that gladly received his word were baptized; “and the same day," as the fruit of the labours of the hundred and twenty, which would doubtless be continued through the day, as well as of the address which Peter delivered at nine in the morning, “there were added unto them about three thousand souls." So soon as the relation of the circumstances which were connected with the outpouring of the Spirit upon the Gentiles in the house of Cornelius, had loosened the Jewish prejudices, by which till that period their movements had been fettered, the Apostles, and those who laboured with them, went forth freely to the Gentiles. But they went forth, not in the habiliments of priests, to discharge efficacious rites for their fellowmen; but as preachers, to make known to them the unsearchable riches of Christ. They consecrated no edifices, for the performance of an imposing ritual; for buildings of any kind, which could be exclusively appropriated to their use, they found none. They erected no altars; for they had no pattern after which to fashion them. They encumbered themselves with no censers, with costly incense to burn in them; for the ordinary raiment which would have been convenient for them, they did not always possess. It was not their implements of service, or rites of wondrous virtue, but "their sound," which "went into all the earth, and their words unto the end of the world." Beautiful, as they passed over the mountain barrier of one country after another, were their feet; for they preached the

gospel of peace, and carried glad tidings of good things. Their theme, melodious to the ear of those who knew their state as sinners before God, was the sacrifice of the cross, and the work of the living Priest, who was within the vail. They declared him to be, what the prophets had predicted, a Priest upon his throne; not only living to intercede for all those who come to God by him, but also reigning to enrich them, with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places; "the Lord over all, and rich unto all, that called upon him.”

There was royalty associated with the priesthood, which had presented the most perfect prefiguration of that which Christ discharges,-the priesthood of Melchisedec. His name is, by interpretation, King of Righteousness; and he was also King of Salem, that is, King of Peace. The first title was doubtless given to him, to designate the unbending integrity, the unblemished sanctity, of his personal character; while the latter seems to indicate, that these qualities, by the veneration which they inspired, were the shield of the city in which he officiated and reigned, rendering it sacred ground, which no warlike foot might presume to tread. While, therefore, all was commotion and turbulence around ;-while the kings of the neighbouring cities were forming their confederacies; leading their subjects to the shock of the embattled field; by turns, inflicting or suffering all the horrors of war, in scenes of carnage, pillage, and desolation, Salem was neutral and hallowed ground;-as its name indicated, it was peace.

In more respects than one did Melchisedec prefigure Christ. He did so 'in the personal qualities by which he was distinguished; in the combined offices of priest and king, which he discharged; and in the influence, arising from his character and work, which he diffused.

That perfect righteousness was found in the Redeemer, his very enemies were compelled tacitly to acknowledge. When he put the question to them, "Which of you convinceth me of sin?" there was none to answer. Pilate, though he condemned him to die, publicly declared, "I find no fault in him." The centurion who commanded the Roman guard which attended his crucifixion, was constrained to exclaim, Certainly this was a righteous man."

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That with the office of priest, he combined that of king, Pilate gave unintentional, but decisive testimony, when he wrote the superscription for the cross, on which, as Priest, he offered his spotless sacrifice, “This is the King of the Jews." That the Jews who had rejected him, and clamorously demanded his crucifixion, had some fearful intimations of his true character in their guilty consciences, appeared from their uneasiness, when their eye first saw the superscription upon his cross. It was like the sun-beam, darting unexpectedly into the gloomy region in which guilty purposes have been matured; and at which the children of darkness tremble, in fearful anticipation that their deeds will be exposed. The triumph of their malig

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nant joy was in a moment exchanged for foreboding fears, as to the import of the title which they read; and hence their anxiety to have other words, which would by implication declare him to be an impostor, and throw the semblance of justice over their proceedings against him, placed in their stead. That God intended, that in the lowest state of his Son's humiliation, the combined offices which he sustained should be proclaimed, and declared to be immutable, appears from the answer which Pilate (whose mind was doubtless supernaturally controlled on the occasion) gave to their entreaties, "What I have written I have written." And so it was seen on the cross, as well as subsequently within the vail; it was read on earth, as well as published in heaven; it was unalterably inscribed by the power of imperial Rome, as well as sworn by the ever-living God, that he was constituted "a Priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedec."

Coeval with the commencement of his priestly work, and the dawn of his regal glory, was the peaceful influence which he diffused. Pilate and Herod, previously at enmity, were that day made friends. The wall of partition, which had divided Jews and Gentiles in inveterate hostility, was that day broken down. He was their peace, who made both one, and reconciled them both in one body to God by his cross, hav

And when, having en

ing slain the enmity thereby. tered within the vail, on the full discharge of his work, he came in the power of his Spirit to bless his

waiting disciples, it was to produce in their hearts the peace which passeth all understanding; and to employ them in extending among their fellow-men his kingdom, which is righteousness, and peace, and joy, in the Holy Ghost. That kingdom, in its internal power, has been perpetuated in the world unto the present day. To all who have received him as their Priest, who have relied upon him, and presented their supplications through him; he has been their peace, reconciling them to God, tranquillizing their consciences by the sprinkling of his blood, and soothing their hearts by the exceeding great and precious promises of his word. If around them at any time all has been confusion and conflict; still there has been rest and quietness within. In the world they may have found tribulation; but in him they have enjoyed peace.

And the period is approaching, when his peaceful kingdom shall be visibly and universally established. The charm of his revered and hallowed name—the name which is above every name, shall be felt wherever it is proclaimed; and be proclaimed, wherever there is a human ear to listen, and a human heart to feel. Through the medium of his atonement and intercession, all tribes and families of the earth shall present their supplications and thanksgivings unto God, and blessings in return shall freely and widely flow. The plagues, which have hitherto desolated the world, shall be averted; the earth shall yield her increase, and God, even our own God, shall bless us. The his