Bread;"-"the Bread of life;"-" the Bread of Heaven." The manna that was given in the desert, and the tables of shew-bread in the sanctuary, were, indeed, striking emblems of this celestial Bread; but they gave a very inadequate impression of its excellence. The manna vanished with the morning dew; the shew-bread was periodically removed; but this Bread continues for ever, imparting to believers in every age, life, nourishment, and vigour.

Spiritual life, in all its degrees, proceeds from Christ, who is, emphatically, the living Bread. The fatal tree of whose fruit our first parents ate," brought death into the world ;' but this "Bread" gives life for evermore. By that, human nature was debased to the lowest wretchedness; by this, sinful creatures are exalted to the honour and felicity of angels. That depraved and impaired the moral powers; this renews and invigorates them, and renders them capable of serving God in the beauty of holiness. That produced a train of spiritual diseases; this is an absolutely perfect remedy. That contained the bitterness of death; but this the sweetness of eternal life.

Many who profess religion are, it is feared, very deficient in their regard for this "living Bread." It is true, that they express some

affection for Christ; that they evince some interest at the relation of his greatness and condescension; and that their sorrow and joy are occasionally excited by a tender representation of his love and his sufferings; yet, judging by their deportment, they do not appear to have any disposition to live upon these truths. Now, Jesus Christ says,-" He that eateth me shall live by me;" that is, 'He that by faith receives me as the Saviour of sinners; that regards me as the highest Object of his affections; and commits his soul to my hands; shall habitually live on me, and derive his greatest satisfaction from me.' This was the experience of St. Paul:-"The life that I live in the flesh, is by the faith of the Son of God." All that is in Christ, the glories of his Person, the union of his Divinity with our created nature, the excellence of his atonement, the merit of his righteousness, his resurrection from the dead, and his ascension to the right hand of God,-is an object of faith, and a source of ineffable pleasure to the genuine Christian. Upon these he meditates with the fullest complacency; he feels that they are the spring of his hope and his happiness. It is not enough for him to speak of these things in the language of cold approbation they enter deeply into his experience; they are congenial to his spiritual taste; they

are the food of his soul. If they were taken from him, life would have no charms; religion no pleasures; and heaven no glory.

"If any man eat of this Bread, he shall live for ever." The manna which was given to the Israelites ensured no blessing; it was accompanied with no promise; it exempted from no calamity. Hence, Jesus Christ said to the Jews,

"Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead; but this is the Bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die." Adopt what means you choose to nourish and strengthen your bodies, you cannot render them proof against the shafts of death. Does this suggestion produce no effect on you whose hopes and interests are confined to the present world? Do. you not know, that death, by a single stroke, will spoil all your labour, - terminate your favourite pursuits,-snatch from your aching eyes the delights for which you have bartered your souls, and trample on all your glory? No precaution can secure your lives from this humiliating issue. But, if any man eat of this Bread, he shall live for ever. Live for ever! What an exalted idea does this expression afford us! To live long in this world appears desirable, if such circumstances are anticipated as may render old age tranquil and honourable. But,

what is the most protracted period of human existence? What is the duration of the earth itself, or of the heavens, with all their luminaries, when compared to eternal life? Eternal life implies not only a perpetual revolution of ages; but never-ending pleasures, ennobling enjoyments, inconceivable dignity, incessant advancement in the knowledge of the Deity, and increasing conformity to his moral image.

Labour, then, my brethren, for the Bread that endureth unto everlasting life. You feel your earthly wants. Have you no spiritual wants? Or must we apply to you the language of that Epistle which our Lord directed to the church of Laodicea; "Thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked?" Whether the unconverted man know it, or not, this is a faithful description of his state. But shall we, therefore, tell him, that his case is remediless, that the Bread of Life is put out of his reach? The benevolent spirit of the gospel will not allow us to use this discouraging language: but rather teaches us to say to him,

"There is bread enough and to spare;"and to urge him to accept the rich benefits of the gospel, that he may eat, and live for ever. O sinners, wherefore do ye spend your money

for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which satisfieth not?" Turn your attention to your everlasting interests. "Hearken diligently" to the voice of a gracious Saviour, "and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto him: hear, and your soul shall live; and he will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David." Pray earnestly for Divine grace;-pray that you may be made acquainted with your spiritual wants; -pray that you may be nourished and satisfied with immortal food. "Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." "Which of you, if his son ask bread, will give him a stone?" "If ye, then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him!" May the Father of lights, from whom proceedeth every good and every perfect gift, supply all your need out of the riches of his glory, by Christ Jesus! To Him be everlasting ascriptions of praise and honour. Amen.