THE Church at which the following Sermon was preached is situated in a small vale about two miles to the North of Aberystwith, near the residence of the Writer's family. It is a substantial and very beautiful structure, built of the hard blue stone of the country, which has been worked at great labor and cost, rendering the exterior of the edifice very striking. The East Window and interior of the Chancel is of Bath stone, and is formed on the model of the East end of the Church at Littlemore, near Oxford. The woodwork is of a very substantial character, and entirely of oak or Spanish chestnut. The sittings are all free. The Church will appear incomplete until the Tower is attached to it; and a subscription for this purpose has been commenced by a liberal donation of the Lord Bishop. The Consecration was remarkable as being the first that has been known in the Welsh language, with the exception of the Sermon. The afternoon Service at the Consecration of the Church Yard, together with the Sermon, was entirely in the language of the country.

Cwmcynfelin,
St. Thomas's Day, 1841.

TO

CONNOP, LORD BISHOP OF ST. DAVID'S,

THIS SERMON,

PREACHED BY HIS APPOINTMENT, AND PUBLISHED AT HIS DESIRE,

At the Consecratton of Llangorwen,

IS INSCRIBED,

WITH DEEP FEELINGS OF GRATITUDE AND RESPECT,

Rev. xxi. 2, 3.

"I John saw the holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of Heaven, prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband.
"And I heard a great voice out of Heaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them."

THESE words are not spoken only of that great day, when the Son of Man shall be revealed visibly returning to earth, together with His Saints; but like most expressions in holy Scripture which speak of the kingdom of Heaven hereafter, they designate also at the same time the kingdom of God upon earth, the present Christian Church. To the baptized Christian it is already, we are told, “a new Creation: all things to him are become new," in token and earnest of that "new Heaven and new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."

In some unspeakable manner, and beyond the heart of unbelieving man, this description is even now fulfilled, and "behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He is come down to dwell among them!" For great and amazing as this account is, it is by no means more so than [7/8] the fulfilment must be of our Lord's promises to His Church; for He has assured us that He will dwell among us,—that He will continue with us unto the world's end,—that He will manifest Himself unto us,—that God the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost will come and make their abode with us. And indeed the very Name by which He has been pleased to reveal himself to us is that of Immanuel, or, God with us."

Surely, therefore, in "the Holy Catholic Church," of which the Creed speaks, we may see the fulfilment of this very glowing and high description, for it is, as the Apostle declares, no less than "the House of the living God, the pillar and ground of the Truth." We must, indeed, raise and open our minds, in order that we may enter into promises so truly great and Heavenly; and it is much to be observed, that whenever our Lord's disciples, or His enemies, failed in comprehending the meaning of His words, it was always from interpreting them in a sense too low and confined, never for attaching to them a signification too high and divine. O the awful and incomprehensible greatness of the words of God, fulfilled often, again and again, but always fulfilled beyond the thought of man!

Now of this Holy Church of God it is expressly stated in the Text, that she comes down "from God out of Heaven;" and this is very much to be kept in mind, in order that we may rightly estimate her character, and afford that attention and reverence which is due to all that appertains to her, that she is, emphatically, “from God, out of Heaven." For her ordinances are not of earthly appointment,—"are not of men, nor by man," but of God; the ministers and stewards of her Mysteries and her Sacraments, and all the gifts of the Church are of Heaven, not [8/9] of earth; and all the graces bestowed on her members are, in the highest and fullest sense, "from God, out of Heaven." These words of which we speak, were therefore in one sense fulfilled, when at midnight the song of Angels and shepherds was heard, blending Heaven and earth together, to sing the birth of Immanuel, or “God with us;" and still more fully when on the day of Pentecost there was heard a sound, as of a rushing mighty wind; that sound was indeed no other than that of the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of Heaven to be with men.

