NOTE TO PAGE 347.

This Sermon was delivered on the occasion of a collection made in aid of the "Association for Discountenancing Vice and promoting the Knowledge and Practice of the Christian Religion" a Society incorporated by Royal Charter, and having in view similar objects, generally, with the "ChristianKnowledge Society" in England, except that in addition to the circulation of Bibles, Prayer-books, and other religious publications, at reduced prices, the "Association" also affords aid to numerous schools.

The revenues of this important institution, however, have been latterly so much diminished as to threaten its entire extinction; chiefly from the Government-grants, which it formerely received, having been discontinued. It is above two years ago that I succeeded, after much solicitation, in obtaining for it a grant of 3000l., which it was declared must be considered as final.

With a view to supply, in some degree, the apprehended deficiency, collections were made in aid of the funds of the Association, accompanied by sermons setting forth its claims to support,-in most of the churches in the Diocese ; on which occasion the foregoing Discourse was delivered by me, at Peter's Church, in Dublin: and it is designed that a similar appeal shall be made in November of this year. But these, and the other exertions made by the members of the Society, have not so far succeeded as to hold out even a prospect of adequate subscriptions being raised.

The unhappy situation of the Irish Clergy,-hitherto its principal supporters, has compelled many of them, most reluctantly, to withdraw their contributions; and unless aid be afforded by the fellow-members of our Communion in

England, there is little hope that the institution can continue its useful labours.

It is hoped that the appeal thus now made to those our brethren of the Established Church (many of whom probably have been hitherto ignorant even of the existence of the Association) will not be made in vain; but that they will testify their good will to the cause of their religion in Ireland, not by mere empty professions, but by affording effectual and timely assistance.

MESSRS. HOARES, Bankers, Fleet-street, London, have kindly undertaken to receive Subscriptions towards the funds of the Association.

SERMON XIV.

MATTHEW Xii. 15.

Great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all.

EVERY circumstance recorded of our Lord's life on earth, is deserving of the most minute attention not only because both the Person, and the purpose for which He came, were so extraordinary and important, but also, because his personal ministry was very short; and of the transactions of that brief space, but a very small portion is recorded. If any one is ever disposed to feel that this or that transaction or observation which we find in the Gospels, is not of sufficient consequence to deserve a very attentive study, he should recollect, that every one we do find

there, is one out of a thousand-is selected by the writer as being, in his eyes, at least, peculiarly striking, out of a multitude of other sayings and events which he has omitted. The Evangelist John remarks, (what we might easily have conjectured if he had not,) that "many other signs did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book; and that if they were written every one, the world itself would not contain the books that would be written." But to have given only as full an account of the transactions of those few years, as writers usually do of matters so important, must have occupied, we may be sure, more than ten times the space of the histories we actually have. These contain, evidently, only a very brief selection of what was said and done during that short but most momentous period. It is, therefore, the more important for us to spare no pains in learning all we can from the little that is recorded: ever remembering, that when we are making the inquiry, what is to be learned from this or that passage, we are to consider not merely why such and such an occurrence took place, but also why it was selected for mention,

in preference to a hundred others that are passed by.

It should also be remembered, that, as Jesus had many great objects to accomplish during his short ministry, and was "straitened," He tells us, till all" was accomplished;" so, many of the things He said and did, were designed to answer several different purposes at once. And this makes it the more important to dwell attentively on each of the (comparatively) few things that are recorded of Him.

His miracles, for instance, were designed, in the first place, and chiefly, to testify his coming from God: "The works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me." But they answered other purposes besides: most, if not all of them, had some reference to his teaching, and were calculated to explain or enforce something He had taught, or intended to teach, respecting his religion; and besides this, as much the greater part of them were of a beneficent character, these answered the purpose also of relieving the particular distresses of the particular persons on whom they were wrought. But there a more important purpose still in this