the soul, agreeably to the Divine promise, renews and conforms the person to the holy will of God. Then the enmity to the Divine law is slain, the works of Satan are remembered and beheld with godly sorrow and sincere abhorrence, and the works of God are enjoyed and delighted in. Through the energetic operation of the Holy Spirit inclining him to will and to do according to the Divine pleasure, the renewed person works out his own salvation. Taught effectually by Divine grace to deny all ungodliness and every worldly lust, he aims to live righteously and soberly and godly in this present world. He then tastes the wormwood and the gall of sin, and his soul loathes both its remembrance and indulgence. He longs to be holy, as God is holy. With watchfulness and prayer, constant diligence, and humble dependence upon Divine sufficiency, he opposes the working of corruption and temptation of Satan. In this way he proceeds from strength to strength-from conquering to conquer; until, through the Saviour, he is brought off more than conqueror, and Satan is bruised under his feet. In general this victory is a gradual work, effected by the dissolution of one link after another, until the whole chain of sin is broken in pieces, and Satan's works destroyed; and all our success arises from the efficacy of the blood, righteousness, and grace of Christ. It is his atonement which purifies the conscience from sin's defiling influence; it is his grace which subdues the heart to the obedience of himself; it is his Holy Spirit who causes the soul to delight in the Divine commands, and perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord.

III. That this destruction of the works of Satan was the design of Christ's manifestation, appears from the express testimony of Scripture.

Not only is it asserted in the text, but in various other passages of Scripture, a few of which I will adduce. The first is that consolatory promise made to Adam and Eve immediately after their fall: "The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head." Another may be obtained from the epistle to the Hebrews (ii. 14): "Forasmuch as the children were partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their life-time subject to bondage." The same truth is in a different manner delivered by St. Paul, in his epistle to the Romans: "The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly" (Rom. xvi. 20). The same point is also established by all those Scriptures which promise holiness, or

a victory over sin, through the obedience of our Lord Jesus Christ. The end proposed by all the Redeemer did and suffered was man's redemption from Satan's bondage. This deliverance, however, is not yet visibly complete. It is finished by the work of Christ, and in the designs of infinite wisdom and love; but it will only be known by us as finished and discovered in its fulness, when, at the last great day, Christ shall be revealed from heaven. Then the mystery of iniquity, which is now permitted to operate, will be taken out of the way, and that wicked one, with all his servants, shall be consumed with the spirit of Christ's mouth, and be destroyed with the brightness of his coming. Then, according to the Revelation of St. John, "the great dragon shall be cast out, that old serpent, called the devil and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world; and in heaven shall be heard a loud voice, saying, Now is come salvation and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ." Then shall victory be the universal shout, and thanksgiving be ascribed unto God, who gave it through Christ. what a glorious season will this be! how devoutly now to be wished for, and how productive of everlasting joy when it arrives! Oh, may each one of us share in the glories of this conquest, receive the crown of righteousness, and reign with Christ for ever.

And

1. Can we then, brethren, here forbear to reflect upon his awful state who is still employed in Satan's service, and, under his tyranny, performing his works! Pride and ignorance may be offended with the degrading idea this reflection conveys. Affected with notions of human dignity and virtue, man opposes the representation of his natural condition, and disclaims the stated influence of Satan over him. Could this scriptural charge be as easily disproved as denied, it would indeed be well; but God knows us better than we know ourselves; and experience (that faithful witness) declares man to be exactly what a God of truth represents him. Not only does the Divine word testify, that in his natural state he serves Satan, is conformed to his image, and imitates his example, but his own conscience, his conversation, his life, may be appealed to for those evil dispositions, words, and actions, which prove his natural likeness to the prince of darkness. "We ourselves," says St. Paul (speaking of believers, who were translated from the kingdom of Satan into the kingdom of God's dear Son), like the rest of mankind, were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another."