But although it be of the Catholic and Apostolic Church throughout the world that this solemn description is given; yet I trust we may venture, without irreverence or lowering of Divine Words, to apply them, in some inferior sense also, even to this place in which we are met on this day. For by faith even of this "House of Prayer," we may hear a great voice out of Heaven, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them." For, in fact, by understanding them in this manner, we do but hear our Lord's voice, when speaking to us on another occasion, and look for the fulfilment of His infallible promise in this place; for He has declared that "where two or three are gathered together," in His name, there is He "in the midst of them." This fabric, therefore, when dedicated to Christian worship, is no less than the chosen place of Christ's abode. And if union and concord in His worshippers, is the essential condition and the obligation laid upon us, in order that we may obtain this His mysterious approach and nearness, where can we expect to find these requisites more fully realized, than in a place where we all meet together to use the same [9/10] prayers;—the same with each other;—the same in some measure with other Christians in all parts of the world;-the same which our forefathers have used for more than a thousand years, and indeed, perhaps almost from the very beginning of the Christian Name?

That we may entertain this great and glad assurance, that we shall have indeed no less than Christ's own gracious Presence here vouchsafed to us, will appear still more strongly, when we consider it as the place where the blessed Sacraments are to be administered. For all holy offices which are performed by Christ's delegated Ministers in His name, are supposed, in some sense, to he performed by. Christ Himself. Thus we several times read in Scripture of Christ baptizing, when we find on a little enquiry, that it was not that He Himself baptized, but His Apostles in His name; it was He, (said the great forerunner) that should baptize with the Holy Ghost and with fire. And when God gave direction to Moses for His Priests of old to bless in His Name, He added to the terms of the blessing His gracious promise, “And I will bless them." He transferred the words from His Minister unto Himself, and after saying, “He shall put My Name on the children of Israel," He added, "and I will bless them." He laid the duty of pronouncing it on the Minister, but the blessing was His own. This consideration attaches an awful interest to the Ministrations to be performed in this House, when by faith we look beyond the frail earthly vessel, and forgetting the presence of men in the performance of these things, we discern the presence of God, we press on from things earthly and visible, unto things invisible and heavenly. As seen by the good Christian in spiritual discernment, it is not Paul, [10/11] it is not Apollos, it is not Cephas, it is Christ that baptizes; if we may say with awful reverence and caution, it is Christ who gives us with His own sacred hands, the memorials of His death, and the pledges of our life: it is Christ, the life-giving Word of God, that is read: it is Christ Who blesses, and pronounces "peace:" it is Christ Who consecrates: it is Christ Who exhorts by His Servants, according to the Apostle's words, “we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ's stead."

Now if the highest and best frame of mind, which a Christian can attain to, is thus humbly and devoutly to cherish Christ's words and appointments, as coming from Him and being of Him, and thus led on by the Spirit to see Christ in all things that are done in His name:—if the more we practise these contemplations, the more we attain unto reverence and holiness of mind, and therefore more closely and nearly approach to great unseen truths of God; if this be indeed so, with what awe and devout worship ought we to solemnize this day, when in some mysterious sense the tabernacle of God comes to be among us; and when He arises as it were, in unspeakable condescension, to take possession of His place! Doubtless we may with reverence use the words of the Psalmist, which our appointed Service on this day puts into our mouths;—and say "Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in!"

It is Christ to whom especially this title belongs of "the King of Glory;" and we with unveiled countenance have the privilege, says the Apostle, to behold His glory. Surely therefore the meek in Spirit, to whom "mysteries are revealed,”—the pure in heart, who have the promise that [11/12] "they shall see God,"'—and the contrite, with whom His holy Spirit dwells, may, by the eye of faith, discern the glory of the Lord, as when of old it appeared visibly to take possession of God's holy place;—when "the Glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle, and Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the Cloud abode thereon:" and when Solomon dedicated the temple, and "the Glory of the Lord filled the house, and the Priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because the Glory of the Lord had filled the Lord's house,"—"and the children of Israel” "bowed themselves with their faces to the ground," "and worshipped." Surely, I say, we ought with God's blessing to be no less affected with fear and trembling, though it be also with great joy; for although the Glory, wherein God has come to dwell with us Christians, and wherein we are brought near to Him, be not visible now to bodily eyes, as it was then of old, yet, as the Apostle St. Paul assures us, this the ministration of the Spirit doth indeed greatly "exceed in Glory."

These reflections cannot indeed but appear to a thoughtful Christian as deeply worthy of his most serious and devout attention. For it will, I think, be evident from all that has been said, that even of this House of God's worship, no less can be said than this, that it is, in some sense, “the tabernacle of God" come to be "with men." And if so, then we must remember this awful circumstance, that the material tabernacle of old was strength to the Israelite, when he revered and cherished it, but was death to the Philistine, because he neglected and profaned it, not considering therein God's Presence.

