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grief, yet the Gentiles were to come to his light, and kings to the brightness of his rising. In the hour when Christ died, those prophetical riddles were solved; those seeming contradictions were reconciled. The obscurity of oracles, and the ambiguity of types, vanished. The Sun of righteousness rose; and, together with the dawn of religion, those shadows passed away.

IV. This was the hour of the abolition of the law, and the introduction of the gospel; the hour of terminating the old and of beginning the new dispensation of religious knowledge and worship throughout the earth. Viewed in this light, it forms the most august era which is to be found in the history of mankind. When Christ was suffering on the cross, we are informed by one of the evangelists, that he said, I thirst; and that they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it to his mouth. After he had tasted the vinegar, knowing that all things were now accomplished, and the scriptures fulfilled, he said, It is finished; (John xix. 28. 30.) that is, This offered draught of vnegar was the last circumstance predicted by an ancient prophet (Psal. Ixix. 21.) that remained to be fulfilled. The vision and the prophecy are now sealed: the Mosaic dispensation is closed. And he bowed his head and gave up the ghost.

It is finished. When he uttered these words, he changed the state of the universe. At that moment the law ceased, and the gospel commenced. This was the ever-memorable point of time which separated the old and the new world from each other. On one side of the point of separation, you behold the Law, with its priests, its sacrifices, and its rites, retiring from sight. On the other side, you behold the Gospel, with its simple and venerable institutions, coming forward into view. Significantly was the veil of the temple rent

in this hour; for the glory then departed from between the cherubim. The legal high-priest delivered up his Urim and Thummim, his breastplate, his robes, and his incense: and CHRIST stood forth as the great High Priest of all succeeding generations. By that one sacrifice which he now offered, he abolished sacrifices for ever.

Altars on which the fire had blazed for ages, were now to smoke no more. Victims were no more to bleed. Not with the blood of bulls and goats but with his own blood he now entered into the holy place, there to appear in the presence of God for us.

This was the hour of association and union to all the worshippers of God. When Christ said, It is finished, he threw down the wall of partition which had so long divided the Gentile from the Jew. He gathered into one, all the faithful out of every kindred and people. He proclaimed the hour to be come, when the knowledge of the true God should be no longer confined to one nation, nor his worship to one temple, but over all the earth, the worshippers of the Father should serve him in spirit and in truth. From that hour they who dwelt in the uttermost ends of the earth, strangers to the covenant of promise, began to be brought nigh. In that hour the light of the Gospel dawned from afar on the British Islands.

During a long course of ages, Providence seemed to be occupied in preparing the world for this revolution. The whole Jewish economy was intended to usher it in. The knowledge of God was preserved unextinguished in one corner of the world, that thence, in due time, might issue forth the light which was to overspread the earth. Successive revelations gradually enlarged the views of men beyond the narrow bounds of Judea, to a more extensive kingdom of God. Signs and mira

cles awakened their expectation, and directed their eyes towards this great event. Whether God descended on the flaming mountain, or spoke by the prophet's voice; whether he scattered his chosen people into captivity or reassembled them in their own land; he was still carrying on a progressive plan, which was accomplished at the death of Christ.

Not only in the territories of Israel, but over all the earth, the great dispensations of Providence respected the approach of this important hour. If empires rose or fell; if war divided, or peace united, the nations; if learning civilized their manners, or philosophy enlarged their views; all was, by the secret decree of Heaven, made to ripen the world for that fulness of time, when Christ was to publish the whole counsel of God. The Persian, the Macedonian, the Roman conqueror, entered upon the stage each at his predicted period; and though he meant not so, neither did his heart think so, ministered to this hour. The revolutions of power, and the succession of monarchies, were so arranged by Providence, as to facilitate the progress of the Gospel through the habitable world, after the day had arrived, when the stone which was cut out of the mountain without hands, should become a great mountain and fill the earth. (Dan. ii. 34, 35.) This was the day which Abraham saw afar off, and was glad. This was the day which many prophets and kings, and righteous men, desired to see, but could not; the day for which the earnest expectation of the creature, long oppressed with ignorance, and bewildered in superstition, might be justly said to wait.

