Christ is again forgotten. No matter what | perhaps of your own care-worn souls, the is substituted in its stead; it may be spe- safety, the everlasting welfare, of your cious and attractive; but it is not the gospel which the apostles preached, it is not the gospel for which the martyrs bled, it is not the gospel which has filled heaven with praise, it is not the gospel which will save your souls; it is what is called in the verse following the text, "the lifting up of the tool of man upon the altar of God;" and the pollution will drive the name, and the presence, and the mercies, of God far away from us.

children. Shall I after this say, "Brethren, pray for us?" Cold indeed must be that heart which does not both pray and feel for the minister of Christ. And if there is one minister of Christ, who especially needs your prayers, it is he who now supplicates them. I need not tell you that! shall be with you in weakness, in much weakness; but I heed not that. A mighty God can work here, as he works in a thousand other places, without the aid of human strength. My Bible tells me that he can take hold of a worm, and enable it to "thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and make the hills as chaff." I need, brethren, what you need, a heart to take my weakness to my God, and seek my strength in him. Of you I ask, beyond your prayers, your kind indulgence; and I know that I shall have it. Make me not an offender for a word, no, nor yet for many words. Bear with me if I grieve. forgive me if I pain you. Yet a little while, and the voices of other ministers will be heard among you; and then a lit tle longer, and you yourselves will hear no God employs not angels, but men, in re-minister at all. Of those who perhaps cording his name, and men involved in the most wished to worship with us in this same ruin, the same ignorance, as their building, some are gone into eternity since fellow-sinners; men subject to the same its foundations were laid, and we ourselves temptations, carrying about the same bur- shall soon be there, you, and I, and our dens, laboring under the same infirmities, children. We shall meet there. What aching with the same sorrows. Through will that meeting be? Thou God of mer channels like these, will his glorious gos-cy, make it a meeting in thine own blissful pel come to you. And yet on the faithful presence, the exchange of this house of exhibition of it, depends much of its power prayer for thine own everlasting house of and much of your blessedness; the peace joy and praise.

Prayer, brethren, fervent, unceasing prayer let that sanctify this building; let that make and keep it a house of praise. We have dedicated it to the once-crucified but now exalted Jesus. He is Lord of this house. In it, blessed be God! his name has been recorded. The first sermon ever heard in it, testified of him. O that the last sermon that will ever echo within its walls, may be full of the savor of his blessed name!

And may I not add one word more? If so much depends on the preaching of the cross, how constant ought your prayers to be for those who preach it!

PRACTICAL

SERMONS

FOR

EVERY SUNDAY AND PRINCIPAL HOLYDAY

IN THE YEAR.

BY

THE REV. CHARLES BRADLEY,

VICAR OF GLASBURY, BRECKNOCKSHIRE; AND MINISTER OF ST. JAMES'S
CHAPEL, CLAPHAM, SURREY.

FIRST AMERICAN, FROM THE LAST LONDON EDITION.

NEW YORK:

D. APPLETON & CO., 200 BROADWAY.

PHILADELPHIA :

GEORGE S. APPLETON, 148 CHESTNUT STREET.

M DCCC XLIV.

CHRIST PROCLAIMING HIS APPROACHING ADVENT.
REVELATION XXII. 20. He which testifieth these things, saith, ISAIAH ix. 6.-The Prince of peace..
Surely I come quickly. Amen; even so; come, Lord Je

JEREMIAH xiv. 7.-O Lord, though our iniquities testify against 43 us, do thou it for thy name's sake.

GENESIS XXVII. 16, 17.-And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, COLOSSIANS i. 27.-Christ in you, the hope of glory.
and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place, and I knew it
not. And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this
place! This is none other but the house of God, and this is
the gate of heaven.

SERMON XXII.

The Fourth Sunday in Lent.

JACOB RETURNING TO BETHEL

98

GENESIS XXXV. 1, 2, 3.-And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother. Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments; and let us arise and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went. 103

THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST GLAD TIDINGS. ACTS xiii. 32, 33, 34.--We declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again: as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee. And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.

SERMON XXVII

The First Sunday after Easter.

121

THE RISEN JESUS APPEARING TO MARY MAGDALENE.

SERMON XXXI.

The Fifth Sunday after Easter.

THE BLIND LED.

133

140

ISAIAH xlii. 16.-I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not: I will lead them in paths that they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and crook ed things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them. 145

SERMON XXXII.

The Sunday after Ascension Day.

CHRIST SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD. PSALM CX. 1, 2, 3.-The Lord said unto my Lord. Sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness. from the womb of the morning thou hast the dew of youth.

SERMON XXXIII.

Whit Sunday.

THE PROMISED COMFORTER.

150

ST. JOHN xiv. 16, 17.—I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever. even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, be cause it seeth him not, neither knoweth him; but ye know him, for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you.

SERMON XXXIV.

Trinity Sunday.

CHRIST THE LIGHT OF HEAVEN,

155

REVELATION xxi. 23.-The city had no need of the sun, neit ber of the moon, to shine in it; for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

SERMON XXXV.

The First Sunday after Trinity.

THE FALL OF Jericho.

159

ST. JOHN xx. 16.-Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned 1 SAMUEL iv. 13.-Lo, Eli sat upon a seat by the way sile herself and saith unto him, Rabboni.