now sprinkled on our souls ! To how much higher a
state too are we raised, not nominally, but really, the sons of
God, and the inheritors of the kingdom of heaven !
What shall we say of this ? It surpasses the utmost concep- tion both of men and angels ; and has a height and depth, and length and breadth, that is utterly incomprehensible.]
Let me next commend to your special observance thish day, on which these great events are commemorated —
They deserve well to be commemorated by the whole human race —
[The deliverance from Egypt will be a standing memorial of God's power and grace to the very end of time. But what shall we say of the redemption which that event typified? Should not that be held in remembrance by us? Should not that be annually commemorated with the devoutest acknow- ledgments ? Verily, " it is a day much to be observed unto the Lord," even unto the latest generations.
And here I cannot but regret that the stated remembrance of these wonderful events is by a great multitude of religious professors utterly disregarded. Under an idea of avoiding Popish superstition, many have run to an opposite extreme, and cast off the very semblance of gratitude, and put from them the most effectual means of exciting it in the soul. That such memorials may degenerate into form, I readily acknow- ledge ; but that they may be subservient to the greatest
s Deut. iv. 32 — 34. h Preached on Easter Day.
spiritual elevation, I have no doubt: and I cannot but lament, that, through a licentious zeal for what they call liberty, many deprive themselves of most invaluable blessings. To us of the Established Church, I thank God, these privileges are pre- served : and I would recommend to every one of you a con- scientious and devout improvement of them. Nor can I doubt, but that as the memorial of our Lord's death continued to us in the Sacramental Supper is found a blessing, so will the stated remembrance of our Lord's birth, and death, and resurrection, on the days on which they are commemorated, prove a blessing to all who will consecrate the time to a special consideration of those stupendous mercies.]
The way in which they should be observed may be learned from the history before us —
[The Israelites, to their latest generations, were on that day to eat of the paschal lamb, and to renew their dedication of themselves to him as his peculiar people. And in this way should we employ this holy day.
Let us this day keep a feast unto the Lord1. Let us eat of the Paschal Lamb, and feed on that adorable Saviour who shed
his blood for us, to redeem our souls from death But
let us " eat it with the bitter herbs" of penitential sorrow, and " with the unleavened bread" of sincerity and truth k. Nor is this a suggestion of man ; but of the Lord himself, who has given us this very command \ Mark well, I pray you, these peculiar circumstances, which alone will ensure a favourable acceptance of your services before God : for without deep peni- tence and guileless sincerity your services will be only an abomination to the Lord
Let us also dedicate ourselves to him as his peculiar people™. We are not our own : we are bought with a price : we should therefore glorify our God with our bodies, and our spirits, which are his". Remember how entirely the people of Israel were now separated from the world, and how completely they were made dependent on their God. Remember too, that they had but one object in view, namely, the attainment of the promised land. Thus in spirit should we be : in spirit, I say ; because we have offices to perform, which preclude a possibiHty of entire separation from the world. But if, whilst we fulfil the duties of our respective stations in the world, we attain in heart what the external situation of Israel was designed to represent, we shall do well. This should from henceforth be our one labour. Behold them, and God himself at their head — he theirs, and they his ! So let us consecrate ourselves tins day to him, that " we may be his people, and he our God, for ever and ever."]