and poverty, if connected with holiness, are honorable. And he has declared that there is a day coming when he will gather all that are his, however mean, and despised by the world, as his jewels. Mal. iii. 17. The rich are also here instructed: they should see in a poor man the image of our Saviour; and learn to sympathize with the poor, and relieve them.

5thly. If Christ so stooped, so labored for us, how should we learn from this fact and example to labor for him, and to serve him! What will the idle, the ambitious, the delicate, say at the day of judgment? Should we not, like the apostle, be ready to lay down our lives for his sake? The travail of Christ's soul began as soon as he came upon earth: from the first, "he bore the contradiction of sinners;" his holy soul was grieved at sin and especially this was seen in his last agony. And shall not we be willing to bear reproach for his sake? to give up all for him? The best offering we can make is a crucified lust, a contrite heart, an adoring love! Let us say with the apostle, "Yea, doubtless, I count all things but dross, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord."

Is any one asking, How shall I properly meet and receive this Saviour who is come in such love to my soul? I answer, Meet this truth with attention and reverence. Follow the ark, but do not look into it presumptuously receive this truth with unlimited confidence, and with holy resolution to abide by it. "None stirreth up himself," saith the prophet, to take hold on thee. Let us look at our past lives, and see what have been the chief impediments to our receiving Christ into our hearts; we are all the children of a fallen head; and till we are renewed, and united by faith to the Second Adam, there is neither help nor hope. There

fore let us pray that God the Spirit may take of the things of Christ and show them unto us.

Some are led by this subject to inquire into the origin of evil. There is no answer to this but in the first chapter of Genesis, where we read that sin entered, and there also we read the remedy. If a man discovers a fire in his house, he does not stand to inquire how it took fire; but his great concern is how to put it out. It was the business of man in the deluge to get into the Ark. God sends his ministers to declare the remedy, and we are commanded to receive it. Beware of stumbling at this "stumbling-stone!"

But let none despair: Christ did not undertake what he could not perform. Let us plead his own remedy. This is a matter of such grand importance, than one would think a man could not go home and return to his worldly matters, and think no more about it. "How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?" People suppose religion to be a mere matter of opinion: God says it is a matter of the heart. For this purpose was the Son of God manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."

Lastly, Let us behold and admire the astonishing grace, that God should give his Son. Let us take the benefit of this mystery, and adore the wonderful mercy displayed. You, who have felt your ruin, come to this Almighty Saviour. Sit at his feet, as Mary did; and cast down every proud reasoning. All our hopes for time and eternity depend on how we receive God's plan of redemption by Christ. Every blessing comes to us through him. Our backwardness to accept of this free salvation may detect the pride of our hearts: we are not sufficiently convinced of our lost estate. Christ is to us what the city of refuge was to the manslayer: the manslayer knew he was safe when his feet

were on the first step of the city of refuge. We should receive this mercy with joy. The angels said to the shepherds, "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people, for unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." The man who has this joy will say, The joy of the Lord is my strength!

We are called to embrace these truths as our only comfort here, and our everlasting security. In Christ, there is a sufficient righteousness to justify all who are the children of Abraham by faith. "Surely shall one say, in the Lord have I righteousness and strength. Isa. xlv. 24.

THE PRESENTATION OF CHRIST IN THE TEMPLE.

And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (yea, a sword shall pierce - through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.-LUKE ii. 34, 35. [1806.]

ST. LUKE records many circumstances not mentioned by the other Evangelists; among which is this account of Simeon, a just and devout man, who was waiting for the consolation of Israel. When Joseph and Mary brought in the child Jesus to present him to the Lord, according to the law respecting the first-born, Simeon, by direction of the Holy Spirit, came at the same moment into the temple, embraced the infant Saviour in his arms, and bore an honorable testimony to him as the true Messiah.

In discoursing upon this subject, I shall endeavor,

I. TO CONFIRM THE WORDS OF THE TEXT.

II. TO IMPROVE THEM.

I. TO CONFIRM THE WORDS OF THE TEXT. Behold this Child, as the "precious Corner-stone," placed here with this very design, "for the fall and rising again of many in Israel." Not as the instrument, but as he would prove the occasion. Jesus Christ was set for the fall of many, not as the end of his appointment; on the contrary, it was an effect directly opposite to that end; but inasmuch as his coming into the world would prove to many an occasion of falling.

We may here regard two things: 1st, the fact, as manifested in ancient times; and 2ndly, as obvious also in modern times.

1st. Christ," the chief Corner-stone," proved the occasion of the fall of many in ancient times. He was indeed "the true light, that lighteth every man that cometh into the world:" but "the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not." He was to them "for a stone of stumbling, and for a rock of offence,"-words directly prophesied of by Isaiah. "Sanctify the Lord of Hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem." This text must be an everlasting riddle, an enigma, if we do not see, that Christ not only was, but is still, "a stone of stumbling." He became a stumbling-block to the Jew by the simplicity of his appearance; and foolishness to the Greek by the character of his doctrine. But was he not, in truth, "the power

of God, and and the wisdom of God" to every one that believeth?

But, 2ndly, let us come to modern times; what is the fact now? I do not send you to China or Barbary; we will look at home, where "the true light now shineth;" where the Gospel is brought to our doors. Christ is come; his birth is commemorated; and how? A day is indeed publicly set apart; but how is it kept -and that, by a people calling themselves Christians? In revellings and banquetings, in gluttony and drunkenness; with a scornful disregard of the event they propose to celebrate! Is this the fact? Is not then the text applicable to modern times? Is not Christ made an occasion of falling to all such persons?

But Christ was also to be "for a sign which shall be spoken against." We preach Christ, as the light of the world but with many, and perhaps with some here, such preaching is called "the cant of a sect:" they find that the preaching of Christ disturbs them; they wish to live in carnal ease. But woe to them that sew pillows to all arm-holes! woe to them who save the souls alive that should not live, by lying to the people who hear their lies! Ezek. xiii. 17-23. One will say, "I do not deny the coming of Christ, but why say so much about it?" "I do not like the doctrine," says another: "it is a sort of mysticism." Then this Scripture applies to you, this day: the thoughts of your hearts are revealed: the preaching of Christ is to you "a stumbling-stone!" Christ is for you "a sign which shall be spoken against." "Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you." Acts xiii. 41. Some say, "I do not understand how Christ can be the life of the soul: I do not know what you mean by being grafted