God their God. Love softens the dazzling splendours of the Mediator's throne, guides all its measures, and blesses all its subjects. Let the pious who are sinking under a consciousness of their unworthiness, who are saying, "O that thou wert as my brother, I would lead thee, and bring thee into my mother's house; I would put forth my best efforts to honour thee, his left hand should be under my head, and his right hand should embrace me; but I have forfeited his love, and I am certain from his coldness, and I must say righteous severity, that I have lost all share in his regard;"-hear how he calls them his sisters and his brethren. From his throne he surveys you assembled this day to obey his dying command, and to devote yourselves to him, and hears you saying to him as the sons of Jacob did to Joseph, "Forgive, we pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin, for they did unto thee evil," and like that generous man he will comfort you, and speak kindly to you. This is the language in which he will address the mourner in Zion: "For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee, in a little wrath I have hid my face from thee for a moment, but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer.” He was in all things made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful high priest.

3d, It was a message of consolation. It was not only calculated to relieve that anxiety and distress which the consciousness of guilt, and the apprehension of our Saviour's displeasure must have excited, but it was fitted to dissipate the sorrow which had overwhelmed them on our Lord's account. Unworthy as their conduct had been, they sincerely loved their Master; and the shame and the suffering to which

they saw him subjected, filled them with the deepest sorrow. They heard of his crucifixion with horror, and their hearts lingered about his grave as the receptacle of a Master whom they revered, and of a friend whom they loved above every human being, And has innocence so unspotted perished thus infamously? Has mercy tender like his, sunk before its barbarous foes? Are the lips which dropped with wisdom now sealed up for ever; and is he whom disease and death obeyed, now seeing corruption in the sepulchre ? Amidst such mournful and terrifying thoughts, this message assures them that their master is alive. They had seen him led away by his enemies, and conducted before an unrighteous judge; but they are told that now he is going to his Father and to his God. They imagined that he was still an inhabitant of the tomb, but he was now on his way to the regions of immortality; and so far from being still, as they thought, the prey of his enemies, he had arisen and scattered them. They dwelt in grief and indignation on the cruelty with which men had treated him; but he leads their view to the goodness which his Father had laid up for him, and which he was now about to possess.

The restoration of a friend to health, to honour, and to prosperity, is very gratifying to the heart, and will make those that love him to rejoice, and to give thanks even while they labour under personal sorrow, from which they have no hope of relief; and much more delightful was it to his disciples, to hear of the exaltation of such a friend as Christ, especially when they reflected that it was for their sakes that he was afflicted and oppressed, and that his glorification is the pledge of theirs.

4th, It was a message of caution. Great is the force

of early prejudices. The idea of a temporal Messiah had been long cherished among the Jews. It pervaded all ranks, and was instilled with care into the minds of their children. It supported their hearts amidst their national calamities; and their present galling sub. jection to the yoke of Rome, was mitigated by the hope that their chains would be broken by the "Salvation of Israel." The disciples of Christ had imbibed this idea. They imagined that Jesus of Nazareth was the destined restorer of the departed glories of their country; and all the poverty of his circumstances, and all the spirituality of his discourses and conduct, did not rectify their misconceptions. Every display which he gave of his miraculous powers, and every proof which was afforded of the admiration and attachment of the multitude, served to confirm these impressions. In this state of mind our Saviour's unresisting submission to the violence of his enemies mortified and confounded them, and disappointed ambition mingled its tears with those which sorrow and affection shed round his tomb. "We trusted, said they, that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel." Now their Master well knew that these ideas would return with full force to their minds when they heard of his resurrection; that they would view it as a sign from heaven, to summon the nation to his standard, and as a pledge of his subduing the world before him. To prevent opinions from being cherished so carnal and so fallacious, he sends this message to inform them that he was about to as -cend to heaven. Instead of collecting armies, and pursuing the work of devastation and slaughter; instead of gratifying the pride and the revenge of the Jews, by subduing the heathen under them; instead of shew-. ing them waving banners, cities in flames, and garments rolled in blood, he tells them that he was going to be

head over all things to the church, to order " repentance and remission of sins to be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem;" to unite men of opposite habits and tempers in harmony and friendship; and by the virtues of his cross to draw the Gentiles to the obedience of faith. He was going to a place, and to a scene, where the objects of human ambition are seen divested of that glare which dazzles the eyes of weak mortals, and where God is all in all.

Let us learn from this message, to check all low and carnal views of religious objects, and to remember that the gospel kingdom is not of this world. Had this been attended to, its discipline would never have been enforced by penal statutes, nor would the observ ance of its rites have been made the passport to of fices of emolument and distinction. Beneficence is the use which Christianity makes of power, and the purpose for which she employs wealth is charity. The fear of God is her grand restraint, the meek and quiet spirit her only ornament, the winning of souls her only conquest, and the approbation of her Lord her only

crown.

5th, It was a message most encouraging to their faith and hope. They had been assured by their Master, that if he went away he would send the Comforter to them; that in his Father's house there were many mansions, and that he would prepare a place for them, where they should abide with him for ever. Now, nothing could be better adapted to recal these assurances to their minds, and to strengthen their faith in them than this message? It showed that he was still mindful of his promises to them, and that their happiness was still the great object of his wishes.

Besides, as all things were to be delivered to him,

by his Father, he was able to supply them with every thing that was necessary for the discharge of their duty. They might have to oppose the prejudices of the multitude, the cavils of the disputer, and the contempt of the proud, to sacrifice their nearest connexions, to relinquish every secular advantage, and to resist even unto blood; but they had a friend in heaven whose grace would be sufficient for them, and whose strength would be perfected in their weakness.

This intelligence was fitted also to confirm their faith in the acceptance of his sacrifice by the Father, and to show them with what confidence they might rely on it, and with what reason they might recommend it to the dependence of others. Since by his own blood he hath entered into the holy place, it is a proof that he hath obtained eternal redemption for us, and that in calling the guilty to trust in that blood, we call them to a hope which shall never make them ashamed.

This intelligence held out to them the hope of reunion with him. If he considered himself as their brother, he would not suffer them to be for ever separated from him. They had heard him pray that they might share his glory before his passion, and he would not neglect to urge this afterwards. They had shared his poverty and toils, and having suffered with him they must also reign with him. I may add, that it was fitted to maintain their confidence in his intercession. A brother could not be cold in pleading for his brethren, nor could a father listen to an intercessor so beloved in behalf of objects so dear with indifference. To those who have such important interests in dependence in the court of heaven, who have so many charges to be answered, so many wants to be