution of the Sabbath, and of all other times set apart for religious observation. It is then becoming that our outward garb should be neat and proper, according to our station; but highly inconsistent and absurd that the gaiety of our own habiliments, or the finery of others, should employ our attention. To encourage Christians to assemble together.