must we apply, " sprinkling it on our hearts and consciences1,''
and expecting from it the most perfect deliverance k
To those who use these means, there is no danger l to
those who neglect to use them, there is no escape™ ]
2. By more diligent endeavours after universal holiness —
[What the meaning of the unleavened feast was, we are told by the Apostle Paul, who urges us to carry into effect what that typified : " Purge out the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with the old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth"." In vain we keep the passover, if we do not also keep the feast of unleavened bread: they are absolutely inseparable. The very end for which Christ redeemed us, was, " that lie might purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works0:" and, if we would reap the full benefit of his resur- rection, " we must seek those things which are above, where
Christ sitteth at the right hand of Godp." This was
designed by God in the appointment of the feast we have been speaking ofq; and the same is designed in the mercy vouch- safed to usr ]
In conclusion, then, I say,
[Be thankful to God for the special call which is now given you to observe this day. If to the Jews it was said, " This is a night to be much observed to the Lord, for bringing them out of the land of Egypt; this is that night of the Lord to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations8;" how much more may it be said to us ! Methinks, any man who kept the Passion-week, as it is appointed to be observed amongst us, could scarcely fail of attaining the salvation of his soul ; so plain are the instructions given us throughout the whole course of our services, and so exclusively is Christ held forth to us as " the way, the truth, and the life." My dear Brethren, we really are great losers by our neglect of these seasons. Doubt- less they may be observed with superstitious formality: but they may be kept with infinite profit to the soul. And I beg of you not to let the present opportunity pass away without a suitable improvement : but, as David said, with a direct re- ference to the Saviour's resurrection, " This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it*;" so do
» Heb. x. 22. k Ps. li. 7. 1 1 John i. 7.
™ Heb. ii. 3. n 1 Cor. v. 7, 8. ° Tit. ii. 14.
P Col. iii. 1. i Exod. xiii. 8 — 10. r Rom. xiv. 9.
■ Exod. xii. 42. l Ps. cxviii. 22—24.