different is the conduct of men before HIM, when they are in His holy House, to that of the Angels; many of them not even kneeling down in prayer to HIM, but sitting as unconcerned in His awful Presence. How very poor and unworthy are the thoughts of the best of men, in the midst of a blessing so vast and incomprehensible as the privilege of coming into God's Presence! How very seriously ought we to pray to HIM, to grant us the hearing ear and the seeing eye, that we might in some degree hear and see HIM, lest HE should be in this dreadful place, and we know it not; lest we should not behold in His Divine ordinances the ladder that reaches unto Heaven. For let us consider how all things in this place are but the shadows of things which are in Heaven, and lead us on to them. What is a Church on earth, but a sort of type or emblem which God has given us of that Church which is in Heaven, where they are never weary of praising God day and night, and live and are blessed in the light of His countenance. When the appointed Minister of CHRIST is praying in His Name, then does the eye of faith behold the Great Mediator between man and GoD interceding in Heaven, and feel confidence and trust in GoD, that in HIм that Great Intercessor, his prayers shall be heard. How does Holy Baptism in this place appear to the eye of faith, as the sign or emblem appointed by GoD HIMSELF, of that other regeneration and new birth which shall take place at the day of Judgment; when no longer by His own Stewards as upon earth, but with His own sacred lips the SON OF MAN shall say, 'Come, ye blessed children of MY FATHER, receive the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world." How does the Holy Communion set before us, by the appointment of GoD HIMSELF, that other great "Supper of the LAMB" which is to be in Heaven, when the Bridegroom shall no longer be hid, but shall come forth to view and welcome His guests, that are found worthy to sit at that table. We may reasonably suppose, that there is no ordinance which God has appointed in His Church, but is meant to be, to the thoughtful Christian, a type or shadow of things invisible. Thus even holy Marriage is, we know, but a type or shadow of CHRIST's spiritual union with His Church.

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And not only in the Church itself, and in these Sacramental Ordinances, is the eye of faith trained and exercised to discern

the ALMIGHTY GOD; but to those who make it their great care and study to do so, even out of Church, the knowledge of GOD'S Presence as dwelling and living in that consecrated spot with a peculiar blessing, makes all the difference in their daily life and habits, and in the light in which they may behold all things. It makes the whole village where a Church stands sacred and amiable in their eyes, and full of other and better thoughts. We all know what a difference it makes in our minds, if a great earthly friend or kind master is living in a house that is near, if we know that he is at home, and ever ready and glad to receive us with his best welcome. How different-how comparatively desolate and forlorn does the same place appear, when we know he is not there, but far away! Much greater than this is the difference between those who do not consider these things, and those who look upon a Church as the House of GOD, where HE is especially present, as in His own House of Prayer, and, we Christians may add, in the House of His Blessed Sacraments. Surely the words which the holy David speaks of the temple of GOD, imply something far greater, something far more opposed in his feelings to those of the men of this world, than any thing we can say of this difference. Surely, they who by faith. realize these great blessings, will see what our Gracious SAVIOUR means, when He calls His Church upon earth, "The Kingdom of Heaven." To such, indeed, He says in secret—as to His disciples removed from the multitude, and with HIM when apart from the world—to such, He says, that though others seeing see not, yet Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see; for I say unto you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see the things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear the things which ye hear, and have not heard them."

And who are they who, going through the vale of misery, thus use it for a well; and the pools are filled with water? Who are they, what kind of persons, of what character are they, who are thus ever refreshed by the waters of Holy Baptism? or, in other words, who, amidst the manifold distractions and troubles of the world; the many secret sorrows of their own hearts; difficulties without, and fears and disappointments within the things which make this world a wilderness-are calculated to find comfort and repose in GOD, in the GoD of their New Birth, the FATHER, the

SON, and the HOLY SPIRIT; to behold HIM in His Church, present in His Sacraments, and giving life to His ordinances? Holy Scripture will afford us particular and explicit descriptions of the temper of mind which is most calculated to do so. The Psalmist asks and answers the same question. LORD, who shall dwell in Thy tabernacle, or who shall rest upon Thy holy hill? Even he that leadeth an uncorrupt life, and doeth the thing which is right, and speaketh the truth from his heart. He that hath used no deceit in his tongue."

