"The love of Christ constraineth us." You may as well suppose a well-constituted watch without a mainspring, as a Christian without love to Christ.

In conclusion, if you profess to enter seriously into religion, remember it implies calmness and solidity, not a rapturous flight. The privilege of a Divine friendship is rather a gracious frame of mind, than a transitory rapture. Repeated acts form a habit. A believer frequently going to his God and Saviour, thereby forms a habit of holy and intimate communion; in like manner as a child has the habit of clinging to his parent, in all danger and alarm. Such a habit had Enoch: his was not a momentary, rapturous, hold on God; but he walked with him. The love of Christ is the main spring of all Christian obedience: it is the great antidote against temptation. The serious joy which results from this, is a strong spring of action; it recommends religion; it will bear us up in trouble; it will enable us, like the apostle, to glory in our infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon us: and it is the best evidence of faith." Matt. xxv. 31—40.

I would say to believers-However advanced, we need continually to receive out of Christ's fulness. It was an old disciple who said, "To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men,. but chosen of God and precious-ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." And another old disciple thus exhorts us :Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." How watchful, how holy, how consistent should be our walk

66

and conversation, in order that we may not be ashamed before him at his coming!-Let us come now to the holy sacrament, seeking a closer union and communion with Christ, as our Head: praying, that our faith may be increased, our love confirmed and strengthened, and that we may have a joyful hope of sitting down with our adorable Lord and Master, in his kingdom and glory.

CHRIST'S TRIUMPHANT ASCENSION.

Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive; thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.--PSALM lxviii. 18.

[1803.]

It was many years after this Psalm was written that the prophecy contained in it was fulfilled. But it is common in the language of prophecy to speak of things certain as if they were past.-In the Epistle to the Ephesians, St. Paul, addressing the Church of believers as quickened together with Christ, says, "And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus," not, he shall raise, and will make us sit; denoting not only the dependency which our resurrection and glorification has upon Christ's, but also the undoubted certainty that they shall come to pass; Christ's resurrection and glorification being a pledge of ours. After our blessed Lord had accomplished his work on earth, he ascended into heaven. He went up in a public capacity, as our Forerunner; as One who is still transacting and carrying on our interests in heaven.

"Thou hast led captivity captive." The Psalmist,

evidently makes an allusion to the triumphant entry of a conqueror, who leads the vanquished as a trophy of his success and victory; he refers to the dragging of the captives at the chariot wheels. Christ having quite broken the power of sin and Satan before he ascended up, led every spiritual enemy in triumph, as spoiled and overcome. The apostle refers to this psalm, Eph. iv.: "To every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, when he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men." Not only miraculous gifts, as at the day of Pentecost-but better gifts also than these gifts of repentance, pardon, holiness, and peace. If any man has true repentance, if he is pardoned, justified, and sanctified, if he has peace in his conscience, these are gifts purchased by Christ.

66

"Thou hast received gifts for men:" verily he took not hold of the nature of angels, but he took hold of the seed of Abraham. "Gifts for men;" so that they may properly be set before men; before every man; every creature. Therefore Christ's ministers may say to all, "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters." 'Yea, for the rebellious also:" not only for all men generally, and individually, but also as respects their state and character; "for the rebellious also," that every mouth may be stopped. "Whosoever will," may reap the benefit of these gifts; even those who had forfeited them. Some allusion may here be made to the Gentiles, who were "enemies in their minds by wicked works:" Col. i. 21; but every man is by nature a rebel: the whole species is up in arms: not one is exempt.

Some may ask, Is this according to the Scripture rule-"If ye will walk contrary unto me, then I will walk contrary unto you?" Observe, it is not meant

for them that will continue to put the offers of the Gospel far from them, and so finally perish. But it refers to them that by nature are as far from God as others, to whom these gifts are offered, that they may seek to the Prince of Peace, who never casts out any that come to him. The apostle says to Titus, “For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts, and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another." If these gifts were not for rebels, we none of us could hope to receive them; but they are meant for such as repent and return to God, though even "the rebellious." For them, these gifts are received; to them, they are given. But for what end? that they may remain rebellious? No; but that they might lay down their arms; that their enmity might be slain; and that they might return to their allegiance. Christ came to a rebellious world, not to condemn it, but that through him it might be saved.

"That the Lord God might dwell among them :" this is the grand end proposed by the Gospel. Sin has caused an awful separation between man and his Maker; and to bring them together again was the design of Christ's coming. He would set up a Church in a rebellious world, in which he would dwell by his word and ordinances, as of old in the sanctuary. He would raise a spiritual, abiding, eternal temple: he would set up his throne that Christ might dwell in the hearts of those that had been rebellious, and so he would make them living temples to his praise. There are those who shall bring their testimony at the great day, that grace has not only been promised, but freely imparted.

This is not a doctrine of the New Testament only. The Lord said to Moses, "I will set my tabernacle

among you, and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people." Lev. xxvi. 11, 12. "My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people." Ezek. xxxvii. 27. And in recognition of this privilege to the Jewish Church, St. Paul reminds the Gentile converts of what had formerly been their condition: "Wherefore remember, that ye being in times past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircumcision by that which is called circumcision in the flesh made with hands; that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenant of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world." Eph. ii. 11, 12. Now the promise is not for Jews only, but for all men: Christ has opened the gates of heaven to all believers. He rose from the dead, and ascended up into heaven as the common Head and representative of his Church and people: and the design of all this is, "that the Lord God might dwell among them;" that there might be union and communion with him: communications of grace and holiness, of pardon and peace, to all the fallen children of men.

This was the prophecy: now observe the fulfilment. Our Lord having given his disciples the fullest evidence of his resurrection, "led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven." Luke xxiv. 36-51. In Acts i. 9-11, it is said, "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly towards heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white