countenance may soon be dispelled. At any rate they will not last for ever. Look forward to the time when they will certainly be dissipated, and will return no more. Look forward to the time when, in the mansions of unfading bliss and endless glory, thou shalt enjoy uninterrupted communion with thy God and Saviour; where sin and sorrow shall never again intervene to cloud thy mind, or interrupt His countenance; where "thy sun shall no more go down, neither shall thy moon withdraw itself; for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended."

SERMON XV.

CHRIST THE DOOR.

JOHN X. 9.

I am the Door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall have life.

IN teaching the truths and doctrines of Christianity, our Blessed Saviour made great use of comparisons: and these He frequently borrowed from the most common and familiar objects. His reason doubtless was, that He might make His instructions plainer; and by referring the people to things which they did know, might lead them the better to understand things of which they were pre-. viously ignorant.

In this view, an attentive consideration of the comparisons used by our Saviour becomes highly important; and can never be deemed.. unreasonable, even though it should lead to frequent repetitions of the same truths. Such repetitions will not be vain repetitions. It is probable, that there is no comparison used by Christ however common or familiar, but

will throw some additional light on the object which it is intended to explain, and will place it in some new and interesting point of view.

With these remarks, I proceed to consider the comparison set before us in the text. Christ here says, "I am the Door: by me, if We any man enter in, he shall be saved." all know what are the uses and properties of a door; that it is designed either to admit us within the place to which it opens, or to exclude us from it. is one familiar to us. we to understand this plied to Jesus Christ? can He be likened to reason does He call Himself The Door? How can persons enter in by Him? And if they do enter in by Him, how is it certain that they shall be saved? These are questions naturally arising from the comparison here used, to which I proceed to reply.

The comparison used But in what sense are comparison when ap With what propriety a Door? For what

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Let us humbly pray, that the Holy Spirit will enable us to understand, to feel, and to apply the important truths which will thus be brought to our notice.

We enquire,

I. With what propriety Jesus Christ can be likened to a door? We have already observed, that a door, in its general design and use, either admits us to the place to which it

opens, or excludes us from it. Now, the place to which the text alludes, as the whole passage evidently shews, is a sheepfold. Christ is speaking in this chapter of his people under the emblem of a flock. They are His sheep, who fear Him, and know His voice, and follow Him. In the first verse of the chapter, He had spoken of "entering by the door into the sheep fold." In a few verses after, He had said, "I am the door of the sheep," and then, He again says in the text, "I am the door." The door, then, of which He speaks, is the door by which the sheep enter into the fold; that place of rest, shelter, and security, where they are foddered and refreshed, defended from the inclemency of the weather, and protected from ravenous enemies and beasts of prey. Now as to this place or sheep-fold, it clearly represents the Church of Christ; that sacred inclosure within which all His people find refuge, provision, and protection; or as it is often called, in other words, the kingdom of Heaven: that kingdom which Christ has set up in this world; and which is called the kingdom of Heaven, because it is the same kingdom with that which is in Heaven, and because it is the beginning of Heaven in this world. The subjects of this kingdom upon earth are citizens of the Heavenly Jerusalem, The church on earth,

and the church in Heaven, are but two compartments of the same great fold. Within. this fold are safety and security, rest and ease; without are danger and destruction, misery and wretchedness. Within are peace and pardon for the guilty, grace and holiness for perishing sinners; without are wrath and punishment, unholiness and death. Why then do not all sinners seek refuge in this fold, Is there not room and safety and provision for all who enter in? Yes; but they can only enter in where a way is opened for them. This sacred inclosure is fenced and barred, and cannot be entered on every side, or in every part. These bars and fences are the Divine perfections. The majesty and power, the holiness and justice, the truth and faithfulness of God, form the barrier round this fold, through which none can break, and over which, if any presume to climb, they are but thieves and robbers, who will soon be seized and turned out again with double infamy and guilt. other words, in plainer language, sinners cannot of themselves approach the Divine. perfections. They cannot enter into the church of God, that place of peace, safety, and felicity, unless He be first reconciled to them; unless His glorious attributes be appeased; His justice satisfied; His holiness proclaimed; His truth fulfilled. Till this

In