"Behold, I will cause breath to enter " into these dry bones, and they shall "live"-live for ever! O joy unutterable! glad tidings to the friends and followers of the conquering Jesus! The earth quakes-the stone is rolled away from the door of the fepulchre-and humanity rises triumphant in the person of its REDEEM ER. For us, and for our Salvation, hath this God-man burst the strong barriers of the grave, passed through the gates of death, and opened the chrystal portals of the World of Light. None of human kind are excepted-all are invited to follow this great Captain of their Salvation-to none is an entrance refused, but to those who wilfully and ungratefully flight the invitation, and prefer the short, fleeting, and unfatisfying pleasures of their earthly and fallen life, to the solid permanent joys of their Redeemed nature. Alas! Alas! we are all, by nature, in as bad a state as "the dry bones of the "valley"-Nothing can deliver us from this state, or reanimate our lifeless forms, but the breath of the Almighty-the same Power that created, can alone redeem--and this redemption can be accomplished in no other way, than the BLESSED JESUS hath exhibited to our view in his own awful process. We must "die unto fin, before we can live unto "righteousness." A deep conviction of the folly, vanity, and guilt of our fallen nature, and a full confidence in the Allfufficiency of Redeming Love to rescue and deliver us, are the two indispenfable requifites for this great work. The holy Heavenly Life and Spirit of the Immaculate Lamb of GOD must be revealed in our hearts : an intimate union and communion must be formed betwixt us and our Life-giving Saviour: we must dwell in CHRIST, and CHRIST in us: we we must be one with CHRIST, and CHRIST with us-and then, and then only, will these "dry bones live," and rife, and reign with their Deliverer for ever. The food of this spiritual life, the real and only nourishment of this newrisen, heaven-born nature within us, is the Body and Blood of our dear Saviour, verily and indeed taken and received by the real Christian at all times, and in all places, but particularly, and, above all, in the Blessed Sacrament of his own institution. To this heavenly banquet, therefore, let us draw nigh with faith, not trusting in our own righteousness, but in the manifold and great mercies of God in CHRIST-A sensibility of our own weakness and unworthiness, is our best preparative for a worthy participation. The Holy, Heavenly, Healing Blood of of CHRIST, is the richest balfam for our wounded hearts! The Master of the feast is even now waiting to bid us welcome to his table. "The Meek " shall eat, and be fatisfied"-they shall seek, and find, and difcern the LORD'S Body there; and their fouls, revived and strengthened by fresh supplies of Divine Light, and Life, and Love, shall flourish, and blossom, and bring forth fruits unto Life Eternal! DISCOURSE |