"the time is short:" "a little while, and ye shall not see him," but "again a little while, and ye shall see him," because he is gone to the Father. Draw nigh to him, in the diligent and devout use of those means of grace which he has appointed. Especially seek him in the place where you are invited to meet him to-day,-on the steps of his altar; at that table where, if any where, he may be expected to take his seat, and bless the sacred symbols, and stretch out the arms of his mercy to his guilty creatures. "Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us therefore let us keep the feast; not with the old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."

;

In this spirit, my brethren, may we meet together at the sacred table to-day! May our Lord there feed us with the Bread of Heaven! May he shed abroad upon us the Spirit of lowliness, and purity, and Christian love! May our draught of the cup of communion, by its pleasantness to our souls, remind us of that day when we

shall "drink it new in the kingdom of our Father." May we be enabled to bind ourselves to the Lord by a covenant never to be broken! May He be our Father, and we the holy and happy children of the Lord Almighty!

68

SERMON IV.

SPIRITUAL RESURRECTION.

Easter Sunday.

COLOSS. iii. 1.

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth, on the right hand of God.

THERE is a strong disposition in many persons to contend for practical, in opposition to doctrinal, religion. And, supposing this disposition to arise from the real love of that species of piety which governs the temper and influences the general character, those in whom it discovers itself deserve commendation, if not for correctness in judgment, yet for rectitude of intention. And, doubtless, many such persons are to be found. In some instances,

however, the loudest advocates for practice, in opposition to doctrine, are without the apology to which I have referred for their errors in reasoning; since they are nearly as loose in the one as they are unsound in the other.

But, whatever may be the mistakes or prejudices of men on this point, practical religion, in the right sense of the term, is, after all, the real religion of Scripture. All doctrine is with a view to practice. And as it is in vain to attempt to erect the superstructure without laying the foundation, so the foundation is worthless without the superstructure. The language of Scripture is, "Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity."

Our text supplies one of the innumerable examples in Scripture of the anxiety with which the first and best disciples of our Redeemer endeavoured to connect those rules which respect the practice, with the fundamental truths of the Gospel. The truth with which the mind of St. Paul is here occupied, is plainly that of the resurrection of Christ. It will be my endeavour, in dependence

on the Divine blessing, to shew what is the line of practice which the Apostle desires to connect with this truth. And, to this end, let us consider,

I. WHAT ST. PAUL, in our text, TAKES

FOR GRANTED, WITH REGARD TO THE
FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST; and,

II. WHAT HE ENJOINS UPON THEM.

1. In the first place, we are to consider what it is the Apostle, in the text, TAKES FOR GRANTED, with regard to the followers of Christ.

His language is, If ye, then, be risen with Christ."-The fact, therefore, which he assumes, with regard to those bearing the name of the Redeemer, is, that, as the body of Christ was raised from the dead, so they are raised in soul and spirit, in character and temper, in their transactions with God and with their fellow-creatures. Let us touch for a moment on the nature of the change which appears to be referred to in these words. And of this we shall be better able to judge, by briefly considering the nature of spiritual death, as described in the writings of the Apostles.