which he came to restore us. When the Son of God" bowed his own heavens and came down" to visit the sons of men, he taught them, in a language more overpowering than the loudest rhetoric, the folly of human pride, the wickedness of man's contempt for his brother.

Then see him a humble child, submitting reverently to his parents, attending devoutly upon God, and learn ye children at once the hatefulness of disobedience towards your parents, and the beauty of early piety towards your Maker.

Let us next behold Him, my brethren, though the medium of all grace himself, yet scrupulously using all the means of grace; and though Lord of the Church, yet submitting punctually to all its ordinances. And shall we, infinitely poor compared with Him in holiness or wisdom, either neglect the sacraments or ordinances of the Church of God; or, elated with self-conceit of our spiritual superiority, despise her communion? Has not our Lord and Master set us in this respect an example of fervent, yet sober and humble piety, which it ill-becomes his frail followers to forget?

Lastly, we have considered the temptation of our Lord, and have learnt from it to resist the temptations which may befall ourselves, armed with God's infallible word, and animated by the success of Christ before us. Having overcome

the enemy of our salvation, he has opened the path of victory to all who will follow the steps of his pious example. Under the influence of his Holy Spirit, let us strive to imitate Him in his superiority over appetite, in his heavenly-mindedness, his unostentatious humility, his faith in God's word, and he will make us also partakers of his triumph that we may be able to "withstand in the evil day," and having overcome all our temptations, to inherit that crown of a glorified life in heaven, which our Lord has promised to those who follow sincerely, though imperfectly, his steps upon earth.

G

SERMON VI.

EXAMPLE OF CHRIST.

1 PETER ii. 21.

Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.

IN a previous discourse on these words, we considered the example of our Lord as exhibited to us in the circumstances of his incarnation, in the events of his childhood, in his baptism by St. John, and in his temptation in the wilderness. From this review we learnt several important lessons, which the attentive hearer will not need that I should now repeat. On the present occasion, it is proposed to continue the study of our heavenly pattern; and may God give us grace to discern the "comeliness and beauty" of His example, who was once, through a woeful blindness of heart, "despised and rejected of men," although his character was infinitely "fairer than that of any of the children of men."

No sooner was the temptation in the wilder

ness brought to a close, than our blessed Lord entered upon the active discharge of that work which he had undertaken to perform for the salvation of us men. From that time he began to preach," and to confirm his preaching by the stupendous miracles, which he wrought daily and hourly. Compared with the common practice of men, our Lord's entrance upon his work may be considered as late. For this delay there are many peculiar reasons which might easily be alleged; and many others, doubtless, with which we are unacquainted. But may we not also learn, from this circumstance, the strict propriety, in every respect, of our Redeemer's conduct? He did not enter upon his ministry until he was of the age, of thirty years, required by the law "for the work of the tabernacle of the congregation." Nor did he then commence his office, without such a calling as should invest him with full authority to discharge it. He had been declared in prophecy, to be "a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec;" yea, to be the only "begotten Son of God;" and this title he was prepared to establish by the most overpowering evidence. Still the Son of God, who had been so long before, "called of God, an high priest after the order of Melchisedec," did not enter upon his ministry, until, at his baptism, he was conspicuously marked out and formally appointed by God himself, when "the heaven