The Saviour is about to enter upon his earthly mission;-and on the banks of Jordan, his precursor, by divine inspiration, recognises him, in the sight of many persons assembled there, for the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the world;" whilst, in order to solemnize his inauguration, heaven opens, the Holy Ghost descends upon his head, and the voice of his Father proclaims: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

Having vanquished the tempter in the wilderness, angels approach to minister unto him, and presently nature itself is seen obedient to his word he speaks, and the sick are healed, the dead restored to life, demons are expelled, the wrathful wind and the raging sea subside into peace. He shows himself to three of his disciples upon Mount Tabor, transformed, and shining in such a shape of brightness, as made them proclaim, that they "had seen his glory." Again, on the eve of his crucifixion, a voice was heard "from heaven, saying, I have both glorified my name" in thee, "and will glorify it."

Nor is the accomplishment of this promise delayed: He expires, indeed, amidst shames and tortures; but, in the quaking of the earth, the rending of the rocks, the bursting of the sepulchre, the rising of the dead and their entering into "the Holy City," and the veiling of the sun in darkness, all nature glorifies its Lord, whom ungrateful men conspire to outrage.

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And with what still brighter glory is Jesus crowned, when he issues, clothed in light, from the tomb, ascends majestically to heaven, sends down the Holy Spirit upon his Apostles, appears seated at the right hand of his Father, surrounded by the divine Majesty, made Lord of the angels, and an object of adoration to the blessed; who, while they proclaim him "the faithful," "the true," "the word of God," and blend his worship with the worship of God the Father, are heard saying: "Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for eyer and ever!"

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Such were the things which the Apostles witnessed, and, in various degrees, others also

of Christ's disciples-" more than five hundred brethren," as we are told by St. Paul; of whom one, the intimate friend of the Apostle St. John, who had himself seen Christ after his resurrection, speaking of this subject, wrote thus to one of the churches of Asia: " Why may I not speak to you of heavenly things? as you are, I fear to do you harm.

But, babes

Forgive the

silence, which proceeds from an apprehension, lest, unable to bear these things, you be overwhelmed by them." Such are the expressions of a second St. Paul; who, after being "caught into the third heaven," declares that he has seen things such as it is not permitted to him to utter.

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We also, My Brethren, shall behold the glory of "THE ONLY-BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER," when we shall become men, for at present we are but "babes;" when we shall become Christians, for as yet we are but sinners: we shall see it, by being partakers in it; we shall see it when, after the completion of the work of " GRACE AND TRUTH," Jesus Christ shall transform our "vile" and abject bodies into the likeness of

"his glorious body." Such, then, is the destiny promised to us; the blessed goal at which will terminate the sorrows of repentance, the efforts of zeal, the sighs of contrite humility, the sacrifices of charity and self-denial, the pains of martyrdom,-all the active evidences, in a word, of a genuine faith. And, even here below, how many pledges are afforded us of all these divine blessings. O, glory of the Christian! Christ's most immediate disciples have come into the possession of the first fruits of this everlasting heritage: O, glory of the Christian! the lives of the first believers were rich and radiant with every hallowed virtue : O, glory of the Christian! Christ's sincere disciple may be seen, even in this life, adorned with 66 GRACE AND TRUTH :" O, glory of the Christian! he, during so many ages, has drawn yearly from the fountain of our evangelic festivals living waters inexhaustible: O, glory of the Christian! he is spreading abroad, even now, the word of life unto the ends of the earth, and thereby preparing other children for God, for Christ other worshippers.

Oh, how is the soul impressed, at thoughts like these, with a consciousness of her own dignity! how does faith increase in vital energy, and confidence grow in firmness! until we feel the assurance of St. Peter, that "the trial of our faith shall be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." Nay more: Having not seen Christ," how do we yet feel we "love" him! How," though even now we see him not," yet, believing, we

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rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory receiving the end of our faith,"-that faith which is the mother of earnest zeal, and the nurse of every virtue, "in the salvation of our souls!"

My Brethren, there is but one mode in which we can truly glorify God, who hath given his Son for us; and that is, by being Christians. But who is he, who may be truly called a Christian? It is he who, acknowledging his unworthiness and his manifold errors, flies to the "GRACE" of his Saviour, and applies to his progress in sanctification the " TRUTH" whose