or worldly, or selfish? We charge others with these faults, but we see them not in ourselves.) "Come unto Me, all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest ;" thus our King seeketh out His subjects. "Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls." Thus He holdeth forth the sceptre of His power. Are you afraid of presumption? Do you shrink from public gaze? Do you for a moment suppose that the Lowly King will cast you out? Oh! I beseech you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, be not deterred from coming to Him on any account. "He filleth the hungry with good things, but the rich He sendeth empty away." He is tender-hearted and full of compassion. Your confidence cannot be misplaced, if you confide in Him. "Trust ye in the Lord for ever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength." Trust in Jesus Christ, the Lowly King, "for He hath been in all points tempted like as we are, and He is able to succour them that are tempted." This Gracious King does not live in a golden palace; is not attended by lords and dukes, but He maketh a palace in the poor cottage of our human condition, and He summons as His courtiers the emancipated members of our redeemed nature. Rejoice greatly...shout... behold thy King cometh unto thee thus. Let me speak of His laws; His gracious rule, for a space, and then I will trouble you no more. I will finish my sermon. What law is first in Christ's Kingdom? Is it not the law of love? “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart; this is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, namely this "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." Love worketh no ill to his neighbour, therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. Oh! what a golden rule is this! Oh! what a favoured state! Behold how true religion works-by love! The ruling passion in the heart of the Lowly King, is love, and thus He addresses His subjects :- "By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another." "The kingdom of God," says the Apostle, "is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy, in the Holy Ghost." "The work of righteousness," says the evangelical prophet, "shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness, and assurance for ever." The Lowly King ruleth over the humble, and the penitent, and the peacemakers, and the diligent in good works. He manifests Himself unto them, as He doth not unto the world. They are a happy people. They live in peace. Their hearts are full of joy ; their hope is firm, that they shall soon behold the King in His glory. I trust that we are of the number of His people! SPIRITUAL WORSHIP. 1 CORINTHIANS xiv. 15. "I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also." NOBODY can read the Bible without observing that prayer to God is made much of. It is not treated as mere form and ceremony, but a real, earnest thing. Again, amongst us, here in this Christian country, amongst us Protestants, there is no one but thinks such prayers as the following worse than useless, even foolish and wicked-" O Baal, hear us!" "Deliver me, for thou art my God!" (addressing an idol.) "Hail! Mary, Queen of Heaven, Mother of God !" A certain measure of understanding, and a certain spirit of wisdom and revelation, by the good providence of God, are spread abroad through our Christian and Protestant country, that we are in no danger of debasing ourselves to gross idolatry. Our danger lies in another direction. |