It is to the same kind of person, simple and open, having no deceit or falsehood in his words and ways, to whom our LORD makes the promise which is in the text, of beholding these heavenly things; for of this Nathanael He had HIMSELF just before testified, that he was an Israelite indeed in whom there is

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no guile." By which words, guile," our LORD may imply, that he was like Israel of old, of whom it is said, that he was "a plain man," simple and guileless. And, perhaps, this was the reason why Israel of old was particularly blessed, as it was supposed, with the power of beholding GOD and His good Angels; for not only on the occasion which the text refers to, but on two others, we read of him to the same effect. On one occasion, that he awoke from the stone, which was his pillow, with awful reverence and amazement, saying, "How dreadful is this place! This is none other than the House of GOD." And at another time, that he wrestled with God, till he had obtained a blessing; and called the place Peniel, because he had "seen GOD face to face."

an Israelite indeed in whom is no

Such as Nathanael-they who have but one purpose and one object in view-a single heart and single eye-and that one object to please GOD, and to wait on His will-have especially this privilege; and such are the pure in heart," of whom it is said, that "they shall see God;" shall see HIM, we may well believe, in His House of Prayer on earth, as well as in Heaven. And such St. James describes as the persons whose prayers will be heard; for he says, "that the double-minded man" must not think that he, by his prayers, "shall receive any thing of the LORD." And when he mentions the gracious blessing, GOD will draw nigh to them who draw nigh to HIM," he adds that caution, "purify your hearts, ye double-minded."

"that

We must, therefore, purify our hearts, and obtain a single mind to know how "wonderful" GOD is in His "holy places." No sooner had the good Nathanael found that our SAVIOUR had been with him under the fig-tree,-had known what had passed there, probably in prayer,-than he at once readily believed, and declared HIM to be the SON OF GOD, the KING of Israel. There is something in a simple heart which is thus ever ready to believe; and to such CHRIST ever makes greater manifestations of HIMSELF. Such a one catches at every slight intimation which proves GOD'S eye present at his prayers, and watches, and at once acknowledges and perceives every answer to his requests. And from these he is ever led on to greater things, to the great secret of the Holy Eucharist; where, according to the prayers in the ancient Liturgies, he sees Angels ascending, and bearing the oblations and alms into the presence of God's awful Majesty ; and descending with that bread which cometh down from Heaven, the true manna, of which he that eateth shall never die. And, perhaps, this was intimated when our Blessed LORD said, that the worship of GOD would no longer be confined to Jerusalem, but the FATHER sought those to worship HIM, who should " worship HIM in spirit and in truth." They who thus worship HIM, they only can behold the Kingdom of Heaven now in the midst of us; heavenly things in the things of earth; can discern in poor vile elements, as bread and wine, the Body and the Blood of CHRIST; in the waters of Baptism, the cleansing power of the HOLY SPIRIT ; in Marriage, the type of CHRIST and His Church; in Confirmation, the unseen gifts of the SPIRIT; the Presence of CHRIST, where two or three are met together in His Name; and in the consecrated Churchyard, see that sacred sleep which is in CHRIST, in Whom we may say, 'I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest; for it is THOU, LORD, only that makest me dwell in safety."

SERMON CCCXXII.

ON SUBSCRIBING FOR CHURCHES.

ST. MARK xiv. 4-6.

"And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?

"For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.

"And JESUS said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on ME."

WHEREVER any thing of the love of God exists, there must be a desire to sacrifice some considerable portion of our worldly goods to HIM; and the most ordinary way of doing so is by giving to the poor, in whom CHRIST has promised, that HE HIMSELF shall be found; and that He will consider such gifts as given to HIMSELF. And besides the relief of our poorer neighbours, every one who loves and values those appointed means and places in which God is especially found-as Churches, and Sacraments, and all the ordinances of God's worship, and things dedicated to His honour-feels, naturally, some desire to give up something to God more immediately in this way. This is the natural expression of love; wherever the love of GOD is, there is a desire to make some offering to HIM, some sacrifice that may redound to His honour and glory; and it would be a great privilege, indeed, if we are allowed to do any thing to His honour.

But then the question arises, Will this be acceptable to HIM? He loves a spiritual worship, and the care of the poor, but does