will not come unto me, that ye might have life." He came on this errand of mercy to his own, but his own received him not." How strange, how passing strange, is the indifference of mankind! They are not indeed indifferent to their present momentary gratifications, but to the great concerns of eternity. "How is it that ye have no faith?" was again the exclamation of the Lord himself. He marvelled because of their unbelief. "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" These expressions plainly prove to us, that in the day when Christ was upon earth, there was the same coldness and deadness to the word of life. We reason, and we think, and we examine our own hearts, and we are constrained to confess that we are very far gone from original righteousness, and that the same corruption of our nature which caused us to need a Saviour, leads us too often to despise his goodness. Such experience is good. We are humbled to the dust, and we are then taught by the same Spirit which humbles, that nothing but the power of that good Lord who hath bought us with a price, can open our hearts to receive the truth in

the love of it, and to rejoice in the glad tidings of the Gospel, and to live to him who died for us. The love of Christ constraineth us ; the of Christ pregrace vents and follows us; and having once seen the end of our calling, and experienced somewhat of the length, and breadth, and height, and depth of that love which passeth knowledge; we are made the willing subjects of Messiah's kingdom. We are adopted into a new family, we are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, and we live as children in their father's house, loving him who hath first loved us.

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Such is a faint view of the dutiful submission of a Christian. All his works are not done to merit a reward, but because the Lord hath done such great things for him and surely it is a much higher principle to make the return of pious gratitude for favours received, than to seek by our imperfect services to claim that reward which is only given to perfect righteousness. That righteousness in ourselves we do not pos~ sess; but it is to be found in Christ Jesus. In the scriptural view of these doctrines every duty has its place, and it is only

wonderful that such mistakes are made in a matter so plain. Let the Saviour be for ever exalted; let the glory be his through all eternity; let him be crowned with majesty, and we shall not fail, if labourers in his vineyard, to receive in his appointed way a rich recompense of reward. "Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first." The master, the servants, the whole household, shall be blessed; and if he washed our feet, if he stooped to the lowest offices for our salvation, we ought also to wash one another's feet. For he has left us an example, that we should do as he has done. for us!

May the great doctrine of this day sink deeply into your hearts. May it influence our thoughts, words, and actions. May it be the groundwork of every sermon; the motive to all holy practice. May it be preached in all climates, tongues, nations, and languages. For to him who was nailed to the accursed tree, as on this day, to him shall the gathering of the people be. To him let praise be ascribed, to him let the best services of our lives be devoted;

to

him who hath loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."

SERMON X.

DEATH SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY.

1 COR. xv. 54.

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality; then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

THERE are some subjects so confessedly beyond the powers of the human intellect, that whilst we are unable to explain them, we can only adore and praise and bless that Almighty Being who has revealed them to us in his holy word; and has promised that the events foretold shall assuredly be brought to pass. Such a subject is the resurrection of the dead; subject upon which all our