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passage of a dying hour. "Them that honour him, he will honour." Never will a Christian be more filled with all joy and peace in believing, than when, after a life spent in the duties of his station, and in exemplifying the practical influence of salvation by the cross, as the great principle of vital holiness, he adds his last prayers for the peace of Jerusalem; and is enabled to say to the servants of God around him, with that strong confidence of faith which inspired Joseph in his last hour, "I die; and God will surely visit you."

(1.) The necessity of the gospel is strongly illustrated by the death of Moses. In one particular Moses offended against the law, and is immediately sentenced to exclusion from Canaan. He might not enter himself to enjoy it, nor might he conduct Israel to possess it. Joshua the deliverer, the appointed leader of the armies of God must finish that work which Moses left undone. Even so must our eternal Joshua, that Almighty deliverer, who saves his people from their sins, provide and bestow the salvation which the law could in no wise effect. "Where the law ends there the Saviour begins. We may see the land of promise by the former, but only Jesus the Mediator of the New Testament can bring us into it." While then you endea

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vour to obey the law of God as a rule of life in that ability which his Spirit alone can supply, rely not upon it for justification. Illustrate and practise the duties it marks out; but in your approaches to God, and your plea for acceptance at his hands, rest your hope upon Christ alone, who is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

(2.) The Israelites mourned for Moses thirty days; but God buried him where no man could find his sepulchre even to this day: and we are taught by the connexion of these two incidents the use we should make of the death of faithful and zealous ministers, or members of the Redeemer's church. Well might Israel lament for Moses. The guiding hand, the persuasive tongue, the meek instructor, the holy example, the unslumbering watchman, the unwearied advocate, was called away, and had left them in the wilderness, short of their promised rest. But there was no room for despondency. He who removed one instrument of mercy could provide another. As to his body, that was concealed, lest Satan might tempt the people to worship it and thus commit idolatry against God. Are friends removed from you who have been your helpers in the way of life? Cherish their memory with holy affection, as servants of the Most High God. who shewed unto you the way of salvation; but

remember, that God will provide for the wants of his church. Say not therefore in a desponding sense of your loss, as Thomas said, when Lazarus was taken to his rest, "Let us also go, that we may die with him." Embalm their virtues in your dearest recollections; but beware lest your veneration and sorrow be idolatrous. They were burning and shining lights, and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in their light. The holy flame is extinguished below, only to burn for ever with greater purity and splendour in the courts of the sanctuary above. Friends may die, instructors be removed, but the eternal Jehovah is a Christian's portion. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

SERMON XIV.

THE PASSAGE OF JORDAN.

JOSHUA III. 17.

And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.

Ir is easy to imagine the emotions with which a mariner, after being exposed to all the perils of the deep, in a long and eventful voyage, would reach a port in the immediate neighbourhood of his own land, where, after one more brief passage, he might expect to arrive in safety, and to rest from his toils and dangers, amidst the enjoyments and charities of home.

With kindred feelings, but still more powerfully excited, may we conceive the tribes of Israel to have been agitated, when they turned their backs upon the wilderness, and stood upon

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the brink of Jordan. The angel of the Lord, had led them forth from Egypt with a mighty hand. Their trials had been great, their enemies numerous and warlike. They had marched through a howling desert, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought: but an Almighty arm had defended them; an all-sufficient God had supplied them. The bread they ate, the water they drank, the guide they followed-all were miraculous. They had rebelled, and were chastised. They had repented, and were spared. They had indeed, lost their great leader and lawgiver Moses; but the Spirit of the Lord rested upon his successor Joshua. His spies had returned from Jericho, with reports calculated to cheer and animate the people. Their pilgrimage now drew near to its close. One effort more would enable them to cross the river, and stand within the promised land, bearing testimony to the accomplished engagements, and immutable faithfulness of God.

If our hearts have burned within us while we accompanied them through the wilderness, we shall not withdraw our interest from the miraculous passage of their armies over Jordan. Hitherto the parallel between the marches of Israel, and the spiritual circumstances of Christian life, has been easy and obvious. Nor will it fail us here. The transaction before us

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