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saith the Prophet?

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The kings of the earth may rise up, the people may take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed. But he that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh them to scorn; the Lord shall have them in derision. He shall rule them with a rod of iron, and break them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

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Where is the man whose conscience does not accuse him of having sinned, and whose corrupt passions are not prompting him to transgression? Where is the man who does not find the world as full of temptations hostile to his virtue, as of sorrows fatal to his peace? Where is the man who in approaching the region of the grave, does not wish for a guide through this land of darkness?

Brethren-there is a guide and a refuge for us. We have a gracious High Priest, who is "set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens","-our Divine and compassionate Intercessor. His power is almighty; and his sympathy and compassion are equal to his power. Humbled with sorrow for the offences which caused his sufferings, renouncing our sins and trusting only in his merits, we may come boldly to the throne of grace;" for we have the promise, that we shall find mercy and grace to help in time of need","-that time of need when

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conscience accuses us, and temptation and sorrow assail us; that time of need, which we must all encounter the hour of death, the day of judgment.

In this time of our greatest need-in the hour of death, and in the day of judgment-Jesus, Lord, our merciful and gracious Priest and Intercessor, save and deliver us.

SERMON XIX.

CHRIST-SACRIFICED FOR US.

[EASTER.]

1 COR. v. 7. 8.

Christ our passover is sacrificed for us-therefore let us keep the feast.

JESUSChrist is emphatically styled "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world ',"-slain, from the foundation of the world, in as much as the efficacy of his meritorious sacrifice commenced when the promise of a Divine deliverer was given to our first parents-and slain in all those sacrifices of expiation which, from the beginning, typified that one meritorious sacrifice, to which they owed all their efficacy. The firstling of his flock, which righteous Abel offered to the Lord; the ram which Abraham devoted as a burnt-offering, instead of Isaac his son; and all the sacrifices by which the Jews were taught to expiate their sins, typified the "one offering," by

* Rev. xiii. 8.

b Gen. iv. 4.

C Gen. xxii. 13.

which Christ was to take away the iniquity of us all.

But, in an especial manner, was this great sacrifice set forth in the solemnity of the Jewish passover; so that the Apostle says, "Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us!"

A particular account of the institution of the Jewish passover is contained in the first lesson for this day. And the words of my text, the Church recites as part of the hymn of praise in the morning service of this holy festival. The eminent propriety of this recital will appear, if we take a view of the various respects in which Christ may be styled the Passover.

I. In reference to his character.

II. In reference to his death.

III. In reference to the object of his death, and

IV. In reference to the celebration of this great

event.

Christ is styled our Passover,

I. In reference to his character.

In the Jewish passover, a lamb was to be offered. And this lamb was to be "without

d Exod. xii. to v. 37.

blemish." Jesus Christ, agreeably to the language in which his illustrious forerunner accosted him, was "the Lamb of God." He was meek and lowly, as this most meek and lowly of the animal creation. He was patient and submissive, as "a lamb led to the slaughter, as a sheep dumb before his shearers, opening not his mouth"." He was a lamb too, "without blemish and without spot," for "he did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth"." The lamb of the Passover, correctly typified in his character Jesus Christ.

II. In reference to his death, Christ is aptly styled the Passover.

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The Paschal lamb was to be slain-and its blood to be poured out. And thus, Christ as a lamb without spot or blemish," offered himself to God, and his blood was shed upon the cross. It was a particular direction with respect to the Paschal lamb of the Jewish Passover, that though he was to be killed and his blood poured forth, "ye shall not break a bone thereof." What says the Evangelist St. John of Jesus Christ, the true Paschal lamb offered on the cross-" Then came the soldiers and brake the legs of the first

• Exodus xii. 5. ' John i. 29. h 1 Peter ii. 22.

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* Isaiah liii. 7. Acts viii. 32.

i Exodus xii. 46.

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