TO THE MEMORY OF THE REVEREND JOHN VENN, M. A. FOR TWENTY YEARS RECTOR OF THIS PARISH. HE WAS SON OF THE REVEREND HENRY VENN, VICAR OF YELLING; AND HIS PROGENITORS, FOR SEVERAL GENERATIONS, WERE MINISTERS OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND. A FAMILIAR ACQUAINTANCE WITH ALL THE MORE USEFUL PARTS OF PHILOSOPHY AND SCIENCE: HIS MANNERS WERE MILD AND CONCILIATING. AS A DIVINE, HE WAS COMPREHENSIVE AND ELEVATED IN HIS VIEWS, AS A PREACHER, HE WAS AFFECTIONATE AND PERSUASIVE, INTELLECTUAL AND DISCRIMINATING, SERIOUS, SOLEMN, AND DEVOUT; ANXIOUS TO IMPRESS ON OTHERS THOSE EVANGELICAL TRUTHS WHICH HE HIMSELF SO DEEPLY FELT. BY HIS FAMILY, AMONG WHOM HE WAS SINGULARLY BELOVED, HIS REMEMBRANCE WILL BE CHERISHED WITH PECULIAR TENDERNESS. HAVING BEEN SUSTAINED DURING A LONG AND TRYING ILLNESS, BY A STEDFAST FAITH IN THAT SAVIOUR WHOM IN ALL HIS PREACHING HE LABOURED TO EXALT, REMEMBER THEM WHICH HAVE THE RULE OVER YOU, WHO HAVE SPOKEN UNTO YOU THE WORD OF GOD; WHOSE FAITH FOLLOW, CONSIDERING THIS MONUMENT WAS ERECTED, AS A TESTIMONY OF RESPECT AND AFFECTION, BY FRIENDS OF THE DECEASED. Ephes. iii. 14—19.-For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend, with all saints, what is the breadth and length, and depth and height; and to know the love of Christ which passeth know- Page STATE OF THE SAINTS ABOVE CONTRASTED WITH THEIR FORMER CONDITION BELOW. Revel. vii. 9-17.-After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all na- tions, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the Throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels. stood round about the Throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell be- fore the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, saying, Amen: blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb, which is in the midst of the throne, shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their SERMON VII. eyes... THE GREAT MYSTERY OF GODLINESS-GOD 1 Tim. iii. 14-16.-These things write I unto thee, SERMON VIII. Page 82 101 ON THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY, $ Matt. xxviii. 19.-Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost................ 122 Page SERMON IX. HOW ABRAHAM SAW THE DAY OF CHRIST, AND IN WHAT WAY THE TYPES IN THE ま OLD TESTAMENT REFERRED TO CHRIST. John viii. 56.-Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad. SERMON X. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PATRIARCHAL, JEWISH, AND CHRISTIAN DISPENSATIONS. Luke x. 23, 24.---Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. SERMON XI. ............ ON THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS. 139 157 1 John i. 3, 4.-That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full......... 177 SERMON XII. ON COMMUNION WITH THE ANGELS. Heb. xii. 22.—Ye are come to an innumerable company of angels. |