holder, and trampled his authority under their feet. No wonder that he was roused, by wrath and justice, to dreadful acts of vengeance.

VII. THOSE WICKED MEN NOT ONLY SLEW THE SON; BUT SEIZED THE

VINEYARD AS THEIR OWN.

One sin leads to another; and it is hard to say where a sinner will make a stand. The Jewish rulers, after the death of Jesus, set themselves up as the sole proprietors of the Lord's inheritance. They claimed all the fruits of the vineyard, and lived on the offerings and the adulations of the people.

Thus wicked kings imagine that the world was made for them; and wicked priests would needs persuade us that the church was formed for them. These base usurpers have no eye to the good of men; they seize every thing for themselves, and profanely rob both God and men of their just rights.

VIII. AT LENGTH THE LORD OF THE VINEYARD COMETH TO PUNISH THE WICKED HUSBANDMEN, AND TO LET OUT HIS VINEYARD TO OTHERS, WHICH SHALL RENDER HIM THE FRUITS IN THEIR SEASONS.

The Householder came in his wrath, when Jerusalem was destroyed by the Roman armies; and then the wicked husbandmen either perished in the siege, or were led away into captivity. The sword of the Romans was the sword of the Lord; and their armies were the instruments of his vengeance. But in the last day, those wicked men, and all whe have followed their example, will be punished with everlasting destruction. Who can stand before the Lord when he ariseth in judgment? Let wicked rulers take warning; and let them hear and fear before it be too late.

The Jewish nation lost its peculiarity and its high privileges when the wicked husbandmen were cast out of the vineyard. The people had sinned with their rulers, and with them they were justly punished. God cast them off in his anger; and they are now a proverb of reproach in all the earth.

But the believing Gentiles were chosen in their stead; and the Gentile church is now the vineyard of the Lord. This church is hedged round about, and enjoys many glorious privileges. And, what is best of all, true believers are "filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God." Phil. i, 11.

Some professing churches, with their rulers, have sadly abused their Christian privileges; others have improved them to the glory of God; but all must give an account of themselves in the day of the Lord. Let us be thankful to God for his great goodness to us; and let us improve his gifts and grace. Then, when he cometh to judge the nations, we shall meet him with joy and gladness. Amen

SERMON CX.

RESURRECTION OF BELIEVERS.

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God. COLOSSIANS ii, 1.

ALL unconverted men are dead in trespasses and sins. In this awful state they have no spiritual union with God; no relish for divine enjoyments; and no hope of eternal life. The state of true believers is widely different: they have been quickened by the Holy Spirit; they have fellowship with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ; and they have a clear title to those things which are above. Hence we can address them in the words of the apostle Paul to the Colossians, "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven all your trespasses. Jesus was baptized in the river Jordan; but he rose up out of the water. He was buried in the grave; but he rose from the dead. Now if ye be risen with him, seek those things which are above, where he sitteth at the right hand of God.

I. CHRISTIAN BELIEVERS ARE RISEN WITH CHRIST.

This proposition contains two parts: first, Jesus is risen from the dead; and, secondly, believers are risen with him.

The death of Jesus is affirmed by the Evangelists. This is an important fact in this argument, because if he did not really die, it would be trifling to argue on his resurrection. Matthew informs us that "he cried with a loud voice, and yielded up the Ghost." Mark says, "Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the Ghost." Luke observes, that, "when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. And having said thus, he gave up the Ghost." And John affirms, that "he bowed his head, and gave up the Ghost."

When Jesus was dead, his body was laid in the sepulchre, and means were used by his enemies to keep it there; but it was not in their power, nor in the power of any created being, to detain him in the grave. They recollected "that he said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again;" therefore they requested a watch to guard the body, lest it should be stolen away; and Pilate gave orders to make it as sure as they could. "So they went and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch."

But every attempt of his enemies, to prevent his resurrection, was baffled and confounded. "There was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow. And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men." Men are valiant when they contend with men.

The Roman soldiers were noted for their bravery; but they trembled when the angel of the Lord came down.

Jesus showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs. He was seen of his disciples forty days; and spake to them of things pertaining to the kingdom of God. They could not be deceived in those appearances, for they knew his person, his voice was well known to them, and his manner of speaking was quite familiar to every individual. Besides, they were not credulous. At first they rejected the story of the women concerning his being risen from the dead; and one of them would not believe without the most circumstantial proofs of his resurrection. In short, they saw him often; they conversed with him; they handled his body; they ate and drank with him; and they saw him ascend into heaven.

The disciples could not be deceived in these things; and they had no design to deceive the world. They were plain honest men; they told a plain unvarnished tale; they were all of one mind; their testimony exposed them to dangers, toils, and death; the whole world was opposed to them; and they sealed the truth with their blood. Thus the resurrection of our Lord, on which the whole of Christianity stands, is supported by such proofs, that the man who denies it, after a careful examination, is either insane or hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

All true believers are risen with Christ. Man enjoyed spiritual life when God created him; but that life was lost when he transgressed the Divine law. And all his children, down to the present day, are born in this state of spiritual death. This death is dark and gloomy, wretched and miserable, shameful and disgraceful, and a state of fearful apprehensions and alarming terrors.

But the dead in sin hear the voice of the Son of God; and when they obey that voice, they are brought into spiritual life. He calls on them to repent and believe, and when they hearken to his call, he gives them power to renounce sin, and to close in with his offers of mercy and salvation. Thus they rise into spiritual life; and rejoice in God their Saviour.

