But that we may remember we are in it, and that we may remember whose temple it is, we have also His outward temples, these Churches, built by the hands of men, to His honour, but raised indeed, for our good, by Him Who gave them the will and the means thus to aid us in the holy work of worshipping Him, and to raise up amongst us an abiding witness to our most holy faith.

If would learn to "keep your garyou ments" as you are commanded throughout your life, one great step and means towards it is, to keep your foot when you come to the House of God to worship. Think well Whom you are come to visit, and think that you shall one day see Him more openly, and that you come and wait thus in His courts that you may be the more ready when He calls you into the inner mansion. Behave with all reverence of body, as well as of mind, for our Lord is still in the body as Man, and the holy Angels are by, and see what you do.

Hear diligently, as Solomon bids you in the text, and speak reverently, as he bids you in the next verse. A few words, well chosen and reverently used, such as the Church puts in your mouth, are better than much speaking. The Lord's Prayer is the

best form of all for addressing our Father Which is in Heaven. The Psalms are the very words of the Holy Spirit; and the rest of the service is all well considered by the Church for us, so that, even in speaking, we hear, and is wonderfully fitted to express the feelings and the wants of all sorts of men.

Let us always draw near to Him (whether in public or in private) with thoughtfulness and reverence, always casting out first, as much as we can, all thoughts of earthly business or pleasure, and fixing our minds entirely upon Him. Thus we are most likely to learn to keep our steps diligently through our whole lives, that we may be ready and not ashamed when it is time to present ourselves before Him. We know more now to make us thoughtful, and careful, and reverent than Solomon did. He knew that God was in Heaven and we on earth, he knew that God dwelt not in temples made with hands, though he condescended to manifest Himself in His House at Jerusalem. But we know that He does dwell in the temple of sanctified and perfected Manhood, in the Person of Christ, and that where two or three are gathered together in His name He is present. Did we rightly consider this, instead of being

bold and confident, or careless and unwary, we should come before Him in fear. Nay, we should be rather tempted to shrink back in over much terror, but for that other truth which this great teacher of love and holiness has declared to us, that "if any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous, and He is the propitiation for our sins.""

This is indeed our only hope, but it is no encouragement to carelessness, for the same Apostle tells us that "He that committeth sin is of the devil." And he shews us how earnestly it is necessary to repent of a sin even that is not unto death, by bidding us in such a case intercede for one another, and then he says God "shall give him life for them that sin not unto death." The sin that is not unto death without remedy, is yet unto death, until life be again asked and given.

Such are some of the lessons we learn from him whom our Lord took to be nearest to Himself on earth. I have called your attention to him, not to draw it away from Christ, but that you may have another help in fixing your minds on Him. As S. John wrought miracles not by his own power or holiness, but in the name of Jesus, so he

n 1 S. John ii. 1, 2.

» lb. iii. 8.

v lb. v. 16.

wrote of himself only so far as to help us to see the more of our Saviour, and rather veiled himself under the ciple whom Jesus loved,"

self by name.

name of "the dis

than spoke of him

The love of Christ, the love of the brethren, and the hatred of sinful living and of false doctrine, humility, reverence, and holy fear, are set forth in his example. Be ye followers of him, even as he was of Christ.

i S. John xiii. 23.

SERMON XXXIII.

THE INNOCENTS' DAY.*

S. Matt. ii. 16.

"Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men."

Since we celebrated the Birth of our blessed Lord, we have kept the memorials of two of His Saints: one made like to Him by martyrdom, in the midst of life, and by praying for his murderers; another His chosen and beloved companion, who was left on earth the longest of all His Apostles, a burning and a shining light, shewing forth the glory of Him Whom he had seen and loved. And now, that no age may be left out, since all our life belongs to Christ, from its beginning to its close, we remember those little children whom Herod put to death, when he foolishly thought that he could hinder

• Preached at Bradfield, at the School Feast.