to the grave, when we contemplate those whom we tenderly loved, as masses of putrefaction or entirely dissolved. Jesus is "the Resurrection and the Life," and we shall see our friends again. And what a hope is this when we ourselves are entering the region of the shadow of death. We are not to be lost in eternal oblivion, but may look through the dark region to the light of a glorious resurrection. Jesus has shed a cheerful ray on the precincts of the tomb and diffused a light through the womb of the grave. He will recover all his sleeping saints from the dust. In that glorious morning when the trump shall sound, they shall spring to light from every grave yard, and find death, their last enemy, destroyed. And when they shall awake and find this last foe dead at their feet, and themselves recovered to immortal life; when they shall look up and see the glorious retinue of their descending Saviour and mark the strange commotions in heaven and earth; then, as they are caught up to meet their Lord in the air, with what raptures will they sing as they ascend, "I am the Resurrection and the Life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead yet shall he live."

In that day the whole fabric of the universe,the earth and the visible heavens,-will be dissolved, and fall into that utter ruin to which they were consigned for the sin of man. There, then, will be the last opportunity for Christ to appear "the Resurrection," though he will always be "the Life." Out of the ashes of the old, his power will raise new heavens and a new earth, while he pronounces,

"Behold I make all things new." And while the saints and angels come out to view the new worlds which the great Restorer has reared, every harp in heaven will sound, and angels and men will fill the new heavens and earth with the hallowed song, "I am the Resurrection and the Life."

And shall those lips which will then be vocal, now be sealed in silence? No, let us now begin the praise. Saviour of men, let us delight to triumph in thee, who art to us "the Resurrection and the Life." O let his name and his love be forever on our lips. Let our tongue cleave to the roof of our mouth ere we forget him who restores our souls,who renovates a world. Amen.

SERMON VIII.

THE ASCENSION AND DOMINION OF CHRIST..

LUKE, XXIV. 50, 51.

And he led them out as far as to Bethany; and he lifted up his hands and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them and carried up into heaven.

We have often, when assembled round the sacramental table, remembered him who died; let us now remember him who rose again, who "ascended on high" leading "captivity captive," who sat down on the right hand of God, who lives and reigns in heaven. This sacred institution was intended to make us more intimately acquainted with our blessed Saviour in his whole character; to awaken a stronger faith in him, not only as a Priest, but as a Prophet and King. No time is more proper than the present to enter deeply into the glorious plan of salvation, and to search the wonders which fill it in all its infinite length and breadth.

When one has labored long to obtain a clear conception of the priesthood of Christ, and is filled

• Preached at the administration of the Lord's Supper.

with the subject, it is sometimes difficult to apprehend the propriety of his kingly office; that one whose business it is to stand as an intercessor between God and sinners, should hold the reigns of government; that one whom the mind has delighted to contemplate as a high priest, standing on earth to make atonement, standing in heaven to introduce our persons and prayers to God, should also be the king of heaven and earth. Viewed solely as a high priest, the mind may easily apprehend him and his work; but when that atoning interceding priest is stated to be the sovereign of the universe, some confusion is apt to arise. What connexion between the sacerdotal office and regal government? What necessity that the work of governing or of instructing should be committed to the high priest? No such absolute necessity as there was for the atonement. Justice would not have complained if the Father had acted as prophet and king; but wisdom saw fit to invest the same person with the three offices, and to commit the whole redemption and management of a ruined world to the hands of the Mediator. The world had lost the knowledge of God and sunk into ignorance gross enough to worship stocks and stones: one thing to be done was to teach them the knowledge of God. This was the business of a prophet. They had fallen under the curse of the law: another part of the work of their redemption consisted in atonement and intercession. This was the business of a priest. Still their redemption was not complete. Instruction might have been given and atonement