V. This was the hour of Christ's triumph over all the powers of darkness; the hour in which he overthrew dominions and thrones, led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. The contest which the kingdom of dark

ness had long maintained against the kingdom of light was now brought to its crisis. The period was come when the seed of the woman should bruise the head of the serpent. For many ages, the most gross superstition had filled the earth. The glory of the incorruptible God was every where, except in the land of Judea, changed into images made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and beasts, and creeping things. The world, which the Almighty created for himself, seemed to have become a temple of idols. Even to vices and passions altars were raised; and what was entitled religion, was in effect a discipline of impurity. In the midst of this universal darkness Satan had erected his throne; and the learned and polished as well as the savage nations, bowed down before him. But at the hour when Christ appeared on the cross, the signal of his defeat was given. His kingdom suddenly departed from him the reign of idolatry passed away: he was beheld to fall like lightning from heaven. In that hour the foundation of every Pagan temple shook. The statue of every false god tottered on its base. The priest fled from his falling shrine; and the heathen oracles became dumb for ever.

As on the cross, Christ triumphed over Satan, so he overcame his auxiliary, the world. Long had it assailed him with its temptations and discouragements; in this hour of severe trial, he surmounted them all. Formerly he had despised the pleasures of the world. He now baffled its terrors. Hence he is justly said to have crucified the world. By his sufferings he ennobled distress; and he darkened the lustre of the pomp and vanities of life. He discovered to his followers the path which leads, through affliction, to glory and to victory; and he imparted to them the same spirit which enabled him to overcome. My kingdom is not of this world. In

this world ye shall have tribulation : but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. (John xvi. 33.)

Death also, the last foe of man, was the victim of this hour. The formidable appearance of the spectre remained; but his dart was taken away. For, in the hour when Christ expiated guilt, he disarmed death, by securing the resurrection of the just. When he said to his penitent fellowsufferer, To-day thou shalt be with me in paradise, he announced to all his followers the certainty of heavenly bliss. He declared the cherubims to be dismissed, and the flaming sword to be sheathed, which had been appointed at the fall, to keep from man the way of the tree of life. (Gen. iii. 24.) Faint, before this period, had been the hope, indistinct the prospect, which even good men enjoyed of the heavenly kingdom.-Life and immortality were now brought to light. From the bill of Calvary the first clear and certain view was given to the world of the everlasting mansions. Since that hour they have been the perpetual consolation of believers in Christ. Under trouble, they soothe their minds; amidst temptation, they support their virtue; and in their dying moments enable them to say, O death! where is thy sting? O grave! where is thy victory?

VI. This was the hour when our Lord erected that spiritual kingdom which is never to end. How vain are the counsels and designs of men! How shallow is the policy of the wicked! How short their triumphing! The enemies of Christ imagined that in this hour they had successfully accomplished their plan for his destruction. They believed, that they had entirely scattered the small party of his followers, and had extinguished his name and his honour for ever. In derision, they addressed him as a king. They clothed him with purple robes; they crowned him with a

crown of thorns; they put a reed into his hand; and, with insulting mockery, bowed the knee before him. Blind and impious men! How little did they know that the Almighty was, at that moment, setting him as a King on the hill of Sion; giving him the Heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession! How little did they know that their badges of mock royalty were at that moment converted into the signals of absolute dominion, and the instruments of irresistible power! The reed which they put into his hands became arod of iron, with which he was to break in pieces his enemies; a sceptre with which he was to rule the universe in righteousness. The cross, which they thought was to stigmatize him with infamy, became the ensign of his renown. Instead of being the reproach of his followers, it was to be their boast and their glory. The cross was to shine on palaces and churches, throughout the earth. It was to be assumed as the distinction of the most powerful monarchs, and to wave in the banner of victorious armies, when the memory of Herod and Pilate should be accursed, when Jerusalem should be reduced to ashes, and the Jews be vagabonds over all the world.

These were the triumphs which commenced at this hour. Our Lord saw them already in their birth; he saw of the travail of his soul, and was satisfied. He beheld the word of God going forth, conquering, and to conquer; subduing, to the obedience of his laws, the subduers of the world; carrying light into the regions of darkness, and mildness into the habitations of cruelty. He beheld the Gentiles waiting below the cross to receive the gospel. He beheld Ethiopia and the isles stretching out their hands to God; the desert beginning to rejoice and to blossom as the rose; and the knowledge of the Lord filling the

earth, as the waters cover the sea. Well pleased, he said, It is finished. As a conqueror he retired from the field, reviewing his triumphs: He bowed his head and gave up the ghost, -From that hour, Christ was no longer a mortal man, but head over all things to the church; the glorious King of men and angels, of whose dominion there shall be no end. His triumphs shall perpetually increase. His name shall endure for ever; it shall last as long as the sun; men shall be blessed in him, and all nations shall call him blessed.

Such were the transactions, such the effects, of this ever memorable hour. With all those great events was the mind of our Lord filled, when he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father! the hour is come.

