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all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily whether these things were so. the comfort and happiness of your pastor in this life, will be dependent upon you. Be not unreasonable in your expectations from him. you desire to be edified by his ministrations on the Sabbath, you must not make too large demands upon his time during the week. By those little attentions and kindnesses, which, though trifling in themselves, contribute much to a minister's comfort, you will endeavor to render his residence among you pleasant and happy. But I forbear. I know your attachment to him, and I cannot doubt you will do all in your power to contribute to his happiness. May you long rejoice in his light, and may he long enjoy your esteem and affection;-and, when the connection now to be formed shall be dissolved, may you meet together in that better world, where prayer shall give place to praise, ordinances to realities, and faith to vision.

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And now, brethren, we commend you to the blessing of God. Be perfect, be of one mind, live peace; and the God of peace shall be with you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all, AMEN.

67

SERMON III.

THE CONNECTION BETWEEN A HOUSE OF WORSHIP AND THE MINISTRY OF THE GOSPEL.

EZRA viii. 17.

That they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God.

THE book of Ezra contains an interesting portion of Jewish history. At the period in which it was written, that unhappy though distinguished people, were enduring the verification of their own prophecies. By the rivers of Babylon they sat down-they hung their harps upon the willows; they wept when they remembered Zion. The spirit of patriotism and attachment to the land of their fathers' sepulchres, though smothered and enfeebled, was not extinct; and there were some among the captive Jews, in the

reigns of Cyrus and Artaxerxes, who breathed the sentiments so beautifully recorded in the 137th Psalm. If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth. If I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. Among these, Ezra was pre-eminently distinguished. He was a man of superior learning, and unquestionable piety, a ready scribe in the law of Moses, and a great favorite at the Persian court. Such was his influence with the reigning monarch, that he granted him all his request according to the hand of the Lord his God upon him.

An attempt had been made by some of the captive Jews, under the patronage of Cyrus, between seventy and eighty years previous to the time of Ezra, to rebuild the city and temple of Jerusalem. In this attempt they experienced great opposition from the enemies of Zion; but, through the blessing of God, they finally succeeded in rebuilding the temple. And the children of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house with joy. It was after these things, when probably the zeal of those who had erected the second temple had in some

measure declined, that Ezra undertook the cause of his oppressed countrymen, and obtained a decree from Artaxerxes, granting permission to all the children of Israel, and the priests and Levites, which were minded of their own free will, to go up to Jerusalem.

Encouraged by the royal proclamation, and strengthened as the hand of the Lord his God was upon him, Ezra gathered together the chief men of Israel and departed for the city of his fathers. Before he reached the end of his journey, he and his company halted at the river Ahava. At this place he received the people and the priests, but found there none of the sons of Levi. The tribe of Levi, by the law of Moses, was separated from the other tribes for religious services. Aaron and his immediate descendants were appointed to the priesthood. The rest of the tribe were employed in acts of religious worship pertaining to the service of the temple. It appears from the context, that though some of the immediate descendants of Aaron were among the company, there were none of the rest of the tribe of Levi, and consequently, according to the Jewish ritual, the worship of God could not be regularly conducted in the temple at Jerusalem. To surmount this difficulty, Ezra

dispatched a deputation of his chief men to Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia-that they should bring unto them ministers for the house of their God. The deputation were successful in their embassy, and the desired reinforcement of Levites, and of Nethinims, who were an inferior order of servants in the temple, was obtained. Thus supplied with the various officers of the Jewish sanctuary, the pious leader, having proclaimed a fast, and sought the favor of God, proceeded on his way to the holy city.

From this interesting passage of scripture, as thus explained, we may derive a subject of discourse, not inapplicable to the blended occasions upon which we have assembled.

We have met together, this day, to dedicate this neat and commodious edifice to the service of Almighty God; and we have also assembled, at the same time, to assist in the introduction of a laborer into this part of the vineyard, and to sanction by our prayers and counsels the endearing connection between a pastor and his flock.

With these two solemn and interesting transactions in view, I have thought that our attention might profitably be directed to-the connection between a House of Worship, and the Ministry of the Gospel.