from its union with God, by the mediation of Jesus Christ. The heavenly life consists in the vision and enjoyment of God, in a perfect conformity to him, and an uninterrupted communion with him. It is eternal life. Thus life and death, good and evil, the blessing and the curse, are set before us, that we may choose our way, and so shall our end be. Let us take warning, and seek that faith in Christ which produces love to him and obedience to his commands, that we may abound in fruits of righteousness here, and be numbered among his saints in glory everlasting. And now the sacred festal day took place, Which banish'd leaven from the chosen race, The deciples came to ask our Lord, where, They should for him the paschal feast prepare. THE PASSOVER. The master saith, "this day I'll be thy guest, And with thee celebrate the paschal feast." They went, and all things found as he declar'd, And soon the wine, and bread, and sacred lamb prepar'd. "AND he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand, I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples. And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover." (Matt. xxvi. 18, 19.) We have here an account of Christ keeping the passover. It was a tradition of the Jews, that in the days of the Messiah they should be redeemed on the very day of their coming out of Egypt; and Christ died the day after the passover, in which day they began their march. Observe the place which was particularly appointed by our Lord to the disciples. He knoweth those who favour his cause, and will graciously visit all who are willing to receive him, as he did this man. "Tell him, My time is at hand." Christ means the time of his death; the time, the hour fixed in the counsel of God. He knew when it was at hand. We know not our time, and therefore we should always be ready. "Tell him, I will keep the passover at thy house, as the Master." Thus, when Christ by his Spirit comes into the heart, he demands admission, and he gains admission, as one who has all power in the heart, and cannot be resisted. His people shall be willing, for he makes them so "I will keep the passover with my disciples." Wherever Christ is welcome, his disciples should also be welcome. The disciples did as Jesus |