victorious; and as the trophies of his con. quest, he hath the keys of death and hell, and leads them both in triumph, vanquished and disarmed. Blessed be He that cometh in the name of the Lord! We receive thee, dearest Saviour, as born to us a second time; and this shall be thy birth-day also, the nativity (though not of our Emperor, yet) of thy empire,thy restoration to a state of immortality. Thy former birth did shew thee to be the Son of man, but this declares thee to be the Son of God: and now we know that our Redeemer liveth; he that loved us so infinitely as to die for us, doth now ever live to intercede on our behalf; he that expressed such kindness to us in his passion, hath so fully demonstrated his own power in his resurrection, that we are sure he is as able as willing to deliver us. Let the heaveus rejoice, and the earth be glad; for this is the day that the Lord hath made;" a day to be had in everlasting remembrance, a time destined to jubilee and rejoicing. Behold how nature is raising itself from the grave of winter, and seems annually to celebrate the memory of her Lord's resurrection in her green and fresh attire; a season chosen by God for festival three thousand years ago, and observed ever since by Jews or Christians, or both, with the greatest solemnity. See how those blinded Jews rejoice over their paschal lamb (in the midst of all their cala

mities) for the deliverance of their fathers : but we have a nobler passover for a greater deliverance; Christ our passover is sacrificed for us, therefore let us keep the feast, and that upon the precious body and blood of the Lamb of God, who was slain, but is alive again, and, behold, he lives for evermore. Wherefore I will go to thy altar with joy, and tell out thy works with gladness, O most mighty Saviour, who hast not only died for my sins, but risen again for my justification. And, indeed, what comfort could I have found in this memorial of thy death, if it had not been for thy resurrection? this sacrament would have only remembered thy sufferings, and renewed my sorrow to think that so excellent a person had perished in the attempt of my deliverance; but now it is become a feast of joy, because it is an assurance of thy resurrection, as well as a commemoration of thy passion. And since thou livest, sweetest Jesus, we live also. Thy resurrection raises our hearts from sad despair; it gives a new life to our hopes; it makes our sorrows light, our labours easy, our lives cheerful, and our death advantage, because it hath lost its sting, and is become the gate into immortality. We can charm all our fears and troubles with this one word, "The Lord is risen; yea, the Lord is risen indeed." For thou hast washed us in thy own blood, and made us kings and priests to God, to offer

up at this thy altar never-ceasing praises. Therefore with angels, &c.

X.

DEAN COMBER.

A MEDITATION FOR THE COMMUNION ON

ASCENSION-DAY.

I see, O merciful Jesus, thou art content for our sakes to stay here upon earth, when heaven longs for thy return. Thou hast these forty days denied thyself the full fruition of thy glories, to dispel the sorrow and confirm the faith of thy disciples; and yet at last their tears and embraces shew how loath they are to part with thee. But, behold, the day of thy triumph is come, and the holy myriads are sent to wait upon thee; the heavenly singers, that go before, cry,

Open yourselves, ye everlasting doors, that the King of glory may come in." To whom the angels which come out to meet thee answer, in ecstacies of amazement, "Who is the King of glory?" And all the chorus that follow after reply, “Even the Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory." And thus, with hymns and joyful acclamations, is Jesus welcomed to his ancient and most glorious throne. And now, O my soul, why standest thou gazing into heaven? He is too high to be discerned, too bright to be seen with mortal eyes, since cherubims are dazzled at

his splendour. He is gone to his proper place, and ascended thither, whither thy desires carry thee, and where ere long thou shalt see him face to face. Thou standest like Elisha, looking after him, and lamenting thy Master's departure; but he hath left his mantle behind him, even the mysteries of this holy sacrament, which to thy faith is the flesh which he was clothed withal, and is designed to convey a double portion of his Spirit unto thee; so that it appears he hath left his love with us, when his person was taken from us. Away, then, with these sighs and tears; lament no longer the absence of thy Lord, for he is in this blessed feast; he is here in his comforts and graces, here in his merits and his love; and his Spirit can minister the same benefits hereby which his personal presence would have given thee. Go, then, with all possible speed, and taste of his heavenly provision; delight in it above all the sweetnesses in the world, because it contains so many pledges and emblems of thy glorious Redeemer's love. When thou beholdest him that is thy Head so advanced, make haste to unite thyself nearer to him by partaking of his body and blood, that thou mayest finally reign with him. As the celestial choir welcomed him to his heavenly throne, so will we receive him with joy into our poor souls.

DEAN COMBER.

XI.

A MEDITATION FOR THE COMMUNION ON

WHITSUNDAY.

I will go to thy altar, O Lord, with a new sacrifice of praise, because thou hast given me a fresh instance of thy love this day. Thou art slow to punish thy enemies, but speedy to comfort thy servants; for no sooner was thy misery changed into glory, but we received the greatest demonstration of thy affections: no sooner didst thou put on thy crown in heaven, but the earth felt the bounty of thy dispensations; for it was not possible for thee, sweetest Jesus, to let thy promise remain long unperformed, or the sad expectations of thy disciples unsatisfied. Being assembled, therefore, this day with one heart in one place, they are suddenly surprised with wonder, and inspired with a heavenly power, such as they had never felt beforevigorous as a mighty wind, cheering as the morning light, inflaming their hearts with zeal, and filling their mouths with anthems endited in the languages of all the world. O wonderful change! their ignorance is changed into learning, their mistakes into infallibility, their fear into courage, their weakness into strength, their sorrow into joy, and they in a moment made able to con