If the holy Patriarch of old was afraid, because he [12/13] found that God was in the place, and he knew it not; and exclaimed "how dreadful" was the spot which was "none other but the house of God," "and the gate of Heaven;" shall we with feelings of less veneration and awe approach a Christian Church? Is it not peculiarly "the House of God?" Is it not worthy to be called the "gate of Heaven" in a much higher and more concerning sense than that place where the Patriarch worshipped?—the gate of "the City of God?" the gate of the kingdom of Heaven come near unto us? Nay, indeed, as the holy place of Christian worship, may it not in some sense be said to be like that "gate" of which our blessèd Lord Himself spake, that "whosoever knocketh" at that gate, "it shall be opened” unto him. Surely the true Israelite, the guileless Nathanael under the Gospel, is privileged to "see greater things than these;" to see in the Christian Church, the true fulfilments of the Patriarch's typical vision; and on account of the greatness of the privileges and graces to be found therein, to behold with spiritual eyes the Heavens opened, and "the Angels of God ascending and descending,"—and the tabernacle of God" come to be "with men."

If Moses "exceedingly feared and quaked" at the coming in of that dispensation, which was but an image or figure of good things to come: shall we not feel something of the same becoming awe, when we live in the midst of those good things themselves? and are already, while in the flesh, brought near, as the Apostle states, “to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem." tn For those things served only "unto the example and shadow of heavenly things," n i.e. of the things of Christ's kingdom in which we dwell; in like manner as things in the Christian Church are but the types and emblematic shadows of God's Church in Heaven.

[14] For what was the Laver at the door of the tabernacle, but a type of Baptism at the entrance of the Christian Church? what was the molten sea on the twelve oxen, but a figure also of Baptism, as supported on the doctrine of the twelve Apostles? and what was the "table of the Shew-bread," but a memorial of the more blessed table of the Eucharist? and what was "the pot of Manna," but significative of the true Bread that came clown from Heaven? and what was the Presence of God over the Mercy-seat, but a sign of His Presence in His Church, and at that holy Table, which is the true Mercy-seat, where the Body and Blood of the great sacrifice are set before us in lively symbols? and what was Aaron's rod preserved in the sanctuary, but an emblem of Christ's own commission to descend to His Ministers in the Christian Church? To mention no more of these; shall we not cherish and venerate the substance, with something of the same religious fear as they of f-old did the shadow?

Or again, if they with such awe and reverence acknowledge the coming in of those things that were to them but the types and emblems of things which were to be hereafter in Christ's kingdom; shall we not with greater awe and devotion, acknowledge these things, which, with reference to them of old, are, indeed, great realities; but with reference to things future, which we look for, are even in themselves, but figures and types of God's eternal kingdom hereafter in Heaven?

For Baptismal Regeneration, which is the entrance into the Heavenly kingdom here below, is the type and shadow of that regeneration which is at the entrance of the eternal kingdom on the day of Judgment; when they that are found worthy shall, in a higher sense, be made "sons of God," and be created anew in Christ's image, both in body [14/15] and soul. And His word communicated to us now, both in writing and in spirit, is but a faint figure of the time, when by His Word God shall be fully manifested to His chosen; and His will shall be their will, as ineffably revealed to them by His Word. And His Sacramental Altar and Table below is the emblem of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, of that time when Christ "shall make His approved disciples to sit down, and shall come forth and serve them." And His Presence, or mysterious Blessing by the communication of Himself in the holy Eucharist, in a manner so passing all understanding, seems to shadow forth beforehand that His inconceivable Presence in Heaven, when Christ shall be "all in all;" and with His own in-dwelling, and bliss unspeakable shall fill both soul and body.

Nor is this all; but in order that we might be led to connect the thoughts of His invisible and eternal kingdom even with the visible and frail fabric in which we worship Him below; God has been pleased, both in the Old and New Testament, to speak of that mysterious state of bliss, which is prepared for those that love Him, under the mystical description of a material temple: by measuring out with rule and line, and giving the delineations of the walls and courts of God's house, He has set forth a description of His own blissful and eternal kingdom.

