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[JUNE 1, 1863.

they are so valuable and reqnisite, are are day by day being made more spiritual, earthly in their character. They have more heavenly, more holy, more devoted, simply to do with this world. True, they more Christlike, and more Godlike! 3. are essential to the wellbeing and pros Another spiritual end to be answered by perity of the community, but their influ the Church of Christ is that of exhibiting ence is chiefly confined to the present life. and advancing the glory of God. This is This is not the case with the Church of the greatest end of all. God has made all Christ. It is formed to bring about bea- things for himself. His works proclaim venly and spiritual results. 1. One end to his power, his wisdom, and his goodness. be answered by the Church of Christ is the His providence speaks of his justice, bis conversion of ungodly men; to turn those holiness, and his kindness, patience, and that are worldly, selfish, and carnal, into forbearance. But his Church gives a more spiritual men and women. The Church, clear and striking manifestation of his through her ministers, her deacons, her glorious perfections and purposes to an members, her ordinances, her truth, her intelligent universe. Paul says in his united and earnest efforta, is the agent, or, Epistle to the Ephesians, “To the intent if you like the word better, the instrument, that now unto the principalities and by which the Holy Ghost enlightens, con powers in heavenly places might be known vinces, converts, and saves immortal souls. by the Church the manifold wisdom of Millions, in the different ages of the eartb, God." And not only is the manifold have been turned from sin to holiness, from wisdom of God made known by the darkness to light, from the earth to heaven, Church, but his veracity, his righteousness, by the benevolent and prayersul efforts of his holiness, his mercy, and his love. By the Church of Christ. This Church would the redemption of the Church through the fail to answer its sublime mission upon the cross of Christ, by the holy activity, zeal, earth if it did not succeed, through the and self-denial of its various members, by blessing of God, in making men spiritual, the glorious results realized in this fallen and thereby qualifying them for being world, the glory of our heavenly Father is members of this spiritual house. 2. displayed in all parts of the universe, and Another end to be answered by it is the thus a large revenue of praise is cheerfully edification, establishment, sanctification, I rendered to him. You will observe that and consolation of those who have already these are not political or secular ends. believed. The people of God need being | They are heavenly and spiritual in their built up in their most holy faith ; they character. They relate more to eternity need Divine instruction; they need to be than to time, to the soul than to the body, warned of the dangers which beset them in to heaven than to the earth. The Church their pilgrimage to heaven; they need to be | of Christ ought not to be made a mere stimulated and encouraged to every good | engine of statecraft to answer certain work; they need to be succoured and com political ends. This is to defile and cor. forted in the trials and difficulties they rupt it. We object to the National Church meet with. This spiritual house is a because it is frequently made to answer school of instruction for them, where they political rather than spiritual ends. The may be taught more perfectly the way of Government who have the appointment the Lord. It is an asylum for them, where of the archbishops and bishops are not they may take shelter from the pitiless always actuated by the purest and most storms of the world, and where they may heavenly motives in the selection of those find rest and refreshment from the weari who are to hold these lucrative offices. We some labours and duties of life. It is a object to these archbishops and bishops vineyard where they may work for Christ, being sent to the House of Peers, to meddle and make the best use of their time and with political affairs, when they might be talents. What a spiritual and sublime end more usefully employed in superintending is thus aimed at and answered by the the spiritual and eternal interests of their Church of Christ! Souls are by its means flocks. We object to the rectors and vicars gradually refined, and elevated, and sancti of our parishes sitting on the magistrate's fied. Precious jewels are thus polished and bench when they ought to be attending made to shine with the very lustre and to their spiritual duties. We object splendour of IIeaven's own beautiful light. to the public sale of livings for comWbat numbers of saints are now under- | mercial and selfish purposes. We object going the purifying process, by which they | to the cure of fouls being given to men

that have no care for their own souls, and, The means which God uses in the converwho have no deep concern for the salvation sion and salvation of men, you observe, are of the souls of those intrusted to their moral and spiritual, not physical, nor pocare. The Church of Christ is formed to litical, nor compulsory. We object to all answer spiritual ends, and is therefore fitly National Churches because they necessarily called “a spiritual house."

