What an infinite mercy is it that we are still in the region of hope! That though we are far removed from the city of the blessed, and are still surrounded with disease and sorrow and death, yet that to us the gospel is preached, to us the glad tidings are proclaimed; "Behold the Lamb, of God that taketh away the sin of the world.' "Whosoever believeth in him shall not perish' but have everlasting life." Would we shun that dismal region of despair, would we partake of the glory of that heavenly city, here is the way:"I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me!" "And whosoever cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out." Our souls may indeed be very sick, long habits of sin and corruption may have enslaved us, Satan may have rivetted his chains strongly upon us, but here is a good physician who can heal all diseases, here is one mighty to save, and who can snatch from the grasp of the enemy every sinner who cries to him for help. I am the Lord that healeth thee." "He binds up that which was broken and heals that which was sick." Let us then come unto this sufficient Saviour; "if we do but touch the hem of his garment we shall be whole;" "virtue will flow from him ;" a healing, pardoning, sanctifying efficacy. No spiritual malady can resist his power, nor any disease, however inveterate, baffle his skill. As in the days of his flesh, bodily disease of every

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form vanished at his word, as death itself opened her doors at his bidding, and even "the devils were subject unto him," how much more can he now "heal all manner of sickness, and all manner of disease among the people!" None ever appealed to him in vain: it is enough that we know ourselves to be spiritually sick, and confess our sins; looking to him alone for salvation and a cure, we shall be accepted; he will say to us by his word and Spirit, "thy faith hath saved thee, go in peace." Oh that we may be taught at once our own guilt and misery, and his readiness and all-sufficiency to save! Oh that it may be proved to us by blessed experience that they who trust in him shall never be confounded!

And one practical observation seems naturally to arise out of this striking and affecting subject. How ought we to endeavour to assuage each other's sorrows, and to heal each other's diseases, both natural and spiritual! Are we ourselves still dwelling in that country whose inhabitants continually exclaim, "I am sick?" Ourselves compassed about with infirmities, and the certain heirs of sorrow and death? Should we not then compassionate our fellow sufferers, as being "ourselves also in the body?" And have we been the recipients of God's mercy in Christ, and found a remedy for all our sickness, and a consolation in every sorrow? Is Christ precious to our souls? Has he healed us, and bound up our wounds, and

poured into our hearts the oil of joy and pea ce? Has he, above all, given us the sweet assurance that he will one day bring us to that city where sorrow and sickness shall be known no more for ever? Let us then tread in the steps of Him who went about doing good. How manifold are the troubles of our brethren in the flesh! And, if we are so inclined, how greatly may we relieve them! By our sympathy, by our prayers, by our alms to our poor neighbours, we may diminish the amount of present suffering.* And by the circulation of God's holy word, by furthering the preaching of the gospel at home and abroad, and by promoting the religious education of the children of the poor, we may contribute to "the healing of the nations," and may be the honoured instruments in the hands of God of peopling with immortal inhabitants that glorious city which we have now been contemplating. It is a divine appointment "that the poor shall never cease out of the land;" one merciful object of which evidently is, that our spiritual feelings may be exercised, our love cultivated, and the law of Christ fulfilled: "Inasmuch as ye did it unto the least of these my brethren ye did it unto me." On the contrary, if we show no mercy, how can we expect to find mercy? If we harden our hearts

* This sermon was preached in aid of the funds of that excellent Institution the Cheltenham Dispensary and Casualty Hospital.

against the sorrows of others, how can we spread our own before the Lord? Compassion and benevolence, no less than separation from a vain and sinful world, are declared by St. James to be necessary characteristics of true godliness. "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and the widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."* May we by this twofold evidence, show plainly whither we are journeying; may "our faces evidently be set Zion-ward;" and may all men perceive by the spirituality of our minds, and the disinterested benevolence of our actions, that we are indeed citizens of the heavenly city!

* James i. 27.

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SERMON XIV.

THE CHRISTIAN PASSOVER.

EXODUS xii. 26.

"WHAT MEAN YE BY THIS SERVICE?"

A CUSTOм prevailed for many ages among the Jews remarkably illustrative of the passage whence these words are taken. When the family was assembled for the purpose of celebrating the passover, and the paschal lamb was prepared, before it was eaten, one of the younger persons present was appointed to ask of the elder, "What mean ye by this service?" And then a rabbi, or some one distinguished by his piety and wisdom, would answer, "It is the sacrifice of the Lord's passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses:"* accompanying his reply with suitable observations upon the goodness of God, His faithfulness to His word and

* Ver. 27.