And indeed He has consecrated the earthly habitation, in which He has been pleased to place His great Name, to a still more excellent mystery. For as the tabernacle of old was a type of things in Heaven, our blessed Lord has graciously condescended to instruct us by a holy lesson of love, that even the Temple in which He is worshipped, may serve to remind us of Himself, of His own mystical [15/16] Body, of His own life-giving Presence therein, and of us His members made one in Him. For on a very remarkable occasion our Lord spoke of Himself under the symbol of a Temple, speaking of his own body as "this Temple." And in furtherance of which divine figure, St. Paul describes Christians as "living stones," joined together to make up that Temple wherein Christ will dwell; knit and bound together by holy Love, and built up by God Himself, for "God is Love." Nay, even our own bodies also are Temples of the Holy Ghost, and if Divine Love build up all our affections, God will Himself (O the gracious and good words!) will even dwell in our hearts.

Thus in all things that appertain to the worship of God in His Church below we are surrounded with mysteries and miracles, by Him whom the Prayer Book speaks of as working "great marvels," by His Grace and Ministers. And the visible House of God serves first of all to represent to us the Church Catholic and visible throughout the world—wherein Christ is mysteriously and Divinely present,—which is built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ being Himself the chief corner-stone;—the City which is built on those "twelve foundations," in which are "the names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb." And in the next place, the material fabric itself serves to remind us of that Church invisible, which is being even now built up in heavenly places, like that of Solomon, quietly constructed of those already prepared for their place,n without noise being heard therein, where the Saints of God are the living stones, “the house not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens."

The Church of God therefore is thus found to be of a [16/17] three-fold character, the Church which is more peculiarly our own, and the Church visible throughout the world, and the Church invisible in Heaven. But still neither of these is entirely separated from, or independent of the other—for the Church in this place is nothing of itself, were it not a part and branch of, and inseparably connected with, the Church Catholic throughout the world; and the Church visible throughout the world were nothing of itself, but that it is also inseparably but mysteriously connected with the Church invisible in heavenly places. The one is on earth and the other is in Heaven; but they are both alike in Holy Scripture termed "the kingdom of God."

Now this observation may be applied also to the House of God in which we are assembled on this day; all things within it and about it are connected with two worlds. The Church-yard around is like a spot of ground lying between two worlds,—the living and the dead. Here, on this side, the living will be gathered together to take their last leave of their brethren on earth; and there, on the other side, the "spirits of the just" will welcome for the first time their new brother received into their blissful society. Much more within this Church will all things partake of two worlds; every thing done within every Sacrament administered has a relation to two worlds, partakes of two worlds. The Christian dispensation differs from the Law in this, that there is no such thing in it as a were form or rite; it is connected with things invisible; and our danger always is of resting in the form, and not going on to the spirit contained therein. For instance, it has been said, and perhaps justly, that if Baptism is not birth by Water and the Spirit, it is no better than a mere lifeless Jewish ordinance, and ought to be abolished according to the injunction of the Apostle respecting our not keeping [17/18] Judaical observances. And in like manner, if the holy Eucharist has not in some mysterious sense the presence of Christ connected with it, it is but a legal rite, and not to be cherished by a Christian. But if on the contrary these things are as the Church of all ages and all countries has held them to be; then doubtless awful indeed are these things; awful the place where they are administered; great is our occasion for fear in these evil days; lest Christ should in very deed be in this place, and we know it not.

This day, therefore, of our Holy Consecration, is as far greater than any thing in the Jewish dispensation, as the Gospel is above the Law: for the ministration of the Law was glorious, because it shadowed forth beforehand the Christian kingdom; but this is glorious, because it shadows forth beforehand the blessed kingdom of God in Heaven. With reference therefore to this day, and this place, and with reference to all that witness it, truly may it be said, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see, for I tell you that many Prophets and Kings have desired to see the things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear the things which ye hear, and have not heard them."

