TO THE VENERABLE THE ARCHDEACON OF EXETER, AND THB SUBSCRIBERS TO THE DEVON AND EXETER NATIONAL SCHOOLS, THIS SERMON, PUBLISHED AT THEIR REQUEST, IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED. SERMON. LUKE XXI CHAP., 32 VER. These words were spoken by our Lord at that awful time, when, having partaken with his disciples of the last paschal supper, he was preparing to expiate the sins of the whole world by his death upon the cross. Regarding with kindness and compassion his zealous, but too confident disciple, he warned him of the danger to which his presumption exposed him, whilst at the same time he consoled him with the assurance, that the prayers of his Divine Master had ascended to heaven for the strengthening of his faith: that though confidence in his own unassisted powers would lead to sin and shame, he might again be restored from the error of his way, and aided by Divine Grace, might learn the characteristic humility of a servant of Jesus Christ. "And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, "behold Satan hath desired to have you that he 66 may sift you as wheat, but I have prayed for thee, "that thy faith fail not." At the same time our Lord reminded him of the indispensable duty which would rest upon him, when, awakened from the dream of fancied security, struck with remorse at his ingratitude and cowardice, animated by a purer faith, and stimulated by a more chastened zeal, he should be prepared to act a most distinguished part amongst the heralds of the Gospel of peace. "And when thou art converted, strength"en thy brethren." It may appear too obvious to require any argument, that St. Peter and the other appostles, when gifted with the power of working miracles, and the supernatural knowlege of languages, and endued with a large measure of Divine Grace for the work of the Christian Ministry, were bound to use their utmost exertions in converting and strengthning their brethren. It is equally and obviously the duty of Christian Ministers, in every age and nation, to strengthen their brethren :-to make known to the ignorant the glad tidings of Salvation, to warn the disobedient, to rouse the careless, to strengthen the wavering, to raise the general standard of morals to the greatest attainable conformity with the standard of the Gospel. But the occasion on which we are assembled leads me to use the words of my text in a more |