This blessed change is fitly called a new birth, a new creation, and a resurrection; and it is as much the work of God, though in concurrence with the will of man, as the creation of the world, or the resurrection of the dead. But God works on moral agents by proper means. It will be allowed that He cleansed Naaman of his leprosy, and that Jesus opened the eyes of a man who was born blind; but the one was required to wash seven times in Jordan, and the other to wash in the pool of Siloam. 2 Kings v, 10; John ix, 7.

When we experience this change of heart, we are begotten again to a "lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." 1 Pet. i, 3. This well-grounded hope has for its object a glorious immortality, and "an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away." Verse 4. God is then our Father; the saints are our brethren; angels are our servants; and heaven is our home. But are we risen with Christ? Then we are saved from sin; Jesus is precious to our souls; and we are holy both in heart and life.

II. BEING RISEN WITH CHRIST, WE SHOULD SEEK THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE ABOVE, WHERE CHRIST SITTETH AT THE Right hand of God.

Here we have three important subjects of meditation: first, the exaltation of Christ; secondly, those things which are above; and, thirdly, our duty in seeking those things.

Christ our Lord is highly exalted. He sitteth at the right hand of God. This was predicted of the Messiah by David: "The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." Ps. cx, 1. But what is meant by sitting at the right hand of God? God is a pure spirit, "without body, parts, or passions;" but his right hand, understood metaphorically, denotes his infinite power and glorious majesty; and to sit at his right hand, is to be invested with power and dominion, and with honour and glory. This view of the subject is encouraging: our Advocate and Intercessor has all power in heaven and in earth, and his glory far exceeds all that we can conceive. Let us pay him honour; trust in him with all our hearts; and look to him in all our weaknesses and wants.

We cannot be at a loss to understand what is meant by the things which are above; because they are said to be in that world where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God. Those things include all the light, all the glory, and all the felicity of the heavenly state. There we shall be completely happy; our companions will be saints and angels; our employment will be praise; and we shall have "fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore." Ps. xvi, 11. Do we believe in the reality of the heavenly state? Do we desire to be there, when it shall please God to call us hence? And are we now preparing for that blessed abode ? These questions should be put to our hearts when we lie down, and when we rise up; when we go out, and when we come in; for when we forget heaven, with all its glories, the world has possession of our hearts.

But we must seek those things which are above. This implies a knowledge of those things, a love for them, and a proper use of means. For we cannot seek what we do not know; we shall not seek what we do not love; and without the means we cannot attain the end. But let us seek in a right way: first, in the name of Jesus; secondly, by the constant exercise of faith and prayer; thirdly, with earnestness and an ardent strife; fourthly, by holy living; and, lastly, by steady perseverence. On this plan, we shall soon find a better world, and be for ever with the Lord. The crown will be given to us; white raiment will be put upon us; palms of victory will be put into our hand; and "God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes." Rev. vii, 17. This is a world of shadows; let us rise above it. That is a world of substantial and agreeable realities; let us raise our affections, and place them on those glories.

The resurrection of Jesus is a subject of infinite importance; and it is of vast importance to know that we are risen with him. Of his resurrection there can be no doubt in the mind of any man who examines the subject with care and candour; and we should be brought into such a state of mind, that we cannot doubt of our resurrection with him, when

we carefully examine our experience by the word of God. And if we believe in his resurrection and intercession at the right hand of God, we should rise above the world; keep heaven in our view; and urge our way forward to the celestial city. There we shall overtake our adorable Saviour; behold him in his glory with ineffable delight; and enjoy him for ever and ever as our God and Saviour.

Let us bless God for the resurrection of Jesus. By that event many prophecies were fulfilled; and an assurance was given that all his undertakings were accepted. And in consequence of his resurrection, let us, who are risen with him, joyfully hope for a resurrection from the dead. His resurrection has been commemorated by the Christian churches from the earliest ages, by the observance of the first day of the week as a holy sabbath, and by the annual festival which is called Easter. We are not partial to the name of this festival, because it is derived from Eostre, the name of a heathen goddess. The Greeks and the Latins called it pascha, from no-a Hebrew word which is applied to the Jewish passover. The Asiatic churches commemorated the resurrection of our Lord on the very day that the Jews observed their passover; others, on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox; and this, after a sharp controversy, which cost many lives, was settled as it now stands by the Council of Nice. But though the Christian churches differed about the time of keeping this festival, yet they all agreed in showing particular respect and honour to the feast; and surely it should be a day of joy and gladness, and of holy triumph, to all who are risen with Christ. To him be glory and praise for ever! Amen.

SERMON CXI.

THE PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS.

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. Mat. xxv, 1.

THIS beautiful parable is taken from the circumstances of a marriage procession. The marriage feast of seven days, among the Jews, was usually kept at the house of the bride's father. At the expiration of those days, the bridegroom conducted his bride to his own house late in the evening, with much ceremony and great pomp; and the procession was usually met by virgins with lighted lamps, who set out early in the evening, not knowing at what hour the bridegroom would come forth. A rich supper was provided for those of them who were prepared to join the procession; but those who were not prepared were shut out. From the foolish thoughtlessness of five virgins on one of those occasions, our Lord points out the necessity of watchfulness, and