gards what is done to one of the least of the "little ones" as being done to Him. Despise them not. They may be feeble in intellect, poor in circumstances, and amongst the lowest of the low in worldly rank, yet He who "feeds his flock like a shepherd, gathers them with his arms, and carries them in his bosom ;"-carries them onward through life's perilous and labyrinthean path, to the blessed heights of immortality.

Germs of Thought.

SUBJECT:-Recollection and Preference of the Church of Jesus Christ.

"If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy." --Psalm cxxxvii., 5, 6.

Analysis of Homily the Four Hundred and Thirty-fifth.

THE captivity of the Jews in Babylon was painful and oppressive. This is shown by the touching narrative of the scornful mockery they received from the Chaldeans. "By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept when we remembered Zion; we hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof; for there they that carried us away captive required of us a song," &c. How exciting is the outgush of religious enthusiasm from the Jews on the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates! The lapse of ages has neither destroyed nor enfeebled this enthusiasm. It still lives in the hearts of the Jews, whatever the country in which they wander, and whoever the people among whom they dwell. Travellers testify that it develops itself in every clime, and amidst all circumstances. A similar enthusiasm is felt by

real Christians for the Church of Jesus Christ, and is expressed in the words " If I forget thee," &c. Observe :

I. THE OBJECT OF RECOLLECTION AND PREFERENCE BY THE CHRISTIAN. The Church of Jesus Christ. By the Church of Jesus Christ, I do not mean a popish church, an episcopal church, a presbyterian church, a congregational church, a baptist church, a methodist church, or any other sectarian church; but the universal church, consisting of all, throughout the world, who believe and obey the Gospel.

First The Church of Jesus Christ is the dwelling place of God. In the sanctum sanctorum of the Temple at Jerusalem the ark of the covenant was placed, containing the tables of the moral law; the lid of the ark was designated "the mercy-seat," and on the mercy-seat the blood of atonement was sprinkled; over the mercy-seat cherubims spread out their wings, and between the cherubims a glorious cloud appeared, symbolic of the presence of God. This is the key to the statements :-" The Lord hath chosen Zion, he hath desired it for his habitation," &c. "Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, Thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth." In the Church of Jesus Christ, no visible symbol of the Divine presence appears, no glorious cloud reveals the face of Jehovah. Instead of the emblem, we have the reality; for the Son of God" the brightness of the Father's glory and the express image of His person," is present in the church which He has purchased with His own blood. Wherever two or three are met together in the name of Jesus Christ, there is He in the midst, revealing Himself to them, as He does not to the world. As king in Zion, He shows the power and glory of His grace to all who bow the knee before Him, and consecrate themselves to His service. Amidst the solemnities of religious worship, He makes Himself known as the God of salvation. A blessed consciousness of His presence is felt by sincere and earnest worshippers, The virtue, influence, energy, of the presence of Jesus Christ causes the Gospel to illumine the eye of faith, the dew of

mercy to fall refreshingly on the contrite heart, and the blood of sprinkling to sanctify all who thirst after righteousness.

Secondly: The Church of Jesus Christ is the light of the world. Ancient Jerusalem held special privileges for the benefit of mankind. To Jerusalem pertained the oracles of God. In it were deposited the truths made known "at sundry times and in divers manners," to the fathers and the prophets. To Jerusalem pertained the worship of God. In it stood a magnificent temple, and thither the tribes went up to pay their vows, render thanks, seek forgiveness, and obtain grace. Jerusalem, therefore, was a standing witness against the ignorance, idolatry, and wickedness of adjacent nations; a large epistle that might be known and read of all men ; "a light to lighten the Gentiles, and be the glory of God's people Israel."

