144 Practical consequences penitence and faith are absolved; by Him the heavenly life within us is fed with the Body and Blood of CHRIST; but all these things are done by the ministrations of the Church. (2.) Knowing this doctrine, we understand why it is that so many and so great things are said both in the Old and New Testaments about the Church. It is signified in the Psalms and Prophets by Sion, Jerusalem, the City of David, the House of Jacob, and other like names: the Psalms and the Prophets are full of exultation at the greatness of Jerusalem, the glory which shall be revealed in GoD's own time, the triumph of the Church at the end of the world. That the Church is signified by these names, and that therefore these promises belong to it, is plain from that which is said by S. Paul to the Hebrews; "Ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the City of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and Church of the first-born, which are written in heaven"." So in the Revelations, "He shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of Heaven from GoD, having the glory of GoD:" "and the wall of "Heb. xii. 22, 23. * Rev. xxi. 10. and value of this doctrine. 145 that city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamby." Compare this with S. Paul's words to the Ephesians, "Ye are-of the household of GOD: and are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, JESUS CHRIST Himself being the chief corner stone,-in Whom ye are builded together for an habitation of God through the SPIRIT." So again, from this doctrine we can understand why, according to our LORD's word, it is a heavy sin if a man "neglect to hear the Church" why such great things are said of the love which CHRIST bears to the Church: why this same Society is called "the pillar and ground of the truth." The HOLY GHOST is in it, and His promises are unfailing: no one who sought after the truth in it, in such a way as GOD approves, was ever deceived, nor ever will be. (3.) Knowing this doctrine, we are guarded against being perplexed at the number of different sects into which Christendom is divided. "An enemy hath done this." It is not surprising, surely, that, since there is one Society y Rev. xxi. 14. * S. Matt. xviii. 17. - Eph. ii. 20, 22. L in which the HOLY GHOST dwells, the Devil should do all he can to draw men away from it, and to spread corruption of doctrine and unbelief and looseness of life within the Church itself. Neither is it surprising that God should suffer it to be so: He has foretold to us that it would be so, and evil though it be, it is not unmixed evil. For thereby we are drawn, as those whose hope is unfulfilled, to look earnestly for the end of the world, when the Church will be "glorious, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing,-holy and without blemish." We are led by a gentle compulsion, both in preparation for that day, and for guidance in all troubles, to do with more entire devotion the whole will of God, for He has promised that "if any man will do His will he shall know of the doctrine;" and to be meek and gentle, for He has promised "them that are meek shall He guide in judgment: and such as are gentle, them shall He learn His way." We are taught, by very hopelessness and disappointments and achings of the heart (if it be so), to give Him all the heart we have, to love Him with a love more pure and c S. Matt. xxiv. 12. e S. John vii. 17. d Eph. v. 27. f Ps. xxv. 8. at Church imperfections. 147 exalted and worthy of Himself: and all the while we may hear a song of unspeakable comfort, sounding louder (if we will but listen for it) when perplexities are most bewildering and troubles hardest to bear,-"All things work together for good to them that love God." SERMON X. THE SUPERNATURAL PRIVILEGES OF THE CHURCH. PSALM xlviii. 12, 13. Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof. Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following. THE Christian Church, the Society which our LORD founded, is signified by "Zion:" and by the "towers," and "bulwarks," and "palaces," we may understand those blessings belonging to it, which make it strong against the Devil and his angels, and like a very palace to those who dwell in it, that is, to those who live as GOD expects Christians to live. In other words, these verses speak of the privileges of the Church; the advantages which it has to give to all its members, such as no other society in the world either has or can have. These are |