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SERMON CCCXXI.

ANNIVERSARY OF CONSECRATION.

ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S DAY.

ST. JOHN i. 51.

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see Heaven open, and the Angels of GOD ascending and descending upon the SON OF MAN."

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THERE are many reasons which make these words applicable to the occasion of our meeting here to-day. First of all, as they are addressed by our LORD to Nathanael, who, for good reasons, is supposed to be the same as Bartholomew, whom we hold in especial memory on this day. And in the next place, they refer us back to the Old Testament, from which they are taken, where we read, that Jacob took of the stones of the place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down to sleep; and he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to Heaven and behold the Angels of GOD ascending and descending on it." We may, therefore, suppose that our LORD alluded to the dream of Jacob in making use of these words, implying to Nathanael, that the dream of the Patriarch was then on the point of being fulfilled.

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And in what way did Nathanael see this fulfilled? we do not read that he ever did really behold Angels ascending and descending with his bodily eyes; but we may suppose it to mean, that in the works which he should witness our SAVIOUR performing, as the SON OF MAN, he should behold

this by the eyes of faith. For, indeed, the dispensation which was coming in, was called "the kingdom of Heaven," and was, in fact, no less than "the Heavens opened," and "pouring down righteousness," as the Prophet had spoken; and the coming in of which was indicated at our LORD's Baptism, when the heavens were opened. And the miracles of mercy which our LORD did, so plain and palpable to the eyes and ears of men, proved no less than that Angels were ever present to execute His commands, coming and going from Heaven.

This, therefore, which Nathanael was to behold, was not to be literally and exactly fulfilled, in a low and carnal sense, but only to the eyes of faith, such as he had, in a way more wonderful and higher than the mere words imported. And if they, who beheld our SAVIOUR in the flesh, were to witness things so great and marvellous, not less surely is the promise to them who should behold HIM in the Spirit; for the promises to His Church, after His departure, were greater than any made to them while He was with them; for our LORD said, that it was good for His disciples that He should leave them, in order that the Comforter should come; and declared, that HE HIMSELF, together with the HOLY SPIRIT, should be with them till the end of the world. For the Christian Church is not called the Kingdom of Heaven only when CHRIST was visible upon earth, but, if any thing, more so after His ascent into Heaven. How and where, therefore, are we to discern those things which were promised to Nathanael? It is evident, that by faith only can they be discerned; for the miracles which Nathanael witnessed were beheld by vast numbers, who, in seeing them, did not behold the Heavens opened, nor Angels ascending and descending. Surely it is in a Christian Church that these things are fulfilled; for it is within those sacred walls where two or three are gathered together in His Name, that our LORD has marked as the more especial place of His Presence; and where He is there Heaven is opened. And what less than these words can we apply to Holy Baptism, which takes place in these sacred abodes of GOD? what less can describe it, than the Heavens opened, and Angels ascending to Heaven with prayers, and descending from Heaven with blessings? And, it is to be observed, that Holy Scripture, as it were by accident, yet, doubtless, with a Divine purpose, speaks of CHRIST HIMSELF baptizing, when it

is done by His appointed ministers, by which we are taught, that in His ministers we are to behold not them, but CHRIST in them. And at the Holy Communion, is it any thing less than the SON OF MAN awfully, but mysteriously with us? Are not the very words, "This is My body?" And again, is not the sacred building called especially by our LORD "the House of Prayer," not of preaching, for this is very different, but "of Prayer." And did not our LORD teach us; that on this account the deepest reverence was due to His FATHER'S House; and a zeal so transporting, so great, that it can never exceed bounds till it is equal to that of the SON OF MAN, in Whom was fulfilled, the zeal of Thine own House hath eaten me up." For these reasons, good men of old used to believe, that Angels were, in an especial manner, present in Churches; and more particularly about the altar, as ever attending on the SON OF GOD. And knowing that all these things are matters of faith, not of sight, they used to be very careful to keep up in their minds a right sense of these things; for the faith of every one is according to his actions. For this cause they showed all possible reverence to Churches, knowing that God was, indeed, there present; but that no one could be made sensible of His presence, or derive any blessing from it, except by approaching with becoming awe and seriousness of mind. For this cause they kept with great care, not only the day itself on which the Church was consecrated, or dedicated to GOD, but also the return of the same day every year. And, perhaps, this they did not only from feeling how much these things tend to show and to strengthen our regard for GOD's House, but also from knowing that our LORD HIMSELF was present at Jerusalem, at the feast of Dedication; which fact, like all others concerning HIM, was doubtless "written for our learning." And, indeed, in thus doing they were only doing what nature itself dictated; for as children of this world, wherever there is any thing which we think much of and value, we show our feelings in this way, and strengthen them in doing so. For do not all people of every state and every nation, keep the birthday of a friend? or of kings, and great persons who are popular? and great events that they value much, and important battles which have secured their welfare? And to the eye of faith, and to us as children of light, is not the consecration of a Church, of far higher value, of more interest and

