living vine, so completely that all the channels should receive the flow of the generous sap, do you not see that that branch, however dead before, becomes a living branch? Before, it was dry, and fruitless, and withered; now, it is full of sap, of life, and vigour. It is a living branch, for it is joined to the vine, which is its life. Well, then, just in the same way, Christ is the life of every soul that cleaves to him. He that is joined to the Lord is one spirit. Is your soul like a dead limb-cold, stiff, motionless, and full of corruption? Cleave you to Christ-be joined to him by faith, and you shall be one spirit-you shall be made warm, and vigorous, and full of activity, in God's service.

Is your soul like a withered branch-dry, fruitless, and withered, wanting both leaves and fruit? Cleave you to Christ; be joined to him, and you shall be one spirit. You will find it true that Christ is the life; your life will be hid with Christ in God. You will say, I live; "yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

Remember, then, my unbelieving friends, the only way for you to become holy is to become united to Christ. And remember you, my believing friends, that if ever you are relaxing in holiness, the reason is, you are relaxing your hold on Christ. Abide in me, and I in you-so shall ye bear much fruit. Severed from me, ye can do nothing.

DUNDEE, 1836.

SERMON II.

the

"Consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.— HEB. iii. 1.

When a traveller passes very rapidly through a country,

eye has no time to rest upon the different objects in it, so that, when he comes to the end of his journey, no distinct impressions have been made upon his mind-he has only a confused notion of the country through which he has travelled. This explains how it is that death, judgment, eternity, make so little impression upon most men's minds. Most people never stop to think, but hurry on through life, and find themselves in eternity before they have once put the question, "What must I do to be saved?" More souls are lost through want of consideration than in any other way.

The reason why men are not awakened and made anxious for their souls is, that the devil never gives them time to consider. Therefore God cries, Stop, poor sinner, stop and think. Consider your ways. "O that you were wise, that you understood this, that you considered your latter end." And, again, he cries, "Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider."

In the same way does the Devil try to make the children of God doubt if there be a Providence. He hurries them away to the shop and market. Lose no time, he says, but make money. Therefore God cries, Stop, poor sinner, stop and think; and Jesus says, "Consider the lilies of the field how they grow; consider the ravens, which have neither storehouse nor barn."

In the same way does the Devil try to make the children of God live uncomfortable and unholy lives. He beguiles them away from simply looking to Jesus: he hurries them away to look at a thousand other things, as he led Peter, walking on the sea, to look round at the waves. But God says, Look here, consider the Apostle and High Priest of your profession; look unto me, and be ye saved; run your race, looking unto Jesus; consider Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and for

ever.

I. Believers should live in daily consideration of the greatness and glory of Christ.

(1.) There was once a time when time was not-when there was no earth, neither sun, nor moon, nor star; a time when you might have wandered through all space, and never found a resting place to the sole of your foot-when you would have found no creatures anywhere, but God everywhere when there were no angels with golden harps hymning celestial praises; but God alone was all in all.

Question. Where was Jesus then? Ans. He was with God. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God." He was near to God, and in perfect happiness there. "The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way-before his works of old. Then I was by him as one brought up with him; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him." He was in the bosom of God; "The only begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father." He was in perfect glory there: "O Father, glorify thou me with thyself, with the glory which I had with thee before the world was."

Ques. What was Jesus then? Ans. He was God. The Word was with God, and "was God." He was equal with the Father. "He thought it no robbery to be equal with God." He was rich. "He was the brightness of his Father's glory, and the express image of his person."

Now, brethren, could I lift you away to that time when God was alone from all eternity. Could I have shewn you the glory of Jesus then-how he dwelt in the bosom of the Father, and was daily his delight; and could I have told you -"That is the glorious being who is to undertake the cause of poor lost sinners-that is he who is going to put himself in their room and stead, to suffer all they should suffer, and obey all they should obey;-consider Jesus-look long and earnestly-weigh every consideration in the balance of the soundest judgment;-consider his rank, his nearness, his dearness to God the Father;-consider his power, his glory, his equality to the Father in everything; consider, and say you think you would entrust your case to him? Do you think he would be a sufficient Saviour?" O brethren, would not every soul cry out, He is enough-I want no other Saviour P

do

(2.) Again, there was a time when this world sprang into being when the sun began to shine, and earth and seas began to smile There was a time when myriads of happy angels springing into being, first spread their wings, doing his commandments-when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.

