been above the kings and learned men of the earth, by having converfed with angels and being chosen as the publishers of the birth of our bleffed Saviour, were not therefore puffed up with pride or conceit, but returned joyfully to their former humble employment. Such let our conduct be. If we are bleffed with any particular favors of Providence, either temporal or spiritual, let it only teach us gratitude to our Maker, and kindness to our fellow creatures. 66 "21. And when eight days were ac"complished for the circumcifion of the child, his name was called Jefus; which was fo named of the angel before he "was conceived in the womb." 66 The Jewish law was of divine inftitution; it was a reprefentation of what our bleffed Saviour was to do and fuffer for us it was imperfectly practifed by the Jews till he came; when he in his own perfon having fulfilled the whole law, eftablished tablished the Christian religion, or covenant of grace, in its flead: a religion as much fuperior to the Jewish, as the subftance is to the fhadow, or the performance of any thing to the promise of it. The Jewish religion was evidently a state of preparation for the Chriftian; of which all its ceremonies were types and shadows. Thus their facrifices were admirably calculated to imprefs the mind with the dreadful nature of fin, which could only be atoned by blood, and to point out the neceffity of the death of the finner, or of fome one in his ftead; and would naturally lead the Jews, who could not suppofe that the blood of bulls and of goats could of itself take away fin, to look to the promised faviour, through faith in whom alone they could produce any effect. By his facrifice of himself, once offered for the fins of the whole world, all the Jewish types being changed into reality, they were of course abolished, and the more more perfect system of the gospel covenant established. 66 66 25. And behold there was a man in Jerufalem whose name was Simeon, and "the fame man was just and devout, waiting for the confolation of Ifrael; and "the Holy Ghost was upon him. 66 "26. And it was revealed unto him, by "the Holy Ghoft, that he fhould not fee "death before he had seen the Lord Christ. 66 27. And he came by the Spirit into "the Temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jefus, to do for "him after the custom of the law, 66 66 66 66 "28. Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and faid: 29. Lord, now lettest thou thy fervant depart in peace, according to thy word; 30. For mine eyes have seen thy fal vation." The fame holy fpirit promifes us likewife, that we fhall fee him: not indeed with bodily eyes as Simeon did, but with the eye of faith; if, like him, we will perform the conditions upon which that promife was made. We see alfo in Anna, the prophetefs, as related in some following verfes of the fame chapter, the great encouragement given to perfeverance. She, like Simeon, was informed of the real and true appearance of the faviour of the world in that blessed babe. Every wilful neglect of public worship is very dangerous; as fomething requifite to us to learn, or applicable to our own fituation, may be loft by our absence. Stanhope, in a difcourfe on St. Thomas'sday, attributes the disbelief of that apostle to his not being with his brethren when Jesus appeared; and makes these pertinent remarks on the fubject. "When floth, or contempt, or a light difpofition, or a pretence of business, tempts you to be abfent, think with yourself, it may be, 66 "God this day may by his minister tell 66 me fome neceffary thing which I knew not drive "not before. It may be, he may "fome powerful exhortation home upon 66 my conscience, which may make me a "better man ever after; fome lurking fin may be discovered; or fome domineering luft fubdued. My zeal, my devo“tion, my charity, may be inflamed, by "joining in prayer with my fellow-chrif"tians. But why do I fay, it may be! 66 for fome of these certainly will be. "God hath commanded his bleffing to "wait at his own houfe: and no man ever came thither as he ought, but he "went back better than he came." So far Stanhope. Let me add, that to flight or neglect so great a privilege when offered to us, as that of being admitted into the presence of our Maker and of applying to him for whatever we ftand in need of, with a promise that he will grant our petitions as far as they are conducive to our real good, may naturally be fuppofed to offend him. Though fo greatly indulgent to us, he has declared himself a jealous God who will not fuffer his |