and thought that it was a ghost; but he told them that he was not a ghost, but had flesh and bones. Then he shewed them the marks of the nails in his hands and his feet, and desired them to handle him. As they could not recover from their surprise, he asked for food, and eat before them some broiled fish and a piece of honey-comb. When he had thus satisfied them, he breathed on them, and gave them the Holy Ghost, with the power of establishing his church, and then disappeared. Thomas was the only one of the apostles who did not happen to be present at this time. He came in after Jesus had left them, and could not be persuaded by anything they told him that they had really seen the true body of our Lord. (Mark xvi. 12, 13. Luke xxiv. 13-43. John xx. 19—25.) This is every thing which the Scripture relates concerning the history of this eventful day. TEXT PAPERS. No. XXX. TEXT-John xi. 43. "And when he had thus spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth." To be able properly to understand and feel the circumstances of the sufferings and death of our Lord Jesus Christ (in Passion Week), we must realize the situation in which he stood at the time. The great miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead, prepared the people for the events which followed. We will consider therefore I. Who it was that spoke the words in the text. 1. What he seemed to be. Phil. ii. 7. Mark vi. 3. Isaiah liii. 2, 3. 2. What he was in reality. John i. 1-3, 11, 14. Luke iii. 21, 22. Matt. xvii. 1-5. 2 Peter 1. 16-18. II. The effect produced by the voice that spoke. 1. The effect at that time. John xi. 44, 45; xii. 10, 11. 2. The effect of the same voice before. Eph. iii. 9. Genesis i. 3, 26, 27. APPLICATION.-The effect of the same voice hereafter. John v. 28, 29. Matt. xxv. 34, 41. It may be heard now. Matt. xi. 28. Rom. iii. 23-26. Warning. Heb. xii. 25-29. Rev. iii. 20. QUESTION. I shall certainly hear the voice of Him who raised Lazarus from the dead-Will that voice call me to "the Resurrection of life," or to the "Resurrection of damnation?" Questions for self-examination upon this Sermon. 1. When I think of Christ, do I give him His due honour as the Son of God? 2. Do I profit by the proofs of His Divinity given at His Baptism, and on the mount of transfiguration ? 3. Am I convinced that I myself and all things were created by Jesus Christ? 4. Does my knowledge and belief of the raising of Lazarus from the dead, help to assure me of the power of the voice of Jesus to raise the dead hereafter? 5. How often, in the last week, have I remembered that I shall certainly hear the voice of Jesus Christ calling the dead out of their graves? 6. Have I heard the voice of His Holy Spirit calling me to repentance? (Acts iii. 19-23.) 7. Does the expectation of hearing Christ's voice hereafter have its due effect in alarming me from sin now? 8. Does the mercy shewn in His tender voice of pardon now, draw me from the love of sin? I must be satisfied on these points before I can take comfort in answering the question in applying this Sermon. TEXT PAPERS. No. XXXI. TEXT-John i. 40-42. "One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. THE belief of the Gospel takes its root in the heart, works by simple means, and through our affections extends to others. This is shown by the circumstances of the text. John's preaching. Matt. iii. 1-3, 11, 12.-The Lamb of God. 1 Cor. v. 7. 1 Peter i. 19. The Dan. ix. 26. 1 Cor. i. 21—24. II. The affectionate desire to BRING others to JESUS. When taught of God we bring others to Christ. Ps. li. 12, 13. John iv. 29. Rev. xxii. 17. Mark v. 19, 20. Our relations. Rom. ix. 3. 1 Cor. vii. 16. 1 Pet. iii. 1. Mark x. 13, 14. Luke xvi. 27. QUESTIONS-Have we found the Christ as our Saviour, in simple faith? Do we talk about Him, and His salvation, simply and sincerely, to bring those to Him who are around us? 127 TEXT PAPERS. No. XXXII. "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for their's is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." (See Text Paper No. 27, page 92.) Having considered the seven points of personal character, we come now to the external effect produced by it. This must be divided into two parts. 1. The testimony of persecution to Christ's BLESSED ONES. 2. The BLESSING promised in connexion with it. FIRST. A Testimony to the BLESSED ONES-They are persecuted for righteousness' sake. I. What is it to persecute for righteousness' sake? 1. To pursue any one with ill will for doing what God approves. Psalm xxxv. 19, 20; xxxviii. 20. To think evil of them UNTRULY. Isaiah v. 20. John xvi. 2. To speak. 1 Pet. iii. 16. Psalm xxxi. 18. Jude 10. To do. Acts vii. 57-59; ix. 1. II. Why are they persecuted for righteousness' sake? 1. Because they are different from the world, 1 John ii. 15, 16. John xvii. 6, 9, 14-16; having been like the world. 1 Peter iv. 3, 4. 2 Cor. v. 17. 2. The change makes union with the world impossible, Acts xxvi. 18. 2 Cor. vi. 14-17. Matt. vi. 24. James iv. 4; and condemns the world, 1 John v. 19; who become offended. John xv. 19. 