use the arm of the law, or physical force, VII. The means to be used to an in the maintenance and extension of the swer these sublime and gracious ends are Church of Christ. Read the history of all spiritual, and therefore the Church may be Established Churches—whether it be that appropriately designated a spiritual house. of Rome, or any of the Protestant ReGod has been pleased to appoint means to formed Churches in Germany, or that of be used in the accomplishment of his our own land-and you will find that they merciful purposes upon the earth. These have had recourse to physical rather than means are not only heavenly in their to moral means, to compulsory rather than origin, but Divine ia their character. 1. to voluntary payments, for the support and He gives of his Holy Spirit, to enlighten, extension of their principles. Theirs are convert, sanctify, and save. The influence worldly houses, or corporations, to answer exerted, therefore, upon the minds of men political ends, rather than spiritualchurches, is really spiritual. It is altogether above which use spiritual means to secure spiritual nature. It is spirit acting upon spirit. ends. The operation we know is mysterious. The VIII. Very briefly we just observe Saviour says, “ The wind bloweth where it lastly, that the Church of Christ is a listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, spiritual house because its ultimate destiny but canst not tell whence it cometh, and is heavenly and spiritual. It is now wan. whither it goeth : so is every one that is dering in the wilderness. It is undergoing born of the Spirit.” But though this is a discipline, to meeten it for the inheritance the case, the fact of the Spirit's influencing and home of heaven. When its work is buman spirits is manifest enough. Another done here, when its trials have been pameans made use of is the preaching of God's tiently borne, when its battles have been word. By this men are awakened, con fought, when its dross has been refined victed in their consciences, led to see their away, when it is polished as a bright gem guilt and donger, induced truly to repent fit to be placed in the glorious diadem of and believe the Gospel, and so are made our beloved and exalted Saviour, then it partakers of heavenly peace and joy, and will be removed to another and better begin to live a new life of holy and cheerful world. It will enter into a region pure, obedience. This is a spiritual power that and beautiful, and spiritual. All its memis brought to bear upon their souls. It is bers will be full of Divine light; they will the force of truth, of persuasion, of motive. be free from every stain of sin; they will It is the quickening light of God's word be holy even as God is holy, they will penetrating into the depths of man's soul, breatbe a heavenly atmosphere; they will and so dispelling its darkness, cleansing indeed be what they are called in the text, away its impurities, and rousing it up to a "a spiritual house." One of the elders Divine life. Then there is the influence of said to John, “ What are these that are holy example on the part of the Church. arrayed in white robes ? and whence came When God's people are humble, meek, they ?" John's reply was, “Sir, thou holy, good, and self-denying, when they knowest." And he said, “These are practise the truth they profess, when they they which came out of great tribulation, are living epistles read and known among | and have washed their robes, and made all men, then they influence others. It is them white in the blood of the Lamb. a silent, quiet, but almost irresistible in Therefore are they before the throne of fluence, like that which they say we exert God, and serve him day and night in his upon each other when we are brought into temple : and he that sitteth on the throne each other's society, and a mysterious, | shall dwell among them. They shall hunsubtle, electric, sympathetic power goes ger no more, neither thirst any more ; from each, and acts reciprocally upon the neither shall the sun light on them, nor wholo; or like the silent and gentle, but any heat. For the Lamb which is in the all-powersul influence of the spring's light midst of the throne shall feed them, and and warmth, by which the dreariness and shall lead them unto living fountains of cold of winter are gradually overcome. waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." Glorious result of all, and that no means are to be used for the their labours, and trials, and conflicts ! extension of the kingdom of Christ ex. “And I heard a voice from heaven saying cepting those that are moral and spiritual. unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which What a grand institution, then, is this die in the Lord from henceforth : Yea, spiritual house! How desirable that we saith the Spirit, that they may rest from should all beloog to it! How important their labours ; and their works do follow that we who are members of it should walk them,” No other issue will be for the worthy of our heavenly vocation, and that Church of God: no other destiny will we should seek to introduce others into it! satisfy the Saviour: where the Head is, You, my dear brethren, are a true Christian there must be the meinbers. “Father," he Church. You have exercised the right says, “I will that they also, whom thou you possess by electing our friend and hast given me, be with me where I am ; brother to be your pastor. You are that they may behold my glory, which liberally to support him, to sympathize thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me with him, and to aid him in all his imbefore the foundation of the world.”

