the church, by the participation of its sacraments and ordinances from its authorized ministry, will be effectual to our salvation!" He that believeth and is baptized," said our blessed Lord, "shall bet saved;" and the language of his apostles uniformly proclaims, that through his body the church we are united to him, and in holy communion with this body shall finally enjoy the triumphs and glories of its divine. Head.

The faith, then, by which we are saved, brethren, is such an assent of the understanding to the facts and truths of the Gospel as, through the influences of the Divine Spirit, calls forth the exercise of holy affections, and produces holy submission to the ordinances and commandments of God.

They whose faith thus worketh by love, and brings forth the fruits of holiness, have assured to them the pardon of their sins, (through, the merits of that Saviour in whom they trust,) and the enjoyment of the favour of God; for, "justified by faith," they have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. They are enriched with the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit; for, in the language of the apostle, Christ by his Spirit dwells in their hearts, enriching them with, divine wisdom and knowledge, purifying and sanctifying their souls, and leading them in the ways of God's law, and in the works of his commandments. They obtain succour ander teinptation, so that theirs is the victory which overcometh the world-even their faith. They enjoy comfort under sorrow; for, amidst all the changes and chances of this mortal life, their hearts are fixed on that Saviour whom, not having seen, they love; they rejoice in the unfailing assurances of their divine Lord-" None shall hurt

you, or make you afraid. All things shall work together for your good." And lastly, they who partake of true Christian faith are assured of victory over death, and everlasting life. "He that believeth in me," said Jesus, who is the resurrection and the life," shall never die;" and in firm reliance on this gracious assurance, it may be the triumphant rejoicing of every true believer, in his last tremendous conflict, when nature, and all that nature can supply, fails him for ever-"O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of glory." Blessed are they who are not seized, and yet have believed.

But what is the awful denunciation against unbelief?, "He that believeth not," said Christ himself, "shall be damned"-" shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of God, and from the glory of his power." Just sentence; for he wilfully rejects the counsel of God for his salvation.

Professing Christians, let me beseech you to remember that this condemnation awaits not only those who reject Jesus Christ as their Saviour, but those who hold the faith in unrighteousness, those whose faith, not bringing forth good works, is dead. Examine then yourselves, whether you have that faith which worketh by love, which purifieth the heart, which overcometh the temptations of a sinful world, and which leads you to observe and keep the ordinances and commandments of God.

If you are Christians in deed and in truth, as well as in name and profession, be it your object to increase in that faith which is the source of all your virtues, and all your spiritual consolations and

joys. Be it your increasing prayer and endeavour that your faith may abound more and more in all its holy fruits-love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, meekness, temperance. Let your faith, vigorous and lively, ascending to that heaven where your Saviour Christ hath gone before, raise you above the world-not above its duties, not above its pure enjoyments, the gifts of a gracious Providence-but above its sins, above an inordinate love of even its lawful pursuits and pleasures, above its temptations and its sorrows. Let your faith be the substance of things hoped for, and you shall enjoy on earth a foretaste of those glories prepared for you in your heavenly home. Let your faith be the evidence of things not seen, and you shall rejoice in that Saviour whom you see by the eye of faith, with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

Especially let this faith, thus purifying, ennobling, and consolatory, be in lively exercise when you approach the table of your Lord. There are exhibited the agony and bloody sweat, the cross and passion of him who died for you, and dying, redeemed you; and there are pledged to you the merits of him who rose again, and ever liveth to intercede for you. Realize, then, the infinite compassion and the mighty power of your Redeemer, the Lord of hosts; and when you receive the pledges of his grace and mercy, you may rejoice in the assurance that you are heirs, through hope, of his everlasting kingdom.

SERMON XXX.

THE LIFE AND ACTS OF JESUS, DURING THE PERIOD BETWEEN HIS RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION.

LUKE XXIV. 36.

Jesus himself stood in the midst of them.

We have recently been engaged, my brethren, in celebrating those remarkable periods in the history of our Lord, when he suffered for our sins, when he was subjected to the dominion of the grave, and when he rose from the dead. The church, following successively the events of his history, now marks in her services that portion of it which intervened between his resurrection and his ascension. After our blessed Lord, in the fulfilment of prophecy, and in the performance of those stupendous acts by which our redemption was achieved, had obtained victory over death, and established his pretensions as the Son of God, a considerable period elapsed before he left the world, never to return to it but as its Judge, and ascending to the celestial courts, took possession of the glory which he had with the Father before the world was.

Having thus contemplated Christ as a Saviour suffering and dying on the cross, and in his power rising from the tomb, let me now direct your attention to him during that period which is subsequent to his resurrection, and prior to his ascension to heaven.

1. What was the corporeal nature of our Lord during that period?

2. What was his general occupation? and, 3. What were his most remarkable acts?

These are the inquiries on which I shall now submit to you a few remarks.

1. What was the corporeal nature of our Lord during the period which elapsed between his resurrection and his ascension to heaven?

This inquiry would seem unnecessary and extraordinary, if it were not the fact that our Saviour's corporeal nature, as it now subsists in his state of triumph and glory in heaven, is very different from its condition during his state of humiliation on earth. In this latter, mortal, frail, subject to the wants and the sufferings of humanity-in the former, immortal, impassible, perfect, invested with celestial splendour. It has, therefore been made an inquiry-Of the properties of which of these conditions did the body of Christ partake during the period between his resurrection and ascension? Was his body, after he rose from the grave, in all respects the same body that suffered the wants and sorrows of humanity, and expired on the cross? or was it that glorified body in which the Redeemer is now seated on the throne of universal dominion?

The opinion has been advanced, that, after his resurrection, the Saviour having thrown aside the habiliments of mortality, had assumed that immortal body in which he shall reign for ever at the right hand of his Father. This opinion has been advanced and maintained with great force and ingenuity by the distinguished Bishop Horsley, who, in addition to unrivalled erudition and exalted ta