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Who,

then, can claim exemption from this natural | depravity? 'Tis useless to deny it, 'tis wisdom to acknowledge, and seek deliverance. While in a state of disobedience, man is under the influence of Satan, who worketh in such. While neglecting Christ, he is blinded by the god of this world; while rejecting the truth, he is in the snare of the devil, taken captive by him at his will; while committing sin with the bent of his inclination and the affections of his heart, he is of the devil, and his child;-and while he continues in this awful state of alienation from God, and enmity to his will, he is exposed to that tremendous doom which will be inflicted upon Satan and his angels. They, brethren, are reserved in everlasting chains, under darkness, unto the judgment of the great day; and whosoever shall be found at that season with Satan's mark-a polluted heart, a mind of enmity, a darkened understanding, a rebellious will-must hear and experience the full and dreadful power of that sentence, "Depart, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." But let us turn from this awful subject; and may God turn our hearts to know and enjoy

2. The blessedness of those who are rescued from Satan's bondage, and brought into the liberty of the children of God. This is our second observation. And how blessed indeed are such! Already are they passed from death unto life, delivered from avenging wrath, reconciled unto God, and freed from all condemnation, through that gracious Redeemer who made peace for us through his blood, who appeased the demands of Divine justice by his sacrifice of himself, and who died, the just for the unjust, to bring us to God; already are they rescued from Satan's usurped dominion by the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave the death-wound to his empire, when he spoiled principalities and powers, and made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in his cross; already are their affections raised to heaven, their minds delivered from the darkness of condemning error, and their souls secured from the reigning influence of sin, through Him who brought down heaven to their hearts, revealed his grace within them, and caused the seed of holiness not only to be sown, but to remain in them ;-already hath the Saviour made them partakers of a divine nature, and changed them into his image, by hist Spirit; already do they rejoice in his salvation, and hunger and thirst after greater degrees of holiness; and soon shall they enjoy complete redemption. Their bodies, which must return to dust, shall be raised like unto his glorious body; the veil which conceals their God and Father shall be rent

asunder, and they shall behold his glory, bear his image in perfection, and enjoy his beatific presence for ever. Happy indeed are ye, O Christians, who are working the works of God! Contemplate your end; a little while longer, and He that cometh will come, and his reward shall be with him. Until then, wait in patience, and faith, and expectation, "looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;" and "be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." And, brethren, consider --

3. What gratitude and praise are due to the Redeemer, who has bruised the serpent's head, and has undertaken fully to save his people from his tyranny. How should your supreme affection and devout reverence be directed to him who hath thus loved you; who for your sakes submitted to misery and death; who, that he might destroy that tyranny which held you in captivity, endured the cross; who, that he might effectually deliver you from the hand of all your spiritual enemies, lives to intercede for you, watches over you continually, and keeps you, by his mighty power, through faith unto salvation. O, live in grateful dependence upon him, devoted to his service, concerned in all things to approve yourselves as his people, and adorn his holy religion. If your Saviour was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil, take heed that you are watchful against Satan's devices. Remember he bare your sins in his own body; that you, being dead to sin, should live unto righteousness. In the hour of temptation draw nigh to him for strength, and he will surely draw nigh to you; and you shall be more than conqueror, through him that hath loved you. And be encouraged by the reflection, that the time approaches when every vestige of Satanic influence shall be done away, and Satan and his children be confined to their own place, where alone any of his works will be found. Well may the Christian exult in contemplating the completion of this blessed prospect, and, in the language of one of our most solemn services, pray, "Accomplish, O Lord, the number of thine elect, and hasten thy kingdom."

