judgment. Sickness also may come, and it must be attended unto. Hear the voice of the rod, and who has appointed it.-I will only mention two voices more, from very different people, in very opposite dialects, and from very different places; neither of which has the vulture's eye ever yet beheld, nor any living mortal ever yet seen. May they be sanctified to us both! The one is manifested 16 Luke, 19; the other, 7 Rev. 10, 12.—I have now given you a few thoughts that I really believe, if properly attended to and improved, may be as advantageous to the soul as any public ordinance whatever. As I cannot give you a Christmas-box for the pocket, I inclose you one for the heart, which may prove more valuable than any yet received. I must refer you to your father and friends for family news; and recommending you to the grace and love of a precious and invaluable Saviour, I remain with sincere regard and esteem, JOHN THORNTON. SUNDAY READING. OBSERVATIONS ON THE COLLECTS, EPISTLES, AND GOSPELS, APPOINTED TO BE READ IN THE SERVICE OF THE CHURCH. [Continued from Vol. XII. Page 493.] No. XX. On the Sunday before Easter. WE are now entering on the PASSION WEEK; and this day, which is the commencement of it, is distinguished by an event which has given to it the name of PALM SUNDAY. It has already been observed, that from the time the Jews" took counsel to put him to death, Jesus walked no more openly." But he had only retired till his hour was come, and it was necessary that he should again appear, to fill up those parts which had been as signed to him in the divine counsels, in the most wonderful scene that was ever exhibited in the view of heaven and earth. The night previous to this day, he returned to Bethany and in the morning, when he had already approached near to Jerusalem, in order that Scripture might be fulfilled, Zech. ix. 9, and the greatest possible publicity be given to the events about to take place-that he might also give this visible intimation of the victory he was about to achieve, as the commencement of his kingdom on earth-he allows himself to be led in triumph, as it were, by the vast crowds whom the fame of his approach had drawn out to meet him. The malicious designs of the rulers, at length avowed without reserve, and made public by a command "that if any man knew where he were, he should show it," had already drawn the attention of all that were at the feast: they were busily engaged in conjectures whether he would appear; and the circumstance that he had not been heard of for many days, gave occasion for very various and opposite suppositions. Thus, by every possible motive of curiosity and interest, were the people in general led out to witness the Saviour's bold approach to the scene of danger. Some few in the language of praise well understood, others by mere sympathy in the public interest, welcomed him as the Son of David, in whom the promises were to be fulfilled: and much people took branches of palm-trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna! blessed is the King of Israel, that cometh in the name of the Lord." It has already been observed, that this was the same day on which the lambs were brought in from the country, and set apart for the passover on the Thursday following; and that many probably were passing at the same time that Jesus was entering in this manner. With what feelings, then, the Saviour partook of this triumphant procession; with what feelings it was viewed by those few that were aware of the sufferings to which it led, can be appreciated by none but by those who can discern the spiritual nature of his kingdom. While, therefore, he submitted to this ceremony, and witnessed the zealous acclamations of those who knew not whom they were greeting, and who would soon join in a very different cry; it was to him as real an humiliation as any he had to undergo. Nor could there be any complacency in it independent of the view of those spiritual blessings to which it pointed, of the prospect opened to us in the Epistle of this day (Phil. ii. 5-11), when every knee shall bow in spiritual adoration, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Humility and patience are the Christian's lesson to be learned from the sufferings of his Saviour. But we must particularly notice the character of these graces; they must bear his image. As the sufferings of Christ were with a view to the glory that should follow; so there is no true humility, no real patience, but that which flows from a good hope through grace. Let me entreat the reader, whoever he may be, to pause at the commencement of this solemn week, and ask, Do I enjoy this hope? Am I prepared to profit by the review of these sufferings as the price of my salvation, and the pledge of my own death to sin as preparatory to the enjoyment of that salvation? Without this faith, you will never really be benefited by what you are entering upon. Take this lesson with you. You are called by the Gospel to one and the same hope of your calling with all God's people. Lay hold on that hope by faith: press forward toward the mark for the prize of it, "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the. cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For, consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest you be wearied and faint in your mind." This exhortation of the Apostle to the faithful among the Hebrews, is a beautiful enlargement of that contained in the Epistle of this day; and it may serve to teach us at the same time who are they the Church has in view, as uniting with her in the solemnities of this day. But to return to our great Exemplar: let us hear what is said of his humiliation-Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. see the propriety and force of this representation, we must view the only begotten Son of God, not only in the glory which he had with the Father before his incarnation; but in his character as Head of the Old Testament Church. In the management of this Church, he occasionally manifested his divinity, veiled in the appearance of a human form; during such manifestation of himself, he assumed the sovereign power of Jehovah, and accepted the adoration due to him alone without robbery of the Deity. Under his supremacy as King, under his guidance and instruction as Prophet, and blessed through him as Το their spiritual High Priest (for, as the God of Israel, he united in himself each of these offices), it might well be said, "Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help; and who is the sword of thy excellence." Deut. xxxiii. 29. When led by his presence, and viewed under the shadow of such privileges as they en joyed, what emphatic commendation did they extort from the unwilling prophet, "How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob! and thy tabernacles, O Israel!"" The Lord his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.""Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his." Yet, behold, He whose name was glorious as the God of his victorious people, whose enemies fled before him as the chaff before the wind, made himself of no reputation: the mighty God of Jacob took upon him the form of a servant-He, at the brightness of whose presence the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken -was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, having veiled the glories of the Deity in the likeness of our flesh, yet was he recognized by those who waited for redemption in Israel. With what astonishment did they witness his humiliation; the increasing depth of his humiliation! He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. How extensive, how wonderful, how consolatory is that declaration, "He became obedient!" His obedience was voluntary, it was universal, it was continued to the last opportunity of its exercise, and therefore sufficient for our acceptance in every extremity. But observe further, for our greater comfort in this way of acceptance, that this obedience on which we depend, and the merits of which we plead, was in com What the reward of Christ's obedience was, we learn from the following words: Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name. For what purpose he " Him should be exalted, and what name come." of this And yet mark the object exaltation; it is, that he may raise the fallen state of man. Still he condescends to seek the sinner from the lowest depths of woe, and pour upon him the heavenly gifts of repentance and forgiveness. These, however, are but the first fruits of his exaltation, the commencement of a glorious scheme that shall in its success be adequate to the dignity of its Author: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the gloryof God the Father. Such is the glory that shall follow the sufferings of Christ, the assured issue of his redemption-the joy that was set before him, in the prospect of which he was strengthened to do the will of God. Let the review of his sufferings lead us to this glorious prospect, and it will help to strengthen our faith, that we may endure and receive the end of our faith, even the salvation of our souls. The Apostle John has given us a lively description of the fulfilment of this promise in Rev. vii. 9-17, with which I shall conclude this paper; only first acquainting my reader, that I do not mean at present to notice the Gospel of the day, but intend to include it in the separate consideration of a connected view of the whole of the Obituary. W. sufferings of Christ for the improve- A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE LAST ment of the Passion week, on some future occasion. The great lesson inculcated in this day's service is that advice of our Saviour, "If any man will come after me, let him DENY himself, and TAKE UP his CROSS and FOLLOW me;" and it is recognized in the passage I have alluded to. May it be our consummation and bliss to unite with the same blessed company! "I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead CHRIST, GUARD. VOL. XIII. ILLNESS AND HAPPY DEATH BRISTOL, "THE memory of the just is blessed." When a departed friend has slept in Jesus, however we may mourn the separation which has taken place, we would not recall the happy spirit from the mansions of eternal bliss. Our sorrows are mitigated by the consideration of the joys of which the departed is a partaker. The happy looks and the gracious sayings of the dying Christian make a deep impression upon our minds, and we delight to dwell upon them. We feel that the link which has been broken off from the chain that binds us to this world, unites us so much the more closely to that which is unseen and eternal. A melancholy pleasure pervades our recollections; and we enjoy a blessedness while we meditate on these things, which makes the world and its vanities appear to be truly unworthy of our regard; and leads us to desire earnestly that the savour of it may rest upon our minds as long as we live. These remarks have a general application, but the writer feels them to E have a peculiar reference to the following memoir. Miss V. was brought to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus in early life, and was enabled to make a consistent profession of attachment to it, to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour for many years. During the latter years of her life, she was a great sufferer under an accumulation of diseases, which occasioned severe illness, and acute pain of long continuance. But in the midst of all her bodily sufferings she was enabled to rejoice in the God of her salvation, with such delightful anticipations of the rest that remaineth for the people of God, as few persons are favoured with. As long as she was at all able, she esteemed it a high privilege to attend the house of God; and often, when she was scarcely able to move from her sofa through severe pain, she would go in a sedan chair, as she could not walk, to join in public worship, and hear the glad tidings of the Gospel of Christ. Nothing in this world gave her so much uneasiness as to hear "the sound of the church going bell," and be unable herself to attend on the ordinances of divine worship. And she made a good use of the opportunities she was favoured with, while she had them; for she not only heard the word of God, but she meditated upon it; she "marked, learned, and inwardly digested it;" she treasured it up in her heart; she prayed fervently that the blessing of the Holy Spirit, which alone can make the word effectual, might accompany it to her soul, to her "edification, admonition, and consolation." And the consequence was, as she remarked in her will, which she wrote while she was able so attend upon the means of grace, that she possessed "a peace, a joy, a hope, a consolation from the glorious truths" which were delivered by the mi nistry of the word of God, "which neither pen nor tongue could express. In October 1818, she met with what is commonly called an accident; she fell down, and fractured one of her limbs as she was crossing her room. The accident was occasioned solely by the progress which disease was making upon her mortal frame. From this period she was unable to attend public worship, and was confined to her couch in one position, always lying on her back during the rest of her days on earth, for nearly a year and three quarters. She made no complaint, however, on this subject; she meekly bowed to the will of her heavenly Father; she received affliction as the cup which he had put into her hands, and prayed that it might be sanctified. She despised not the chastening of the Lord, but considered it as a token of his love rather than of his displeasure, according to the saying of the Apostle; " If you endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons." (Heb. xii. 7.) At the same time, if it had pleased him, she would have preferred a speedy dismissal from this vale of tears. She once said, that none knew the luxury of being able to change their position but those who were unable to do it. How delightful it would be, she said, to be able to turn on one side! But she knew that divine wisdom and love ordered what was really the best for her; though unsearchable were his judgments, and his ways past finding out. While she was lying in this afflicted state, she had frequently violent spasms, which affected her frame in the most painful manner, so that she sometimes said, that the furnace was heated seven times more than it was wont to be heated; but in the midst of all, she was constantly happy, always ready to rejoice in the God of her salvation. As soon as a severe |