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one except to the party immediately concerned; but not so the joy of a city. Masses of men are not stirred to joyfulness without a common object. Some event must have occurred locally or nationally important, before a city is moved to universal joy, and all are rejoicing in an event beneficial to the entire community. And then an air of general festivity animates the whole neighbourhood; innocent infancy is more gleeful, and unconscious age is roused to a momentary recollectedness, as every sound and sight is on all sides instinct with a city's joy.

Nor would the merest stranger be at a loss to assign a probable cause to such a scene as this. He would naturally suppose that some gain of commerce, some discovery of science, some high achievement of valour, some successful defence of liberty— the defeat of a long-feared enemy, or the succour of a powerful ally, was the cause of a city's joy. For such things it is that citizens enter into a common holiday; and when we read in the text that there was joy in that city, one might be inclined to assign the same origin to it. But this was not the ground of Samaria's joy; no great one had arrived there whose presence might be hailed as a general blessing; no event of good fortune had been communicated which would exalt it amongst the cities of the world, or promote its political interest. Driven away from Jerusalem by a furious persecution, in which Saul of Tarsus was the most cruel agent, a lowly man, of no influence, either from wealth, or learning, or station, the herald of no tidings of national prosperity, the teacher of no lessons of human wisdom or of state policy, but the disciple of One Whose very Name was a reproach, Whose doctrines were everywhere spoken against, and the profession of which was the surest way to suffering and death; such an one was Philip the deacon, who went down to the city of Samaria and preached CHRIST unto them. On account of his arrival it was that there was joy in that city. And however the sensualist and worldling might sneer at the simplicity of these Samaritans, every devoted follower of the SAVIOUR will now, as then, admit that there was indeed a motive of highest and universal joy.

Yes, glad tidings of great joy were these! the knowledge of the Name of CHRIST, the Anointed One, our Prophet, Priest, and King--what high gifts, what blessed privileges belong to it! Hitherto, as our LORD in His remarkable conversation with the woman of Samaria had declared, the Samaritans worshipped they knew not what; and the influence of His own Presence and teaching for two days amongst them on that occasion, would seem to have passed away, as He was afterwards refused admission to a village of Samaria. But now Philip goes down to Samaria itself, and preached CHRIST unto them; and the people, it is

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added, with one accord gave heed unto the things which Philip spake, and there was great joy in that city. Well might the joy be great. Then was received the knowledge of a truth which lies at the foundation of man's highest, even his eternal interests, and which is necessary to the salvation of each individual soul. To preach CHRIST is, of course, to announce Him Who is the way to that purity, which man is conscious that he has lost, although he is ignorant or careless of the cause of the loss, and its remedy. Without being able to explain why, man in a state of nature feels weakened and damaged in his moral constitution, and yet he is ignorant how to regain what he is too conscious that he has forfeited. Plato's description of man as a biped without wings may be taken as the general admission of the heathen world, of man having fallen from a height which he is unable to regain. Now to preach CHRIST is to afford this knowledge of man's renewal, and to make known the means, and to supply the ability, of regaining it. It is through the Second Adam alone that to mankind is restored that purity which was lost in the first. Before the fall, indeed, man might approach his Creator through his own reason, without a mediator; but since that sad event, all intercourse between GoD and man has been cut off. Man's reason is vitiated; sin separates between us and GOD; and it is only through One Who, by uniting the two natures in one person, became the Mediator between GOD and man, that we may draw near unto God. Now this Mediator is the man CHRIST JESUS. To preach CHRIST, therefore, is to declare the most blessed and glorious of all truths; viz., how fallen man may be restored to the favour of a reconciled FATHER, and be made partaker of His heavenly treasures. The whole of Christianity rests upon this cardinal verity of our LORD's humanity, which is said by one to be the kernel of the Gospel.* Hence arises the necessity and efficacy of prayer and sacraments, and every other holy ordinance. CHRIST took upon Him our nature, perfect and sinless, in order that, by our being united to Him, He might re-unite us to GOD. Now this union with CHRIST is effected in Holy Baptism, wherein we put on CHRIST, and are baptized into CHRIST. So here we read, when the Samaritans believed Philip preaching concerning the kingdom of GOD and the name of JESUS CHRIST, they were baptized, both men and women. The union thus commenced in the sacrament of Baptism is strengthened and perpetuated in the sacrament of the LORD's Supper, whereby the faithful dwell in CHRIST, and CHRIST in them. Every effectual prayer, public or private, is accepted, because we are members of the living body of CHRIST, which is the Church. To preach CHRIST, then, is the same

* Jackson.

thing as to announce all the privileges and obligations of the Gospel, which flow as from a fountain from the humanity of CHRIST, Who is also GOD over all blessed for ever. The putting on of the new man, created in righteousness and true holiness, grace and strength, whereby we may grow to the full stature of our regenerated manhood, and may reap the fruits of holy obedience, even life eternal;-all this is involved in the preaching of CHRIST, Who is our Mediator, our Exemplar, our Sacrifice, our Intercessor.

Right worthy, then, was Samaria's joy. And have not all to whom the same glad tidings are gone forth, reason to rejoice also? Yea, have not we, who are met together here this day for the very purpose of rejoicing and being glad that CHRIST has been preached to you, and especially of commemorating as Christians in all ages have done, the dedication of this your most beautiful house to the glory of Almighty God? Well is it that your joy on this occasion should be great. Full of joy, doubtless, was the day when, for the first time, your devoted pastor, and my own dear and tried friend of many years, preached CHRIST to you in an upper room in this city. Then began to be restored to you the faith of your fathers; and that Church, which had so often witnessed, apparently in vain, and amid persecution, was once again, through the protection of her Divine Head, permitted to speak in lowly guise indeed, but in the overpowering might of truth and love.