portant labours. We believe that you will. This spiritual house has a spiritual origin, Your conduct towards your aged and has a spiritual Head, has spiritual members, venerated pastor for so many years is our has spiritual officers, has spiritual laws, guarantee for believing that you will not has spiritual ends to answer, has spiritual fail in your duty towards your recently means to use to accomplish these ends, and freely chosen minister. May the Lord it must have a spiritual destiny. The con bless you as a Christian church; may you clusion at which we have arrived is this : indeed be a spiritual house, a holy temple that the Church of Christ consists of those unto the Lord ; may the Holy Ghost abide who have repented of their sin, and who with you; may you be edified and comhave believed in the Gospel, and are re forted through the ministry of the word ; solved to lead a holy and useful life; that may numbers be converted here, and added the officers of this Church are pastors and unto the Church ; and when you have deacons, who are to be elected by the answered your great mission upon the suffrages and votes of the members, be | earth, may you be gathered to your fathers, cause of their piety and fitness for the and be united to the general assembly and duties they have to discharge, and that Church of the first-born, which are written the support of such is to be not by com in heaven. May the grace of the Lord pulsory, but voluntary payments; and that Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the no authority is to be recognised besides communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you that of Christ; and that his inspired word all. Amen. is the only statute-book for the Church;

THE GRAVE OF JESUS.
BY THE LATE REV. JAMES SMITH.

“Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”—Matt. xxviii, 6. THE Lamb of God had taken away the sins of the world. The day of expiation was past. The atonement was now accepted. Peace with God was made. The tumults of the people were hushed. The women hasted to the tomb. The great stone was rolled away. Instead of a dead body they found living angels. They were terrified, and filled with alarm. But their fears were soon scattered; for å mighty angel, clothed with majesty, but inspired with love, said to them with winning voice, “ Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay" (Matt. xxviii. 5, 6). Jesus had lain in the bosom of his Father, the home of love and glory. He had lain in the womb of the Virgio, in the manger at Bethlehem, in the carpenter's cottage at Nazareth, and at length in Joseph's tomb. There he lay a corpse : life was gone; strength and beauty were gone. He was brought into the dust of death. Let us visit his grave.

Let us obey the angels, and let us bow down, and see the place where the Lord lay.

Mark THE SPOT. It is a garden, a rich man's garden. In the upper part of it there is a rock, and out of that rock was chiselled a tomb. It was a quiet spot, though not far from the city. No one had lain there before. The man of wealth had intended it for himself. He expected to die, for he knew that his wealth would not save him from the last enemy. But of Messias it had been said, “ His death was with the wicked, and with the rich men was his tomb.” Therefore, there laid they Jesus ; for the sepulchre was not far from the cross, it was nigh at hand. Flowers, sweet flowers, grew, and threw their fragrance round it, and lofty shrubs bent over it. It was an interesting spot; interesting before Jesus was laid there, but to us much more so afterwards. The beauties of creation, the terrible effects of sin, and the ravages of death, were brought close together. The flowers blossomed and looked gay: humanity had faded, and looked sad. What could form a greater contrast than those beautiful flowers, and the sorrow-stricken, mutilated corpse of the Son of God! I feel deeply interested in every object around me as I stand by the grave of Jesus, and look down to see the place where the Lord lay. The place is as instructive as it is interesting. What lessons may be learned here!' o sin, what hast thou introduced! O death, what hast thou done! The Son of God is slain. The Son of man was laid in the new tomb. The Lord of glory was clothed with shame. The Prince of life experienced death. The Impassive suffers. The Immortal dies. The Innocent takes the place and suffers the desert of the guilty. Oh what condescension ! Oh what a stoop from the highest throne of glory to this charnel-house! What a mystery! Let me meditate, adore, and praise. But it is a solemn spot. Death is always solemn; but the death of he Son of God is most solemn. The grave is always a solemn place; but the grave of Jesus is peculiarly so. He died whom no one could kill. He died whom no disease could touch. He died who had given life to millions. He was buried who was to raise every corpse from its grave. What did that tomb enclose! What did that stone cover? The body of the incarnate God, the hope of his scattered disciples, and the foundation of the Church of God. 'O my soul, I feel a deep seriousness come over me as I look at the place, and think that I was the cause of his death, and that it was through my fault that he was brought down to the gates of the grave. Let me tarry here for a while, and with deep seriousness and sympathy look at the tomb, and see the place where the Lord lay.

