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by the collect of this day, to which I beg to call your attention: "O Everlasting God, who hast ordained and constituted the services of angels and men in a wonderful order; mercifully grant, that as thy holy angels alway do thee service in heaven, so by thy appointment they may succour and defend us on earth, through Jesus Christ our Lord."

It has been already observed, that the day which is now at hand is particularly dedicated to the commemoration of St. Michael and all angels. The latter have already, to some extent, occupied our attention. In respect of the former, it is to be noted, that it is a mystical name, which clearly and evidently applies to the person of the Son of God. He is mentioned on more than one occasion in the book of Daniel. In this Sacred Book, in reference to the captive Israelites, he is described as Michael, "one of the chief princes," and again as "Michael your prince." And, in the last chapter of Daniel, certain occurrences are mentioned in connection with this name, which clearly and incontestibly shew that none other than the Messiah was meant. He is here described as "Michael, the Great Prince which standeth for the children of thy people." And the mention which is made of him in the Revelation of St. John is thus given: "There was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon fought and his angels; and prevailed not, neither was there peace found any more in heaven. And the great dragon

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was cast out, that old serpent, called the devil and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world; he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven : Now is come salvation and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ.”

On the wonderful and affectionate love of the Redeemer for the hapless race of mortals, it is unnecessary to dwell at length on the present occasion, since seldom a day passes without its being brought afresh to the recollection of every devout Christian. It may not, however, so frequently occur, even to such an one, that in addition to the One Great Mediator and Intercessor, there are myriads of blessed spirits, saints in light, angels of Christ and of God, who in the midst of the perfection with which they are clothed, of the intense and inexpressible happiness which they enjoy, look down on this nether world with an affectionate regard, which never could be believed, unless the fact were certified in the word of God. "Verily," therefore, do I say unto you, brethren, there is more joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, than over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance." And, in respect of the true disciples of the Redeemer, those "little ones,” who with all humility and thankfulness, with a sincere faith in the promises of God in Christ, place their entire reliance on his mercy, while they endeavour to serve and obey him; in respect of these, the Redeemer himself declares, that "in hea

ven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.”a

And does not such an assurance excite in our breasts a feeling of confidence amidst the dangers of life? Is it not a positive and certain assurance that if we reach not the kingdom of heaven, the fault will rest solely and exclusively with ourselves? Does it not inspire us with a feeling of devout gratitude towards the Almighty Disposer of all things? We know that Christ is perpetually interceding for us, and that the created spirits of God are waiting the result of this intercession with a lively and intense interest in our behalf. We know that Michael and his angels have undertaken a war in our behalf, and are combating the assaults of our most inveterate foe! We know that conquest is certain; that the palm of victory is extended towards us; that our eternal misery can only follow an obstinate and self-willed determination to refuse the proffered advantage!

May such and similar reflections, brethren, tend to encourage our faith in God, and increase our gratitude towards him for the glorious expectations to which we are at liberty to look forward. May they teach us duly to appreciate the wisdom of that church, which has so piously ordained a day to recall our recollections to the existence of those numberless, though invisible, spirits by whom the throne of God is surrounded, and the plenitude of whose happiness consists in perpetually celebrating the

a Matt. xviii. 10.

praises of the Eternal Father, and singing hosannahs to the Son who is seated at His right hand; whose employment consists in serving the God who created them, by transmitting his commands, not to this world only, but in all probability to the most remote corners of the universe; whose perfect and disinterested love displays itself by ministering to the wants of men, by uniting with the "Great Captain" of their host in combating the spirits of darkness, our most inveterate foes; and by looking forward to the happy period when, in respect of hapless mortals, time shall cease and eternity shall begin; when the sins of the world shall have been washed away by the blood of the Lamb; and when we, the subjects of misery and death, shall enter into the dayspring on high; shall with them form part of the host of heaven; and participate in the joy, now known only to them, of dwelling in the presence of the three persons in one God, and celebrating the praises of this Trinity in Unity, from that time forth and for ever.

SERMON XVIII.

MATERIAL OBJECTS, TEMPORAL; SPIRITUAL OBJECTS, ETERNAL.

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ISAIAH, li. 6.

:

Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished."

In the text, brethren, the Prophet conveys to us a most solemn assurance that every thing which the material eye is capable of beholding shall, sooner or later, have an end; whereas those things which are spiritual, and which the vision of the mind and the eye of faith can alone comprehend, shall be co-equal with eternity itself. The assurance, I repeat, is a solemn one, and it is, or at least it ought to be, as impressive as it is solemn. We are all of us, some it is true more-infinitely more than others, accustomed to bestow our affections on things beneath,

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