Let us keep the feast; but take we good heed to appear thereat as acceptable guests. Observe the Apostle's direction, "Not with the old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." Let every one that nameth the name of Christ, and especially every one that comes to the table of the Lord, depart from iniquity. Let no one presume this day, or at any other time, to draw near to that holy table who is not

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stedfastly purposed to lead a new life, following the commandments of God, and walking from henceforth in his holy ways." God requires also sincerity and truth in the inward parts; formality and hypocrisy are as dangerous to the soul as the grossest iniquities. Shun these therefore, as you would avoid perdition itself. The feast to which you are this day called, is a feast of love. "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, be put away from you, with all malice." This is the old leaven which must be purged out, if you would become a new lump. Let the love

of Christ rule in your hearts, and benevolence and good-will to man prevail there. Thus brethren may it be our happy privilege to draw near, as we have opportunity, to the table of the Lord, with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our minds sprinkled from an evil conscience. Thenceforward may we be better prepared to hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; whilst led by him into his banqueting house, may it be our honour and privilege, to see the King in his beauty, to rejoice in the tokens of his love, and under the light of his countenance, as our Father and our Friend, to enjoy a foretaste of that rest which remains, and catch a glimpse of "the land which is very far off," even that inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, which is reserved in heaven for those who are kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation.

SERMON IV.

THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY GHOST.

Appropriate for Whitsunday.

ACTS II. 32, 33.

This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear.

THESE words were spoken with immediate reference to the extraordinary and miraculous effusion of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, the great event which stands recorded in the opening of the chapter, and which our church commemorates at the season of Whitsuntide.

"Whitsunday," or White Sunday, is generally allowed to have derived its name from an interesting custom which obtained in the primitive church; that of

the catechumens or candidates for baptism appearing, at this season of the year, in white garments. These were, no doubt, intended to characterize that integrity of heart, and purity of principle, which invariably result from the inward and spiritual grace of baptism. And how fervently is it to be wished, that at this season, instead of instead of every where presenting scenes of dissipation, intemperance, and wantonness, were characterized amongst us, by at least that outward propriety and decorum, which becomes a christian community, and the members of a protestant church.

True religion is not opposed to cheerfulness; joy, and gladness ought to be its constant attendants, and if they are not so, the fault is not in religion itself, but in its professors. There is such a thing as godly joy as well as godly sorrow, and this is the only genuine gladness of heart; but men, by separating gladness from holiness, change its nature and destroy its very existence. Flee then, my brethren, every kind of pleasure that is in itself sin

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ful, or would lead you into temptation; every kind that is calculated to bring guilt upon your conscience, to render the thought of God's all-seeing eye painful, that would unfit you for prayer, or in any way "grieve the Holy Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed to the day of redemption." In a word, see to it that pleasures are holy, harmless, and undefiled; and if you would attain to uniform cheerfulness of mind, so as to be qualified to rejoice at every season with joy unspeakable and full of glory, seek to be continually arrayed as to your inward man, the soul, with that white linen which is the righteousness of the Saints,† even with the spotless robe of the Redeemer's righteousness, and the garments of personal holiness and outward consistency. Thus will you be enabled, even in these his lower courts, to rejoice in the Lord, and to be joyful in your God; and thus will you be fitted and prepared for the services, glories, and felicities of eternity.

+ Rev. xix. 8.