The man who thus becomes the servant of God, receives a qualification and a commission to serve both the church and the world—to serve the church, by seeking the spirituality, union, and increase of its members; and to serve the world, by seeking the temporal and spiritual welfare of all mankind. Without the desire and the practice of service such as this, religion would be but an empty name, or a mere sentimental emotion. It would be, not a living, but a dead religion; “for as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” This christian service which is thus the effect, becomes also the evidence of personal piety. There are some things, the possession or the practice of which are no decisive test of character. You may be in membership with a church of orthodox principles; and you may be the zealous advocate of denominational peculiarities; and yet, by these very things, you may be gratifying prejudice rather than piety; and your religious professions and attachments, may be only modifications of selfishness. But if you are found sustaining the office and discharging the duties of a servant of Christ, you are walking in the footsteps of your Lord and Master; you are living, not to yourself, but to him who died for you and rose again; you are looking not at your own things only, but at the things of others also; and therefore you love not in word, or in tongue, but in deed, and in truth. How perfectly was this office sustained by Jesus Christ, the servant of God in the redemption of sinners. He himself is Lord of all; the Maker and the Monarch of the universe. “He was in the form of God, and thought it not robbery to be equal with God; but he made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant.” And how perfectly this “form” was indicative of the reality. “The Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister.” “I am among you, said he to his disciples, as one that serveth;” and when, on one occasion, he had girded himself with a towel, and washed his disciples’ feet, he said, “I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, the servant is not greater than his Lord; neither is he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” Happy indeed! for both happiness and honour are derived, not from exalting, but from humbling ourselves; not from self-indulgence, but from self-denial; and from a cordial and practical imitation of Him, who was meek and lowly in heart, and who went about doing good. How peculiarly and prominently was this the character of our departed friend. How much he had received of his Master’s spirit, and how willing he was to walk in his Master’s steps. Many of you, my brethren, I trust have so received, and are so inclined. Let us therefore follow him as he followed Christ. And as we profess to sustain