SERMON JII.

DELIVERED AT FRIENDS' MEETING AT CHERRY STREET, PHILA. DELPHIA, ELEVENTH MONTH 6тн, 1849.

I HAVE remembered, since we have been together, I believe with deeper instruction than I have ever before known, the account furnished in the Scriptures of a meeting of the disciples on a certain occasion, when it is said, that Jesus came and stood in the midst and saith unto them, " Peace be unto you." I was led to query whether that account referred to one meeting of this character only, and whether it were possible for us to witness, as these disciples did, the presence of Jesus Christ. It seems to me, the same power which overshadowed that meeting, and made it a season of consolation to these disciples, that converted them and blessed them, continues still to be revealed to man, in agreement with the promise "where two or three are met together in my name, there will I be in the midst of them." Without this sensible evidence of the Divine presence in our midst, our assembling in this manner will be profitless and comfortless-it will be but an empty form that cannot satisfy those desires of the immortal spirit, which are constantly prompting the soul onward in its progress towards heaven. It was on the occasion to which I have referred, that these disciples received the commission "Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the

Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." The commission and promise here given, can scarcely be understood or appreciated amidst the traditional views and opinions which have so generally obtained, concerning the coming of Christ. If we look beyond the figurative mode of expression to the reality, which I have no doubt the writer of this history meant to convey, if we mistake not the shadow for the substance, nor substitute the type for its antitype, the account of the circumstances immediately preceding and attending this meeting of the disciples, may become very instructive to us. Jesus, while he was engaged among them in the work of his mission, told them, "It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the comforter will not come unto you." He saw the necessity of turning their minds from an outward person to a Divine Power, from that which consisted in flesh and blood, to that which was spirit, for according to his own testimony, "the flesh profiteth nothing, it is the spirit that quickeneth." Hence, also he said unto them, “I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you." When he gave this promise, he certainly had no allusion to his outward person, he could not have meant that this was the comforter

that would appear and abide with them forever. Far otherwise; the figurative style which so much abounds in these writings is calculated to mislead, unless we are careful to give the words and expressions that are used an appropriate spiritual meaning.

It is clear that the disciples, like the great mass of the professors of Christianity in the present day, were so outward in their views and expectations, that they did not perceive the meaning of Jesus, for one of them put the query to him in this wise, "Lord how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?" Seeing that they did not understand the spiritual import of his words, Jesus endeavoured to lead them to a more spiritual view of the manifestation of Christ in the flesh; in which they could comprehend it as the "wisdom of God, and the power of God," the word by which the worlds were made. Thus he led them to look for Christ within them, and in reply to the inquiry of Judas, he answered, "If any man love me he will keep my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come and make our abode with him." Here he directed them to a spiritual manifestation, in which he should appear as the quickening spirit, and word of life to the soul. For this same word that dwelt in the flesh in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, as certainly is manifested in us, and to every rational creature under heaven for the same blessed purpose that it dwelt in him, to raise us to an equality with the angels of God.

To this word of life, the gospel invites us in the affectionate language, "Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

What are the views of the great mass of Christian professors concerning Christ? Are they not very outward and traditional? Is not the attention of the people directed back to Jesus of Nazareth, rather than to his inward and spiritual appearing-from the operation of the spirit, to a dependence upon the outward person? While such views of Christ are entertained, as are incompatible with the spiritual nature of the gospel, how can we hope for the increase of that kingdom, which brings "Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, and good will to men?" This can never be realized, until Christ is witnessed as a ruling power and principle in man, governing all his actions by its benign influence, opening the path of duty before him, and showing him what he shall do, and what he shall leave undone. When, therefore, the disciples had their understandings opened on the occasion to which I have alluded, by the manifestation of Christ, they received the command, "Go ye forth teaching all nations," accompanied with the promise, "Lo, I am with you alway unto the end of the world." What now was it that was to be with them always? The power that opened their understandings and comforted them with the language," Peace be unto you." Then, and not till then, they realized the truth of the promise, "I will pray the Father, and he will send you another comforter." But see how it was when Jesus was taken from them: mark what occurred when those faithful women went to the place where he lay, whom their souls had loved, with the anxious inquiry, "Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepul

chre?" "Behold there was a great earthquake; for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat upon it, his countenance was as lightning, and his raiment white as snow." Then was the doctrine of Christs' spiritual appearing opened unto them, and they were prepared to go to the disciples with the joyful tidings, "He is risen from the dead.”

Are not the professors of Christianity now, like those faithful women, seeking the living among the dead? No doubt in the sincerity and fullness of their hearts, many are looking to the outward person that was crucified and laid in the sepulchre, and it will require the same earthquake to shake their dependence upon an outward Redeemer; the same angel of the Lord must desend from heaven, and roll back this stone of tradition from the door, and sit upon it, that it may no longer prevent them from beholding Christ in his inward and spiritual appearing, as the eternal word and ever present Saviour.

This society has been distinguished from other religious sects, by holding up these views of the spiritual coming of Christ. Have we known him to be in our midst as the crowning power of our assemblieshas this power subdued and sanctified our hearts— has it united us together in the fellowship of the gospel, and commissioned us to go forth "teaching all nations," that others may be baptised into this power, which shall abide with them always? Oh, if this were the case, what meetings we should witness; our religious assemblies would be blessed with the Divine presence, and we should be clothed with authority to