happy; the body itself shall be raised in beauty;" and ask, Is it not "good tidings of great joy?" Ask the heathen, who faints beneath life's load, as you point him to a bright world of rest and of eternal joy. Ask the dying saint. Tell him he is leaving a world of sin, is suffering his last pain, baffling his last enemy—and as you see him die, and hear him shout, this is his response, "Glory!" Who of us will not receive these tidings with great joy? To us they have come-come too with the view of their effects. Can you help crying out for joy? If so, will not the stones cry out against you? You will never again hear such tidings. Better than news that the world is yours-for it says heaven may be yours. Can you shut your ears against it? O we would not believe it, if men's actions did not constrain us so to do! Shall we not love Christ with all our hearts? Who hath done so much for us-sacrificed so much for us? Who loves us so well as He, and who so lovely, who so worthy to be loved? O hard must be that heart which will not beat with affection for Christ! Cold that bosom, which will not be warmed by a dying Saviour's love! XXXI.* WITH DESIRE I HAVE DESIRED TO EAT THIS PASSOVER WITH YOU BEFORE I SUFFER.-Luke xxii, 15. THERE is peculiar beauty in many of the expressions of the Saviour. They indicate a soul full of tender emotions, and anxious to communicate blessings to others. Finer specimens of tenderness and love cannot be found than his parting conversations and interviews with his disciples previous to his crucifixion. "Let not your heart be troubled," &c., John xiv. Beautiful were the dying * A sacramental sermon. words of Socrates, and consoling to his friends his conjectures of immortality; but infinitely more sweet and consoling were the words of Christ; there is an air of unearthliness about them, unlike the words of our dying friends. In him all human affections were exactly balanced, while heavenly love was the mistress of the whole. "He spake as never man 'spake." He desired to eat this passover with his disciples, because, 1. It was the last time. served, that human beings fact that they are the last. about to expatriate himself, visits the home and scenes of his youth, and all seem to him invested with new charms; fields and woods are parting friends. So the dying man asks to be seated at the table once more before he dies, and to him and his it is a scene of deep and mournful interest, for it is the last. So we revert to the last conversation with our departed friends, with all its mournful scenes, and we carry their remembrance through the walks of life. Christ had many times sat with his disciples around the social board-had seen their homely fare-known their sorrows;—but now the last time had come. He had all the sinless feelings of a man, and could not but be affected; memory, association, and imagination, operated in him to make it solemn. What would become of that family in their wanderings without its father-that band without its captain! Long since has it been obprize many things from the Thus the missionary, who is 2. It was also the last time the passover itself could be appropriately celebrated. There is in us all a veneration for ancient rites and ceremonies, especially if instituted by high authority, and in commemoration of great events. Hence the festive, days of pagans-their games, &c. Hence the celebration of the fourth of July, which will continue while our liberty remains. The passover was very ancient-was instituted with great solemnity-by the highest authority-in commemoration of the greatest event connected with Jewish history-to prefigure the greatest event connected with the history of the world. Solemn must it have been to know it was now to cease for ever. No father, in after time, would receive the smiles of Heaven as he should slay the lamb! 3. It was the appointed time for the institution of the most affecting ordinance of Christianity. The hour was fast approaching when Christ was to be crucified-the plan of his betrayal and capture was laid-the price of blood agreed upon. Their rite was the type of the crucifixion; and must it not have brought it all to his mind? Must there not have been struggles at the thought of so much suffering? But moments were precious; before another meal all would be finished. This event was now to be imbodied in the sacrament of the Lord's supper. 'Tis done; the bread and wine are emblems of his death. How would you feel to see your coffin? But how high must infinite love have swelled his bosom? "Given for you! !" How sweet the thought that it was to be kept in memory through all time—to soften and cheer the hearts of all saints who should celebrate it-to be the memorial of love to the universe-to cheer the bed of death! The holy raptures of saints on earth and in heaven were the picture which Christ saw. Peculiar must be the feelings of every saint who contemplates this ordinance. If he have enlarged views of religion, as the time of its celebration draws nigh, he will desire to eat this passover, 1. That he may give the token and pledge of his love to the universal church. Those places are honoured and courted by us which have been the scenes of great events, and of the frequent visitation of the wise and good. As we visit them, we are inspired by the noble feelings to which the events give rise, and hold communion with those who have had similar feelings. Hence Plymouth, and Palestine, are visited with interest. The communion table is the commemorating scene of an event which eclipses all others; it brings to mind the garden and the cross, with all their melting scenes, and also the object and blessings which they secured, "These sacred signs thy suff'rings, Lord, To our remembrance bring." It has been visited by the great and good for eighteen hundred years. The highest saints in heaven bowed lowest here. We mingle in the scene and visit the place, as a token of fellowship with saints on earth and in heaven, and as the pledge of relationship and love to them. Who would not thus ally himself to the church below, above? 2. That he may manifest his love to Christ, and his entire dependance on his sacrificial death. It was in memory of Him who loved you unto death-who purchased for you every temporal and spiritual favour-who is your all in health and sickness-in prosperity and adversity—in time and eternity, that this rite was instituted. Who that loves the Saviour, realizes his favours, and is grateful, will not commemorate his death? 3. Because it may be the last time. We shall not be called to suffer as did Christ, neither in manner, nor for the same object. But we must die; and in view of the pains, agonies, and partings at death, we may justly call it the hour of suffering. It is possible, nay probable, some of us may reach that hour before another sacramental season! We should act in view of this probability. How would you look forward to this season, if sure it were the last? Fathers in Israel, what emotions would throb your breasts? How busy would be your memory, how warm your love, how tender your hearts! It would be a parting scene! How active would be your faith! "I am going to heaven to see my Jesus-to sit at his table. Shall I see you there?" But I must stop; the time has come to gather round the table. Jesus waits to feast you now. Blessed thought! Are you not eager to come that you may give the token of love to the universal church-that you may manifest your love to Christ, and your entire dependance on his sacrificial death-feeling, too, that it may be the last time? XXXII.* HE THAT WINNETH SOULS IS WISE.- THE world is estranged from God and joined to Satan. The gospel proposes to bring man back from Satan to God. The means which it authorizes for the accomplishment of this great object are moral means only-argument and expostulation. Hence the true preaching of the gospel is not a compulsory, but a winning process. When you consider the infinite importance of the object, the nature of the work, and its consequences, you will readily admit that he who would win souls must obtain wisdom as a prerequisite. As Christians, we all admit that the minister must possess wisdom in its highest sense; that is, sound and ardent piety. Upon this in a great degree depend the correctness of his doctrines, and the purity of his life; without this he cannot expect the aid of the Spirit, which alone can render his preaching instrumental in the salvation of men. At the present day, however, something more than piety is necessary. The gift of tongues has * Preached on behalf of the New-England Wesleyan Education Society. |