well-to do all these things at all—to carry all these things on to the end? Even unto him who must be the Finisher as well as Author of our faith. Even unto him who hath not only brought about "a redemption of the transgressions that were under the first Testament," but hath given to them which are called "the promise of eternal inheritance." And how are we situated, practically, with regard to this important question? Are we living at the present time like Christians, or disciples of Moses? Are we believing, loving, glorifying God, because of the many and good things he hath done for us, in and through his Son Jesus Christ? Or are we putting our whole trust, so far as God is concerned, in the service of the tabernacle, the observance of stated days, the obedience to outward ordinances, and the correct, orderly, respectable exterior of a decently moral and sober life? Do we give Christ as much prominence in our life and thoughts, as in our creed and profession? Or is it more probable, that there lurks under our cold, formal aspect of ceremonial religion, a heartless indifference about spiritual things? Does there lurk pride, envy, covetousness, wrath, uncharitableness, and a host of forbidden, though not visible propensities fatal to acceptance, and hateful to God? Is there ever in our minds a satisfied assurance, that we are doing our duty, an easy contentedness about the state of our souls, an almost implied reliance on our own merits, and apparent forgetfulness of the merits of Christ? If such be unfortunately the case with any of us, may we presently be brought into a better frame of mind by the influence of the Holy Spirit, and the operation of this passing meditation! And may all of us be spiritually quickened, illuminated, brought to know ourselves thereby! May we be led thereby to make Christ our only hope, doing all that we are enabled to do, and yet not thinking that we do it ourselves, taking Christ's easy yoke upon our thoughts and affections as well as on our lives and acts of worship, and submitting ourselves wholly in spirit, soul, and body, unto him who loved us, and gave himself for us! THE SUNDAY NEXT BEFORE EASTER. THE EPISTLE. Philip. ii., 5 to 11. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus; 6 Who, being in the form of God, became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath high thought it not robbery to be equally exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Christ Jesus is here set before us as an example that we should follow his steps, and set before us in a manner the most impressive, and in an article the most important. The feature in our Lord's character thus especially recommended to our imitation, is humility; the mode of evincing it thus especially marked out for our consideration is his assumption of our nature, and his death upon the cross. Although in his pre-existent condition he had ever been in the form of God, and therefore needed not to have thought it robbery, an invasion of another's rights, an assumption of what did not already belong to him, to be equal with God: he is nevertheless stated (regardless of his high and divine condition, and only thoughtful of the misery and lost estate of man) to have "made himself of no reputation, taken upon him the form of a servant, appeared in the likeness of men, and being found in fashion as a man, to have become In token of obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.' his approbation of the great love evinced in the project, and of the great humility manifested in the execution of man's redemption, "God also hath highly exalted," in the person of the glorified Jesus, the human nature which he took, and given him a name in his office of Redeemer of the world, which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus, "every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." دو And thus we see, not only the humility of Jesus, and the very great extent to which he was willing, in the instance of man's redemption, to carry it out, but the reward which followed it. The example thus manifested, the end for which it was I manifested, the Divine Being who manifested it, the extent to which it was manifested, the reward which followed the manifestation, all are particularly pertinent to the present season, and should not be lost upon us. What, then, should be our course, the course to be adopted by us who are members of the mystical body of Christ? Should it not be a diligent examination of the history of his sufferings, as contained in all the Gospels appointed to be read during the present week? And should it not be, further, as complete an abstraction from the cares, riches, and pleasures of this life, during the time we are thus engaged, as possible? Thus shall we be enabled, if our eyes are not closed, or our ears dull of hearing, to understand some of the wonderful things that were then done for us, the love that was then fully proved, the patience that was then sorely tried, the humility that was then put to its severest test, in a word, “the mind that was in Christ Jesus." Perchance we may have no opportunity of attending the public service of the Church during the present week, except on this holy day, and on Good Friday. If such be the case, it will do us all good to read in private as many of the week's lessons, epistles, and gospels, as our necessary worldly occupations will allow. We shall thus be doing our souls an important service, in the effort we make to detach them from the world, in the valuable knowledge we shall thereby acquire, and in the clear. perception we