Thus, brethren, we have seen how the deliverance of our souls from sin by Christ crucified is typified by the goat that was killed; how the acceptance of his sacrifice, his making atonement, and his entering into heaven for us, are typified by the high priest's entrance into the most holy place; and how the removal of all our sins is typified by the scape-goat bearing away the iniquities of the whole congregation of Israel. This pardon, so rich, so full, so free, is to be penitently and earnestly desired by us, and obtained, by our application of the atonement of Christ to ourselves through faith. Oh! that we may truly repent of our sins, and sprinkle the blood of Christ on our hearts by faith! Then, like the Jewish high priest changing his raiment, we may take "the oil of joy for mourning, and the garments of praise for the spirit of heaviness." Oh! yes, then, like the Ethiopian eunuch after his baptism, we may go on our way rejoicing.

This subject may administer strong reproof to those who are self-righteous, and think

that they have no sin, and need no atonement. Here, as in a glass, they may see the number and greatness of their sins, the duty of repentance, the indispensible necessity of an atoning sacrifice, and the act of faith putting our sins on Christ for their removal. How impossible must it be that sin can be removed in any other way! All scripture testifies to the utter hopelessness of any other means of pardon or method of peace. How vain must it be for any one to go about to establish his own righteousness instead of submitting himself to the righteousness of God!

Full of consolation is this subject to all those who are weary and heavy-laden with the burden of sin. Here they see him, who is mighty to save, making expiation for them, and taking their sins upon himself. Who then is he that condemneth? Here is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, and ever liveth to make intercession. Oh! my fearful, sorrowing, desponding brother, “cast thy burden upon the Lord and he shall sustain thee." Yea, lay even the curse which

the law pronounces against your transgressions upon him, for "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, having been made a curse for us." Oh! " come unto him, all ye that labour and are heavy-laden, and he will give you rest." My sorrowstricken people, stricken with sorrow because stricken by the sword of the spirit convincing of sin, Oh!" look unto him and be ye saved, for he is God and there is none else." Look unto him who hung upon the cross, and think of that purpose of mercy for which his sacred limbs were stretched upon it. Believe in that sacrifice, and so shall you partake of his atonement. Hear the apostle Paul," This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." Oh! then, though you too may esteem yourselves chief of sinners, yet believe in him who came to save sinners," and doubt not of obtaining mercy.

SERMON XII.

THE ANNUAL FEASTS.

LEVIT. XXIII. 37.

These are the feasts of the Lord, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord, a burnt-offering, and a meat-offering, and sacrifice, and drink-offerings, every thing upon his day.

THIS chapter contains an account of all the great annual solemnities which were appointed to the Jews for their observation. I shall consider them in their order, and apply each of them to our own circumstances as we proceed.

1. The first of these was the Passover. It was kept on the fourteenth day of the first month, the first month of the Jews answering to the latter part of March and the former

part of April of our time. On the day following began the feast of unleavened bread, of which kind alone the Jews were enjoined to eat for seven days, the first and the seventh day being holy convocations, to be observed as Sabbaths, and no servile work was to be done thereon. Hence this feast was indifferently called, the feast of the Passover, or the feast of unleavened bread, as we read in the first verse of the twenty-second of St. Luke's gospel, "Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover." This feast, as far as respects the eating of the paschal Lamb and the unleavened bread, we have already considered when expounding the book of Exodus to you; but there is another part of it, not referred to there, which we have now to notice, namely, the bringing of the first-fruits of the barley harvest. This part of the solemnity was only to commence after their establishment in the land of Canaan, for then only could it be observed. It consisted in their reaping a sheaf, which was to be dried and threshed, and the corn ground, and presented to the