pious man. It is only surprising that, considering the manifold and great cause of joy we possess, we are not more happy than we generally feel. Rejoice evermore, is a precept of the Christian law. 1 Thess. v. 16. Oh that such a sense of all God's mercy might be impressed upon us, that our mind should resemble the lovely scenery of nature amidst the brightness and the stillness of a summer's evening! Clouds there might be in the heavens of our serenity and peace; but a glowing sun would tinge their edges with light; and we might anticipate the speedy passing of those clouds away, and then nothing would remain to our purified and exalted being, but one unclouded everlasting state of blessedness and love. Let us be aware that holiness and cheerfulness are specially combined in the will of God and the experience of his people. Sin and joy are incompatible with each other the one will enfeeble all our powers, and bring darkness and sorrow over all our prospects: it is holy principle and character that will nerve our arm for conflict, and give joy and peace in our souls. Watch then and pray, if you would be happy and joyous followers of Jesus Christ.

2ndly. The befittingness of praise in all our worship of Almighty God, is also strongly presented to our view. Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous, for praise is comely for the upright, Ps. xxxiii. 1: and who among the myriads of rational and immortal creatures, peopling the universe of God, have so great cause for praise and adoration, as sinners justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God? Unfallen creatures can have no such grounds of praise as we possess ; Oh then, let the censer of holiest gratitude wave, as it were, in the hearts and hands of God's dear children of

the human kind! My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. Ps. v. 3. Let my prayer be set forth in thy sight as the incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Ps. cxli. 2. Thus in the morning and the evening of every day, let the pure frankincense of sweetest thankfulness blaze in the sanctuary of the believer's bosom. Praise waiteth, that is, praise is silent, for thee, O God, in Zion: it is, at best, but partial and feeble praise we can at present utter: but when all flesh shall gather to the footstool of a present God, a burst of praise, loud as the sounding of mighty thunderings, and yet melodious as the music of a harp, will be heard. Ps. lxv. 1, 2. Miriam and the women of Israel went forth with timbrels and with dances to celebrate Pharaoh's overthrow in the Red Sea: those who shall have gotten the victory over a greater foe, shall soon celebrate a greater triumph, and with the harps of God in their hands, show forth their Deliverer's power, and tell their boundless obligation to it, in a manner befitting somewhat the grace bestowed upon them, and the majesty of him whose servants and children they are. My praise shall be of Thee in the great congregation. Soon may the vast assembly of the saints be gathered, and all with one acclaim sound forth the worthiness of the Saviour-God! Ps. 1. 5, 6. One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works. Ps.

cl. 4, 5.

3rdly. The relation of all acceptable service in the Church to Jesus Christ, is clearly discernible in every appointment of the ancient faith. The incense could

not be burnt in the holy place by any other fire than fire from off the brazen altar, or the altar of burnt-offering. Hence, we can only joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, and praise, even in its holiest exercise, must bear reference to the atoning sufferings and death of Immanuel. Others may choose other altars, other sacrifices, other intercessors, other songs, if they will do so: but we will know nothing in Christian theology so much as Jesus crucified, Jesus risen, Jesus interceding, and Jesus coming again to consummate the church's faith, and love, and hope. Solemn and affecting are the words, Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin. Hos. viii. 11. Impressive fact the very professed worship of those who forsake the simplicity that is in Christ, is made to them the occasion of greater sin! and, of course, by fearful consequence, of more aggravated judgment. In such a case, incense itself becomes an abomination to the Lord, and the costliest oblations are but vanity and mockery in his sight. Isa. i. 13. Beware, then, of evil-workers; beware of the concision, and let no man beguile you into a voluntary humility, or a deference to useless and offensive peculiarities of thought or manner. The true circumcision are they who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Phil. iii. 2, 3. Oh to be found so worshipping the God and Father of our Lord! Oh to be found so rejoicing in the Only-Begotten of the Father! The suffering merit of Jesus Christ must tinge all our offerings of love and service, or never can they come acceptably and beneficially before, the throne. Without faith it is impossible to please God, and the faith which alone can be pleasing unto him, must grasp the atoning Lamb, and thereby unite the vicarious sacrifice with the ascending frank

incense, in order to gracious reception and beneficial communication. And should it not be so? for, this, only this, conciliates the Divine regard, overcomes the world, conquers the fear of death, and introduces us to a scene of perfect purity and bliss.

And what is this?-survey the wondrous cure,
And at each step let higher wonder rise!
Pardon for infinite offence! and pardon
Through means that speak its value infinite!

A pardon bought with blood! with blood divine!
With blood divine of him I made my foe!
Persisted to provoke! though woo'd and awed,
Blest and chastised, a flagrant rebel still;

A rebel 'midst the thunders of his throne !
Nor I alone! a rebel universe!

My species up in arms! not one exempt!
Yet for the foulest of the foul he dies,
Most joy'd for those redeem'd from deepest guilt!
As if our race were held of highest rank,
And Godhead dearer as more kind to man!

Bound every heart, and every bosom burn!
O what a scale of miracles is here!
Its lowest round high-planted on the skies:
Its towering summit lost beyond the reach
Of man or angel! Oh that I could climb
The wonderful ascent with equal praise !
Praise! flow for ever (if astonishment

Will give thee leave); my praise, for ever flow;
Praise ardent, cordial, constant, to high heaven
More fragrant than Arabia sacrificed,

And all her spicy mountains in a flame.

DISCOURSE XI.

THE LAVER.

EXODUS XXX. 17-19.

And the Lord spake unto Moses saying, Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal; and thou shalt put it bètween the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar; and thou shalt put water therein: for Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat.

You sometimes, in writings of ancient date, meet with the expression, Laver of regeneration. The terms of the expression are probably derived from the laver of the tabernacle, and the frequent ablutions therewith connected. As used by Christian authors, the expression, Laver of regeneration, is understood to relate to the ordinance of baptism, that washing of the body with water in the name of the great Tri-unity, which is held to be the sign of a spiritual regeneration. The waters of baptism are assumed by some individuals to convey that purification from moral guilt, which was typified by the laver in its cleansing from ceremonial defilement. For example: it is asserted by Papists that pardon of sin, justification, and sanctification, are