AN ADDRESS Delivered at the laying of the first stone of Trinity Church in the Parish of St. Bride's, Oct. 3d, 1837,

BY THE REV. THOMAS DALE, M.A.
Vicar.*

My Lord Mayor, Ladies, and Gentlemen,-The solemnity which has this day been honoured with your presence, and in which your lordship has taken so prominent a part, must be, both in its character and in its consequences, an object of the deepest interest to every pious and reflecting mind. On this spot it is designed to rear an edifice, in which eleven hundred souls will be enabled to unite in prayer, according to the forms of our scriptural and apostolic Church; in which eleven hundred souls will be enabled to hear the preaching of that Gospel which alone bringeth salvation. The consequences of such a ministry, and of such united prayer, can only be completely developed by one who should lift up the veil of death, and penetrate the secrets of eternity. To do this is not for such as we; but we may at least look on that which is immediate and palpable; we may contemplate the practical results which may be expected by this great city from an undertaking like that in which we are how engaged; and in them alone I am persuaded will be found sufficient proof, that you, my lord, appearing among us in your magisterial character, and for such a purpose, have only thrown additional lustre on the dignity of your high office, and gratified what I am sure is the wish nearest to your heart-the promotion of the best interests of your fellow-citizens.

I need not, my lord, remind you-I need not, I am sure, remind this company,-that Christianity, as taught by the Church established in these realms is eminently a SOCIAL benefit. I need not remind you, that by enforcing the sanctions, it supersedes the penalties of law; that it establishes social order on the broad and sure basis of religious principle; that it tempers those inequalities of condition which, for wise purposes, are permitted to exist among mankind, by precepts of mutual forbearance and benevolence; and that it places loyalty to the appointed sovereign, and obedience to all constituted authorities, on the high vantageground of primary obligation to God. As little need I remind you of the beneficial influence which it exercises over families; how it awakens the vigilance of the parent, and calls forth the duty of the child; how it knits together the offspring of the same parents, in a tie of friendship more close by far than that of brotherhood; and how, in neighbourhoods where families who act upon such principles are located, those who dwell around them may read a living and perpetual homily in the example which they display of all that is pure, honest, just, lovely, and of good report. Never has it been affirmed, my lord, that the churchman, whose profession should coincide with his practice, and who should embody in his daily conduct the spirit of his weekly prayers, would be-could be, other than a good neighbour, a good subject, a good citizen, and a good

man.

In coming hither, therefore, for the purpose which has obtained for us the honour of your presence on this occasion, your lordship has been performing the highest and the most pleasing duty of a Christian magistrate. For it will not be denied, that the prevention of crime is far preferable to the infliction of penalty; and that there is no path to the prevention

• The above Address forms part of the Appendix to two Sermons, preached by Mr. Dale, in aid of the Trinity Church enCowment fund. Svo, Richardson, 1837. We are anxious to direct the notice of our readers to these Sermons, in the hope that the perusal may induce many of them seriously to reflect on the obligation which is laid on every member of the EstaMished Church, to promote, as far as is in his power, more extensive church-accommodation throughout the land. The sermods are not applicable merely to the parish of St. Bride's, Flect St.et: they deserve a very wide circulation.

of crime so sure, so safe, and so speedy, as the promotion of the knowledge of pure and undefiled religion.

While, however, iny lord, no exception can be taken to the general application of these principles, an objection may, perhaps, be brought against this individual case. It may be said—it has been said—that within the limits of your lordship's jurisdiction, the places of worship are already more in number than the necessities of the inhabitants require; that those around me of the hundreds and the thousands who cannot be accommodated in their own parochial edifices have only to go to a distance to some of those sanctuaries in a comparatively deserted neighbourhood, which exhibit what has been termed "a beggarly account of empty pews.' But, my lord, those who argue thus can know little of human nature, and still less of the principles of the Church of England. We hold, my lord, that he who is put in trust with souls, is the minister, not of a congregation, but of a parish; and if, from circumstances peculiar to great commercial cities, it is impracticable to pervade, with his week-day ministrations, the whole of his appointed field of labour, still, my lord, I say (and I think I may appeal to many here around for proof of what I assert), that the parochial minister is at all times, in the hour of sickness and distress, the friend and adviser of every parishioner who shall require his good offices, whatever may have been the conduct of that man, and whatever may be his creed. In proof of this, I have only to state, what must be a startling and striking, no less than a lamentable fact, that in the cases of sickness which it has been my lot to visit, more than onehalf have been persons who were never accustomed to attend the worship of God in any Christian sanctuary whatsoever.

