to spend the day of His Sufferings also, as our Ancient Church has appointed, in repentance and godly sorrow, and meditating on CHRIST'S Passion. And this we may do in some measure, whatever our worldly employments may be. We must not expect to share" His Crown of Joy" in this world, or the next, unless we use ourselves to drink of the Cup of His Sufferings.

If we would thus deal strictly and severely with ourselves, according to our Blessed SAVIOUR'S command, we should learn to make our Religion to consist in something more substantial than outward observances or unprofitable notions. We should not find it necessary to withdraw from innocent society, in order to be religious; for the danger is not from without, but from within,—not in these outward circumstances, but in our own heart ; if that be diligently and rightly humbled, and watched in secret, we shall be able to live in friendly intercourse with others, without losing our innocence, and without losing what we otherwise might be too apt to do, our Christian charity. Our zeal in the cause of CHRIST and His Religion cannot be too great; but then let this zeal be spent upon ourselves, upon our own manifold imperfections and failings. We shall then have little heart to condemn others. If our Blessed LORD has commanded us not to judge others, that we ourselves be not judged, so His holy Apostle hath also added, that “ if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged." So that although to abstain from judging others is a different thing to that of judging ourselves; yet they both so usually go together, that they both have the same effect, in averting judgment from ourselves, that we be not condemned with the world.

If we duly observe either in our families, or each for himself in secret, these weekly and yearly seasons of retirement, of fasting and devotion, we shall derive from them a steadiness and cheerfulness of mind, which will much assist to keep us from falling in our Christian course, and be our best safeguard in an evil world. Cheerfulness, I say, as well as steadiness of mind; for as there is nothing which so fills us with melancholy tempers, as the unmortified desires of our own heart; so there is nothing which contributes more to serenity and peace of mind, than that mortified and subdued spirit which is the fruit of fasting. The truth is this:—that as long as we are in this world, there is a contest

going on between the natural and the spiritual man; one of these must in the end be victorious. Fasting weakens the power of the natural, and strengthens the spiritual man.

Let us not, therefore, offer up in vain, and as if it were no better than an idle form, that Prayer of our Church with which we approach the throne of Mercy; praying that-our LORD, Who fasted for us, would give us grace to use such abstinence, that our flesh being subdued to the SPIRIT, we may obey His godly motions3.

The duty is, indeed, an irksome and a painful one; but let us not on that account neglect it—it is the root only which is bitter, -the fruits are peace, and joy in the HOLY GHOST; and long suffering and thankfulness in this world; and an everlasting reward in that which is to come.

The evil heart of human nature will suggest excuses enough against our putting this in practice; that our health will not allow it; or our business; or the loose opinions of the world; or false religious views.

It is not the will of our GOD and SAVIOUR that we should suffer any pain unnecessarily. This duty, therefore, would never be set before us in the way it is, unless it was very important to our salvation. We are naturally inclined, especially in these days, to dwell on the bright side of Religion; its blessings and comforts, and to forget its equally merciful duties and mortifications; but surely, any serious consideration of the certainty of some great eternal change which awaits us, and the uncertainty whether it will be for good or evil, ought to make us very earnest to embrace every thing which may increase our repentance.

This consideration will make us not shrink from fasting, for though it were like cutting off the right hand, or plucking out the right eye, it were very light and tolerable, when compared with that state where the worm dieth not.

The exceeding deceitfulness of the human heart is, perhaps, in nothing more evident, than with respect to these self-denying duties; as will appear from the manner in which, though fully aware of their great value, and even necessity, yet we still defer

3 Collect for the First Sunday in Lent.

and excuse ourselves from them, under the plea of our health, and other pretences which suggest themselves, as if by the instigations of the evil one, in order to cheat our souls, and keep us from our true happiness. The true reason, generally, is our own disinclination to such duties and spiritual employments; and in this, as in all other matters, if we "love not the truth," GOD "to believe a lie."

will give us up

May I conclude with reverence, with the words of our Blessed SAVIOUR; "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear."

SERMON CCCXX.

THE BLESSING OF THE MINISTER.

ST. JOHN xx. 21.

"Then said JESUS to them again, Peace be unto you: as My FATHER hath sent Me, even so send I you."

MEN are apt to use to each other words of salutation and good wishes, as the expression, "Peace be unto you," in the Old Testament, used by man to man only as a form of salutation. And these are, of themselves, no more than good wishes, for they have no power to bestow what they desire. Very different are the words of JESUS CHRIST; for a word with HIM is the same as the deed; it was His Word only that made the heavens and the earth; whatever He wills comes to pass; what He says is done : an expression of good will from HIM is the same as the gift; and that gift far greater than words, and "passing all understanding." Thus our Blessed SAVIOUR says, on one occasion, to His disciples, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth give I unto you." Not mere words of course; not empty expressions of good will; but real and substantial gifts.

Now these words in the Text, Peace be unto you," we may consider in connexion with those that follow :-" AS MY FATHER hath sent ME, even so send I you." These are very high and mysterious expressions indeed, that in like manner as JEsUs CHRIST had been HIMSELF sent by the FATHER into the world, so also, after some wonderful resemblance, were His Apostles sent by HIM: indeed this was the very point on which all their power depended, because they were the Sent" of JESUS CHRIST; this

but

the word Apostle signifies, "the Sent." Therefore, we may suppose, that when the Apostles also pronounce Peace in the Name of CHRIST, that these also are not words of course, that they are in fact CHRIST's own words, powerful to bestow that which they express. And this is fully declared unto them on another occasion, when, as on the present, the disciples were commissioned to go forth to preach the Gospel, "Into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again'." To which we must also apply what our SAVIOUR adds on the same occasion: "For it is not ye that speak, but the SPIRIT of your FATHER which speaketh in you." And according to this, we find that in the Apostle's letters, there are solemn words of blessing; such as to the Thessalonians, The very GoD of Peace sanctify you wholly and your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless, unto the coming of our LORD JESUS CHRIST." And to the Corinthians, "The grace of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and the love of GOD, and the communion of the HOLY GHOST be with you all. Amen." Sometimes shorter, as, grace of our LORD JESUS CHRIST be with you all. Amen." Or, "" The LORD JESUS CHRIST be with

thy spirit."

The

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:

And that they on whom the Apostles pronounced the blessing, did in reality receive the blessing, as if it had been pronounced by our LORD HIMSELF, we may be sure from our LORD's own promise; which He declared, both when He sent out His disciples; and also at another time: 'He that receiveth you receiveth ME, and he that receiveth ME receiveth HIM that sent ME"." He should obtain this blessing who received them, not because they were more eloquent or learned than others, but because they were "the Sent" of CHRIST,-the Prophets or sacred teachers appointed by HIM; for HE adds, "He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet, shall receive a prophet's reward."

Thus after eighteen hundred years, since our LORD ascended up into heaven, we have still this great privilege existing among us ; the peace of GOD pronounced upon us, the very peace of JESUS CHRIST. As we read on this occasion, to which the text refers : "When the doors were shut where the disciples

1 Luke x. 5, 6.

2 Matt. x. 40; John xiii. 20.