Ques. What was Jesus doing then? Ans. "Without him was not anything made that was made." "By him were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers-all things were created by him and for him." O brethren, could I lift you away back to that wonderful day, and show you Jesus calling all the angels into being, hanging the earth upon nothing;-could you have heard the voice of Jesus saying, Let there be light, and there was light;—and could I have told you, "That is he who is yet to undertake for sinners; consider him, and see if you think he will be a sufficient saviour; look long and earnestly;"-good news, good news for sinners, if this mighty being undertake for us! I can as little doubt the sureness and completeness of my salvation as I can doubt the sureness of the solid earth beneath my feet.

(3.) But the work of creation is long since passed. Jesus

U

has been upon our earth. And now he is not here he is risen. Eighteen hundred years and more have passed since Christ was upon the earth.

Ques. Where is Jesus now? Ans. "He is set down at the right hand of the Majesty on high." He is upon the throne with God in his glorified body, and his throne is for ever. A sceptre is put into his hand—a sceptre of righteousness, and the oil of gladness is poured over him. All power is given to him in heaven and on earth.

O brethren, could you and I pass this day through these heavens, and see what is now going on in the sanctuary above -could you see what the child of God now sees who died last night-could you see the Lamb with the scars of his five deep wounds in the very midst of the throne, surrounded by all the redeemed, every one having harps and golden vials full of odours-could you see the many angels round about the throne, whose number is ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, all singing, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain-and were one of these angels to tell you, "This is he that undertook the cause of lost sinners -he undertook to bear their curse and to do their obedience -he undertook to be the second Adam-the man in their stead-and lo! there he is upon the throne of heaven ;-consider him--look long and earnestly upon his wounds—upon his glory—and tell me do you think it would be safe to trust him? Do you think his sufferings and obedience will have been enough ?" Yes, yes, every soul exclaims, Lord, it is enough! Lord, stay thy hand! Shew me no more, for I can bear no more. O rather let me ever stand and gaze upon the Almighty, all-worthy, all-divine Saviour, till my soul drink in complete assurance that his work undertaken for sinners is a finished work. Yes, though the sins of all the world were on my one wicked head, still I could not doubt that his work is complete, and that I am quite safe when I believe in him.

I would now plead with believers.-Some of you have really been brought by God to believe in Jesus. Yet you have no abiding peace, and very little growing in holiness. Why is this? It is because your eye is fixed anywhere but on Christ. You are so busy looking at books, or looking at men, or looking at the world, that you have no time, no heart, for looking at Christ.

No wonder you have little peace and joy in believing. No wonder you live so inconsistent and unholy a life. Change

your plan. Consider the greatness and glory of Christ, who has undertaken all in the stead of sinners, and you would find it quite impossible to walk in darkness, or to walk in sin. O what mean, despicable thoughts you have of the glorious Immanuel! Lift your eyes from your own bosom, downcast believer-look upon Jesus. It is good to consider your ways,

but it is far better to consider Christ.

I would now invite anxious souls.-Anxious soul! have you understood all the glory of Christ? Have you understood that he undertook for guilty sinners? And do you doubt if he be a sufficient Saviour? Oh, what mean views you have of Christ if you dare not risk your soul upon him!

Objection. I do not doubt that Christ has suffered and done quite enough, but I fear it was for others, and not for me. If I were sure it was for me, I would be quite happy, Ans. It is nowhere said in the Bible, that Christ died for this sinner or that sinner. If you are waiting till you find your own name in the Bible, you will wait for ever. But it is said a few verses before that, “He tasted death for every man ;" and again, "He is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world." Not that all men are saved by him. Ah, no; the most never come to Jesus, and are lost; but this shews that any sinner may come, even the chief of sinners, and take Christ as his own Saviour. Come you, then, anxious soul; say you, He is my refuge and my fortress! and then, be anxious if

you can.

II. Consider Christ as the Apostle, or Messenger of God. The word Apostle means messenger-one ordained and sent on a particular embassy. Now Christ is an Apostle, for God ordained and sent him into the world.

In the Old Testament, the name by which he is oftenest called is the Angel of the Lord, or the Messenger of the Covenant. He is called God's Elect, chosen for the work; he is called God's servant-he is called the Messiah, or the Christ, or the Anointed, because God anointed him and sent him to the work. In the New Testament, over and over again Christ calls himself, the Sent of God. "As thou hast sent me into the world, so have I sent them into the world, that the world may know that thou hast sent me.” "And these have known that thou hast sent me." All this shows plainly that it is not the Son alone who is interested in the saving of poor sinners, but the Father also. "The Father sent his son to be the Saviour of the world."