To you, too, most joyous was that never-to-be-forgotten day, which we now specially commemorate. Though six long years have passed, it seems but as yesterday, since a long and stoled procession, headed by the venerable fathers and other clergy of your Church, and adorned by some of the brightest names amongst the AngloCatholic Priesthood, entered with a jubilant psalm these sacred walls, already crowded with thankful and loving hearts; and with notes of praise and prayers of faith, and offerings of duty and of love, the then chief Pastor of this diocese, assisted by numerous Priests and Deacons, set apart with holy mysteries this house of prayer as a temple of the King of glory for ever. Oh, neverto-be-forgotten is that memorable day and its accompanying services, when with well-ordered pomp, decent and unreproved, and with something at least of becoming reverence, CHRIST was preached unto you. Great indeed was the joy of the faithful in this city on that occasion.

And yet there is, I think, cause of greater joy to-day; for as fruit is more prized than blossom, and reality than expectation, so this day, in which we are permitted to behold fruits of the faith then sown, ought to be more joyous still. It was, doubtless, not without something of misgiving that the means of

grace were then offered to you. Knowing how awful is the abuse of privileges, the infirmity of purpose in all men, the difficulty of persevering in a good cause, and of enduring patiently the misrepresentation and obloquy which all who are enabled so to persevere must expect-the fear of these things was as clouds to overcast the bright season of holy joy, which ushered in the full light of Gospel truth amongst you. But now may we not rejoice that these clouds are dispersed, and that the light has brightened into perfect day-the earnest efforts then commenced having been brought to an excellent work? Who, indeed, can contemplate the many tokens of the continual dew of God's blessing upon the ministrations of this place, without really grateful joy. Although committed to the charge of a single Priest, the daily offering of prayer and praise has, with few interruptions, and always of necessity, been made amongst you. In their full integrity, and with due reverence, have matins and evensong, in lowly confession and exalted praise, resounded from this temple, in the united harmony of common worship. On the weekly festival, at least, has the tremendous sacrifice of the altar been offered according to the venerable use of your own communion, which is the complement and crown of all other service, and the real Christian oblation. Here have children been duly catechised, which is the true Christian education of the heirs of immortality; here has the grace of confirmation and of holy orders been dispensed by a successor of the Apostles; here has earthly love been sanctified to a mysterious and heavenly use in holy matrimony; and here, too, have the bodies of the dead in CHRIST been committed, as temples of the HOLY GHOST, to hallowed earth, there to repose till the Great Day.

And of those who have already fallen asleep, as many have done, (including the good Bishop who consecrated,) during these past six years-have we not in them the source of the purest joy of all. Heart saddening as it is to part from our earthly loves, who at this moment rejoices not to know that many, (may they be all!) who have been called away from you, found this sacred place a nursery of paradise, having here learnt the strains which they are hymning together now, and which they will hereafter recognise as the unceasing songs of those who circle GOD's throne day without night, rejoicing? Nay, further, while we joy for them, and render hearty thanks to our heavenly FATHER, that it hath pleased Him to deliver them out of the miseries of this sinful world, may we not believe that they also joy with us, and are now gazing approvingly from their bowers of rest, if not mingling in spirit and unseen amongst us, longing for the time when they shall welcome us to the paradise of GOD? May we all attain that blissful rest!

And

But this reminds me to venture a word of warning in conclusion. True it is that you have every way cause of joy; but as the Christian's joy is not the joy of the world, neither is the manner of indulging in it. At best we have need to rejoice with trembling; for when we consider the ground of our joy, our Christian privileges, have we not reason to fear, lest, by undervaluing, or abusing, or perverting them, we should inherit sorrow and shame rather than joy. Most awful as well as most joyful are such privileges. They heighten our responsibilities, and deepen our guilt of disobedience. "Take heed," said our great Prophet, "lest the light which is in you be darkness." still more awfully He declares, “If ye were blind, ye should have no sin; but now ye say, We see, therefore your sin remaineth." And most awfully of all He saith, "If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin; but now they have no cloak for their sin." Yes, better for your souls that you should have been as the heathen or the heretic, than that you should abuse the privileges with which you have been intrusted. Now ye are light in the LORD, walk as children of light. In vain will you fall down and kneel morning and evening before God's footstool, unless you work with the grace there sought, and live as you pray. In vain will you approach the holiest place, and prostrate yourselves before the Crucified, Who is present there, unless you are also in heart and mind crucified with CHRIST, and prove that you are really His, by crucifying the flesh with the affections and lusts. In vain will you confess sins with your lips, unless the heart be lowly and contrite; nor will any absolving words have power to unloose you, unless you are truly penitent in respect of each individual sin which you confess, and earnestly strive against the commission of sins you have already confessed and repented of. In a word-in vain, yea, worse than vain, will be all your privileges, and fallacious your joy in them, unless you live day by day, and hour by hour, as those who have had CHRIST preached to them ought to live; carrying the cross after Hin Whose Name you bear, Whose Gospel you profess, yea Whose very members you are, in lowliness, in peaceableness, in loving penitence, in holy obedience, in self-denying perseverance. In this way, the HOLY SPIRIT preventing and following you, will your joy here,-which, however great is at best chequered and imperfect,-be succeeded by joy complete and never-ending,-even fulness of joy at God's right hand for evermore.

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