office are overlooked, and the soul remains barren and unfruitful. III. ITS ABSOLUTE NECESSITY UNTO SALVATION: "without holiness no man shall see the Lord." -And why? Not because it can justify the sinner, atone for past sin, or make peace with God; but because 1. God has so declared. This is enough for the believer, if God hath said it if he has revealed this truth, that no unholy man shall ever see his face and live, we need no further witness. "Be ye holy, for I am holy," is his command: He is a holy God, and will have a holy people; and heaven is a holy place; and none shall enter there who are "defiled" and unholy. (Rev. xxi. 27, and xxii. 15.) "Thus saith the Lord," is enough for all who fear him! 2. But holiness is necessary as an evidence of faith. A faith which does not sanctify cannot justify: it is a delusion, a phantasy. A man may say he has faith, but if he have not works he is nothing! "The tree is known by its fruits." And while God alone can see and know the genuineness of the faith which professes to lay hold of Christ, we ourselves cannot be sure that we possess it, unless we feel in ourselves the working of the Spirit of Christ, drawing up our minds to things high and heavenly;" nor can others know it, except by the genuine testimony of a holy life! 3. But holiness also is necessary as a meetness for hea ven: -Not that any one can attain to such perfection of holiness as to be in this body a fit companion for "the spirits of just men made perfect in heaven:” no, all must die as they have lived, sinners: and though compared with those he leaves behind, the departing saint may appear most holy, compared with God, or even with sinless angels, he is still vile, unholy, and unclean! But there must be such a change in all cases, that spiritual tastes, perceptions, faculties, may be possessed, or heaven itself would be a burthen to us! Love of holiness, delight in prayer, and all holy duties, must be found in all who would breathe the air of heaven. Hence the impossibility of being saved without holiness it is impossible, because God has said so; and because, in the nature of things, it is so! If this be holiness, how few are holy! No heart for God, for religion, for heavenly things! all for the world, time, and earthly things! Oh let such repent and turn to God, that they perish not! Let those who profess to be following holiness examine themselves! Is there no reserve? no unhallowed lust? no sinful temper-no idol-nothing? nothing between you and your God? Beware of self-deception! Let all be deeply humbled, but let none despair! "Our righteousnesses are as filthy rags:" let us look to Jesus! Our holiness cannot save us: pardon and grace are his. XLVIII. CHRISTMAS. Luke ii. 28-30. Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy sal vation. HONOUR and dishonour were wonderfully intermingled in the circumstances connected with the birth of Christ. His parents were obscure; his birthplace, like a vagrant's child, was in a stable; and his cradle, a manger: yet the event was announced to shepherds amidst a heavenly host, and the gold and precious gifts of the suppliant eastern magi glittered upon his straw bed! So here, it is the day of his mother's purification, though she needed none: the day of his presentation and redemption, though he was without sin; the price of a poor man is paid for him-two turtledoves, (apt emblem of his innocency!) when, behold, honour awaits him! It is revealed to a venerable saint, "who waited for the consolation of Israel," that this was "the Lord's Christ;" and "coming by the Spirit into the temple" at this moment, "he took him up in his arms," &c. (Text.) This vision of faith will afford us ample matter of contemplation at this season, when we are called by our Church to worship and adore our infant Saviour and God! May the Holy Spirit open our eyes to see him by faith, as did the venerable Simeon! I. THE OBJECT OF OUR CONTEMPLATION: the infant II. How WE SHOULD CONTEMPLATE HIM. III. THE BLESSEDNESS OF SUCH CONTEMPLATION. I. THE OBJECT OF OUR CONTEMPLATION: the infant Jesus. 1. A little helpless babe in his mother's arms. Simply, a little child! There was no visible glory about him-nothing to the eye of sense different from other children: he probably was inimitably beautiful, and unusual innocency would play upon his infant face; but no chorus of angels hymned his praises, nor was any miraculous intimation given. What, then, made Simeon bless God? 2. It was "the Lord's Christ!" (ver. 26.) This little child was "the desire of all nations." (Hag. ii. 7); the child of promise and prophecy-the Messiah"the Lord's anointed: the fulness of time was come, and God had sent him forth," (Gal. iv. 4); " according to thy word!" to God's faithful promises through successive generations. It was he for whom Jacob had waited, and all the prophets: "I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord!" (Gen. xlix. 18.) 