The principle of the Church of England, my lord, is this-that every parishioner should have a right in his own parochial minister; and surely it is equally her principle, that every parishioner should have a right in his own parochial edifice. And they, my lord, know little of human nature who do not feel, that when the flame of true religion has been kindled in the heart, it requires to be nursed by careful superintendence, and by frequent visitation; and consequently, those who have been thus awakened to a sense of their best interests, cannot be expected to go to a distant church, where they no longer hear the familiar voice of one whom they know to be their friend. Still less can it be expected of the free-born Englishman, that he should go and seek that accommodation as a stranger, or as an intruder, which his countryhis country, that ought to be the spiritual mother of all her children-which his country has provided for him, or should have provided for him, in a local habitation and a parochial home.

I could indeed, my lord, did time permit, bring before you, and before this company, statistical details which would prove to demonstration the necessity of another church in this populous neighbourhood. These, however, I shall reserve for another place, and

for another occasion. Let it suffice now to state, that when the "church-going bell" shall echo for the first time in yonder rising tower, there will be (if the state of the neighbourhood continues what it now is), there will be within sound of that bell, at least two thousand souls-two thousand immortal souls, men, women, and children, who are dwelling in utter estrangement from the ordinances of public worship, and, I fear it may too often be said, with as little sense of the restraints of Christian morality and piety, as though they had been born in some remote and barbaric clime, in which the pure light of the day-spring from on high hath never dawned. Is it wonderful, then, my lord, that in such a vicinity practices should abound which the statesman would reprobate as injurious to society, no less than the Christian as detrimental to the interests of the soul?

It is well known that the very proximity of a church acts as a check upon open vice and immorality. How much more, then, the purposes for which a church is used? They who shall be drawn by degrees to mingle in the sacred services of this place will obviously be drawn away from those pursuits, and from those associations, the tendency of which is to convert our choicest blessings into a curse, and to make the very Sabbath an opportunity of sin. For I am sure, my lord, I shall need no argument beyond your own magisterial experience, when I say that Sabbath-breaking and intemperance are the two main-springs which supply that deep and black flood of vice and misery which rolls through this great metropolis, overflowing our hospitals, inundating our prisons, and gorging our graves.

During the six days of his honest labour, my lord, the man of the working classes-the operative, as he is popularly termed-is employed as usefully to society, ay, and as honourably too, as though, like your lordship, he bore the sword of justice, or led forth to battle the armies of the state, or "wielded at will the fate and fortunes of mighty empires." But it is when the rest of the Sabbath brings with it the license for iniquity, that those seeds of bitterness are sown, by which, as they spring up into a harvest of crime and curse, children are estranged from parents, and parents alienated from children; the peace of families ruined; the charities of kindred violated; the interests of the community betrayed; the extreme penalty of the violated law incurred; and, last and worst, the soul's "eternal jewel" consigned beyond recall to the common enemy of God and man.

If, therefore, my lord, we can draw together in this place a congregation out of those who have hitherto been living without hope and without God in the world, then I would appeal to your lordship as a Christian man and a Christian magistrate,-I would appeal to the goodly company here assembled, of whatever elements it may be composed,-whether we do not thus confer a benefit upon the state itself,-a benefit which entitles us to the hearty and liberal co-operation of all those who have been taught, whether by experience or by observation, that the interests of true religion are mixed up with the prosperity and the greatness of the country; and that it is "righteousness which exalteth a nation," while "sin is a reproach to any people."

