But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days; but lo! Michael. one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befal thy people in the latter days. And now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia. I will show thee that which is noted in the Scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things but Michael your prince." But when he who is the Lord of angels was born into this world, we have several intimations of their constant attendance and busy service. An angel announced the conception of his forerunner; then of Christ himself. An angel revealed his birth to the shepherds of Bethlehem, and a multitude of them were heard re return. joicing at it. When his life was in danger, an angel was sent with warning that he might be removed; and when the danger was over, an angel came with the tidings to Joseph, in order that he might When he encountered the tempter in the wilderness, and had vanquished him, then "angels came and ministered unto him." Throughout the whole of his course, they "had charge ́concerning him." And when, at the close of more than thirty years' humiliation, the cup of bitter suffering was put into his hands to drink, and our poor nature which he bore, was sinking almost under the struggle he was going through, an angel appeared "strengthening him." On the morning of the resurrection an angel rolled away the stone of his sepulchre, to let the women in to see the place where the Lord lay. An angel directed them to go into Galilee to meet him and, as he ascended up into hea ven, an angel preached unto them his return in glory. An angel loosed and conducted one of his apostles out of prison-an angel descended in the storm that wrecked another, to assure him of safety. An angel smote the earliest persecutor of the church, and he was eaten of worms. But what are all these records of their services, but mere glimpses which we catch through a momentary parting of the clouds that hide from our sight what may be constantly going on. Yet transient and indistinct as the views are that have been permitted us, how valuable and how interesting are they to us! They serve to convince us, that the innumerable company which we shall join hereafter are far from being strangers to us and our concerns here, and far from uninterested therein. They have been in and out of this world so long, and have been so much about us, that they know more of us than we know of each other; and there is joy among them, real joy, over one sinner that repenteth. This glance which I have taken of some of their recorded ministrations may illustrate what the angel here said to John, "I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book." Instead, however, of intruding into things which we have not seen, let us turn our attention from these ministering spirits, to their Lord-the object of their universal worship-who, for the suffering of death, was indeed made for a little time lower than they, but is now crowned with glory and honour. Let us meditate on what he has here spoken of himself: "I, Jesus, have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches, I am the root and the offspring of David, aud the bright and morning star." He is the "Root" of David, as being David's Lord the Creator from whom he and all derive their being; he is the "offspring," as being born, after the flesh, of the house and lineage of David. But what is implied in naming himself "the bright and morning star ?" ; You know that what we call the morning star, is that beautiful planet the nearest of the heavenly bodies to the earth which during part of its progress through its orbit, precedes the sun at his rising and when the other stars are fading in the light of approaching day, worn out, as it were, with watching through the night, its superior brilliancy renders it not only visible but conspicuous, the most attractive object in the arch of heaven-shining in the yellow dawn, like a diamond set in gold. Thus, then, is the Lord Jesus the great object of admiration which attracts the eye of faith, and fixes it, the chiefest among the thousand the altogether lovely. So that the language of every believer beholding him is "Whom have I in heaven but thee?" The divine majesty of his person as the only begotten Son of God, is that which, as it gives an inherent and inestimable value to all that he has done and suffered for us, concentrates upon him all the hopes and expectations of his redeemed people, and all the adorations and praises of the inhabitants of heaven. And what a proof of his Deity is afforded in the very incident which is related in this chapter. The angel shrunk from the worship which the apostle ignorantly offered to him, and with hasty earnest ness exclaimed, see thou do it not worship God." But often as we read of the disciples and others worshipping Jesus when on earth, did he ever refuse this divine homage?—when the diseased and afflicted fell down at his feet and worshipped him, did he ever say, Never. see thou do it not? 66 'Worship God," said the angel. Yet what did those visions disclose which were just shown to the apostle, but the entire universe, " every creature which is in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth," worshipping Jesus the Lamb of God? Surely, if there be any intelligible meaning and consistency in the inspired writings, Jesus must be one with Jehovah. Were he the highest of created beings, though never so high above us and above angels in the scale of existence,— were he any thing less than God, one with the Father, it were a violation of the first and great commandment so emphatically repeated by the angel, to worship him. When our mind is fully satisfied of this truth, and we are taught by the Holy Ghost to "call Jesus Lord"—and we then think of his humbling and offering himself up a sacrifice for us, bearing our sins in his own body on the tree, how overwhelming, how astonishing does this great fact appear!-Nothing but the testimony of God could assure us of its truth. But being assured of it, what rest and confidence does it give us that the way into the holiest is indeed opened for us, degraded and sinful as we are, through that costly propitiation. Full of grace and truth he has declared, " verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me hath everlasting life." When the soul has been agitated with apprehensions about its own safety, overwhelmed with the anticipation of being condemned eternally for sins aggravated and innumerable, the burden of guilt is sinking it into the depths of despair, and the blackness of darkness for ever seems to have already set in, so that all hope of being saved is taken away,-O how sweet is the first view that is caught of this "bright and morning star," rising in mild serenity, beaming forth that grateful light which gives life to the soul! How quieting to the distressed spirit, that is anxiously looking round for deliverance, is that invitation, "come unto me and I will give you rest:"-how encouraging to the fearful and hesitating penitent is the assurance, "him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." Surely the glory and beauty of the Lord his suitableness to our wants, his power to save us, and his willingness to receive us the unsearchable riches of his grace, the kindness of his condescension, his love which passeth knowledge, his compassion and faithfulness, his justice, his wisdom, and his holiness, form altogether an assemblage