that we should distinctly know, and steadfastly believe, that the ultimate design of God in all his works, is to make known his glory, that he may gain to himself an everlasting name.

Finally, let your statements of divine truth be connected and harmonious. The word of God, though not systematically arranged, comprises one complete, well adjusted and beautiful system of truth, emanating from the eternal mind; the several parts of which are dependent on each other, and all meet in the person of Christ, the living and life-giving WORD, as their centre and root. Whatever seeming disagreement there may be between particular passages, there is in reality, the sweetest and most perfect unison; and one whose judgment is enlightened by the Spirit of God, so as to discern the mind of God, will perceive and admire that unison. A ministry where statements are discordant and irreconcilable, contradicting at one time what it affirms at another-is not the gospel of Christis not the word of God-nor can it be made to agree with the counsels and dictates of his all-comprehending intelligence and consummate wisdom.

(To be continued.)

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OUTLINE OF A SERMON

Delivered by the late Rev. E. Temple, of Rochford, Lord's day evening, August 30th, 1840.

"And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth." Micah v. 4.

What an endless variety of subjects are found in the bible, and all lead to Christ. If we consider revelation as a firmament, every promise, as a bright star, points to the Sun of Righteousness, and every ray of light emanates from him. If we look at revelation as a garden, every flower has its perfume from him; and every walk here, both old and new Testament paths, yea, every avenue leads to the Tree of Life. If we view it as a field, he is the Pearl of great price to be found there. Every doctrine, duty, precept, promise and prospect comes from him, and leads to him. The grand theme of the bible, is the work of Christ; the glory of the bible, is the name of Christ; the best news in this world is, the gospel of Christ: the best inheritance, a portion with Christ; the bible is indeed

full of Christ. We read of two German writers, expositors of the bible; it is said of one, he found Christ no where; and of the other, he found him every where: we had rather err on this side, than that. But in the text, he so prominently stands forth to view, we see him at first glance, and he appears in all the dignity of his person, in all the excellency of his character, and in all the love and sympathy of the great Shepherd. Let us meditate.

1st. On the character of our adorable Lord.

2nd. On the nature of his work.

3rd. The manner of its performance.

4th. The safety of the flock.

5th. The extent of his renown.

The bible writers, have ransacked nature, and the whole universe, to set forth our glorious Lord and King; but, after all, they give us but a few glimpses; nothing can come up to him.

"Nor earth, nor seas, nor sun, nor stars,

Nor heaven his full resemblance bears."

He is not only called a sun, but the Sun of Righteousness; not only a star, but the bright and Morning Star; not only a tree, but the Tree of Life; not only a plant, but the Plant of Renown; not only a rose, but the Rose of Sharon; not only a lily, but the Lily of the Valley. It is, to express it in the superlative degree-that Righteous Branch; the Bread of heaven: the Light of the world; a great High Priest; the King of kings; the Prince of peace. Is he a friend? he stick

eth closer than a brother. An heir? he is the heir of all things. What think ye of Christ? O says the church, his spouse, " He has ravished my heart; my Beloved is white and ruddy; his head, is as the most fine gold; his bushy black locks; his dove's eyes; his spicy cheeks; his lily lips, dropping sweet smelling myrrh; his hands, as gold rings; his belly, as bright. ivory; his legs, pillars of marble; his lovely countenance, as Lebanon; his mouth, most sweet; yea, he is altogether lovely, the chiefest among ten thousand."

"The sweetest, fairest, brightest one,

That eyes have seen, or angels known."

How great, how good, how glorious, none can tell; but in our text, he is referred to as the chief Shepherd-God s Shepherd -the good Shepherd-that great Shepherd of the flock. Well, let us consider,

The nature of his work. His work is to save; and having accomplished salvation by the blood of his heart-by the

It

strength of his arm-on the cross-and having gloriously ascended into heaven, as the accepted and discharged suretythe great High Priest before the throne, he now saves his flock by drawing them to himself. His work now, is that of a shepherd; to feed his flock, take care of them, watch over them, guard, guide, protect and bless them. He illuminates them by the sacred influences of the Holy Spirit. He teaches them, he instructs them; all the spiritual knowledge, all the light in the church is from him; all the love and attachment to his person, his cause, his people, comes from him. He is the source of all the believer's happiness; all his hopes and prospects and satis. faction is from Christ; and he will be all their heaven. He is the great spiritual magnet, "And 1," said he, "if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me." He gathers in his flock from the east, west, north and south. He gathers them into his spiritual fold, and there he feeds them; and with what? himself; nothing short of Christ will satisfy the spiritual appetite. How do they feed on him? By faith; "Except ye eat the flesh, and drink the blood of the Son of man, ye have no life in you." is receiving his atonement, and living by faith on the Son of God. He not only feeds, but he gives them rest,-"Then will I cause my flock to rest at noon. O blessed! to rest on the merits of his great work-to rest on his atoning blood-to rest on his powerful arm-to lean-to recline-to recumbrate on his loving, affectionate bosom; all the dear flock have the privilege, by faith, to rest, to lean where the beloved John did. To rest on this rock, how safe and secure. The wrath of God cannot touch me here; satan cannot harm me here. He also leads his flock,-"He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness.' How does he lead? By his example and by his word. Christ is the great exemplar; his sheep follow him, they imitate him, they are conformed in a measure to him; what a dignity is attached to the christian character! and when that great day comes the resurrection morn, they are to rise like their Lord, and be glorified together. But here they are to resemble him; they are called, "The light of the world;""The salt of the earth." How ought they to walk? As Christ did, in public and private life before his friends and foes, before the church and the world. They should imitate the fervour of his devotion; his diligence in duty; and his patience under suffering. Christ will teach his people valuable lessons; and he also imparts the capacity to learn. His work is also, to guide into all truth, to guard from all harm, to defend, to protect; also, to comfort, to cheer, to lead on through this wilderness; and

