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He brings, indeed, salvation to all people. For the salvation proclaimed by Christ the Lord, extended its efficacy to the generations that preceded the time when God sent forth his Son, for in this sense he was "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world"." It still extends its efficacy to those nations who are not yet become the kingdoms of our God, and of his Christ; among whom all those are accepted who seek to know and to serve that Author of all things in whom "they live, and move, and have their being "-for, in this sense, Christ is "the Saviour of all men'

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But, my brethren, unto us is given the record of the appearance of the Son of God in the flesh. Unto us are proclaimed the glad tidings of a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. Prophets and kings desired to see the things which we see, and did not see them. Through the dark mist of intervening ages, they caught only some faint glimmerings of the glory of the word who was to be made flesh. We behold him made flesh, and dwelling among us-we behold "his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth'." They worshipped with feeble faith, and with faint hope, him who was to be born the Son of the Highest-unto us, he is born; and we adore him as "the Emmanuel, God with us "." By his Gospel we are enlightened in the full knowledge of

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him who made, who governs, and is to judge us, of the way of access to the throne of his mercy, and of that everlasting life which is to dawn on the night of the grave.-While there are nations who still "sit in darkness, and the shadow of death."

From how many doubts, perplexities, and fears, which agitate those who never heard of the glad tidings of a Saviour, are we released, to whom the word of salvation is sent; conferring on us superior means of holiness, and greater spiritual comfort in this world; and the hope of more exalted felicity in the world to come.

To us he hath ap

If then the word

But, if thus distinguished are our privileges, proportionably greater are our duties. God hath made manifest his Son for us. peared "to put away sin"." spoken by angels; if the Jewish law, which was announced by the ministry of angels, was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward, how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord. To us the injunction applies in its strictest force-"this is the commandment-that we believe "," with a faith purifying the heart, and overcoming the world, "on the Lord Jesus Christ," and to us the tremendous threatening is addressed-" he that believeth not shall be damned "." Oh!-Not then with words

n Heb. ix. 26.

1 John iii. 23.

P Mark xvi. 16.

merely, but with renewed hearts, and holy affections, and in the true devotion of our lives, let us shew forth the goodness of him who hath "called us out of darkness into his marvellous light." Let us, in obedience to the call of the Church, commemorate, in the feast of the holy table, the love of God the Father, who gave his only Son to be born for us; and worship and glorify the eternal Son, who for us took upon him our nature. Let us, in the lively emotions of penitence, and faith, and of gratitude, over the endeared symbols of his body and blood, offer ourselves, our souls and bodies, "a living sacrifice" to him who gave himself for us and resolve, through his all-powerful grace to serve, in true holiness and righteousness, all the days of our lives, him who for us "became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."

Then from the imperfect enjoyment of the Saviour's grace and mercy, in the ordinances of his temple on earth, we shall be admitted to the full fruition of his unveiled glories, in the courts above. And then, not in the feeble notes of mortal voices, but in the perfect and endless strains of angels and archangels, and all the company of heaven, we shall resume the hymn of triumph sent forth at this joyful season, by the Church of the redeemed-" Unto us a child is born; unto us a son is given, a Saviour who is Christ the Lord."

SERMON VII.

THE NEW YEAR.

ECCLESIASTES i. Part of 4th Verse.

One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh.

YES, my brethren, "one generation passeth away, and another cometh." Every daily revolving sun beholds numbers of the human race fulfilling their appointed time, and descending to the tomb. Our fathers, our children, our kindred, our friends, our neighbours, where are they?

Alas! many of them have passed the allotted term of their probation, and gone to their last home.

Brethren! do we recollect that we too shall pass away, like the generations that have preceded us; that we are hastening to the unknown limits of our probation; and that soon the place which knew us once, shall know us no more!

Our time on earth is allotted us for purposes of

infinite importance. Preparation for an eternal existence; the securing of our everlasting salvation; these are the infinitely momentous objects that should engage our supreme attention, and regulate every action of our lives.

Engrossed as man is with the pursuits and pleasures of the world, it is happy for him that time is distinguished by those stated revolutions which remind him of its lapse, and call him at regular intervals to serious reflection.

We stand this day, brethren, at the commencement of one of these revolutions. The past year is irrevocably gone. The future is uncertain. The present moment only we can call our own. Whether we consider our present condition, review the past, or look forward to the future, interesting and important are the reflections which occur.

The first sentiment which should occupy our minds, is that of devout gratitude to our Almighty Preserver, that he hath thus far prolonged our lives.

Some who, on the last anniversary of the new year, with health firm, and strength vigorous, presented to us their gratulations, are now sunk into the grave. Let us praise God, then, that we still enjoy the light of life. Death, indeed, need not be the object of terror to the righteous. For he is to them a friendly messenger who announces their translation from a pilgrimage of sin and sorrow, to the mansions of never ending purity and joy. But life has its duties, its endearing relations, and, not

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