shall thereby gain of "the mind that is in Christ Jesus." And what should be the immediate spiritual result of this searching the Scriptures, and of reading, hearing, and discerning from day to day "the mind that was in Christ Jesus?" Should, it not be, that the same holy, humble, harmless mind be found in us that was also in Christ Jesus? Should it not be, that when all our weekly reading, weekly meditation, and weekly prayer be over, we rise from the edifying occupation wiser, holier, spiritually stronger men, men more imbued with the mind that was in Christ Jesus, men, in particular, more clothed with that lowliness of mind which makes each esteem other better than himself, and which none practised or taught more forcibly than our example, Christ Jesus? Let the child learn hereby to be more humble towards the parent, the servant towards the master, the younger towards the elder, and the parent, the master, the elder, towards their God; and then each, in his respective vocation, will spiritually follow so far as humility goes, the steps that have gone before him, not only towards the mind that was in him who "bore our sins in his own body on the tree'," but also towards that heavenly throne, where now and for ever Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." And what more fitting method can there be of ascertaining our true position in this respect, than to look at "the mind which was in Christ Jesus," and to see how it operated in our behalf. Christ Jesus, in his state of glory and exaltation, was "in the form of God, and thought it not robbery to be equal with God.” To work out man's salvation he became man, "took upon him the form of a servant," "made himself of no reputation," and eventually "became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." He exchanged glory for humiliation, hap-piness for suffering, dominion for service, divinity for humanity, life for death, and all for man. There could not possibly have been greater condescension, more mortifying self-abasement, more disinterested love. There could not possibly have been contrast more decided, change more marked, variation of position more complete. East and west are not more opposite than God and man, heaven and earth; and great indeed must have been the humility of the God Christ Jesus in becoming the man Christ Jesus, laying aside his dignity, foregoing his claim to pre-eminence, and passing without hesitation the immeasurable barrier that separated him from a world of sinners. Or, as the Psalmist's words spiritualized may signify, "who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high, and humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth?" Do any of us hold a really high place in the favour of God? Let us behold with infinite compassion our less spiritually-minded brethren, and not disdain to serve them. Let us descend from our lofty position, visit the haunts of sinners, distrust our own hearts, and help to save perishing souls; bringing down, with the word of God and prayer, all high-mindedness, remembering our own inheritance of a sinful nature, not forgetting, that when we would do good, we have not so far to descend, or such a sacrifice to make as Jesus had to save sinners, and mainly intent in all we think, say, or do for ourselves or the service of others, on the one great end, the glory of God. And must not the sinner, if he would repent, humble himself? And must not the い 11 Pet. ii., 24.) " 2 Ps. cxiii., 6. wise, if he would be in the true sense wise, become a fool, little in his own sight, conscious of great imperfection, great ignorance, great insignificance, yea, of utter worthlessness in the sight of God? And must not the man given to passion, a sin which especially originates in pride, if he would have "the mind that was in Christ Jesus," bring down the pride which at present cannot bear provocation, and, with the help of God's grace, do his best to keep it under? And must not he whose worldly place is high, if he would keep his aspiring thoughts low, take heed unto Christ Jesus, and learn of him, and copy his mind, and emulate his spirit in all things? And are not all these several lessons of humility most forcibly taught, and may they not all be most profitably learnt in the record of Christ's death and passion? Oh, yes! there, as with an iron pen, are they engraven, and thence, as from the place that holds our treasure, may they all, during this holy week, be drawn. Let us, then, whilst this Scripture yet sounds in our ears, hasten thither for instruction, for example, for edification, and our souls shall live., MONDAY BEFORE EASTER. FOR THE EPISTLE. Isai. Lxiii., 1 to the end. WHO is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. 2 Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the wine-fat? 3 I have trodden the wine-press alone, and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. mine own arm brought salvation unto me, and my fury it upheld me. 6 And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth. 7 I will mention the loving-kindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness towards the house of Israel, which he hath 'bestowed on them, according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his loving-kindnesses. 4 For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my re-pe deemed is coment of bo) to 5 And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore 8 For he said, Surely they are my 'people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour. 19 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them : in his love and in |