Imatges de pàgina
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the intercession of Christ. For Christ is our High Priest in that kingdom of heaven to which He has ascended; and as He was once man like ourselves, we are assured that We have not a High Priest who cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin ". As He was once tempted, He knows our infirmities. He remembers that we are but dust 18. He knows that we require other assistance than our own good resolutions; and He therefore prays to the Father, that He will send to us, also, as He sent before unto the apostles, another Comforter,-who will influence our motives, strengthen our resolutions, purify our hearts, lead us into all truth, assist us through life, support us in death, and remain with us, our guide and our friend, for ever. Oh! blessed Jesus, these are thy merciful works. Oh! Son of God, thy love is the same for ever the same when, in blessing the disciples, thou wast borne up into heaven -the same to the poorest, to the meanest, to the humblest, of those who are now assembled within these walls, to bless thine holy name. Yes! it is so. The object and the cause for which Christ has ascended into heaven, is this—to prepare the way for us and to prepare us by the gift of divine power for that unutterable happiness. Father, He exclaimed, while He was still upon earth-Father, I will, that those whom Thou hast given Me, be with

17 Heb. iv. 15.

18 Psalm ciii. 14.

Me where I am. The prayer will be granted. We are given to Christ by our baptismal vow, by our Christian name, by our Christian profession, by our hopes, by our repentance, by our prayers. Even now the powers of the Holy Spirit are granted to assist your desires, and confirm your resolution. And you cannot perish, unless you wilfully grieve the Holy Comforter, and turn away from Him that speaketh from heaven.

We have considered the triumphant manner of the ascension of Christ, the nature of His honour and majesty, implied in the expression, He sat at the right hand of God, and the causes for which He went up into heaven. I now beg your attention, in concluding this inquiry, to the expression with which this passage of Scripture commences— So then, after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into heaven. He was not received up until He had spoken to His disciples, all which it was necessary they should hear and know. In the same manner the Lord hath spoken by His evangelists and apostles, all that is necessary for us to know before He shall descend again to judgment. Our religion is founded upon facts-those facts are recorded for our belief-and we cannot doubt their truth. As certainly then as Christ went up into heaven-so certainly shall He again descend to approve or condemn us, who have heard the message of His ministers, and been convinced by their teaching. The ascension is a fact which demonstrates the certainty of the day of judgment.

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And now, if our life could be prolonged to a thousand years, we could know no more than the Scriptures have already taught us. The Lord hath spoken -and we have heard the message. We know that our Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth-that though worms destroy this body, yet in our flesh, after our resurrection shall we see our God-and we shall behold Him for ourselves, and not for another 19. Let each then propose the question to himself, "Am I prepared to meet my God? The hour of my death "may be at hand-the Judge may be even now at "the door. I cannot hope to return with the "Lord to heaven, at the great day of judgment, if "I reject His invitations to repentance, while He grants me the power to repent." It is of little importance to understand the manner in which He is said to sit at the right hand of God; if you do not thus aspire to, and hope for, the same majesty and glory, which it is now in your power to obtain. -It is of little moment to you to know that Christ will prepare a place in heaven for those who trust in Him; if you wilfully despise the mercy which would prepare you for heaven-Whether you have been accustomed to indulge in scornful contempt of religion; or in flattering yourself that God will make no difference between the Christian and the Infidel; be assured, that there is no real enjoyment upon earth, unless you have a well-founded hope

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19 Job xix. 25, 26, 27.

of happiness hereafter. We invite you then to be religious, that you may both live in peace, and die in comfort. We invite you to be religious, that when Christ, who is our life, shall appear 20; we also may awake from the dead with joy; and ascend with Him to the glory which He has died and ascended to obtain for all who believe in His redemption, and fear His name, and trust in His mercy.

20 Col. iii. 4.

SERMON XXVIII.

ON THE NECESSITY OF REPENTANCE AND HOLINESS.

EZEKIEL Xviii. 25, 26, 27. 30.

Ye say the way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? Are not your ways unequal? When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done, shall he die.-Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.

I HAVE read to you in this passage, the sum and substance of Scripture-the full and complete account of all which God requires of man. The holiness of a religious life is the one great object for which the Scriptures have been written, for which Christ has been crucified, and for which the promises, and the threatenings, the precepts, and the wonders

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