And blessed the invitation to the commemoration of our Lord's death, conveyed to all who look to Christ as their Saviour, and are sincere in their desire to obtain the sanctification of his Holy Spirit. Yes; to thee, thou poor penitent, who scarcely darest to look up to heaven, and say, "God be merciful to me a sinner,' -to you, the tidings we are commissioned to preach, are glad tidings of great joy. We are commissioned and commanded to tell you, that the Lord our God is gracious, merciful, and long-suffering: and that "He will not turn away his face from thee, if thou returnest unto him. Let the wicked man forsake his way: and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, and he will abundantly pardon." With contrition of heart, with humility of mind, and with lively faith, approach, then, the holy table, and there will be joy in heaven, when the angels witness thy repentance and record thy pardon.-Yes, ye invisible, but sympathizing ministers of omnipotent mercy, I can imagine you winging your noiseless way around the Christian altar: I can almost hear you joining in our eucharistic hymn, at that glad moment, when the contrite offender is added to the number of the faithful; and when, his sins having been done away by the blood of Christ, he goes forth, in the strength of the Lord, to commence a new career of godliness upon earth, and to lead the remainder of his life in the fear, and to the glory, of Almighty God. With like urgency the invitation is extended to all who are overclouded by despondency, or driven to despair, through the vain imagination, that, though the grace of God has been shed forth abundantly, yet on their hearts it will never light. To dispel these vain fears-to comfort the weary and heavy laden, by assuring them of their being in favour, because in covenant, with their Maker,these are among the blessed reasons why this ordinance was appointed by the Divine Source of light, and life, and joy. The sacraments are not only the means of conveying grace; but they are also pledges to the sincere, that grace has actually been conferred. Beloved brethren, who are in the constant habit of commemorating your Redeemer's death, then, in joint communion with saints above, and with the faithful upon earth, you partake happily of the heavenly banquet. Standing in the more immediate presence of that incomprehensible Being, who permits us to regard him as our friend, while we worship him as our God, you will be fed by his Word, cheered by his promises, and sustained by his Spirit: yea, the Holy Ghost himself will minister to your wants, and pour comfort into your hearts; while he cleanses your souls from iniquity, and effaces all the stainings of sin. Jesus, then, is the way, the truth, and the life:the way; since by him, and through him, alone, the fallen sons of Adam can approach their God as a reconciled Father: the truth; since he only hath the words of eternal life; and since, from him alone, speaking in his Scriptures, an answer can be obtained to the all-important question, What must I do to be saved? And he is the life; since it is only as members of his mystical body,branches of the true vine,-that we can obtain the grapes of that Holy Spirit, who dwelleth in Christ without measure; and who still abides in the Church, to inform the conscience, and enlighten as the intellect; to regulate our actions, and invigorate our virtues; to soften the heart, to sanctify the affections, and to expand the soul. Yes; Christ is our all in all: Christ, saving us from the penalty of sin by his sacrifice of himself: Christ, saving us from the dominion of sin by the purifying influences of his Spirit. Nor is this all; for, being found in fashion as a man, he has left us an example that we should follow his steps. Who can delineate the leading features in the heavenly character of Immanuel? It is an awful task beyond the power of man. It is the never-ending employment, comfort, and delight of the true Christian, to contemplate the benign perfections of his Redeemer; until, having imbibed a portion of his Spirit, he becomes enamoured of those virtues which once shone forth in Sion, and which now supply the place of Sun and Moon in the new Jerusalem. But ere he has searched out all the excellencies of his Lord, and ascertained all the beauty of his holiness, this world and the fashion of it will have passed away: and he will find himself with the blessed St. John, reclining on his Master's bosom in the heavenly mansions of everlasting bliss. Let me only, therefore, beg you to remark that the conduct of our great Example was the very reverse of that which too generally attracts the admiration of men; and that the peculiar qualities exhibited by Him were such as the world is apt to depreciate and despise. Among the sons of men, it has ever been the custom to magnify bodily strength or mental vigour, to the depreciation of those silent and unostentatious virtues which expand the affections and elevate the soul. But in the character of our Lord, the humility of his deportment was equally striking with the calm dignity of his de meanour. And the fervour of his piety-his majestic, eloquent, and practical holiness-are more conspicuously brought forward by the Evangelist, than even the sagacity of understanding and Divine wisdom, which spoke in every action he performed, and in every word which he uttered. Meek as he was heroic, in him the lion and the lamb dwelt together. Indignant when his Father's honour was profaned, or his temple defiled-he feared not to expose, rebuke, and condemn the hypocritical Pharisee and the powerful Scribe; yet, merciful when he was himself injured, insulted, and reviled -he breathed out his soul in a prayer for his perWhere, then, shall we find a resolution so unwearied-a fortitude so invincible-a courage so enlightened? secutors. Redeemed by his blood, instructed by his precepts, encouraged by his example, and quickened by his Spirit, may we all diligently labour to walk in the spiritual laws which he has set before us, and to dedicate to his service all our faculties and all our powers-our reason and affections-our souls and bodies-our time and substance: thus exhibiting, in our persons, a genuine picture of true Christianity; sincere, without bigotry—and serious, without superstition. Let us recollect the agony of our Lord was real as it was tremendous,-let his bearing be our support under all the trials of pain, poverty, and grief,-let us claim his promise of the Comforter-wrestle with him, like another Israel, until, by the sanctifying operations of the everlasting Spirit, we have become one with Christ, and Christ hath become one with us;-then the Spirit of Christ will speak in our souls, and meekly say, "Father, not my will, but thine be done." London: Printed by J. Rider, 14, Bartholomew Close. |