If God put it into the heart of the Patriarch to consecrate the holy place of His worship,by an express act of Dedication, and condescended graciously to accept of this poor act of his devotion: shall we do less religiously, or think less reverently than he? We do not wish to celebrate it by mere concourse of men, for this hallows not; but by Christ's Presence, by His benediction, and His gracious intercession in Heavenly places, and, as set forth before us below, by the Office and Ministrations of His chief Pastor. If the Almighty was pleased Himself to appoint such solemn [18/19] Services of old, and deigned, in unspeakable condescension, to speak so minutely of all that appertained to His tabernacle in the wilderness; will He not require of us the same care in preparing for His abode a Christian Church? If, afterwards, the temple of Solomon was dedicated to His honor, with so many circumstances of solemn and religious awe, shall we not, after the same pattern of His own appointed worship, celebrate the coming in of privileges infinitely greater? If, moreover, lastly, and most concerning and important of all, the Almighty has been pleased to speak of that world wherein He dwells, and where His Saints shall dwell with Him,—which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor heart of man conceived,—under the figure of a Temple beautifully adorned with all that is costly in nature and art, pillars and precious stones, windows of agate, walls of gold, and gates of pearl:—then it would seem that all that we can do to beautify and adorn these places of His earthly worship, is a service not unacceptable to Him.

But how would we hallow His house, and celebrate His awful Coming? Not by the anointing oil by which the Patriarch dedicated the place of God's worship, but by the anointing of the Holy Spirit, preparing our hearts to receive Him worthily. And where shall we seek His Presence to bless us? not in the visible Cloud of His glory, not by the Shechinah, by His Presence over the Mercy-seat, but in the holy Eucharist. How shall we sanctify the place of His abode? but by faith acknowledging His presence, and spiritually discerning Him as coming to be among us, according to His promise; and in the ministrations of His own chief Servant, with whom He has graciously vouchsafed to be?

Moreover, as all our actions derive their acceptableness and blessing from the example of our adorable Lord [19/20] Himself, so our meeting here on this day seems to be in a manner authorized, sanctioned, and blessed by an incident that is mentioned of our Lord in the Gospels. For as our Church says of the holy state of Marriage, that it was "adorned and beautified with Christ's presence" at the marriage feast in Cana of Galilee, so may the same be said of the Feast of Dedication. For not only was our blessed Lord very observant of the other Festivals of Divine appointment, and on occasions when His Presence at Jerusalem was accompanied with much inconvenience and danger, but even we have reason to believe also at this solemnity of human ordinance; for we read, “It was at Jerusalem, the feast of the Dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple." Nor are we in any way falling back to Judaical observances in attention to time and place; for we find that St. Paul also considered his presence at a festival at Jerusalem so indispensable, that it was a kind of point or landmark which drew him home from afar, and by which his course was regulated and directed from distant nations and countries.s

It is not that in the Christian state we are altogether independent of time and place, and things without; but that things without minister to the things within, to things of the Spirit. As we are formed of Body and Soul,—as we trust that our bodies also as well as our souls shall arise in glory,—as Christ was pleased to take to Himself a human Body as well as a human Soul,—so we worship God not with soul only, but with body and soul. With the body we are subject to time and place: but in spirit, with time and place we connect thoughts of, and relations to, the dread stillness—the never-ending circle—of unspeakable, inconceivable, unchangeable, immeasurable eternity.

[21] If, therefore, with this day, and this little place, things so great and Divine are connected,—if the occasion of our meeting here on this day is so hallowed by the consideration of the things that have gone before, and of the things that are to be hereafter,—if indeed it seems to touch the chain which reach es to the throne of God, and may vibrate through everlasting ages, and the days of Heaven,—what must be our reflection, but this,—who can think of these things worthily? Indeed, our poor conceptions can in no way equalize them; our hopes cannot raise themselves to the comprehension of them; their faith misgives the best of men, and when they think of blessings so great and wonderful, then their hearts cannot contain their thoughts, and they are ready to cry out with Solomon,—"but will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, Heaven and the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain Thee; how much less this house which I have built." But we are told that the thoughts of our heavenly Father are not as our thoughts, and the reason given why they are not is, on account of the greatness of His unspeakable mercies and condescensions. And to this prayer He answers by coming Himself visibly into that house, with manifest tokens of His Presence, and by the express answer and promise, "I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to Myself. Now Mine eyes shall be open, and Mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that My Name may be there for ever: and Mine eyes and Mine heart shall be there perpetually." Oh, the unspeakable depth of the goodness of God! the deep of our want calls unto the deep of His mercy, and both are alike unfathomable!