he will lead them all up to his heavenly home; "Fear not little flock," your Shepherd knows the way, and will bring you the right way to a city of habitation.

But Thirdly. The manner of the performance of his work. Our text says, "He shall stand and feed," &c. implies, 1st. that he performs it attentively. "In the strength of the Lord," proves, 2ndly, he does it powerfully. "In the majesty of the name of the Lord his God," demonstrates, 3rdly, he performs it nobly.

1st. It implies his watchful care. Here is the position of looking on with all the vigilance and interestedness of the great and good Shepherd. Here is his omniscient eye over the flock continually. Here is his out-stretched omnipotent arm ever ready to defend them. Here is the love of his affectionate heart pourtrayed-" He shall stand and feed." And O! how he opens the riches of his bounty, and dispenses abundantly the heavenly provisions.

2ndly. Our condition required almighty power; therefore, he that is mighty to save, came forth to effect our deliverance. Our enemies are mighty, but he is almighty; our foes are powerful, but he has omnipotence in his person. O! how can he controul all; crush every opposing power; and will make his people come off like himself, conquerors. "If he is for us, who can be against us?"

3rdly. He performs his work nobly. "In the majesty of the name of the Lord his God." Here is greatness and love united. What majesty is seen in all his salvation acts! Look at him from the cradle to the tomb. What majestic sweetness sat on his infant countenance, and when the wise men bowed before him! What majesty, when he stood in the temple with the doctors! What majesty, when he with a word stilled the boisterous sea! fevers and diseases are gone at his bidding, the lame made to walk, the blind to see, the deaf to hear! He cast out devils with a word, called forth the dead, all and every thing must obey! With majesty he walked on the water! With majesty he healed sicknesses!" I will, be thou clean; " how easy, and with what dignity and majesty! I love to trace him in his God-like acts, his God-like career. O! what majesty shone forth, what silent majesty, when he was led as a sheep to the slaughter, when he opened not his mouth at Pilate's bar, when he prostrated himself in the garden, here his greatness was eclipsed; but, O! how majestically it burst forth when on the cross he triumphantly cried, "It is finished! and he bowed his head, and gave up the Ghost." What

a majestic scene followed! The rocks were rent-graves were opened the earth quaked-the sun was darkened-well might they tremble and exclaim, "Truly this was the Son of God." But, believers, look at him majestically, rising from the dead the third day! and think of that majesty, when he ascended up into heaven, and took up his seat at the right hand of God! and look out and anticipate that majestic day, when he shall come again and appear in his glory, with all his holy angels; then, indeed, shall he stand in the majesty of Godhead, in the strength of the Lord, the judge of quick and dead. Fear not little flock, he will come to gather together his family, and take them all up into the heavenly paradise, "and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

Fourthly. We were to meditate on the safety of his flock. "They shall abide," through all difficulties, dangers, oppositions, persecutions, yea, through death; not destroyed. "They shall go from strength to strength; every one shall appear in Zion.' 66 The righteous shall hold on their way." "My sheep hear my voice; I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish." Being confident that he that hath begun the good work, will carry it on and perfect it.

Believers may fall in the way, but not fall out of the way. They are often cast down, but not cast off; what insures this? union to Christ. He is the spiritual vine, his people the branches; they are in him, they receive all their life, vitality, vigour from Him. While there is life in the root, the branches will survive. He is the Head-they the members of his body; as long as the Head lives, the members cannot die! He is the captain-they the soldiers rallying round his royal standard. He has insured their lives in heaven's life book; He is the shepherd-they the sheep and lambs of his fold; He laid down his own life for their ransom; they are engraven on his heart, marked with his precious blood, they shall abide with their Shepherd for ever.

There is a fulness of merit and power in Jesus; yea, all grace sufficient for all their needs here, and to land them all safe in heaven, in full perfection. "He is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy."

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Lastly. Let us consider the extent of his renown- "He shall be great unto the ends of the earth." He is great in his power to save-great in his wisdom, honour, and dignity-great in his love-great in his grace-great in his salvation and workgreat in all his exertions on our behalf-his name shall be great.