only to his formal advent, if we may so call his public entry into Jerusalem, but to his actual coming in the flesh.

Thus did the Captain of our salvation go forth, "conquering and to conquer";" "not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts"." And what were the enemies to be subdued by Him? Not the Romans, as the carnal-minded Jew did hope; but the corruptions and the sins of men. He came that He might redeem "unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works"." He came to set up a kingdom which should not be destroyed, and whose inhabitants should learn righteousness'." He came, that "the kingdoms of this world" should "become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ"." And those his enemies who would not that He should reign over them," He shall "break with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessely."

Does not, then, the all-important question immediately present itself to the heart of each one of us: Have we submitted ourselves to his power? Does our obedience to Him comprise, not the mere service of the lips at those stated periods, when our reputation or public custom demands it; but, the service of our daily life also? Is his authority acknowledged in the heart; and does it thence sway the whole man, "that in all" our thoughts, words,

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and works," we are 66

ever seeking his honour and glory," and ever mortifying those vain imaginations, those worldly and sensual dispositions, which not only war against the soul," but "exalt themselves against the knowledge of "" Christ?

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Blessed are they who are thus “ willing, in the day of his powers." For though He is gone forth, the might with which He was invested, gives the infallible assurance that He will one day come again with victory and then will He "render to

Prayer for the King in the Communion.

a 1 Pet. ii. 11.

b

2 Cor. x. 5.

c Ps. cx. 3.

every man according to his deeds: to them who by patient continuance in welldoing, seek for glory, and honour, and immortality, eternal life; but unto them that are contentious, and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil; but glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good."

SERMON II.

THE THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT.

1 Cor. iv. 1.

Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

THE Collect for this day invites our attention to the object for which the Christian ministry was appointed: namely, that, as John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way before our Lord Jesus Christ at his first coming; so "the ministers and stewards of his mysteries may likewise prepare and make ready his way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; that at his second coming to judge the world, we may be found an acceptable people in his sight."

To accomplish this object, it is incumbent on the ministers of Christ diligently to instruct, admonish, and exhort the people committed to their charge; but the success of their labours depends no less essentially on that help which the Collect implores, and on their respective flocks cooperating with them as "the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God."

Of the necessity of Divine help to the success of the Christian ministry, we might be convinced without any specific proof from the Scriptures: for if it be true in matters of general providence, that "except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it," and "except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain";" so also must his especial aid be necessary in building up the spiritual edifice of Christ's Church. But we have the clear proof of Scripture from the pen of St. Paul, who confirms the truth of this position by his own unequalled experience. "I," he says, "have planted; Apollos watered; but God giveth the increase.

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a Ps. cxxvii. 1.