Provincial.

fche present occasion , enlarge upon the symbolic illustration of our moral system , To my other hearers I would but say that , so long as associations of men for pious purposes exist , so long it is permitted to them by external marks to evidence the object for ivhich they are associated , and Ave are here to-day not so much to evidence our interest in the material building and fabric about to be commenced , as our community of feeling AA'ith the spiritual house of God , the universal family of believers in his name throughout the worldtoiA'ards which our distinctive Masonic

, garb inspires a spirit of warm good will , and , unless ivorii in that spirit , is a shameful mockery of the Creator and Governor of the universe . Nothing in our system is intended to oppose or supersede the grace of God , or the influence of the gospel of Christ . Those to whom our allegories are unintelligible , will do Avell to search , wifch earnest prayer for the assistance of the Holy Spirit , the volume of the Saored Laiv , andcandourmust compel them to admit that ive but copy the example of the ancient people of God in our adherence to a system of emblems and types by AA'ay

of special reference to moral and religious truths . Unless we duly take into consideration the symbolical character of the word of God , we should find it difficult to interpret the verse you have heard as the text . AVe find therein no less than three figurative representations , by means of natural objects , of great religious truths applicable to our present purpose of meeting . AVe have , in lively simile , placed before us the vineyard of the Lord of Hosts , its enemies , . and its tender Itttle ones . Let us then consider each of these severally : and may God be with

us , and Avith the rays of his omniscience enlighten us in this , as in every other investigation , into the mysteries of his word aud works . The text introduces us to the vineyard of the Lord Jehovah—his visible church and family here on earth . The church of God is known by various types and figures in the saored writings . Ifc is the living temple , whereof its members are the stones and pillars . It is the ark oi safety , floating on the treacherous and dangerous AA-aters of an evil world . It is the fold , iii which the good Shepherd guards his tender lambs , and gently leads the feeble and the timid . But tho similitude of a vineyard is very frequently applied to the church , and the name of vines to its members . Not to mention the

use of this type by our Lord in Mattltew xxi ., I ivould refer to Isaiah v . / , where Ave find that the vineyard of the Lord of Hosts is the house of Israel ( collectively ) , and the men of Judah are his pleasant plants ; and as Isaiah xxvii ., 2 , 3 , shoivs us , " I ,, the Lord , do keep the vineyard . I ivill water it every moment , lest any hurt it . I ivill keep it ni ght and day- " The tender grapes are his care , and though at times ha may suffer the wild beast of the field , aud the boar of the wood , to trample and to devour , he AA' 111 , ere long , return and look doivn from heaven and visit his vine ivith his compassionand once more spread the everlasting arms to defend

, and to avenge her . For she has enemies to assail her on every side , each with some neiv variety of force or fraud . As Moab , and Amnion , and Amalek , all opposed tho chosen people of God in their progress towards the promised laud , all with equal animosity , yet eaeh by some different exertion of open violence or artful treachery ; so the Israel of God , his present vineyard , has to meet and combat both open assaults and internal hindrances . These especially affect the young and tender members of the church . These little ones are as the tender clusters of the

vineyard ; they are most liable to be overcome by the cruel craftiness of the tempter . The first risings of sinful thoughts and desires , the beginnings of trifling indulgences , ivhich gain upon the soul and bring it into captivity to the lusts that destroy ; of trifling , pleasures , which are suffered to intrude upon the hours that should be employed in meditation and prayer ; small and plausible departures from truth ; all these , and many more , are little foxes Avhieh must be removed out of the Avay . These sinful appetites aud

pleasures , these temptations and first risings of sin , are the little foxes that destroy the graces and the comforts of the young christian , crush his gool beginning and prevent their coming to perfection ; little as they are , they must be subdued or they ivill prove very dangerous . There Avas a time when some religious , though imperfectly instructed , men adopted the idea that it ivas easier to avoid temptation than to overcome ifc ; for this end they collected in one every rule that human ingenuity could devise of severity and precaution—yet their attempt ivas vain , human nature would not ba stifled . The first founders of the 3 c 2