of perfections before which every created excellence sinks into obscurity, and shine forth so plainly in his word, that nothing but the blindness of men's hearts, veiled and hardened by the god of this world, can account for their not discerning and rejoicing in this light. During the whole course of the believer's voyage through the waves of this troublesome world, this "morning star" is to be the guide of his way, on which his eye is to be constantly fixed, "looking unto Jesus," both for encouragement and direction, that so he may neither faint nor wander. And when in the hour of death the day of eternity is breaking upon the departing spirit, and all the glittering objects that engage attention in this world are fading before that light, still Jesus appears to the eye of faith, and shines upon the soul with undiminished brightness, yea with encreasing power, to cheer and illuminate the passage of the saint into his vast unseen dominions, that lie beyond the confines of mortality.This is another blessed truth implied in this appellation which our Lord assumed, He is the hope of glory. As the morning star is the certain harbinger of approaching day, which then is surely drawing near; so the Lord, having appeared once in the end of the world to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself, being by the right hand of God exalted and crowned with glory and honour, we have therein an assurance and pledge that he will bring many sons unto glory: "if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, there ye may be also," for "if we be planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection." " Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." All our expectations for eternity hang upon him,-on him only,-O how constantly then should our thoughts turn to him, and dwell upon him, that we may feel our security, and long for the enjoyment of his presence. And is there no practical instruction bearing upon our present conduct and deportment, in this name which our Lord has given himself? Surely there is. When he calls himself "the bright and morning star," is it not as much as to say, you are living at day-break the night is far spent, knowing therefore the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep, cast off the works, at the break of day! and that "the day of darkness, and put on the armour of of Christ.” This is "man's day."— light, for now is your salvation nearer "With me," said the apostle, (1 Cor. than when you believed. "They that sleep iv. 3.) "it is a very small thing to be sleep in the night, and they that be judged of you or of man's judgment,” in drunken are drunken in the night," but, is the margin 'man's day.' This is man's day, it for you in whose hearts the day-star is but "the day of Christ" is coming. When already shining,—is it for you to say with it shall burst upon us, no human mind can the sluggard," a little more sleep and a determine, for it is not given to us to little more slumber, a little more folding know, but we are permitted and taught of the hands unto sleep." Arise, shine, to ask the Lord to hasten it, and daily to for thy light is come, and the glory of say "thy kingdom come.” The prayers the Lord is rising upon thee! Shake off of his people will at last be answered, and the heaviness that weighs down your eye- soon all the darkness that mixes with lids, and oppresses your powers of service, every present dispensation shall be and satiate the eye of faith with the removed; and the glories of our Recontemplation of Christ's beauty, and deemer and his salvation shall be finally elevate the desires of your heart by the and fully disclosed. As we are advancing expectation of his kingdom and glory. nearer and nearer, let us be more ready in the state of our hearts, and in the frame of our minds; waiting with spirits more conformed to the nature of the glorious objects which we then expect to be partakers of. Let us look forward and realize the prospect, till its sanctifying effects are experienced, and we are prepared to behold him as he is, in all his unveiled excellency, with open face, without a cloud to intercept, throughout eternity. "Now, blessed for ever be the God of Israel, through whose tender mercy the day spring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace!" And you who have never yet given one look of faith to Christ, arise and behold this bright and morning star. The things which are esteemed great among men, appear so only through ignorance, and in the darkness of this world. "Arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light,"-light, that will dispel the shades of ignorance that becloud your understanding that will dissipate the mists of impurity that defile and chill the soul—that will remove the gloom which overhangs your eternal destiny, and brighten the prospect of an endless existence,- "Christ will give you light." O what at thought is it that we are living A SERMON PREACHED ON THE DAY WHEN THE CHURCH OF HOLLYMOUNT, PARISH OF DOWN, DIOCESE OF DOWN, WAS FIRST OPENED FOR THE CELEBRATION OF DIVINE SERVICE, ON SUNDAY, MARCH 1ST, 1840, BY THE REV. THOMAS DREW, A.B. EZEKIEL xlvii. 8. "These waters issue out towards the East country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea, which being brought forth into the sea, the waters are healed." of unfulfilled prophecy, we are to be enquirers rather than expounders-expectants, rather than dogmatists. The Jews had great reverence for prophecy : this special portion of Ezekiel, namely, the vision of the holy temple and holy waters, was regarded as a thing of myste HERE is a condescension of God mani- | There is a blessing promised to the study fested in his Bible, which is not to be of prophecy; nevertheless, in the study overlooked. Man cannot comprehend God-in his natural state, he is unwilling to contemplate God-in his converted state, he cannot of himself by searching find out God-God condescends to man—the mind of man, illumined by grace, obtains certain perceptions of God, and of the truths of God—still man, inry; no Jew was permitted to read it until his highest spiritual state, is a debtor to the condescension of God;-the most powerful intellect the most refined understanding the wisest, fairest, and most noble, is but as a child before God-livered from his captivity in Babylon by God stoops to save and to instruct and Evil-Merodach. "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge." God's condescension is manifested, in the attractive measures to which he has recourse, in order to obtain the attention of man,-God speaking by his dear Son says, "Behold the lilies of the field." God uses similitudes and parables to arouse attention, and to stimulate to enquiry: his use of prophecy is for a similar purpose-fulfilled prophecy is the seal and proof of his truth and love. Unfulfilled prophecy is the type of God himself it is mysterious-awful-sure. he was of the age of 30 years. To the Jew was the prophecy delivered in the most gloomy season of the captivity, being twelve years before Jehoiachin was de To the Jew, then, and to both Jew and Christian In order to meditate upon it aright, we must refer to the 40th chapter of Ezekiel; from this chapter to the end of the book of Ezekiel, is one continued vision the measurements and arrangements of a temple similar to Solomon's, but of greater extent and uses, are brought before us;-if, as some assert, this new temple was to be more spacious than the |