[22] So far, therefore, as we are truly and indeed devoted to the service of God, and are of that contrite spirit with which He delights to dwell; we cannot doubt that by faith all these things may be realized to us. That they are as much said to us, to quiet our faithless misgivings, as if we heard the words of God Himself addressed to us, as Solomon did. For even a greater than Solomon is here with us, even the Son of Man. Those who have assisted this pious work by their worldly substance, or by their prayers, may humbly trust that His blessing is vouchsafed to them; and their hopes are fulfilled according to the measure of their faith; that however great and dreadful the words are, yet that in deed and very truth in this little vale, there is from henceforth the place of God's peculiar Presence, His own "House of prayer."

To those who dwell in it, God has come near. Great indeed and incomprehensible the privilege, but let us not depart without the reflection, that in things Divine, the greatness of the privilege is equalled by the greatness of the danger. Christ has come near! It is an awful thought, for when Christ draws near, He is "a savour of life and also unto death." The cloudy pillar in which God was present in the wilderness, was a shelter and guide to the children of Israel: but to the Egyptians it was destruction, it made their wheels to move heavily, and overwhelmed them in the sea. Though unseen by fleshly eyes, yet to the eyes of Faith, Christ has come down, and is henceforth in this place, as He was among them of old, in the cities of Capernaum, in Bethsaida, in Chorazin; but we must remember that "woe" was pronounced on those places, because Christ was present there among them, and they knew it not.

To those, therefore, of this place I would say, if after this day, and the building of this Church, your lives are [22/23] no better than they have been; if you are not more constant at Church,--if you do not cherish more the holy Sacraments,—are not more self-denying in your daily life,

more watchful in your whole conversation, and above all things more loving, kind, and charitable to each other, then be assured that even this blessed and holy day will rise up in the Judgment against you; this Church will be i heavy weight, that will sink and overwhelm you at that hour; for whether ye think it or not, “be ye sure of this that the kingdom of God hath come nigh unto you."

But on the contrary, if any of you here present are indeed wholly bent and purposed to receive worthily (as far as such as we can receive worthily) our adored Master and Saviour, coming thus to take His peculiar abode among us; His Holy Spirit, who has enabled you to be thus minded, will doubtless instruct you how to do so. And He will, probably, put it into your hearts to begin by making some sacrifice.

Remember Zaccheus, who thought the best entertainment he could afford his Lord, when He graciously entered into his house, was this, “Lord, the half of my goods I give unto the poor, and if I have done any wrong to any man, I restore fourfold."

Remember the good Mary, who laid up all that she had, in order that she might do honor to her Lord, and anoint His sacred Person, when He was come into the village where she dwelt, and the house in which she was. She had before thought the best mode to entertain him, was to choose the good part, and to listen to His word.

Remember Matthew the publican, who gave up all that he had, and when Christ came into his house, laboured with a holy charity t.o bring all persons into blessed union, to hear the words of, his beloved Master. [23/24] The Pharisee was there, and the publican also, the disciples of John, the Scribes, and the half-Gentiles, together with our Lord's own disciples. Differing so much in many things, so much opposed to each other, yet they were all met together in this house of Levi, that they might hear his Lord's Divine instructions.

Remember that no man who had the gracious privilege of receiving our blessed Saviour under his roof, obtained from His own sacred lips, so much praise and favor as that Centurion, who, because he was a Gentile, feared to approach, but stayed afar off, and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof, but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed."

The first step, therefore, which we must attain to, in order that we may receive the blessings that go forth from Christ's Presence, as coming more nearly to dwell among us, and to be with us, is self-sacrifice. The next to this is bountifulness to the poor. Thirdly, we must practice that live and active charity which is shewn by labouring to bring all men, as far as may be, into His one fold, into the hearing of His sacred voice. But lastly, and chief of all, is unfeigned humility of heart and life, which stands afar off, and can scarce believe that Holiness so divine and unspeakable, can admit to its near approach unworthiness so great. Yea, though we scarce dare to believe and hope it, yet to him shall the promises of God be abundantly fulfilled, “He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek Him, even of them that seek thy face, O Jacob."

"BLESSED be God for this good day, and for the many opportunities of serving Him. Grant, O Lord, that we may not receive Thy grace in vain, but that we may live as becometh Christians who believe and hope for the joys of Heaven. Reward all that do us good, and especially all such as watch for the souls of others; grant that they may save themselves, and such as hear them, that both may enjoy an everlasting Sabbath with Thy Saints in Heaven, through the merits of Jesus Christ."

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