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Jesus, and others "remain unto this present," evincing by their holy and consistent lives the genuineness of their religious experience. In Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Manchester, Halifax, Leeds, Hull, and the populous vicinities which surround those places, and which formed a part of the circuits attached to them in the earlier periods of Mr. Benson's labors, this success was particularly striking; and the fruit of his "preaching and living" has been permanent. Some very extraordinary instances of "the o'erwhelming power of saving grace" which attended his ministry are related on unquestionable authority, and prove that "God was with him of a truth."

2. He was honored in the high esteem and reverence which his piety, talents, and usefulness obtained for him from his brethren in the ministry and from our societies at large. How many thousands of excellent persons are now pouring their grateful blessings on his memory, and following his flight to glory with the exclamation, "My father! my father! the chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof!"

In fine. While the Church above has gained another distinguished addition to its members, the Church on earth has sustained a corresponding loss. Many new lamps must be kindled to supply the loss of this burning and shining light. O that I had his powers of expostulation and appeal! Then would I say to his family, to the congregation here, to the young, Let not Christ have one servant less on account of his death, but many more. You will see his face no more on earth, but you shall see it again. His next appearance will be as a witness for you or against you at the awful tribunal of the Judge of quick and dead.

Let us pray the Lord of the harvest to raise up other learned and able defenders and preachers of the Gospel; long to spare those who are left; to qualify them, by a double portion of the Spirit, for fulfilling the duties of their station. Let ministers especially lay this to heart. The loss which we cannot individually supply, we may, by God's hand upon us, supply collectively. Let us, then, devote ourselves afresh. Let us become harder students, better men, more zealous preachers,

more faithful pastors, brighter ensamples to the flock, more weeping intercessors for the world. If baptized in the room of the dead, we must remember how they believed, testified, lived, suffered. We have the baptism which puts us in their place of profession: let us look for that inward baptism of the Spirit which shall enrich us with their graces. Dying, they gave the sacred standards into our hands: let us never abandon them, but hold them till life's last hour, and then commit them, untarnished, to our successors.

V.

THE CALL, CONDITION, AND PROMISE OF THE

GOSPEL.

BEHOLD, I STAND AT THE DOOR, AND KNOCK: IF ANY MAN HEAR MY VOICE, AND OPEN THE DOOR, I WILL COME IN TO HIM, AND WILL SUP WITH HIM, AND HE WITH ME.-Revelation iii, 20.

THERE are probably very few passages of Holy Scripture which have been more frequently quoted by Christian ministers, or are more familiar to the recollection of every person who has been accustomed to hear or read the word of God, than the one which has just been recited to you as the subject of the following discourse. It is what we sometimes hear called a very common text. But the subjects which it suggests for our meditation are of no ordinary importance. They are, in truth, topics of infinite solemnity and of universal concern. It contains an epitome of the scheme of Christianity; for it describes,

I. The Gospel call: "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock."

II. The Gospel condition: "If any man hear my voice, and open the door."

III. The Gospel promise: "I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches:" what he originally said by his servant John to the lukewarm and fallen Church of Laodicea, and still virtually says, by this standing record of his will, to all who read or hear it. May we be divinely assisted in our endeavors to understand and improve it!

I. The Gospel call is briefly, yet forcibly, stated in these words: "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock."

In the figurative language here employed four important particulars seem to be suggested: namely, that the heart of man may be fitly compared to a house built by God and for God; that from this, his own lawful habitation, he is too often, alas! excluded, his place in it being usurped by sin and Satan; that, though thus excluded, he condescends to seek admission; and that, in this employment, he exercises the kindest and most longsuffering patience toward us.

1. The heart of man may be fitly compared to a house built by God and for God. He that built all things is God. He built this vast and beauteous universe in which we live. He built our bodies, these curious structures which are so "fearfully and wonderfully made." But the masterpiece of God's creative power and skill is the rational soul, made in the image of his own intelligence, spirituality, and immortality. This house is so constructed as to include many noble and magnificent apartments, adapted to the highest and most important purposes; such as perception and memory, understanding and conscience, the will and the affections, by means of which it is rendered capable of receiving and entertaining truth, holiness, and happiness. Yea, it is so formed by the heavenly architect as to be a fit habitation even for himself; the residence of his eternal Spirit; the receptacle of his light, and life, and comfort; the scene which he may honor with his cheering presence, and adorn with all the beauties of moral excellence. As it has every natural capacity requisite for so high a purpose, so was it actually formed for this very end, that it might be the living temple of the living God. All souls are his; made for him, as well as by him. Hence appears the fitness of that beautiful petition which has been put into our lips:

Maker, Saviour of mankind,
Who hast on me bestowed
An immortal soul, designed
To be the house of God:
Come, and now reside in me,
Never, never to remove;

Make me just, and good, like Thee,

And full of power and love.-C. WESLEY.

This is the true dignity of human nature. Then only do we rise to the height of our original destination, when all the faculties of our souls are thus spiritually occupied by the indwelling Deity; when his truth illuminates and enriches our understandings and memories; when his peace gladdens our consciences; when his love fills, and governs, and hallows all our affections; and when the habitual manifestation of his approving presence constitutes our paradise.

2. I have now described things as they should be. The text reminds me, however, of things as they are. Though the heart of man is properly and rightfully the habitation of God, He is, alas! too commonly excluded from it. For Jesus, who is the brightness of the Father's glory, and the express image of his person, here describes himself as standing at the door of sinners, and, in the name and on the behalf of God, requesting admission; which request implies a previous exclusion. Hear, O heaven; and be astonished, O earth! The great and good God has built a spiritual house for his own use and residence; and now he finds it shut and barred against him! He comes to that which is absolutely and most righteously his own; and yet he is not received into it, but obstinately and contemptuously rejected. So fallen is man from his original rectitude; so depraved and perverted from their noblest purpose are the faculties of his unregenerate soul. His understanding is closed against the irradiations of divine truth; his will is opposed to the admission and operation of divine influence; and his affections are all alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance that is in him. His desires are not toward God, nor to the remembrance of his name. To all practical and saving purposes, he is without God in the world.

But, if the heart of the natural man is thus by its own corruption deprived of the presence and blessing of God, is it therefore uninhabited? No, my brethren; this house is never untenanted. It is always occupied, either by its rightful owner, or by some unauthorized rival. In that sad moment VOL. I.-8

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