That co-operation, my lord, I acknowledge it with gratitude to God and man, has in this case indeed been liberally given. Public companies and private individuals have vied with each other in contributing to this good work. The part which your lordship has taken speaks for itself; for which, and for the sentiments which you have expressed,-so congenial, I am persuaded, with the feelings of all around you, I beg to tender you my best thanks, in the name of the parish which I, as its minister, however inadequately, represent; persuaded as I am that you will enjoy the best reward in the consciousness of having done or intended to do good. And, my lord, it is a source to me of peculiar satisfaction, connected as I officially am, and have long been, with this great city, that, in acknowledging your lordship's kindness, it becomes my duty also to commemorate the most zealous and effective services of him who preceded your lordship in the high and responsible office, and to whom we owe it, that we are in possession of the very site on which this church is to be raised. He, my lord, who obtained this splendid gift from the distinguished body* * of which he is a member, was one of whom we may now say, what in a short time many voices will acclaim concerning your lordship, that he reflected fresh honour on his important office by the manner in which he discharged it; and to you, I will venture to repeat the words once addressed to him, that in your The Goldsmiths' Company.

approaching honourable retirement from official toils, that part of your professional duty on which you will not reflect with the least satisfaction is that which you have now so kindly come hither to perform; for "the work is great; the palace is not for man, but for the Lord God."

The site for the church having been thus happily obtained, the necessary funds have been supplied from various resources. Her majesty's commissioners, as it has been already stated by your lordship, have devoted one thousand pounds to the erection of this church. The same sum has been obtained from the Metropolitan Church-Building Fund, so ably administered under the advice of our venerated diocesan ; in mentioning which, it is but right to state, that thus has been paid back to this your city TWO-FOLD the contribution which was made for this holy purpose from its corporate funds. The remainder, my lord,upwards of two thousand pounds, has been raised, within a very small amount, by the voluntary subscriptions of the parishioners and their friends; among whom I am especially bound to commemorate the worshipful Company of Cutlers, from whom we have received a donation of one hundred pounds, the Right Honourable Lord Calthorpe, who has been a benefactor to the same amount, with all the corporate bodies' who occupy premises in the parish. Thus, my lord, the funds have been raised to erect a temple to the honour of God; and I am sure I shall but give utterance to the sentiments of all present, when I pray that those who have so generously and so piously contributed, may be spared to behold the success of their own good work; and that, from the sight of immorality repressed, virtue encouraged, religion extended, and (which will always be the consequence) happiness diffused, they may obtain an abundant recompense in the conviction that their labour has not been in vain in the Lord.

I shall now only detain you, my lord, to observe, that under the peculiar circumstances of this church (the body of which being left entirely open, will be let partly in sittings at a nominal price, or remain altogether free), a considerable period must necessarily elapse-if ever that time shall arrive before it will provide a sufficient fund for the support of a resident minister. On this account it is considered that the good work will be incomplete, unless some provision is made for an endowment. Here, again, I rejoice to say, the appeal to Christian benevolence has not been in vain. A benevolent person, altogether unconnected with the parish, and who will be known only as "A Friend to the Poor," has placed at my disposal, for the purpose of the endowment, the munificent sum of two hundred pounds. One hundred and fifty pounds are contributed by two members of the congregation, who are not parishioners indeed, but who reside in two of those extra-parochial places which constitute the great anomaly of our ecclesiastical system. It is my pleasing duty also to announce to you, ladies and gentlemen, that our chief magistrate (exhausted as his charitable fund may well be, by the many calls that are made upon him of a private and public character) has this day presented the endowment fund with a donation of twenty-five pounds; an example which I announce thus publicly, because I am persuaded that it will not find applauders only, but imitators; and that the adoption of his example is the manner in which his lordship would be best pleased that any should express their gratitude.

We will not limit our call, however, to those who are endowed with ample means. On the ensuing Sabbath, at the doors, we shall be willing to receive even the smallest offerings; for we know by experience, that the pittance of the orphan, and the mite of the widow, as they mingle with the silver and the gold,

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