NOTE.

THE following Sermons have been revised since they were preached, and a few additions to them been made, but no material change. Their local character is retained, the better to convey their practical design.

The Author has made no scruple of availing himself of the works of various commentators; his object being to furnish the best matter he could for his congregation.

1st May, 1841.

SERMON VII.

ROMANS VI. 3, 4 :-" Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."

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SERMON VIII.

ROMANS VI. 3, 4 :-" Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."

177

SERMON IX.

you I

1 COR. XI. 7:--" Now in this that I declare unto
praise you not, that ye come together not for the bet-
ter, but for the worse."

194

SERMON X.

1 COR. v. 7, 8:- "Christ our passover is sacrificed for us; therefore let us keep the feast."

. 215

SERMON XI.

1 COR. X. 16:-" The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ ?"

239

SERMON XII.

1 COR. XI. 28:-"Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup." . 262

SERMON I.

ACTS 1. 26.

The lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven Apostles.

THIS day being marked in our Calendar in memory of St. Matthias, and the service of the Church recording to us his apostleship, it may be expected, perhaps, that a few words should be spoken from this place in relation to him.

The accounts, however, of St. Matthias offer but scanty materials for a discourse of any length; and of such as have come down to us much seems to be involved in uncertainty, and to afford no sure grounds of knowledge respecting him. What would appear on consideration to be fabulous, I shall pass over in silence, and merely give you such particulars as are not doubted, or such as may well be admitted from their probability.

B

We learn, then, from the testimony of that portion of Scripture which was read this morning for the Epistle, that St. Matthias was one of the earliest followers of our Lord. He witnessed his baptism by John. He continued with him constantly from that day forth; and saw the miracles which he wrought, as well as heard the doctrines which he delivered. No doubt, he was near him, with the Apostles and disciples, at the crucifixion. He was one of those to whom our Lord appeared after his resurrection. He witnessed his ascension into heaven. It is supposed, also, that he was one of the seventy originally commissioned to preach him. Considering, therefore, that he had known the Lord Jesus from the first day of his ministry to the last of his remaining upon earth, he was a fit person to be taken into the number of those who were to be the chief testimonies and foundation stones of the Christian Church. This we gather from these two verses, Acts i. 21-22: Wherefore of those men which have companied with

us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection; that is, of every thing relating to our Lord Jesus from his baptism to his resurrection;-a witness therefore of Christianity.

So far, we trace him as a disciple. We now come to his apostleship.

Judas Iscariot was not merely a disciple of our Lord (Luke vi. 13), but an Apostlecalled-chosen-elected by our Lord himself, with eleven others. Notwithstanding his calling and election by our Divine Lord, Judas fell. During his apostleship, and his ministry, (for no doubt Judas was commissioned equally with the other Apostles (Matth. x. 1) to preach, to heal the sick, to cure diseases, and cast out devils), Judas was of a worldly and covetous disposition. He loved money. He fostered the passion. It turned him to a thief-a traitor-and a murderer. Judas, notwith