SERMON XXI.

ISAIAH LXIII, 1.

Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.

THE sun has risen but twice upon our earth,* since we met together to solemnize, with grateful and pious remembrance, the death of our great Redeemer on the hill of Calvary. Our thoughts then, must have been mingled with emotions of sorrow and indignation, when we turned in imagination to the fatal tree, and beheld the insults and cruelties inflicted upon one, who came down on earth but to succour and to save. For although we knew that he died in order that we might live; that he suffered in order to preserve us from suffering; yet it was a mournful and an humiliating reflection, that our sins and our perverseness had rendered necessary so

Preached on Easter Sunday.

mighty a sacrifice. Such at least should have been the impressions, which the anniversary of our Redeemer's death excited within us; such should have been the blended sentiments of thankfulness and remorse, with which we welcomed the return of so hallowed a time. If we thus made it a season of examination and selfabasement; if we turned our hearts in grateful acknowledgement to God for his goodness, and at the same time felt and confessed our own unworthiness of such compassion; that day was not passed in vain. For every circumstance

which tends to shew us our own infirmities and our own necessities, brings us one step nearer to holiness. Every thing which makes us acquainted with our natural depravity; every thing which causes us to distrust our own strength; is an advance in the road to heaven. Whilst one thought of our innate virtue lingers behind; one emotion of self-congratulation upon our own good deeds, swells in our hearts; one spark of pride and presumption lurks within us; we are yet without that true spirit of humility and meekness, in which alone we can fittingly receive the free mercies of God. Think you that Christ died to save such as scarcely feel their need of a Redeemer? Think you that he will sprinkle with his precious blood, those who fancy themselves pure enough without his intercession? There is

one religion of the lips, my brethren, and another of the heart, and there are many in the world who have the one in abundance, but possess not one grain of the other. The particulars of our blessed Saviour's sacrifice may be loudly and eloquently discanted upon, and with the same indifference as any topic of earthly interest. But no benefit can accrue from such remembrance as this, where the heart is not warmed; nor the spirit chastened. Christ hath died in vain, Christ hath risen in vain for us, if his death and resurrection are regarded only as subjects of wonder and enquiry. The gracious purpose of these stupendous instances of God's compassion and mercy, is only then answered, when the soul becomes subdued by their influence; when a sense of its utter helplessness compels it to seek for succour in some stronger arm; to trust to the care of its Almighty Parent for every good it hopes for in this life or the next; to become in a word like that of a weaned child. It is only in this temper and frame of mind, that we can, with profit to ourselves, come to the contemplation of God's judgments and God's works. It is only with such a spirit that we can fully appreciate his mercies, and "taste how gracious the Lord is." Let us then, beseeching God to bestow upon us these dispositions, and having wept over the cross where our Redeemer suffered, turn to a

brighter scene, and contemplate him, not a dying captive, but a triumphant king; not a victim, but a victor of the grave.

There is in the words of my text a sublime and glowing spirit, which harmonizes well with the feelings of every pious heart, that desires to meditate upon this gracious fulfilment of God's long-looked for promises. Well is Isaiah termed the evangelical prophet; for no Christian heart could have glowed with a holier ardour, no Christian tongue could have burst forth into a more triumphant hymn, than that of this inspired revealer of God's mysterious ways. Let your thoughts rest, as they should do this day, upon the empty sepulchre and the angelic heralds of Christ's resurrection at Jerusalem: let them reflect upon the conquest he had won, upon the powers of hell laid prostrate, and the valley of the shadow of death, cleared of the foes who had hitherto surrounded it with terrors. View in imagination the mighty warrior who had achieved all these glorious conquests, returning as it were from the field of victory, to tell the captive nations that they were free. Then take up the song of the prophet, and say, if every line of fire does not find in your breasts a chord responsive to its sacred harmony. "Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travel

ling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me. And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth."

How beautifully, in these words, does Isaiah describe, ages before it occurred, the deliverance which we are this day assembled to solemnize. He introduces some inhabitant of Jerusalem gazing on the road which conducted to Edom. The inhabitants of this land, who were the posterity of Esau, seem to have been possessed of an hereditary antipathy to the descendants of Jacob. They were frequently indeed subdued; but upon every fresh opportunity, they broke forth into new acts of violence and rebellion. In particular, when