3. It was "God's salvation!"____ -Wonderful!-what! that little helpless babe, unable to (b) It was God's free gift: that precious treasure in the arms knowledge, and grace, dwelt in that "holy thing," that little infant! (d) In him was full and complete salvation for all believers: if he were God's salvation, his devising, and his accomplishing, it must be complete and finished! Here, in this babe, and in God's purposes concerning him, lay hid, atonement, redemption, justification, righteousness, mediation, sanctification, and glorification for his people! All things in him, "that of his fulness we might draw continually, even grace for grace." (John i. 16.) What a sublime and soul-satisfying object for the contemplation of faith! But II. How SHOULD WE CONTEMPLATE ОВЈЕСТ ? THIS INTERESTING -How was it that Simeon beheld him, and with what eyes must we gaze upon him? 1. Many in the temple saw this child, and did not discern what Simeon beheld and rejoiced in! They saw a beautiful little child, and nothing more! They would admire him, and praise the loveliness of the casket, but they did not know the gem it contained! Even his own parents were filled with wonder only at the words of Simeon, but did not comprehend them! (ver. 33.) "The light shined in the darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not," &c. (John i. 5, 10, 11.) So his true grace and glory are hidden from many now. Some esteem him a mere man, or the first of created beings, and discern not his Godhead or his atonement! Fatal and damnable error, in which there can be no salvation! Others disregard his birth, condescend not to notice that event which filled angels with wonder and joy; and spend the holy season"in rioting and drunkenness," or in folly and dissipation. Many profess to make memory of his love, and perhaps come to his house and to his table; but cold, dull formality chills their souls, and perhaps self-righteousness turns their prayers into sin! None, none discern the beauty and sufficiency of this infant Saviour but by the Spirit: "their eyes are holden that they cannot know him." 2. Simeon saw him by faith, because he had been waiting for him, and the Holy Spirit had revealed the Lord's Christ to him. Simeon had devoutly waited for him: he had sought for him by the prayer of faith-in the temple-in appointed ordinances, (ver. 25); and in answer to his prayers it was revealed to him that he should see the Christ before his death; and on this occasion "he came by the Spirit into the temple," under Divine guidance, and his eyes were opened to see, in this infant, "the Lord's Christ." Thus only can we see him! We must wait for him in his appointed ordinances; seek him in his house, his word, his holy sacrament: we must pray in faith for the same spirit, that he may work in us no less a miracle, and open our eyes to see in Jesus God's great salvation. "No man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost." (1 Cor. xii. 3.) Until it pleases God to reveal his Son in our hearts, (Gal. i. 15, 16,) we shall never know him as our Saviour and our Lord. "God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, must shine into our hearts," or we shall never see "God's glory in Christ Jesus!" (2 Cor. iv. 6.) "The Spirit must take of the things of Christ, and shew them unto us." "We must all be taught of God," or else we shall never have that lively, saving faith, without which we can never be saved. III. THE BLESSEDNESS OF THE LORD'S CHRIST! SUCH A CONTEMPLATION OF The aged frame of the venerable Simeon trembled with holy joy when he pressed this inestimable treasure to his bosom. Now he could die happy: "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation!" This faithful promise, thus fulfilled, was a cordial to his soul, and he now felt strengthened to encounter even the valley of the shadow of death itself. 1. This same blessedness can alone support us in life's trials! 66 "He is our peace:" there is joy in believing in him— strength in looking to him; hope in the darkest hour lingers around him. Being justified by faith in him, we have peace with God," &c.; "To you that believe he is precious;" "There is consolation in Christ Jesus, there is comfort in his love" and there is a holy energy derived from union with him which can carry us through all conflicts, temptations, trials, and make us "more than conquerors." Oh, if our eyes can but see and realize his great salvation, mountains flee away, rough places become plain before us! and we can ask, in a tone of triumph, "Who is he that contendeth with me?" (Isaiah 1. 8, with Rom. viii. 34.) 2. This blessedness will enable us to conquer even death itself. Whatever our age or experience may be, whenever we can catch the same blessed sight of Christ and his complete |