From this view which we have taken of this subject, permit me to suggest, what ground it affords to confide in the mercy of God for the pardon of sin; to trust to his faithfulness for the accomplishment of all his promises; and to approach to him with gratitude and devotion, in acts of worship.

In the first place, the death of Christ affords us ground to confide in the Divine mercy for the pardon of sin. All the steps of that high dispensation of Providence, which we have considered, lead directly to this conclusion, He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (Rom. viii. 32.) This is the final result of the discoveries of the gospel. On this rests that great system of consolation, which it hath reared up for men. We are not left to dubious and intricate reasonings, concerning the conduct which God may be expected to hold towards his offending creatures: but we are led to the view of important and illustrious facts, which strike the mind with evidence irresistible. For

is it possible to believe, that such great operations, as I have endeavoured to describe, were carried on by the Almighty in vain? Did he excite in the hearts of his creatures such encouraging hopes, without any intention to fulfil them? After so long a preparation of goodness, could he mean to deny forgiveness to the penitent and the humble? When, overcome by the sense of guilt, man looks up with an astonished eye to the justice of his Creator, let him recollect that hour of which the text speaks, and be comforted. The signals of divine mercy, erected in his view, are too conspicuous to be either distrusted or mistaken.

In the next place, the discoveries of this hour afford the highest reason to trust in the Divine faithfulness, for the accomplishment of every promise which remains yet unfulfilled. For this was the hour of the completion of God's ancient covenant.

It was the performance of the mercy promised to the fathers. We behold the consummation of a great plan, which, throughout a course of ages, had been uniformly pursued; and which, against every human appearance, was, at the appointed moment, exactly fulfilled. No word that is gone out of the mouth of the Lord shall fail. No length of time alters his purpose. No obstacles can retard it. Towards the ends accomplished in this hour, the most repugnant instruments were made to operate. We discern God bending to his purpose the jarring passions, the opposite interests, and even the vices of men; uniting seeming contrarieties in his scheme; making the wrath of man to praise him; obliging the ambition of princes, the prejudices of the Jews, the malice of Satan, all to concur, either in bringing forward this hour, or in completing its destined effects. With what entire confidence ought we to wait for the ful

filment of all his other promises in their due time; even when events are most embroiled, and the prospect is most discouraging. Although thou sayest, thou canst not see him; yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him. Be attentive only to perform thy duty; leave the event to God; and be assured, that under the direction of his providence, all things shall work together for a happy issue. Lastly, the consideration of this whole subject tends to excite gratitude and devotion, when we approach to God in acts of worship. The hour of which I have discoursed, presents him to us in the amiable light of the Deliverer of mankind, the Restorer of our forfeited hopes. We behold the greatness of the Almighty, softened by the mild radiance of condescension and mercy. We behold him diminishing the awful distance at which we stand from his presence, by appointing for us a Mediator and Intercessor, through whom the humble may, without dismay, approach to Him who made them. By such views of the Divine nature, Christian

falth lays the foundation for a worship which shall be at once rational and affectionate; a worship, in which the light of the understanding shall concur with the devotion of the heart, and the most profound reverence be united with the most cordial love. Christian faith is not a system of speculative truths. It is not a lesson of moral instruction only. By a train of high discoveries which it reveals, by a succession of interesting objects which it places in our view, it is calculated to elevate the mind, to purify the affections, and, by the assistance of devotion, to confirm and encourage virtue. Such, in particular, is the scope of that divine institution, the Sacrament of our Lord's Supper. To this happy purpose let it conduce, by concentring, in one striking point of light, all that the gospel has displayed of what is most important to man. Touched with just contrition for past offences, and filled with a grateful sense of Divine goodness, let us come to the altar of God; and, with a humble faith in his infinite mercies, devote ourselves to his service for ever.

SERMON VI.

ON GENTLENESS.

The wisdom that is from above is—gentle—James iii. 17.

To be wise in our own eyes, to be wise in the opinion of the world, and to be wise in the sight of God, are three things so very different, as rarely to coincide. One may often be wise in his own eyes, who is far from being so in the judgment of the world; and to be reputed a prudent man by the world, is no security for being accounted wise by God. As there is a worldly happiness, which God perceives to be no other than disguised misery; as there are worldly honours, which in his estimation

are reproach; so there is a worldly wisdom, which in his sight is foolish

ness.

Of this worldly wisdom the characters are given in the context, and placed in contrast with those of the wisdom which is from above. The one is the wisdom of the crafty; the other that of the upright. The one terminates in selfishness; the other in charity. The one is full of strife and bitter envyings; the other of mercy and of good fruits. One of the chief characters by which the wisdom from above is distinguished, is gentleness,

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