ng of the words. Where wilt thou direct thy look of favour? To him
who is noble, or wealthy, or intelligent? To him who with scrupulous
rigidness fasts twice in the week, and gives tithes of all that he
possesses? To him whose quick sensibility revels in all expressions of
the beautiful, or whose graceful impulse moves him in all works of
charity? No, to none of these, but, "To him that is poor, and of a
contrite spirit; and that trembleth at my word."

III.--If there be this assurance of acceptance, how solemn and resistless
is the call to duty, "To offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God
by Jesus Christ." Sacrifice, properly speaking, is the infliction of
death upon a living creature for the purposes of religious worship, but
_this_ sacrifice and offering, happily, God requires not at our hands.
No filleted firstling need now be led to the altar, the flocks of Kedar
and the rams of Nebaioth may browse quietly in their pastures, for the
Great Sacrifice has been offered, and it _abides_--"_one sacrifice for
sins for ever_," needing no repetition, one for ever! unexhausted in its
virtue, and unfailing in the blessing it confers. But in a secondary
sense the recognized and fulfilled duties of the Church are fitly called
sacrifices, for they cannot be properly discharged without the alienation
from ourselves of something that was our own, and its presentation,
whether time, ease, property or influence, to God. Brethren, to this
duty you are called to-day. The name you bear has bound you. The holy
priesthood must offer up spiritual sacrifices. Suffered to become
Christians, permitted, a race adulterous and dishonoured as you were, to
be united to Christ and partakers of his precious grace, the spell of
these high privileges enforces every obligation, and hallows every claim.
_Ye_ are not your own. First offer yourselves upon the altar, renew your
covenant in this the house of our solemnities, on this the instalment of
our great Christian festival. It will be easy to devote the accessories,
when the principal bestowment has been rendered. I claim from you this
sacrifice for God. _Yourselves_, not a half-hearted homage, not a
divided service, not a stray emotion, not a solitary faculty;
_yourselves_, _you all_, and _all of you_; your bodies, with their
appliances for service; your souls, with their ardour of affection;
intellect, with its grasp and power; life, with its activity and
earnestness; endowmen