possession and enjoyment of our inheritance. But I say this, if my text be the word of God, and the sword of justice did awake against the man who is God's fellow, at his bidding, and for the purpose which has been stated, then this doctrine of the cross does contain within itself the most cogent and constraining of all arguments to holy living. It does set before the true believer such a view of Almighty God-such a demonstration, indeed, of his hatred of sin, but such a demonstration, at the same time, of his tender love to sinners, as is calculated, beyond all other considerations imaginable, to captivate his affections, and bring him to God, making him at the same time to dread sin, and to loathe it as offensive to God; so that if, in fact, he that calls himself a believer is not thus wrought upon, it is clear that he miscalls himself; that his faith, at best, is dead; and, therefore, that he cannot be within the scope and comprehension of the promises made to faith, and cannot-continuing what he is inherit them. For if this argument be deducible from the cross, was it not meant that it should have its effect upon us? Does not our Lord say so? "I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me."* And ought we not, with St. Paul, thus to judge that "He died for all," to this very intent, "that they

* John xii. 32.

which live" by him alone" should not live henceforth unto themselves, but unto him that died for them, and rose again."* And then, if the cross prevail not with us, through believing consideration of it, to do God's work in our hearts, is it conceivable that it should prevail for us, to blot out our past transgressions?

Having seen, then, what the doctrine of Christ's atonement is, inquire what have been the practical effects of the knowledge of it on your minds; and thus ye may be enabled to perceive how it is like to fall out with you hereafter.

If your heart condemns you, may God grant you repentance speedily, to the acknowledging of the truth. If, through showing you that God loves you, your faith has led you to love Godif, because you love God, you have been zealous in his service; full of good will and good works to his people, for whom he died-in the judgment, ye shall have that mark upon your foreheads which Christ will own, and from which the accuser will flee away. Ye have a faith which has indeed united you to the Redeemer; and when Christ, who is your life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. When he shall say to some who have prophesied in his name, "I never knew you;" ye shall stand like that wise man's house which was founded upon

* 2 Cor. v. 14.

a cup

a rock and if ye have but given to a little one of cold water to drink, because he belonged to Christ, ye shall no wise lose your reward. For albeit," says our church, "that good works, which are the fruits of faith, and follow after justification, cannot put away our sins, or endure the severity of God's judgment, yet are they pleasing and acceptable unto God in Christ, and do spring out, necessarily, of a true and lively faith; in so much, that by them a lively faith may be as evidently known as a tree discerned by the fruit."*

* Art. 12.

217

SERMON XI.

THE RESURRECTION.

[Preached on Easter Day.]

JOHN ii. 18-22.

"Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the Scripture, and the word which Jesus had said."

OUR Lord Jesus Christ came not into the world upon any business so low and mean as seeking glory of men, or interfering with earthly king

doms. Nevertheless, the prophets announced him as a king, and even in his state of humiliation he showed himself to be nothing less. He was the King of the universal church, and came to establish a spiritual dominion over men's hearts, and to bring them back to subjection to the divine law, and to trust and dependence upon God through himself as Mediator. And the whole ceremonial of the Jewish church was introductory to his appearance for these purposes. Accordingly, at the first passover which occurred after his public entrance upon his ministry, (as well at the one immediately previous to his decease,) upon coming to Jerusalem he went into the temple, as though he would examine and observe in person, whether all things were conducted as he would have them. Being arrived, he found much disorder and abuse: God's house had been made a place of traffic. As "one having authority," therefore, he immediately made a scourge of cords, and drove all the buyers and sellers out, and the sheep and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables, and said to them, "Take these things hence; make not my Father's house a house of merchandise." The immediate offenders seem to have made no resistance; but the Jews who stood by, offended as well as astonished, answered and said unto him, "What sign