Thirdly The Church of Jesus Christ is the depository of ordinances and truths requisite for the weal of the human race. In it are found the sacred rites of Baptism and the Lord's Supper; the one expressive of regeneration by the Holy Spirit, the other expressive of salvation through the Atoner; the one evincing that the Holy Spirit is come, the other showing "the Lord's death until he come." In it are heard the voices of a great company of preachers proclaiming the Gospel; teaching the godliness which is profitable unto all things, having promise of good things in this life, and glorious things in a future life. The Church of Jesus Christ, therefore, is the focus in which the rays of light, that age after age have come from above, mingle and burn with intense brilliance. Here the light unceasingly shines, that human beings, irrespective of color or circumstances;-whether white, black, red or yellow, whether monarchs, nobles, statesmen, philosophers, merchants, or toiling millions,―may be brought out of darkness into marvellous light; may learn of Christ and become “wise unto salvation;" may not stumble into hell, but find their way to the "kingdom of heaven."

Fourthly The Church of Jesus Christ is the sanctuary of salvation. In the old time, Jerusalem was the place at which

the people assembled to offer sacrifices for sin, and entreat Jehovah to be their Sun and Shield. Now the Church of Jesus Christ is the place where conscience-stricken and contrite sinners assemble to behold the Lamb of God, and pray for guidance and defence in the path of righteousness. "Ye are not come unto the mount that burned with fire," &c. All who enter the Church of Jesus Christ with penitent and believing hearts obtain the forgiveness of sins, and the succors of grace. "Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died." "I am persuaded that neither death nor life," &c.

Fifthly The Church of Jesus Christ in time is a type of the Church of Jesus Christ in eternity. Literal Jerusalem was typical of spiritual Jerusalem. Its temple, its priesthood, its worshippers, and its sacrifices, were symbols of a temple of living stones; a priesthood to which every believer belongs; worshippers who look to Jesus, and sacrifices consisting of religious acts. "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." Spiritual Jerusalem prefigures Jerusalem above. The faith, the reverence, the burst of praise, and the diligent service of the saints here, are emblems of the vision of God, the casting of crowns before the Lamb, the ceaseless chorus of lofty souls, and the untiring activities of obedience by the saints hereafter. Thus, the church militant, amidst the temporary gloom of earth, presents a broadly shaded outline of the church triumphant amidst the everlasting glory of heaven.

II. THE EMPHASIS WITH WHICH THE CHRISTIAN EXPRESSES HIS RECOLLECTION OF, AND PREFERENCE FOR, THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST. The ancient Jew said, "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning ;"-forget its office--lose its skill in playing the harp; "if I do not remember thee, if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy,"

-If I do not think and speak and sing of Jerusalem in preference to every other object, even that which yields me the highest pleasure-" let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth,"-lose the power to articulate, be sealed in perpetual silence.

He

As it was with the Jew, so it is with the Christian. testifies that the Church of Jesus Christ is uppermost in his thoughts, and ranks higher in his esteem than anything else; and that were it otherwise, paralysis and dumbness would be a fit punishment of his ingratitude, &c.

The Christian speaks thus respecting the Church of Jesus Christ :

First Because of its wonderful revelations.

The text-book

of the Church is the Bible. From the Bible ministers obtain truths which edify saints and convert sinners. To the Bible Christians refer for the doctrines they believe, the precepts they obey, and the promises they inherit. God has given us the Bible that we may know what is true, do what is right, experience what is good, and lay hold on eternal life. “We have here a sure word of prophecy," &c. "The law of the Lord is perfect," &c. In the Church of Jesus Christ, every sincere Christian receives instruction from ministers who study the Bible, and saints whose experience is responsive to its statements. The instruction he obtains renders him "wise unto salvation." Taught of the Lord, and obedient to the truth in the love of it, he makes progress in knowledge, virtue, and usefulness, until his path appears like a shining track ascending from earth to heaven.

Secondly: Because of its sacred exercises. Man is formed for communion with God. He is the subject of convictions, desires, and tendencies which render him unhappy, while an alien from God. Infidelity tries in vain to extinguish these elements in the constitution of man, and as it cannot satisfy them, it mocks and augments human unhappiness. Idolatry places objects of worship before man, which can neither hear his prayers nor supply his wants. It fails, therefore, to give peace to the human conscience. Christianity is not thus