Easter Sunday: Morning

When we consider the heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which Thou hast ordained; Lord, what is man, that Thou art mindful of him, or the son of man that Thou visitest him. We are not worthy of an audience at thy footstool — we are not worthy of the least of all thy mercies — our sins have even called aloud for veng-eance.

* A day set apart it commemoration of pur Saviour’s resurrection.

But Thou hast not executed upon us the fierceness of thy aug”er — because Thou art g’ood as well as great; and thy goodness constitutes thy greatness. Tlicu hast turned our very fall into an occasion of improving our condition, by advancing us to the possession of more and greater blessings than we originally enjoyed; so that we not only have life, but have it more abundantly.

For this purpose the Son of thy love was manifested; and in the fulness of time, we behold Him assuming our nature, and coming into our world, not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. We rejoice to see, in his release from the prison of the grave, the evidence of the all-sufti’ciency and acceptation of the sacrifice He offered on the cross. O, help us to consider Him as a risen Saviour; and may we feel the power of his resurrection, in establishing our faith, enlivening our hope, and securing our sunctification. May we not only believe his resurrection, but partake of it, and resemble it, that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so, we also might walk in newness of life; reckoning ourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

And if risen with Christ, may we give evidence of it, and act becoming it, in seeking those things that are above

May we never leave our spiritual and everlasting condition, undecided and unknown; may we never be satisfied, till we are able to say. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord JesusChrist, who, according to his abundant mtrcy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead; to an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for us.

In all our difficulties and dangers, may we rejoice that He who was dead, is alive again, to plead for us, to defend us, and to supply, and has the keys of hell and of death.

In all the afflictions of life, in the decay of nature, and when looking into the horrors of the grave, may we with humble and holy confidence be able to say, I know that my Redeemer liveth, and shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though, after my skin, worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.

Are we called to mourn over the loss of our dear., nd pious connexions? Let us not sorrow as those who have no hope; but comf’^rt one another with these words — That Jesus

died and rose ag-ain, and them that sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.

We glory in the victory which our ristji Saviour has obtained, not only over death and the grave, but the poweru of darkness; we rejoice that he has set judgment in the earth, and that the isles are waiting for his law; that his word is translating into every language, and his servants entering every clime. We hail what he has done as a pledge of his universal triumph. And though we yet see not all things actually put under him, we see him, for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; and in possession of all the resources, necessary to accomplish the benevolent designs of his heart; and he must reign till alt his enemies are made his footstool.

Through him, as the once suffering but now exalted Saviour, we address Thee, as our Father, &c Amen.