:

He appeared able to save when he dwelt on earth in a tabernacle of clay still he mingled the dignity and power of a God, with the abasements and infirmities of a mortal man: asserting to himself the divine prerogative of forgiving sins: speaking of a glorious resurrection and eternal life, as his gift representing himself as the head stone of the corner, on whom was fixed all the stress of men's eternal interests and as the awful judge, before whose tribunal the greatest of the children of men should stand; and from whom all should receive that decisive sentence, which should fix them in final happiness or despair. Nay, even in his deepest humiliation on the cursed tree, a ray of divine glory broke through the dark cloud of infamy with which he was then surrounded: and, amidst all the scorn and rage of insulting enemies, who were reproaching him as abandoned by God and man, he speaks from the cross as from the throne; and, as the king of heaven, takes upon him to dispose of seats in Paradise! If he were thus able to save, when he dwelt in so humble a form; how much more so is he amidst all the magnificence of his exaltation in the highest heaven; whither he has ascended, as a glorious conqueror, having

led captivity captive and received gifts for men! Can we believe that his arm has less power to save; or that his ear is heavy, and cannot hear? No! we may assure ourselves, that he is at this moment as able to exert an almighty power for the salvation of his people, as he was on that illustrious day, when he poured out the Spirit on his disciples, at the Feast of Pentecost; or when he appeared to Paul on the way to Damascus with the glories of heaven new upon him, even with lustre exceeding that of the meridian sun! Still is our Redeemer able to save, and shall continue to be so. When we and our children are laid in the dust of death, he shall be the joy and confidence of a new race of believers; and to the very end of time, one generation shall rise, and declare his righteousness to another, and that righteousness shall be the same! This foundation of God shall stand sure, though rocks moulder into dust, and the mountains be removed out of their place. Yea, when the sun shall fade away in its orb, and all the golden lamps of these lower heavens shall be extinguished, the Sun of glory shall shine forth with undiminished radiancy : still his victorious energy shall continue the same; and it shall be as true of his

power as of his grace, that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever! Heavenly Father, glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee; that at the name of Jesus every knee may bow, and every tongue confess him Lord. Be thou exalted Lord in thine own strength; so will we sing and praise thy power.

All

HYMN

For the Lord's Day Morning.

power and grace to God belong,
He is my strength, and He my song:
He comes, my Saviour, from his throne;
He comes, to bring salvation down.

Lo! rising from the tents of men,
The voice of joy resounds again:
His saints with him the triumph claim,
And shout salvation to his name.

His own right hand its strength displays
In acts of valour and of grace :

The cross, the tomb, the throne declare
How vast his power and glory are.

For us he conquers, though he dies:
Behold the mighty Saviour rise!
His own right hand on high displays
In acts of valour and of grace.

PRAYER

For the Lord's Day Morning.

Most gracious God and Father, it is good for us to draw near to thee. Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may be still praising thee! We bless thee for the returning light of this morning. O let the day-spring from on high visit our souls, and the sun of righteousness arise upon us with healing in his wings. "The light we see is the Lord's." "This is the day "which the Lord hath made; we will "rejoice and be glad therein." May this be indeed the sabbath of the Lord in our dwelling, and in our hearts; a sabbath of rest from sin, and of rest in God. Enable us, we pray thee, so to sanctify this day, that it may be made a means of our sanctification.

Grant that, by resting from every worldly employment, our hearts may be more taken off from present things; and that by employing our time in the worship of God, we may be led into a more experimental acquaintance with the work of heaven, and

be made more meet for that blessed world. On this day would we give glory to thee, O Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive blessing, and honor, and glory, and power; for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are, and were created. O Thou, who didst at first command the light to shine out of darkness, shine into our hearts, to give us more of the light of the knowledge of thy glory, in the face of Jesus Christ; and let us be thy workmanship, created anew in him unto good works. With peculiar pleasure would we call to mind the resurrection of our exalted Redeemer from the dead on the first day of the week; by which he was declared to be the son of God with power, and is become the first fruits of them that slept. O that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we also may rise and walk in newness of life. We pray that the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead, and graciously descended on the Church on the day of Pentecost, may dwell and rule in us, and make us partakers of a new and divine nature. We bless thee for thy holy word, which is a light to our feet, and a lamp to our paths. Let us not receive this grace