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LECTURE VII.

THE EXHORTATION.-CONTINUED.

PSALM XCV., 6.

O come, let us worship and fall down, and kneel before the Lord our Maker.

ROMANS Xii., 1.

I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

IN the first chapter of the Gospel by St. Luke we are told that the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple, for the whole multitude were praying without at the time of incense. Their waiting without during the unusual delay, is accounted for by the circumstance of the Jews being forbidden by their law to enter into the temple. The priest went alone every day to burn incense in the outer part of it, but into the Holy of Holies, in which was situated the mercy-seat of Je

hovah, none might venture to intrude, excepting that, once in every year, the high priest went in to make an atonement. Nor were the people admitted to that portion of the surrounding buildings which was appropriated to the priests, but there was an inner court for the priests, and an outer court for the multitude.

At the death of Christ, however, the vail of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; the Holy Place was thrown open to the people; the wall of partition between Jew and Gentile was broken down; and in every nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted with Him; and being accepted, is allowed to come into the more immediate presence of his Almighty Maker.

In the Catechism of our Church we learn that we are made, by baptism, members of Christ, children of God, and inheritors of the kingdom of heaven. These are great privi, leges, and high honours; and shall the possessors of them be still kept in the outer courts of the temple? Shall not the children be encouraged to enter the habitation of their Almighty Father, and the members of Christ's

body be allowed to sacrifice at his altar? Undoubtedly they shall; for all we who are of his household are privileged to attend upon Him; and, by the new covenant, the rights of the multitude are extended, whilst the peculiar duties of the priest are preserved. Our Church, therefore, directs that when the minister has solemnly exhorted his hearers to confession, has explained that this duty is insisted on by God, and has instructed them in the manner of performing it-when, after this, he is about to enter into the presence of the Almighty, in order to offer the sacrifice of a broken spirit, and the incense of hands lifted up in prayer, she directs that he shall invite the whole congregation to accompany him; he is, in virtue of his priestly office, to precede his flock whilst he leads them to the throne of grace, teaching them to express their selfabasement and contrition in language suitable to their manifold and grievous sins. Nor does he leave them without his countenance and assistance whilst kneeling before God; for he is the ambassador and representative of Christ, and, as such, is appointed to lead their petitions, and offer them in an acceptable manner.

Since, then, we are no longer kept waiting in the outer courts of the temple, but are admitted to that more sacred part, where, as we are assured by our Lord, when two or three are met together, He will be in the midst of them, most certainly we should place the highest value on the great privilege which has been conceded to us, and endeavour to avail ourselves of every advantage which it is designed to afford. Let us then thank God that we are encouraged to come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. The priest, whom we are invited to accompany, will sympathize with our feelings of humility and awe, because he also is compassed with infirmities, and a sinner like ourselves; he will offer our petitions with importunity and meekness, because he shares our wants and ignorance in asking; and yet this same priest is the steward to whom God has intrusted the ministry and word of reconciliation; whom He has appointed to open our eyes, to turn us from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan unto God, in order that we may receive the forgiveness of our sins, and inheritance amongst them which

Think you not, my

are sanctified by faith. brethren, that it will be a sight pleasing to the Almighty, when his servant, who is thus commissioned, brings the flock committed to his charge into the immediate presence of their offended God, with spirits broken by the burden of their sins? When they implore His compassion on their lost condition, pleading the atonement of his beloved Son, He will hear in heaven his dwellingplace, and when He hears He will forgive: He will comfort their afflicted souls, and help them to retrieve their wandering steps; for He will remember his promised mercies in Christ Jesus, and graciously confirm the comfortable assurance, "Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out." And think you not that the minister will be grateful to his Heavenly Father if, when presenting himself before the mercy-seat, he can say, "Behold, Lord, the sheep whom thou hast given me to feed, are here."

Let us then beware how we wilfully absent ourselves from the congregation which, when assembled in the presence of the Lord, is the crown of the pastor's rejoicing, his glory and his joy; let us always be ready to join in his