2 Tim. iii. 12. Thus persecution becomes testimony of difference. Luke xxi. 12, 13. Phil. i. 28. QUESTIONS-When any evil has been spoken or done against me, has it been falsely? Am I so plainly on the side of Christ that I may believe my enemies to be His? If not, what testimony have I that I am one of Christ's BLESSED ONES? SECOND. The BLESSING promised in connexion with persecution for righteousness' sake. I. Persecution is permitted for trial. 1 Peter i. 6, 7. 1. To detect false professors. Matt. xii. 20, 21. 1 Cor. xi. 18, 19. 2. To establish true ones. 1 Peter iv. 12. James i. 2, 3. Psalm lxvi. 10-12. Heb. xii. 10, 11. II. The BLESSING is given for support under it. 1. Their's is the kingdom of heaven. James i. 12. Acts xiv. 22. Luke xii. 32. Rev. ii. 9-11. 2. Rejoice and be exceeding glad. 1 Peter iv. 13, 14. 2 Cor. xii. 9, 10. Rom. viii. 35–39. 3. Great is the reward in heaven. Mark x. 29, 30. 2 Cor. iv. 17. Rom. viii. 16-18. Rev. vii. 14—17. QUESTIONS.-Am I very glad when I am ill-used, plainly for religion's sake? or does the distress of being ill-treated, or persecuted without a cause, overcome the joy I ought to feel? If it does, why do I expect the reward of Christ's BLESSED ONES? THE PASTOR'S REMEMBRANCER. "Give your diligence, well-beloved brethren, together with me, so that the dignity and majesty of the order of priests, being fallen in decay, may not only be restored again, but that, first and principally, the true and pure worshipping of God may be restored; and that as many souls are committed to my faith and yours, they may, by our wholesome doctrine and cleanness of conversation, be moved unto the true study of perfect charity, and called back from all error and ignorance; and finally to be reduced and brought unto the high bishop and pastor of souls, Jesus Christ; and to the intent ye may more easily perform the same, I have, according to the talent and gift given me of the Lord, collected and gathered out of God's holy word, a few articles, which, I trust, will much profit and do you good. And if anything shall be now wanting or lacking, I trust, by the help of your prayers and good counsel, they shall be shortly hereafter performed. "Let every one of you, therefore, take good heed to approve yourselves faithful and wise ministers of Christ. So that, when I shall come to visit the parishioners committed to my cure, and come from God and the king's majesty, ye be able not only to make answer unto me in that behalf, but also unto our Lord Jesus Christ, Judge both of quick and dead, and a very strait revenger of his church. Thus fare you well unto the day of my coming unto you." The following are amongst the Articles. "I. That none do teach any manner of things to be necessary for the salvation of man, other than what is contained in the books of God's holy word. "IV. That they teach that the church of God is the congregation of the faithful, wherein the word of God is truly preached, and the sacraments truly administered, according to the institution of Christ: and that the church of God is not by God's word taken for the multitude or company of men, as of bishops, priests, and such other; but that it is the company of all men hearing God's word, and obeying the same; lest that any man should be seduced, believing himself to be bound unto an ordinary succession of bishops and priests, but only unto the word of God, and the right use of the sacraments. "V. That although the true church cannot err from the faith, yet, nevertheless, forasmuch as no man is free from sin and lies, there is not, nor can be, any church known, be it ever so perfect or holy, but it may err." Bishop Hooper. Articles and monitory letter to his clergy, 1551. THE PASTOR'S ASSISTANT. MAY 1, 1843. PART FIRST. www. SUGGESTIONS FOR THE PASTOR IN HIS STUDY. PASTORAL COMPLETENESS. No. III. THE next classification which has been suggested, in order to ascertain the full extent of the ministerial wants of a parish, and the means which may be suitable to meet them, is one as regards age. (See page 34.) Here again general distinctions will not be sufficient; and little or nothing will be gained in the Pastor's mind by a division of his people into old and young. Almost as much tact will be required in suiting the means of instruction to the degrees of age, as in the adaptation to varieties of station; and that too very much for the same reason: the imperceptible operation of pride, through the infirmity of fallen nature, interposes many an obstacle to receiving the advantage of certain means of instruction from the minister, because of their distinct primary arrangement for those of an age different from that of the person in whose mind the hindrance arises; and oftentimes this is the secret reason why the ostensible objection openly urged is so overweighted power as to counterbalance the acknowledged advantages which might be derived from attending. Nothing requires more tenderness of touch than the management of schools and classes in its VOL. II.-NO. XVII. K |