sors. The ministers of the Old Testament had their appointed season to fulfil, when their breath went out never more to return, just as the ministers of Christ, under the New Testament, are called hence, one after another, after fulfilling the duties of their sacred office.

But here, my brethren, our attention is directed to the Great High Priest, of whom Aaron was only a faint type: this is a priest after the order of Melchisedec, and whose office is to continue for ever;whose sacrifice is perfect, every way suf ficient for the expiation of sin, and whose intercession is all prevalent and perpetual. As the High Priest under the law did, once in the year, offer a sacrifice for the sins of the people, and with the blood thereof enter into the Holy of Holies ; so the Messiah did, by the one oblation of himself once offered, enter into the holy place not made with hands, eternal in the heavens, and there he presents before his Father's throne the sacrifice he offered, and his blood that was shed for the sins of the world. This is the powerfully efficacious plea that he urges in behalf of those who come unto God by him. He

is an advocate whose suit can never fail of success. We are therefore to hear him and depend on him as the only High Priest over the House of God, whose atonement and intercession can alone avail to the salvation of our souls.

Let us, fellow Christians, renounce all confidence in ourselves, in our own righteousness and good works, and rely wholly on the meritorious righteousness and powerful intercession of Jesus Christ, for the pardon of our sins, and peace with God, and for the hope of eternal life. Let us lay aside all boasting, and count ourselves eternal debtors to the Great Surety of the new covenant, seeking for acceptance of our persons and performances through him, knowing that it is through him only that God will declare himself well pleased. Let each of us pray, "Lord, look not upon us as we are "in ourselves; but look upon us as in "the face of thine Anointed, and hear that "blessed advocate in our behalf, who ma"keth intercession for transgressors, and "whose blood cleanseth from all sin."

In the third place, The duty enjoined in the text includes in it, that we hear Christ

and submit to him as our King, our Sovereign Lord and Lawgiver.

He is pointed out from the cloud on Mount Tabor, as that King who is to reign in righteousness, who was typified by David, and to whom, as was declared by the angel at his conception, the "Lord "God should give the throne of his fa❝ther David, who should reign over the “house of Jacob for ever, and of whose kingdom there should be no end." Him we are here directed, yea commanded to hear and obey.

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We must therefore cast off the works of sin and Satan, and take upon us the yoke of this great Lord and King, who is every way worthy of our highest homage and respect, whose service is our highest honour, and whose laws are the most perfect liberty. We are no more to be governed by the evil inclinations and corrupt desires of our own hearts; nor are we to suffer ourselves to be swayed by the sinful customs and vicious excesses of this earth; but must be determined to be governed by his laws, and directed by his example, fighting under his banners against the devil, the world and

the flesh, and all the enemies of our immortal souls; being at the same time entirely resigned to all the dispensations of his Providence, assured that he knows infinitely better what is good for us than we ourselves can do, and that he will make the “light afflictions of the present

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life, which are but for a moment, work "out for us a far more exceeding and e"ternal weight of glory." Surely it well becometh us, his subjects, to follow him in the path which he himself hath trodden, however rugged or difficult it may appear; remembering that we are enlisted under his banners, bound to obey his commands, and to conform ourselves to his example. In this way alone can we testify our regard to him, and our cordial subjection to his authority. In this way alone can we hope to be ever with the Lord, and to share in the honours which he hath provided, and promised to confer on all his faithful servants.

You see then, my friends, that if you would hear Christ, you must receive him, and believe in him as your Prophet sent and authorised to instruct you in the will of God for your salvation ; that you must

embrace him, and trust in him, as your Priest, to atone for your sins; and that you must submit to him as your King, yielding yourselves up to him a willing people in the day of his power.

Let me now, secondly, deduce those practical improvements which are inplied in this duty of hearing Christ, so immediately connected in the passage now considered with the high and honourable testimony the Almighty thus publicly gave of him, as his beloved Son.

First, This teaches us, that the legal dispensation was now at an end, that the gospel kingdom was to begin, and Jesus Christ to be the universal Teacher, Lawgiver, and Head of the Christian Church.

Moses and Elias, who represented the former dispensation, appeared in the character of Old Testament prophets, when Christ was transfigured; but you must observe, that before the voice was issued forth, a cloud overshadowed them, and when that voice had ceased, the disciples, on lifting up their eyes, saw no man save Jesus only. At the time of Christ's baptism, such a voice from heaven was heard