PREFACE. It is needless to write much in the way of preface to a small work of this kind. It may suffice to say, that it is intended to be a sort of sequel to my Sermons on the LORD'S PRAYER. In that divine piece of devotion we pray-"Thy Kingdom come.” The prayer of the Apostle relates to that Kingdom as existing in the heart of the true believer. It leads us chiefly to the examination of inward, spiritual piety; on the right cultivation and improvement of which the health and happiness of our souls depend. If the Gospel of Christ is received by us to our salvation, it must be in us both light, and life, and power. From a great variety of causes, we need have our attention called often, yea constantly, to the work of religion in the soul. We car.vass opinions; we pursue different objects; and meanwhile we are apt to be too unmindful of the state of the inner man; of what is going on uniformly within; of our thoughts, principles, affections and desires. What we all want is more of religion itself in its deep and hidden, in its effectual and sanctifying influences. There are exact or lofty notions in one quarter; and there are acute and vehement debates in another but where do we find the genuine spirit of Christianity-faith, hope, and love; humility, meekness, spiritual mindedness; the mild and tender sorrow of the penitent, in happy union with the calm, modest, and holy peace and joy of the believer ?— May the readers of these unpretending pages,-and may all Christians,-be led to a due consideration of this all-important subject! The Sermon on the first miracle of our Saviour in Cana of Galilee is added to the volume from the notion, that it will give its reader something like a just view of that interesting record. Our blessed Lord came to be the Bridegroom of His Church; and what more appropriate scene for His first miracle could have been selected than a marriage-feast? He came also not only to purchase life and peace for His people, but also to give them joy and gladness and what could be more strikingly a visible expression of this than the miracle which he wrought? What, however, is here written on this subject will, it is hoped, be rather viewed as humble suggestion than as positive assertion. The view which is here given of this miracle makes it fully harmonize with the other miracles of our Lord, if we regard them as material and visible representations of things spiritual and invisible. BOWER HILL, REPTON, OCT. 10, 1843. EXTRACTS FROM THE MORAL REFLECTIONS OF FATHER QUESNEL ON THE NEW TESTAMENT. Eph. iii. 14, 15. If the sufferings of a pastor be an occasion of temptation to his sheep, they ought to find in the humility and fervency of his prayers their support and strength. Ver. 16. How admirable is this inner man, of whom faith is the reason and the light; charity, the heart and the life; the Holy Spirit, the soul and the strength. Ver. 17. If the heart be full either of itself or of the world, how can Jesus Christ fill it? The more empty the heart is of concupiscence, the more does God become the fulness thereof, by charity or a lively faith. Ver. 18. When charity shall be consummated in all the saints, then it is that we shall be able to comprehend the grand mystery of the love of God towards His people. In the meanwhile, let us satisfy ourselves with imitating His love, looking at Him as our pattern, and referring all to Him as our end. Ver. 19. The love of Christ crucified is the lively image of the love of God, and the perfect pattern of that of Christians.-O fulness, O all the fulness of God, to which man is designed and appointed, and which is the end of all the designs of God, and of the mysteries of Christ! Is not God capable to satisfy man? Must man needs fill himself besides with a thousand trifles to complete his happiness? Col. i. 9. When a pastor desires, that God would please to give immediately to persons that wisdom and spiritual understanding of which they stand in need, it is an instance of a pure, disinterested, and humble zeal.-The first grace is, to know perfectly our way, and what the will of God requires of us. Ver. 10. The second is, to do every thing upon a principle of love, and by a spirit of religion. 3. To apply ourselves, not to that which is most profitable to us, but to that which honours God, and is most pleasing to Him. 4. Not on some occasions only, but in all things. 5. Not to have only barren and fruitless desires, but to employ our life in real works. 6. In all sorts of good works. 7. To feed continually on the word of God, that we may increase in the knowledge of Him, and be more and more inflamed with the love of His truth. Ver. 11. 8. To rely solely on the almighty power of God. 9. To be ready to suffer all things without reserve or exception. 10. All this is to be done with peace and joy of heart, which may show that God is instead of all things to it. Ver. 12. 11. To carry always in our hearts an inexhaustible stock of gratitude towards God, for the gift of Jesus Christ; for the faith that He has wrought in us; and for the glory to which we are called in Him.-It is the inheritance of the saints: let us earnestly endeavour to become such, if we aspire after it. Eph. iii. 20, 21. He who has once experienced the efficacy of the divine power working in his heart, is far from fearing lest he should attribute too much thereto. It is highly just and reasonable, O our God, that Thou shouldst alone be glorified in Thy Church by Jesus Christ, since it is Thou who workest by Him all the good which is done therein. SERMON I. THE INVOCATION. EPHESIANS iii. 14, 15. "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.” IN the first verse of this chapter St. Paul styles himself "the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles." He was a prisoner at Rome when he wrote this Epistle. The welfare of the Church of Christ never fails to obtain the most serious consideration of a good man, in every place, and in all circumstances. The heart of Eli "trembled for the ark of God." The prayer of David was, "Do good in Thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem." But when a good man cannot promote the welfare of the Church in one way, he will strive to do it in another. And here the Apostle Paul is a striking and pleasing example; one most worthy of our imitation. He was surrounded with adversaries and exposed to dangers; but he wrote to the Churches, and he prayed for them. From the imprisonment which he underwent in pagan Rome, he sent forth B |