does not look on the world, nor love it, nor listen to it; it has no power over his body, or his heart. So if I die unto sin, it will have no power over my body, or my heart. What does the life of righteousness mean? It means two things. 1st. Having the life, or Spirit of Christ, in my soul. (1 John v. 11. Gal. ii. 20.) 2nd. Manifesting this life of Christ in my temper and conduct. (Rom. vi. 4. xiii. 14.) This union with Christ, and its effects, is simply and beautifully illustrated by our Lord, so that a child may understand it, under the figure of a vine and its branches. (John xv.) Remember, unless there is a spiritual resurrection of the soul, there can be no joyful resurrection of the body. How long did Jesus remain on earth after his resurrection? See here a proof that Christ's love for his people was still the same; he could forego the joys of heaven forty days, for their sakes. What did he then do? "He ascended into heaven." Where do we find his ascension foretold? In Psalm lxviii. 18. This Scripture is applied to Christ by St. Paul, in Eph. iv. 8-10. By whom was his ascension witnessed? By men and angels. (Acts i. 9-11.) What was his last act on earth? Blessing his disciples. (Luke xxiv. 51.) How did Jesus enter heaven? With great triumph; as the Conqueror over sin, death, and Satan. (Ps. xxiv. 7, 8.) Why did the Saviour leave his disciples, and go to heaven? 1st. That he might send them the Holy Spirit, to be their Guide and Comforter on earth. (John xvi. 7.) 2nd. That he might prepare a place for them in heaven. (John xiv. 2.) Where is Jesus now? He "sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty." What is meant by this? That Christ is exalted to the place of highest honour and greatest dominion in heaven. (Eph. i. 20, 21. 1 Peter iii. 22.) Was this exaltation of Christ foretold? Yes, in Psalm cx. 1. The angels stand round about the throne: to sit at God's right hand is an honour given only to the Son of God. (Heb. i. 3, 13.) Now, that Jesus is "a King and a Priest upon his throne," what does he do for his people? He intercedes for them, and pleads their cause. (1 John ii. 1.) It comforts the hearts of God's people to know that Jesus has entered into heaven "to appear in the presence of God for us." (Heb. ix. 24. Rom. viii. 34.) If, then, I say that I believe Jesus "ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God," how should it rule my heart and my life? 1st. I should seek to follow my Saviour up to heaven, there to dwell with him in spirit now, that hereafter I may live with him for ever in glory. (Col. iii. 1. John xvii. 24.) 2nd. I should trust in the merits and intercession of Jesus, for an answer to all my prayers. (Heb. iv. 14—16. x. 19—22.) We shall never be able to find real happiness in this world of sin and death. Heaven is the only happy place, for Jesus is there; and if Jesus is our Saviour, heaven will be our home. Will Jesus come again? Yes. (Acts i. 11.) Whence will he come? From heaven. For what purpose? "To judge the quick and the dead." (Jude 14. 15.) Who are meant by "the quick"? Those who are alive at his coming. How will Christ come? With power, and great glory. (Matt. xxv. 31.) Do we know the time when he will come? 66 No; he will come as a thief in the night;" that is, suddenly. (Matt. xxiv. 42. 1 Thess. v. 6.) Can we be quite sure Jesus will come again? Yes; he has promised to do so many times, in the Bible; and his last message to his people given through the beloved disciple was, "Surely I come quickly." (Rev. xxii. 20.) Will the day of Christ's coming be one of joy, or sorrow? It will be a day of great joy to his people, who love him; and of great sorrow to the wicked, and all who love him not. Why will it be a day of joy to his people? Because they will see Jesus, and be "for ever with the Lord." (1 Thess. iv. 17. Ps. xvi. 11.) Why will it be a day of sorrow to the wicked? Because "they will be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord." (2 Thess. i. 8, 9.) If, then, I say that I believe "Jesus will come again to judge the quick and the dead," how should it rule my heart and my life? 1st. I should think very often of the coming of my Saviour. (Tit. ii. 13.) 2nd. I should seek to be always prepared to welcome him with joy. (1 John iii. 2, 3. ii. 28.) AN INTERESTING FACT. Ar the last meeting in connection with the schools of Tottenham Court Chapel, London, the company was much interested by the presence of an old Sailor, who is doubtless one of the oldest Sunday Scholars in England. He produced a Bible on the occasion, the fly leaf of which contained a narrative, of which the following is a copy: "This Bible was presented to me by Mr. Raikes, at the town of Hertford, January 1st, 1781, as a reward for my punctual attendance at the Sunday-school, and good behaviour when there. And after being my companion for fifty-three years-forty-one I spent in the sea service, during which time I was in forty-one engagements, received thirteen wounds, was three times shipwrecked, once burnt out, twice capsized in a boat, and had fevers of different sorts fifteen times-this Bible was my consolation; and was newly bound for me by James Bishop, of Edinburgh, on the 26th day of October, 1834, the day I completed the 60th year of my age. "As witness my hand, James Beach North. "N. B.-During the whole time, but one leaf is lost, the last of Ezra and the beginning of Nehemiah. "I gave it to my son, James Beach, on the 1st of January, 1841, aged five years; after being in my possession sixty years, and he being able, by the grace of God, to read it at that age. And may the Lord bless it to him, and make him wise to salvation. John B. North.," Mr. North was master in the Navy; and, it is believed, now lives on half-pay. REMARKS. 1. Learn to make the Bible your constant companion. 2. When used aright, it will be a consolation to you. 3. Take care of the Bible to keep it undamaged. 4. Transmit it to your children, if any, and they will reverence it as having been yours. 5. Thank God for the usefulness of Mr. Raikes. 6. Let every Sunday-scholar strive to merit such a reward. 7. Let us be thankful for the contrast as it respects the circulation of Bibles in 1781 and 1841 8. May every person in the world have a Bible, and be able rightly to use it. 6. He who wrote these remarks has in his possession a Bible, printed in 1699, clean and perfect, though much used. 10. 2 Tim. iii. 16. SUNDAY-SCHOOL HYMN. Let thy Spirit, Lord, descending, Let thy presence go before us, Oh! thou good and gracious Father, Feed us in thy verdant meadows, Till, beyond the vale of shadows, THE COMFORTER. THE loveliest things that God hath wrought To make our dwelling fair, Are fragments of a heavenly tongue, And earnest meaning bear The dove that lifts its snowy wing, The waters gushing from their fount The dew upon the open flower, The wind that hath a giant's strength Are types, O holy Comforter! And yet no symbol can be read And when our spirits wakened are, We wait, in brighter worlds to learn Yet, till the veil is rent aside O Comforter! through all our paths, So shall we watch thy kindling light, Thirst for thy dews, so bright and pure, Like blossoms desolate. Dwell with us, for the earth is dim Our souls are dark withinDwell with us, and we shall be bold To strive with every sin. Leave us, and all our words are cold Our hearts are colder still We bow to Christ, we call him Lord, We cannot do his will. THE AUTHOR OF "THE CHILD'S BOOK OF HOMILIES." |