life; the astonishing miracles which He performed ; the interesting parables and discourses which He delivered ; the privations and contradiction of sinners which He endured, while He went about doing good; and the dreadful sufferings which He underwent, when His soul was made an offering for sin. They also record the events which accompanied His resurrection from the dead ; His ascension into heaven ; and the pouring out of the Holy Ghost upon His Apostles on the day of Pentecost, in fulfilment of the promises which He had made to them before His bitter death and passion. The manner in which the doctrine of the Trinity was taught by our blessed Saviour Himself is also here exhibited. The testimony which was borne to our Lord Jesus Christ by His forerunner, previous to His entrance upon His public ministry, and His own declarations respecting His second coming with power and great glory, are likewise brought before us. The Gospels thus afford a great variety of most interesting subjects for contemplation, which are well worthy of our regard; and which, by the blessing of God, may be profitable to us for edification, and admonition, and consolation ; the objects proposed by Christian instruction. The plan which has been usually adopted in the following discourses, is, to give, in the first instance, a familiar explanation or commentary on the whole passage appointed as the Gospel for the day; and then to make some remarks upon the verse which is placed at the head of each Sermon as the text, with the view of bringing home the subject to the hearts and consciences of the hearers. That the blessing of the Holy Spirit may accompany this humble endeavour to promote the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the eternal salvation of those who may read or hear these plain statements of Divine truth, is the fervent prayer of the Author. CONTENTS OF VOL. I. Page SERMON I. The First Sunday in Advent.. Matthew xxi, 1–13. Christ's entry into Jerusalem. II. The Second Sunday in Advent .......... Luke xxi. 25–33. Christ's second coming. III. The Third Sunday in Advent .......... 33 Matthew xi. 2–10. The character of St. John the IV. The Fourth Sunday in Advent ............ 49 John i. 19-28. The confession of St. John the baptist. John i.1–14. The divinity and incarnation of Christ. VI. The First Sunday after Christmas ... 85 Matthew 1. 18—25. The nativity of Christ. VII. The Second Sunday after Christmas . 101 Luke ii. 15–21. The shepherds’ thanksgiving. VIII. The Epiphany ............ .............. 117 Jobu ii. 1-11. The marriage at Cana : and the water turned into wine. SERMON XI. The Third Sunday after the Epi- phang ....................................... 165 Matthew viii. 1–13. The healing of the leper, and of the centurion's servant. XIII. The Fifth Sunday after the Epi- Matthew xiii. 24–30. The tares among the wheat. XIV. The Sixth Sunday after the Epi- XV. The Sunday called Septuagesima . 229 Matthew xx. 1–16. The labourers in the vineyard. XVI. The Sunday called Sexagesima ... 245 Lake viii. 4-15. The parable of the sower. XVII. The Sunday called Quinquagesima 261 Luke xviii. 31–43. The blind beggar healed. Matthew vi. 16–21. The true fasting; and the earthly and heavenly treasures. XIX. The First Sunday in Lent ............ 293 Matthew iv. 1-11. The temptations of Christ. XX. The Second Sunday in Lent............ 309 Matthew xv. 21—28. The woman of Canaan. XXI. The Third Sunday in Lent........... 325 Jobn vi. 1–14. The multitude fed on five barley loaves. |