!

the offer! And, touched with his goodness to yourselves, may you go forth to extend the like mercies to others! May you "follow after the things which make for peace!" May you "live in peace;" and may the God of peace be with you!"

SERMON XXI.

THE PRIVILEGES OF THE TRUE CHRISTIAN.

(HEB. xii. 22—24.

But ye are come unto Mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the First-born, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

In the first verse of this chapter, the servant of God was introduced into the presence of a "cloud of witnesses;" who, having finished their course, are represented as surveying, from the seats of glory, the race and conflict in the world below. In the verses which immediately precede the text, he is conducted to the foot of Mount Sinai, and placed among the terrified multitude who there listened to the solemn promulgation of the Law of Moses. In the text, the same style of imagery is employed to produce a

-magnificent display of the privileges of the true Christian. The church militant on earth and triumphant in heaven, the "angels" with whom this church is to be associated for ever, the "Judge of all," the "Mediator of the new covenant," are, as it were, collected into one vast assembly. And to this the Christian is introduced, and assured that, by virtue of his union with Christ, he is united with all those in whose glorious presence he stands.-"Ye are come unto them." Ye, the servants of Christ, because, perhaps, neglected by the world, are disposed to consider yourselves forgotten of God. But, "lift up your eyes," and behold the splendid privileges connected even with your present circumstances. The day which united you with Christ associated you with the great and shining assembly which you behold. You are a member of it. Their honours, their privileges, their joys, are all yours; yours in life-yours in deathyours through all eternity.

The general object, therefore, of the passage before us is to exhibit to us, in strong colours, the distinctions to which the true Christian is advanced even in this stage of being. But let us endeavour to take a closer survey of the scene presented to us by the text, and in which our own interests and welfare are so deeply involved. And may He who has thus discovered to us the joys of his true servants, mercifully assist us to approach so elevating a subject with suitable dispositions of mind!

I. "Ye ARE COME THEN," says the Apostle in the first place," TO MOUNT SION, AND UNTO THE CITY OF THE LIVING GOD, THE HEAVENLY JerusaLEM."-In the verses before the text the Apos

tle had described the circumstances of the Jews when admitted to the foot of Mount Sinai to receive the Law. In the words now read to you he contrasts the circumstances of the Christian with those of the followers of Moses. They, he says, were admitted to "Mount Sinai,"-to" the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire." You, as Christians, are admitted to that "heavenly mount," and to that "city of the living God," described in the holy Scriptures, of which the Mount Zion upon earth, and the earthly Jerusalem, were mere types and emblems. To you who welcome the Saviour and his Gospel as your refuge and joy, is granted a participation in all the blessings connected in the volume of inspiration, with this celestial mount and city.

Look, then, my Christian brethren, to the Scriptures themselves for a development of the privileges and blessings thus promised.

"Zion" is described in holy writ as the peculiar seat and throne of the empire of God: The Lord of hosts shall reign in Mount Sion as his dwelling place,"-" in Salem is his tabernacle, and his dwelling in Sion." It was from Zion also the Gospel was to be proclaimed, and in Zion that Christ was to reign: "Out of Zion shall go forth the Law:" "I have set my King upon my holy hill of Sion." Zion, moreover, is described as the peculiar object of the Divine regard: "The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob:""The joy of the whole earth is Mount Zion."

In like manner, that "city" of the "living God," which is elsewhere called the "New" and the Holy Jerusalem," is described in the most magnificent phraseology, especially in the book of

the Revelation of St. John. "He carried me away," says St. John, "in the spirit, to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God; and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it; for the glory of the Lord did lighten it, and the lamb was the light thereof."

When therefore it is said in the text, " Ye are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem," it is meant that, if really the children of God, you are invested, even here, by the free mercy of God, with all the rites of a dweller on this spiritual mount, and a citizen of this heavenly city. Your life is not the mere life of "threescore years and ten," but a "life which is hid with Christ in God." Your proper inheritance is not a world cursed for the disobedience of its inhabitants, and “ bringing forth thorns and thistles;" but a world of unmixed purity and happiness. It is your business, therefore, amidst your present trials, to contemplate your reversionary joys. You are to look from earth to heaven, and remember that no joy granted to the inhabitants of heaven is denied to those serving the same Lord, and guided by the influence of the same sacred Spirit.

But, my brethren, what a view of his own circumstances does this statement present to the man who, though called to the rich inheritance of which we have been speaking, to this glorious "fellowship with God," with "his Son," and with his "angels," is still chained to the earth, is making this his home, and lavishing all the

powers and affections of his soul upon the foilies and cares of a poor, fallen, fugitive world. Is this the condition of any to whom I am speaking? We need no other evidence that you are wrong. The servants of the Redeemer may differ as to some other points; but they have at least this one grand common characteristic, that their "heart is in heaven," because their "treasure is there." To them, this is the mere field on which the conflict for eternity is to be fought. They can no more consider it as their home than the mariner can the tossing waters when the white cliffs of his country are in view. If ye are "risen with Christ," your "affections" are "set on things above."

On the other hand, what a cheering reflection it is to the true servant of God that his hopes and his joys are "laid up" where no storm can reach, and no enemy can assail them! How encouraging is the language in which the Scripture addresses him!" 1, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die?" "In a little wrath have I hid my face from thee for a moment, but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee." Strive then, my Christian brethren, to forget the moment of trial or suffering you may be required to spend upon earth, in the eternity which is preparing for you. Escape as often as possible on the wings of faith from this region of clouds and tempests, which is not your proper element. Endeavour to catch even here a glimpse of the towers and battlements of the heavenly city, of the green pastures, and living waters of the heavenly mount, for they are yours by promise-yours by inheritance-yours by

i