But, to turn your attention more immediately to him: behold him in his humiliation in Bethlehem! While the watchful shepherds were on the plains by night, a band of angels descended from the upper world, bearing themselves upon their golden pinions, while the glory of the Lord shone around: "The angels said, Fear not, for, behold, we bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people; for unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ, the Lord; and this shall be the sign: ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling-clothes, lying in a manger." This announcement made the heavenly host break forth in a song of praise: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." Behold him, when but twelve years of age, sitting in the temple, asking questions and giving answers, to the astonishment of all! Behold him, when engaged in his personal ministry, going from city to city, and from village to village, while every where the people were astonished at his divine and heavenly eloquence, saying, "Never man spake like this man!" See him standing upon the mountain side, raising his hands and his voice, saying, "Come unto me, all ye that labor, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest!" See him in the performance of his stupendous miracles-raising the dead, healing the sick, casting out devils, instructing the ignorant, doing every possible good to the souls and bodies of men!

Do you see him weeping at the grave of Lazarus, or seeking food upon the barren fig tree, or sleeping in the ship, or praying on the mountain? In all these instances you see our "elder brother." Do you see him raising the dead-creating bread to feed the multitude-commanding the winds and the waves to be still, or walking upon the waters of the sea of Galilee? In all these wonderful works you see the footsteps of the mighty God. In the one case you see David's son, and in the other David's

Lord. Well might the admiring apostle say, "Without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory."

Behold him in the garden, agonizing, until his sweat became, as it were, great drops of blood! Hear him crying, "Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass; nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done!" Look away to Calvary! See him bearing his own cross to the place of execution! See the formidable host arrayed against him! Divine justice, with the penalty of the violated law-the priests and Levites-Pilate and the Roman soldiery-all drawn out in battle array; while Jesus, the "Lamb of God," met the host, by receiving the curse of the law in his own body. For three dreadful hours the conflict raged; and, behold, the vail of the temple was rent in twain, from the top to the bottom; the earth quaked, the rocks rent, the graves of many of the saints were opened, and the sun refused to shine. But in that hour, a voice was heard, saying, “IT IS FINISHED. Then Satan, like lightning, fell from his usurped throne; light broke upon our fallen world, and a flood of divine efficacy gushed from Immanuel's side, flowing back to the first transgression, and forward to the end of time, and swelling, on every side, to the utmost limit of human guilt.

But he was taken down from the cross and laid in a sepulchre; the stone at its mouth was sealed; a watch was set; all was fixed to the minds of his enemies, and the disciples were scattered. The powers of darkness seemed to enjoy a short triumph. But on the third morn, as the day began to dawn, "the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it; his countenance was like the lightning, and his raiment white as snow." The keepers became as dead

men; the pale monarch of the tomb could no longer hold his victim: Jesus came back to life-his almighty tread was heard upon the pavement of death-he burst the bands of the grave, and triumphed over it. Then might the inquiry be made, "Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength?" The mighty conqueror answers, "I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save." He showed himself to his disciples; he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve; after that he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once. And after forty days he led them out to Bethany; and as he lifted up his hands to bless them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven out of their sight.

But he will come again at the end of the world, upon the throne of his glory, and before him shall be gathered all nations, when the righteous shall be placed on his right hand, and the wicked on his left; and then he shall say to those on his right, "Come, ye blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." And to those on the left, "Depart, ye cursed, into everlasting punishment, prepared for the devil and his angels." Let us turn aside, and see this great and awful sight, if our feeble faculties can endure the dreadful glory: All men shall be waked from their dusty beds, by the confused noise, and deafening roar of the voice of the archangel and the trump of God. The dead in Christ shall rise first, while the pious living shall be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye; and then the saints of all ages shall be caught up with the Lord in the air; when, with his redeemed, he shall move heavenward in his triumphant chariot:

"Lo! self-moving, it drives on its pathway of cloud," and, as it draws near the Celestial City, the charioteer calls out, in the triumphant language of the Psalmist,

"Lift up your heads, O, ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in." The watchmen upon the walls of the New Jerusalem inquire, "Who is this King of glory?" The answer is: "The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle." Again the charioteer demands an entrance, when the gates of the heavenly city are lifted up, and the everlasting doors fly wide, and all the ransomed of the Lord enter the heavenly country shouting with loud the voices, "Salvation to our God which sitteth upon throne, and unto the LAMB; for he is worthy." While all in heaven exclaim, "Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God, and unto the LAMB, for ever and ever." Then the Lamb will lead them forth to fountains of living water, and they shall be permitted, hand in hand, to career through all the delightful regions of the heavenly country, shouting as they fly, "We are come, we are come!"

The Lord grant that we all may "behold the Lamb," believe on him, receive him, obey him, be sanctified by him, that we may be saved in his eternal kingdom, for ever and ever. Amen.

SERMON XI.,

BY REV. JAMES B. FINLEY.

WOMAN'S GREATNESS.

Is it well

"Is it well with thee? Is it well with thy husband? with the child? And she answered, It is well," 2 Kings iv, 26. THE history of Elisha the prophet is one of great interThat he was a man of God is clearly demonstrated by the miracles which were wrought by him, and the events which he foretold, as narrated in his history given

est.

by divine inspiration. He smites the Jordan with the mantle of Elijah, and its waves are divided; he casts salt into the spring at Jericho, and its waters are healed; he multiplies the widow's oil, and prophesies speedy relief to the famishing Samaritans; and is avenged by the Almighty for the insult cast on him by the children of wicked parents; and, even after his death, his bones quicken into life the dead body of the Moabite.

He was, evidently, called of God, and qualified for the work of a prophet; and in the discharge of this work, he gave evidence of his fidelity. Like his divine Master, he went about doing good-teaching the worship of the true God, in opposition to idolatry. In his journeyings, he often visited Shunam. This city was in the tribe of Issachar, at the foot of Mt. Tabor, at which place there was a school of the prophets. In his way, he passed by where lived a great woman," who was said to be the sister of Abishag, the Shunamite, well known in the history of David. It is this woman whom the prophet addresses in the text.

In considering this historical incident, let us inquire, WHAT CONSTITUTES WOMAN'S TRUE GREATNESS? 1. Woman is great in her relations.

(1.) As a wife. The infinitely wise Jehovah, after he had made man in his own image, and stamped his nature with immortality, and clothed him in the innocence of holiness, saw it was not good for him to be alone. He, therefore, made for him a helpmate; not out of the dust of the earth, but of his own flesh and bone, thereby showing the relation in which she was to be regarded by man. Not out of his head to govern him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him; but from his side, near his heart, to be beloved and cherished as dearly as his own flesh, and that she might cherish and sustain him in the cares and toils of life. And as the current of life flows