ment, or take the uppermost room at feasts, or the chief seat in the synagogue; and then fast and pray, and give alms, to be seen of men. He might do all this, purely from a love of display. And in the present day a man may be, to all intents and purposes, the same Pharisee. He may do every religious duty because others do it, or because it is the custom of his country, or to be called of men Rabbi, Rabbi. But the real Christian seeks not such distinctions. He knows that the whole family have one Master, even Christ, and that all the children should be brethren. In genuine Christianity, there will ever be a thankful and grateful recollection of the goodness of God in assisting our poor faculties, by giving us religious ordinances. The outward ceremony has ever been a part of the worship of the church on earth; and without it we should soon forget our duty. As Bishop Beveridge wisely observes, "If no places were set apart for the worship of God, men would soon worship him nowhere if no times, they would never worship him; so, if no persons were set apart for it, none would ever do it at : all, at least so as they ought. We should soon be wandering about, weary of ourselves and of all around us, a prey to every evil passion and corrupt propensity, without worship and without God in the world."* But when prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and all the duties of the Gospel, find their respective places in the christian life, how blessed that life becomes! Just as that man is the happiest who never has an idle moment. Self-denial leads to industry, and industry to contentment. The very acts of self-denial to which he, for conscience sake, willingly subjects himself, render the blessings and enjoyments of life yet more valuable. He has the unspeakable satisfaction of knowing that he is at least endeavouring to imitate his blessed Saviour, and he finds, from daily experience, that he needs the fulness of that divine Person to atone for his sin, and to be his Mediator, Intercessor, and Advocate. Every doctrine, and every duty breaking forth into daily conduct, is beautifully correct, as delivered in the Bible. The Gospel is a perfect whole. * Vol. ii. p. 109, 8vo Edition. It needs no additions, nor must anything be taken from it. Men have perverted doctrines the most holy, and they have framed a very erroneous practice upon them; they have abused prayer, and fasting, to the purposes of sin; purchasing the one for money, and claiming merit for the other; but the abuse of anything good does not lessen the real value of that good thing. Rather let us take the Scriptures for our guide, and may the wise and merciful Lord, who gave them for our instruction, bless them to every gracious purpose. Let us be especially watchful over ourselves, and abstain from the very appearance of evil. Our moderation should be known unto all men. We should learn daily to take up our cross, and to follow Christ. Lastly, all self-denial will close with this mortal life. When we are admitted into that state in which there is no sin, we shall have perfect enjoyment, without the possibility of yielding to temptation. We shall be beyond the reach of danger. Our faculties and powers will be employed in praising Him; He has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us; and songs of everlasting praise will surround the throne of God. For if after our blessed Lord in our mortal nature had vanquished Satan, angels came and ministered unto him; we, when our conflict shall cease for ever, shall unite with saints and angels in ascribing honour and glory, praise, majesty and dominion, to our God, for ever and ever. Amen! people hear the voice of the Lord speaking to them out of the fire, as the children of Israel heard it, and live? Did the Lord ever go and take to himself a people out of every other people, save in their case? No! We are to look upon them, and upon their law, as in an especial manner chosen and ordained by God. But it is equally clear from the same word of inspiration, that the law was only for a given time. It was their schoolmaster to bring them to Christ. It made nothing perfect; but the bringing in of a better hope did; by which hope we draw nigh unto God. In the temple of Jerusalem there were two tabernacles, (according to the apostle, in this chapter from whence the text is taken.) The priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God, i. e. doing the public services of the temple. But into the second went the high priest alone, once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people; the Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest. "But Christ being come, an High Priest of |