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concern, an object of more affectionate sympathies and regard than any of these things can be? Here we keep the birthplace and the birthday of children born, not as heirs of sin and the children of wrath, but of children born to GOD, and heirs not of earthly estate, but of His kingdom. Here we celebrate the arrival of the Great KING of Heaven coming down to dwell among us. Here we commemorate His victory on the Cross over sin and death, at the Holy Eucharist. Surely, therefore, our holding these days in especial memory is only doing what all men do respecting those things which they feel to be of deep concern and value. No one finds fault with people for keeping a birthday, or commemorating the recovery of their liberties. But here it is more especially needful, for in so doing, we by faith realize the things that are unseen: all things with respect to a Church have to do with two worlds; in so doing we act as they who are citizens of, and belong to another world.

First of all, how is the Churchyard like a spot of ground which belongs to two worlds, to this which is seen, and to that which is not seen? With regard to this world, with what thoughts is the first Consecration of it connected! how many among us is it to receive, to sleep for a little while until that last morning of the great Resurrection? The most important thing in this world is our departure hence, and this our last earthly home. And how many, before they themselves depart, are to leave their best treasures here! But if we consider it with regard to that unseen world with which it is also connected, how much more awful and concerning still;-the bed where the body is lain in the care of GOD and good Angels, at a time when the soul awakens, to find, perhaps, that it has for ever lost its great prize, like the rich man in the parable, or to find that it is for ever safe in the bosom of Abraham and with JESUS CHRIST. And how different must the thoughts be of those who meet together on the other side of the grave, to the thoughts of those who leave here the mortal remains! No man can know these things, or think of them worthily; but they are all known to GOD: and surely, it is no slight matter that we should hope to obtain His blessing to rest for ever on such an awful place, by the Consecration of His chief pastor; and that we should keep it in devout memory lest HE should be there, and we know it not.

At such a time when a

Churchyard is solemnly dedicated to HIM, the eye of faith beholds, as the Patriarch in his dream, a ladder set on the earth, and the top of it reaching to Heaven, and Angels ascending and descending upon it: ascending up to Heaven and bearing the souls of the righteous, and descending to take care of their mortal bodies. The eye of man, indeed, in such a spot can see no more than rude stones like those which the Patriarch made his pillow; but surely, if our eyes were open to see the things of the other world we should so behold it.

And if all this is true of a Churchyard, how much more true is it of the Church itself in which God is worshipped; surely, this does, in some very wonderful and mysterious manner, contain within its walls two worlds, the seen and the unseen. And if the thoughts of men in the flesh respecting a Churchyard are so different from those who look upon it from the other world; still more must this be the case with the Church itself, which our LORD has solemnly called "the House of Prayer." How it is that God is present here more especially, the FATHER, the SON, and the HOLY GHOST, the most dreadful and most merciful Trinity; how it is that good Angels are present ;—we cannot explain, we cannot understand: but devout and humble men will by care and habits of reverence come to the knowledge of it, and will be able to understand what the holy Psalmist means, when he speaks of God's House, in such words as a man would almost speak of Heaven. For the difference between Heaven and earth is this, that in Heaven they behold God's face, and on earth they do not.

In a Church there are, as was said by holy men of old, two assemblies, the one of Angels, and the other of men. But, oh! how different is the conduct of these two in GoD's Presence? We know how the Angels and Spirits in Heaven worship God; that they hide their eyes as unworthy to look upon HIM; that they fall down on their faces and worship HIM with the lowest self-abasement and prostration; or they sing the song of Moses and the LAMB, and say, Great and marvellous are Thy works, LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, just and true are Thy ways, THOU KING of Saints, who shall not fear THEE, O LORD!" And happy and blessed as Angels would men also be, if they could thus fear GOD, and forget all things else in the fear of HIM. But, oh! how very

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