tombed for ever in the mansions of darkness-to have the worm for our couch, and the earth-worm for our covering? No, brethren; this joyful day celebrates the birth of that Almighty Conqueror, who has subdued to his dominion these dread domains. And if our faith is stayed on him, he will redeem us from death, he will ransom us from the grave. Through the grave and gate of death he will open to us the path of life, and will conduct us to those mansions of glory which he hath gone before to prepare for us. "The ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away."*

Let, then, every return of this sacred festival, which celebrates the birth of that Saviour who is Christ the Lord, excite in all faithful Christians the emotions of triumphant confidence and grateful adoration.

In his humiliation they witness the most powerful proof of his infinite love for them-in his glorious offices and character they behold the pledges of their salvation. Having devoted themselves to him by lively faith, and serving him in holiness and righteousness, they have secured their interest in the blessings of his redemption. He whom they this day hail as the Son of the Most Highest, is their ever-present and invincible Redeemer. Head over all things to his church, he controls and directs all the events of the world to subserve the good of his people all the attributes of the Godhead are engaged, faithful Christians, in the person of your Saviour, for your defence, your comfort, and sal

* Isaiah xxxv. 10.

vation: through his almighty mediation you can approach with boldness the throne of offended justice in his mercy you can find a refuge from every guilty fear, and every corroding sorrow his grace will conduct you through all the trials and conflicts of this sinful and weary pilgrimage, to the everlasting repose of his heavenly kingdom. Let then the voice of praise, on this hallowed day, when his reign commenced, ascend to this great King and Captain of your salvation, this everlasting Prince of Peace. Behold, the church invites you to the feast of the holy table, to seal there your vows of grateful love, to devote yourselves anew to that Son of the Father, who, for your sakes, became an infant of days, and bought you with his precious blood. Come, then, and in the emotions of penitence commemorate your Saviour sacrificed for you. Come, and in the fervour of devout gratitude adore his surpassing love. Come, humble, faithful, and obedient, and receive the pledges of the mercy and grace of that Saviour who is Christ

the Lord; and unite in the song with which the host of heaven proclaimed the glad tidings of his birth-" Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

SERMON XXIII.

ABRAHAM OFFERING UP ISAAC.

GENESIS Xxii. 10.

And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.

THE appointment of this chapter, containing the history of the command to the patriarch Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac, to be read as one of the lessons for this day, is an evidence that our church considers this event as typical of that which she now commemorates-the offering up, by the Almighty Father, of his only Son, as a sacrifice for the sins of the world.

The whole subject is suitable for our contemplations on this day.

Let us then state the history;

Vindicate it from objections; and
Urge the ends answered by it.

After the lamentable degeneracy of our first parents, mankind, following the impulse of their wicked imaginations, formed gods unto themselves, and nearly extinguished the knowledge of the Lord, the only living and true God. These wicked and idolatrous nations the Almighty Ruler of the world swept away by a deluge, preserving only Noah and his family. Their descendants soon forgot this mark of the divine indignation, and, like their forefathers before the flood, departed from VOL. III. 35

the service of the Maker of heaven and of earth. But it pleased God, in the exercise of infinite compassion, not again to punish the idolatrous world. He revealed his name and his perfections to Abraham his servant, whose posterity he designed to make his peculiar people, the depositaries of his word and service, and the centre from which the beams of divine truth might afterwards irradiate the nations. "The Lord said unto Abraham, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee."*

In obedience to this command, the pious patriarch leaves the land of his nativity, encounters the difficulties of a long and toilsome journey, and, under the divine protection, at last dwells securely in the land of Canaan. To him was given the glorious promise, that "in his seed all the families of the earth should be blessed" and though the blessing of the promised son was long delayed, Abraham continued "strong in faith," being fully persuaded, that what God had promised, he was able also to perform. Isaac, the son of promise, was at length given to his ardent prayers: but severe was the trial, in regard to this son of his affection, to which, in infinite wisdom, he was subjected.

God did "tempt" (that is, try) "Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. And God said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah, and offer him there for a burntoffering, upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of." Every circumstance which rendered † Gen. xxii. 1, 2.

Gen. xii. 1.

Isaac peculiarly dear to Abraham his father, is here forcibly presented. Isaac, the only, the beloved son, the destined comfort of his father's old age, the son in whom was wrapped up the gracious promise of future blessings to the world, was to be sacrificed by the fond father. Exalted the faith which repelled every murmur, and bowed him submissive to the severe command!

"Rising up early in the morning," Abraham prepares for his journey. Its purpose, in tenderness to the mother of Isaac, the patriarch did not communicate to her; accordingly the preparations which were made indicated only an intention to engage in an act of worship by the burnt-offering of a lamb. Accompanied by Isaac, and two young men bearing wood for the sacrifice, Abraham set out on his journey. On the third day, the place of sacrifice appears afar off: thither Abraham advances with Isaac only, on whom was laid the wood. Supposing that the object of their journey was to worship God by a burnt-offering, and therefore surprised that his father had not prepared a lamb for the purpose, he calls to him, "My father," and receives the tender reply, "Here am I, my son." Directing to his father his eager countenance, beaming with innocence, affection, and piety, Isaac solicitously asks, "Behold the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt-offering?" Heart-rending question to the fond father! he could not then summon resolution to announce to Isaac-Thou, my son, art the victim: he piously directs the faith and trust of Isaac to God" My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt-offering."

They pursue their journey-they come to the place of sacrifice: the altar is built-the wood is