TO THE VENERABLE HENRY LAW, A. M.

ARCHDEACON OF WELLS,

AND THE CLERGY OF THE DEANERY OF FROME,

THE FOLLOWING SERMON

IS MOST RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED.

II. CORINTHIANS ii. 14—17.

66 NOW THANKS BE UNTO GOD, WHICH

ALWAYS CAUSETH US TO TRIUMPH IN CHRIST, AND MAKETH MANIFEST THE SAVOUR OF HIS KNOWLEDGE BY US IN EVERY PLACE.

FOR WE ARE UNTO GOD A SWEET SAVOUR OF CHRIST IN THEM THAT ARE SAVED, AND IN THEM THAT PERISH:

ΤΟ THE ONE WE ARE THE SAVOUR OF DEATH UNTO DEATH AND TO THE OTHER THE SAVOUR OF LIFE UNTO LIFE. THESE THINGS?

AND WHO IS SUFFICIENT FOR

FOR WE ARE NOT AS MANY, WHICH CORRUPT THE WORD OF GOD: BUT AS OF SINCERITY, BUT As of God, IN THE SIGHT OF GOD SPEAK WE IN CHRIST."

To the humble Christian, accustomed to trace submissively the hand of God in all His dispensations, there is always abundant cause for thankfulness even in the most trying circumstances. Feeling conscious that he deserves

absolutely nothing from the Almighty but wrath and condemnation, while he receives affliction as his due, he welcomes even the slightest display of Divine favor, as obliging him to the deepest gratitude. And if this be true in the ordinary occurrences and more private relations of life, it is especially true considered with reference to our Holy Church. The Christian cannot but feel, that it is owing to no merit of his own, that he was placed by Providence in a country, which was blest with a knowledge of the Gospel, or that he was brought in his infancy within the pale of the purest branch of Christ's universal Church on earth. The contemplation then of such advantage alone supplies a continual and endless source of thankfulness to his Heavenly Father, under every imaginable public difficulty and trial. But the sincere believer in the promises of Jesus has still farther ground of thankfulness; and which is applicable more particularly to seasons of depression and distress. He knows, who has said with reference to this very church, that "the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it." He has the blessed assurance that his castle of refuge, his fortress of defence is founded upon the Rock of Ages, and that storms and tempests, though they bend