and it seems particularly fit that, on this day, we, and all who desire to be true penitents, should humble ourselves in an especial manner for the many sins we may have committed in the way of eating and drinking, for our greediness in taking as much as ever we liked, and whatever we liked, as often as we could get it: for our selfishness and little consideration of others in such matters: for allowing our minds and thoughts to dwell too much upon pleasures of that kind, perhaps even when we were at our prayers: for grumbling and discontent with the portion, which GOD had provided for us: for neglecting to thank Him for it: for envying others and coveting what they had.

SERMON XXXix.

Good Friday.

Again we appear before our Saviour's Cross, with His own Prayer, in this His own Week, on this which is more especially His own Day: the Day of His Martyrdom: the Day of the Great Sacrifice : the Day of Salvation. When may we say our prayers with better hope of being graciously heard than during those hours which are set apart for the remembrance of His precious Death? the very hours, which He spent in shame and torture before the Cross, in agony upon it, in the shadow of death

if

after it? Where may we expect a gracious answer, not on Calvary, whilst in spirit we are kneeling with S.John and the Holy Women, under the very shadow of our Suffering Jesus? And if, among all our prayers, there be any one, which seems to go up with a surer and better chance of being granted, than the rest, is it not this petition, in our LORD'S Prayer, "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us"? Our LORD, as we all know and confess, died on purpose that our sins might be forgiven. How should He not be well pleased with our prayer, when we simply ask Him to do that, which He so desires to do, that He gave His life for it? He, our best and only Friend, laid down His Life that we might be forgiven. This alone might teach us, if we would consider, how great need we have of forgiveness. What indeed is there, which we can possibly want so much?

SERMON li.

Easter Eve.

WE see plainly enough, what the temper is, and preparation of heart which fits people to keep Easter Eve rightly, to watch by their Saviour's Grave, or by the graves of any of His members. It is patient, courageous Love; Love which waits not always to ask, and be told the use of whatever is to be done for our LORD: Love, which casts out the fear of man; Love, which has so deep a sense of the great things which He has done for us, that it rejoices in every sacrifice, little or great, which helps it to spend and be spent for Jesus Christ, and for His Sacred Body, the Church of His little ones, left here in its care. Of our charity let us pray for one another, that Christ would give us, however late and unworthy, some portion of this blessed Love; that we may watch quietly by Him in His Grave, and in faith rise with Him on Easter Morning. Beseech Him, that when He rises to-morrow, He would take and raise you with Him; would give you such

a heavenly mind, such a true love for the great and eternal things, as may lift you fairly beyond the reach of the Evil One, so that he may have no chance to bind again his cruel and heavy yoke upon you.

SERMONS XX., xxi.

Easter Day.

IN order to be the Light and Life of sinners, it was ordained that our LORD shall first raise Himself from that sleep of bodily death, into which for a short time He allowed Himself to be cast, that He might be our Redeemer. And thus His Resurrection is a sign and pledge, and means, not only of the forgiveness of sins by virtue of His one Sacrifice of Himself; not only of the resurrection of our bodies at the Last Day; but also of His Holy Spirit entering into our dead and decaying souls, and raising us from the death of sin by the new birth unto righteousness; by Baptism first, afterwards by repentance. That great thing, which took place this morning, was intended to become to every one of us a new birth and a new life, illumination and conversion: that, like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the Glory of the

Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. By virtue of our secret mysterious union with Him, His whole Mystical Body, the Church, yea, and each individual therein, is spiritually and sacramentally risen with Him its Head. So S. Paul teaches, “Being dead in your sins,” GOD hath quickened you "together with Christ."

SERMON ix.

Easter Monday.

It is not to be supposed that the faithful Disciples of our Saviour, and the Women who followed Him from Galilee, had the same looks, tones, and ways of speaking, during the melancholy hours of His departure, while they were in much doubt and perplexity, as they had after they were assured of His Resurrection. In the first case, we know, they walked and were sad," so sad, that a considerate stranger passing by naturally took notice of it: in the other case, whether He were in sight or out of sight, they "worshipped Him with great joy"; they "did eat their daily meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising GOD and having favour with all the people." Now this is what David expresses in the Psalm when he says, "Not only my heart was glad, but also my glory rejoiced." For what is