gave them utterance." Instantly their understandings were enlightened; the whole plan of the Gospel opened to their view; the prophecies of the Old Testament were brought to their remembrance and explained; and Peter, standing up, was able for the first time to unfold to the astonished thousands the Gospel and kingdom of God. This was the first day that the plan of salvation was ever understood on earth. Though prophets had sung of Messiah's reign, and the saints of the Old Testament had died in the faith of a Saviour to come; though Christ had taught his disciples during his public ministry and for forty days after his resurrection; and though they had seen him ascend from Olivet; yet till that day the plan of salvation and the nature of the kingdom of Christ had never been understood on earth. On that day too commenced the glorious triumphs of the cross; for the Holy Ghost had come. Three thousand were converted to the Christian faith at once and added to the Church. From that day a great revival of religion commenced, which spread into all parts of the known world, and suddenly gave to the king of Zion, who had obtained a throne in heaven, an extended kingdom on earth. Once more he triumphed over principalities and powers. Satan was driven from vast regions of the heathen world; his throne and temples were overturned; and the Conqueror received, as the reward of his obedience "unto death," a glorious kingdom upon earth, such as he never had enjoyed before.

This dominion at present is the dominion, not of God, but of the Mediator. In this subordinate of

fice the second Person acknowledges the first as his superior, and administers the government, not by original right, but as his reward. But while the supreme right of the Father is acknowledged, no agency but that of the Son, the Mediator, is known to the inhabitants of heaven or to the Church on earth. Thus will Christ continue to administer the government till he has gathered in all the elect and brought the great plan of redemption to a glorious issue. The last act of his universal mediatorial government will be to judge the world. "Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father. Then shall the Son-himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all." From that time to eternity the general government will be administered by God in his own proper character. But the Saviour will still sit on the throne of Zion, and continue to be the medium of all communications to the redeemed Church, and of all the praises which will ascend from them. It will be Jesus of Nazareth still,-the same countenance, the same compassionate eyes, the same hands and feet, bearing still the prints of the nails. O how will they surround his throne and gaze upon him, and look down to hell and see from what he delivered them, and look up to his scars, and then cast their crowns at his feet and shout and sing, "Thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation.Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and

glory and blessing.-Blessing and honor and glory and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne and unto the Lamb forever and ever." His name will be the sweetest music to their ears. They will hang upon his lips, and gaze upon his eyes, and dwell upon his lovely name, and adore and praise and love as the ages of eternity go round.

This is the dear and blessed name which we are to commemorate in the sacrament to day. When we shall stand around his throne we shall not need such a remembrancer; we shall have him always present to our view. Then we shall see him face to face, but now we must view him through the glass of ordinances. Come, gather around his board, and remember him who was born in Bethlehem, who died on Calvary, who ascended from Olivet, and now lives and reigns in glory. Come and remember him who is made king of angels, and sends them forth daily to minister to you, to preserve your dwellings from fire, to fan the pestilence from your door, to drive away the evil spirits, and to preserve your persons and possessions from every evil. What has not Jesus done for you? He not only died for you, but has sent his holy angels to attend you. Have you considered, when engaged in your daily occupations, how honorably you are attended? When kings go forth they are accompanied by a band of soldiers, but you by a band of angels. And it is because Jesus loveth you. Come and remember him who has spread all the beautiful scenery around you, who gives you food and raiment, and under whose mediatorial government you hourly repose. O did you

126 know, when you murmured against providence, that it was the providence of Jesus? Come to his board and rejoice that the world is under the government of your Saviour, that all your friends and interests are in his hands, that it is his province to manage all your spiritual concerns,-to carry on and complete your salvation. Every thing is fixed precisely as infinite wisdom and love would have it, for all things are under the management of Jesus. What could you wish for more? What change can you desire? In what single circumstance would you move for an alteration? Our blessed Jesus governs all. Would you take the government of a single event out of his hands? To whom then would you commit it? To angels? They never loved like Jesus. To chance? There is no such love in chance. To men? Men never died to save your lives. To yourselves? Jesus loves you better than you love yourselves, and knows infinitely better what is for your good. Come then to his board and rejoice that this redeemed world is governed by the matchless love of him who died to deliver it from Satan's oppression. Come and give up your souls to this dear exalted Saviour. And O may that Spirit which on Pentecost descended, like "a rushing mighty wind," into the room where this feast of love was first ordained, descend where it is kept to day. Make this a little Pentecost to us, O thou risen Saviour, and breathe upon us as thou didst upon the disciples in the upper chamber, for thy name's sake. Amen.

THE ASCENSION AND DOMINION OF CHRIST.

SERMON IX.

THE PATIENCE OF CHRIST.

I. TIM. I. 16.

Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all long suffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

Unbelief represents God as acting from mere calculation, without any of that direct love which exists among creatures. The principal end of Christ's mediatorial work was to dispel this delusion with every other, and to bring forth the real character of God to view. He "is the image of God," held out to show creatures what God is. The better to do this he appeared in a nature capable of feeling all the passions of men, and in that nature felt, in every moral respect, precisely like God. It was a man taken into personal union with the Deity, that so his feelings might be a public and full exposition of the heart of God. It was God acting with human sensibilities, to show more familiarly how the eternal Father feels,-how men, with their tastes