Observe THE ACTION. “ Come, see.” Use the eye to ascertain the grave is empty. To impress the mind let the eye affect the heart, and to profit the soul ; for the most important, the most precious lessons, are to be learnt here. Come, meditate : let the eye of the mind reach where the eye of the body cannot, and for a time be a substitute for it. Looking into the empty grave, let us ask five questions, not so much for information as impression. First, Who lay there? THE LORD. The Lord of heaven and earth, the Creator of the universe, the Sustainer of all things, the Preserver of men, the Ruler of all worlds, lay there. The King of kings, the Lord of lords, was wrapped in that linen cloth. The face of the King eternal, immortal, invisible, was covered with that napkin. Oh, wondrous thought, it is the place where THE LORD lay! Second, In what character did he lie there ? As our Surety, Saviour, and Friend. He had become answerable for us. He engaged to pay the debt that we had contracted, and to suffer all we had deserved. He bore our sins ; be carried our sorrows. It was his undertaking for us that nailed him to the cross, and then laid him in the sepulchre. He died to save us. He was buried that he might save us. He arose from the grave that he might save us. He became our Surety that he might be our Saviour; and he became our Saviour because he was our Friend, o Jesus, as my Surety thou hast paid my tremendous debt; as my Saviour thou

wilt present me without fault to thy Father ; and as my Friend thou wilt associate me with thyself for ever. Third, What brought him there? It was our sins, and his own infinite love. Our sins alone could not, for he was not involved in them. His love alone could not, för as innocent he could not die. But out of pure, infinite, and eternal love, he became answerable for our sins. He engaged to bear them, atone for them, and remove them for ever. “He died for our sins.” He suffered because we had sinned; he died because we deserved to die; and he lay in the grave for a time that we may not lie in hell for ever. Our sins forged the nails that fastened him to the tree, planted the thorns that pierced his brow, and sharpened the spear that was thrust into his heart. Oh what an evil must sin be, to bring the Son of God into such a state of suffering and humiliation! Oh what love must the love of Jesus be, that induced him to take our place, and suffer and die in our stead! Fourth, How long did he lie there? For three days, or until all he had engaged to do was fulfilled. They laid him there on Friday, he lay there the whole of Saturday, and he rose on the morning of Sunday. With the Jews part of a day was reckoned as a whole one, and therefore, according to their reckoning, he lay there three days. He lay there long enough to prove that he was really dead. He lay there until lying there longer would answer no useful purpose, and then he arose. Fifth, What brought him thence? The sentence of Divine justice, the command of his Father, and his own power. The debt being paid, the bond was cancelled, and the Surety must be set at liberty. The expiation being complete, the Father could desire no more, and therefore commanded to set him free. Having life in himself, having power to lay down his life, and power to take it again, he exerted that power, and came forth free from all obligation, invested with universal authority, and ble to save whomsoever he would. He is risen. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Let us now ACCEPT THE INVITATION. Let us come to the place and become familiar with it, that we may peither fear death nor the grave. Let us come and obtain an assurance that we also shall be delivered from it. Let us come and examine into its nature and contents. What is it? It is a bed of rest for the poor, weary, worn-out body. It is a house of safety, in which the members of Jesus are laid up until he shall raise and make them like himself. It is a land of quiet, where the wicked cease from troubling, and where the weary are at rest. The rich and the poor are there, and the servant is free from his master. What is to be seen in that tomb ? A napkin to wipe our tears, a winding-sheet to wrap up our bodies, and an angel to guard our dust. Here we see the last foe conquered, conquered on his own ground, and conquered though every advantage was given him. Surely, then, death is disarmed, the grave is furnished, and believers have nothing to fear.

Come, then, SINNER, come, see the place where the Lord lay. He is risen. He is able to save. He is exalted to give repentance and the remission of sips. Come, and believe in a living, loving, almighty Saviour. There is salvation for you nowhere else. You can obtain pardon, peace, and everlasting life, in no other way. Only by believing in Jesus can you be saved, and by believing you may be saved before rising from the perusal of these lines. Come, SEEKER, come, see the place where the Lord lay, and be happy. See, death is conquered, Satan is overcome, and sin is put away. Jesus is a perfect Saviour, a pledged Saviour, pledged to save all that come unto God by him. Indulge your fears no longer; harbour your doubts no more; but come and trust in the risen Sariour, and be at peace. The angel says, “ Fear not: I know that you seek Jesus." Because you seek Jesus, you ought not to fear: be will save you, and save you for ever. more. Come, BELIEVER, come, see the place where the Lord lay, and weep, love, and rejoice. Weep, that he had to suffer so much, and to sink so low, for you. Love, because he has so loved you as to lay down his life for you; because he

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