of conduct. Contemplating under the form of a helpless infant the incarnate Son of the Most High God; bearing in mind the transactions and events relating to him which have already taken place, together with those, the predictions of which, remain to be fulfilled, according to the exposition of them which I have laid before you from the Sacred Scripture; and deeply affected by the recollection of the benefits which it has been allotted to you to derive from them, pour forth to him your hearts in joyful canticles of jubilation and praise, acknowledging him, with the most lively sentiments of gratitude, and with profound adoration, to be your most merciful Saviour, your Lord, and your God! Influenced by the consideration of the boundless love exhibited by him in your behalf, on the memorable occasion which we this day celebrate, let it be your constant study, as far as your limited powers will permit, to make him a suitable return of love. Prove incontrovertibly the sincerity of your affection by that practical test which he has himself prescribed, the faithful observance of his divine commands: "He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me." (JOHN, c. xiv. v. 21.) Renounce, without hesitation, every earthly interest incompatible with your duty to your Sovereign Lord, and Supreme Benefactor. Submit cheerfully to his providential appointments, however unpleas-ant or painful they may be. Consecrate to him, without reserve, all the faculties of your minds, all the affections of your hearts, and all the actions of

your lives. Show yourselves to be practically his true disciples, by the mutual discharge of every kind and compassionate office of fraternal charity: By this shall men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another." (JOHN, c. xiii. v. 35.) And, finally, let the recollection of the exalted dignity to which he has raised the lowliness of your nature, inspire you with sentiments worthy of so noble and illustrious a distinction. Let it prompt you to banish for ever from your minds every low and grovelling thought, every anxious and corroding care, every ignoble and degrading aspiration. Mindful of the grand and honorable alliance which you have contracted with the Divinity, cultivate within you dispositions of soul conformable to so high and glorious a connexion. Children of God-brethren of Jesus Christ-heirs of heaven-labour to support with becoming propriety, the distinguished excellence of these august characters. As by the assumption of your nature the Son of God has graciously condescended to resemble you, do you, by the untarnished purity of your minds, by the edifying sanctity of your lives, and by the perfect conformity of your wills with his, endeavour, on your part, to resemble him. As in his infinite goodness he has humbled himself so far as to stoop to the frailties of your humanity, do you with a holy and god-like ambition, aspire to an imitation of the perfections of his Divinity: "Be ye perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect." (MATT., c. v. v. xlviii.) The resemblance which

you may bear to your Divine Model will not fail to recommend you to the especial favor of his heavenly Father, who, beholding in you the darling image of his "beloved Son in whom he is well pleased," will "crown you hereafter with glory and with honor," and admit you to a participation in his everlasting joys. "For whom he foreknew, he also predestinated to be made conformable to the image of his Son: and whom he predestinated, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified." (ROм., c. viii. v. 29, 30.)

SERMON IX.

GOOD FRIDAY.

ON THE PASSION OF JESUS CHRIST.

WHEN Jesus therefore had taken the vinegar, he said: It is consummated. And bowing down his head, he gave up the ghost! John, c. xix. v. 30.

"IT is consummated!" Such, my friends, were the last solemn words which fell from the lips of our expiring Saviour. Such the words, by which he proclaimed from the altar of the cross the consummation of his divine mission. "It is consummated!" Yes, my friends, that stupendous prodigy of infinite wisdom and mercy, announced by the Eternal to the unfortunate author of all our woes, the future accomplishment of which had occupied the minds of the just of former ages,—which had animated their faith, and excited in their breasts the most vehement desires,-which types had prefigured,-which prophets had foretold,-which they had beheld in distant prospect, athwart the revolutions of states and empires, and the very promise of which had hitherto suspended the avenging arm of divine justice, was brought at length to its expected completion. Now all the predictions respecting Israel's great deliverer were accurately fulfilled.

Their obscurity was now entirely removed. Their apparent contradictions were clearly reconciled. Now was every figurative representation, delineated in the rites and ceremonies of the Jewish worship, completely realized. Now was arrived the great-the important period when altars were no longer to stream with the blood of unavailing victims,—when burnt offerings and sin offerings were to be no longer required,-when the priesthood was to depart from the descendants of Aaron, and to be transferred to him who should be a priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedek,-when every wall of separation between Jew and Gentile was to fall to the ground,-when the light of truth, which hitherto had been confined to a chosen people, should begin to dawn on every nation of the earth;-in a word, when appeased by the sufferings of his only begotton Son, the Eternal Father should be effectually reconciled to the creatures of his hand, and unfold once more to their view the consoling prospect of everlasting bliss. All these circumstances our Divine Redeemer distinctly beheld. He saw that nothing more remained to be performed, and bowing down his venerable head, with placid resignation, he gave up the ghost. From that moment, my friends, we are to date the most astonishing and happy revolution which ever took place in the condition of mankind since the birth of time. To preciate duly the love exhibited towards us on this memorable occasion is beyond the capacity of the limited powers of our being. But although we

ap