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CHRIST'S BODY A TEMPLE.

body hast thou prepared me." It was holy: "He did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth." The sun, the most luminous of the heavenly bodies, has spots; but Jesus, the Sun of Righteousness, is without a spot. It was the residence of Deity. His divinity was veiled in his humanity he was "God manifest in the flesh," and appeared "in the likeness of sinful flesh." It was the medium of intercourse between earth and heaven. The way to heaven is not by the law, but by the gospel; not by Mount Sinai, but by the hill of Calvary. Through him we have access to the Father: we enter the holiest of all by his own blood.

Its destruction intimated.-"Destroy this temple." The death of Christ was often foretold. Prophecy announced it, types and sacrifices foreshadowed it, and he himself plainly declared it. "Father, the hour is come." His death was to be a violent one. The Prince of Life must die by the hands of men. Though he voluntarily submitted, he was nevertheless to be slain by crucifixion; a death shameful, painful, and accursed. It was to be sacrificial. He had no sin of his own; yet he was to be made sin for us, and die for our sins according to the Scriptures. It would be glorious in its results. The gospel church was to arise out of it, and through her efforts in diffusing the truth, a multitude would be saved which no man can number. Strange, that the destruction of Christ's body, a seed-time of tears, should produce such a glorious harvest. Strange, that the dead body of the Saviour should contain the germ of a renovated world.

Its restoration predicted." In three days I will raise it up." The agent of this restoration is himself. He who raised the daughter of Jairus, the widow's son at Nain, and Lazarus of Bethany, was to raise up himself. What consciousness of power! The body to be raised was that same body which was to be destroyed; marred and injured with

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thorns, and nails, and spear, he would raise it up; and raise it the first-fruits from the dead, to die no more. He would raise it a spiritual, a glorious, and immortal body, to which the bodies of all risen saints would bear resemblance. He would raise it in three days. He gave them Jonah's imprisonment in the fish's belly as a sign and striking resemblance, and the sign was literally and truly fulfilled.

MARCH 27.

Christians stirred up.

"Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober."— 1 Thess. v. 6.

A DANGEROUS state-our duty to avoid it-our duty to watch-and our duty to be sober, demand our attention.

A dangerous state." Sleep." Those asleep are insensible of their sins; they think not of their number, their aggravations; they do not see them as God sees them. They forget God, and that he can by no means clear the guilty; or, like the foolish Jonah, they may imagine that they can flee from the presence of God, and hide themselves out of his sight. They are insensible of their danger. A storm may be gathering above them, a hidden volcano may be gathering strength beneath them, and the grave may be yawning to receive them; yet, heedless and insensible, they sleep on. This insensibility is blameable. The voice of God's word is uttered, but it is not listened to; conscience speaks, but it is silenced; good men warn and pray, but they are deemed silly enthusiasts.

Our duty to avoid this state.-"Let us not sleep as do others." We ought to be alive to the evil of sin, and allow our sins to find us out, ere it be too late to repent and seek forgiveness. Who would carry a deadly serpent in his bosom, when he might be rid of it? We

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ought to be alive to our own safety. Let this truth be firmly established in our minds, that if we perish, it will be our own fault, and not the fault of Christ. We should be actively engaged in every known duty. The way of duty is the only way of safety, and surely we would not desire death to arrest us when in the paths of sin.

Our duty to watch.-"Let us watch." We must watch against temptation, we must watch the movements of our enemies, and we must watch the approach of death. Christ's coming to us by means of death is certain, may be very near, and may be very unexpected; hence, in order to avoid being taken by surprise, we must live under the covering of blood, and render our minds familiar with the last enemy's approach. Did we suspect some thief coming secretly into our habitation to steal, how watchful, how well prepared would we be to meet him; and shall we not be watchful and prepared for death? Washed with Christ's blood, and clothed with Christ's righteousness, we may look on death, not as an enemy, but a smiling friend.

Our duty to be sober.-" Be sober." Sobriety refers to temporal things. A drunken person is not in a fit state to watch the approach of death, or appear before the bar of Christ; hence drunkenness should not only be avoided, but all the causes that lead to it. Sobriety refers to the mind. The sons and daughters of vanity may be the patrons of the theatre, the ball-room, and the gay party of pleasure; but if so, they cannot be sober-minded. Those who have not religion enough to regulate their temper and govern their passions, should make a strong effort to be sober-minded. Oh that the same mind were in me, which was also in Christ Jesus!

JOYFUL MINISTERS AND PEOPLE.

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MARCH 28.

Joyful Ministers and People.

"As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus."-2 Cor. i. 14.

WHEN do ministers make glad hearers ?-when do hearers make glad ministers ?—and when shall this gladness be fully realized?

When do ministers make glad hearers ?-When they instruct them in divine things. "The priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts." As ignorance is the first barrier in the way of religion, ministers should attempt to remove it; and how glad should the people be when they learn their disease, their remedy, and their cure! When they are instrumental in their conversion. "He that winneth souls is wise." Unbelief is the strong citadel in the sinner's heart, which must be stormed by the faithful and earnest preaching of the gospel; and if this preaching arrests the sinner's attention, changes his heart, and leads him to the peace and pardon of the gospel, what gladness, what rejoicing! When they comfort the distressed. "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people." A word in season to him that is weary, how good is it? It cheers the sorrowing, strengthens the weak, confirms the wavering, and brings the bliss of heaven into the soul.

When do hearers make glad ministers ?-When they believe and profess the gospel. "My brethren, dearly beloved and longed for; my joy and crown." How glad must Peter have been when he had three thousand seals of his ministry in one day! How glad must Paul have been when, through his ministry, great numbers believed and turned to the Lord! When they grow in grace under

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the gospel. How cheering to the minister when he sees his people growing in knowledge, increasing in faith, expanding in love, and ripening for heaven! When they bring forth the fruits of righteousness. When the members of the church are conscientious, prayerful, liberal, and zealous, they enjoy much comfort themselves, their influence tells on the ungodly around them, and their teacher's hands are held up, and his heart encouraged.

When shall this gladness be fully realized ?-"In the day of the Lord Jesus." Christ is coming; the day is fixed, though not known; his coming will be glorious, and big with importance to all. What a day of wonders! what disclosures! what solemn reckoning! Ministers and hearers shall meet face to face in the presence of Christ. If their mutual confidence, mutual love, and mutual improvement meet the Judge's approbation, what joyful recognitions! what hearty congratulations! Ministers expect to be gladdened by seeing many seals of their ministry on the right hand of Christ. "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?" Happy day, when "they that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars for ever and ever!"

MARCH 29.

The Desirable Sight.

"Sir, we would see Jesus."-John, xii. 21.

WHO are they that wish to see Jesus?-where is Jesus to be seen what makes a sight of him desirable ?—what will a sight of him produce?

Who are they that wish to see Jesus?-Those that have a sense of sin. Whether the Greeks, who were Jewish

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