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SERM,
THE CHRISTIAN
DISPENSATION.
4g
the Messiah,
"
Behold the
Lamb
of God,"
John
i.
529,
36.
And since
the
death and resurrection
of
Christ,
and pouring
down
of
the Spirit, the
least
minister,
or
perhaps the
least member
in
the kingdom
of
Christ,
knows
much more
of
the Messiah
and
his
kingdom
than
John
did,
and
than
all
the former
ages,
and the writers
that
lived in
them
;
Mat.
xi.
11.
Inference
IL
"
What abundant
thanks and praises
are due to the blessed God,
who
brought
us
forth into
the world
under
this
last and best dispensation,
who
hath
trained
us
up
in
the
christian doctrine, and
not
made us
Jews
We are
not
called
to
that
troublesome, and
ex-
pensive
kind
of
worship, which
consists
in
the killing
and
burning of
bulls and
goats,
and
the choicest lambs
of
the
flock.
The
bleeding
flesh
of
animals,
and
fire
and
smoke make
no
part of
our
religious solemnities.
Jesus
the Lamb
of God
is
already
offered as
an
all
-
sufficient
sacrifice; there
is
no need
of
another atonement:
" He
has
by
one
offering
for
.
ever perfected them
that are
sanctified
:"
lieb.
x. 14.
We
are
not
obliged to
travel
three
times a
year
to
distant parts of
the
nation where
we dwell,
in
order
to
adore
our Maker,
at
one
§ingle
tabernacle
or
a temple,
for
in
every place,
that
God
who
is
a
Spirit
is
worshipped
now,
even
by
public assemblies,
"
in
spirit
and
in
truth;" John
iv.
23.
We are
not
forced to spell
out the
mercies
of
God,
by
types
and
dark figures; but
we
see his overflowing
goodness,
in
the person
and
offices
of
his
beloved
Son
Jesus
;
we
read
the pardon
of
our
sins in
his blood,
and our sanctifica-
tion by
his
Holy
Spirit.
There
is
no
such
veil
spread
over the
invisible world, as
covered
the
ancient dispen-
sation. Heaven and
hell,
and all
the
awful
and
eternal
things
that
belong to them,
are
discovered
in
a clear
and
surprising. light.
We are
not
left to
live
upon the
pro-
mises
of
temporal good
things,
and to search
out the
spiritual
blessings,
that
are
covered
and wrapped up in
them; but
the
spiritual and everlasting mercies which
are provided
for
the saints, stand open
to sight,
in
the
promises
of
the
New
Testament
:
They
seem to
court
our
embraces, and invite
us
to
rejoice
in hope.
We
need
no
longer
be
"
subject
to a
bdndage
of
spirit through
fear
of
death, for death
is
conquered
by
the
Son
of
God;
life
and immortality are
brought
to
light
by his gospel,
VOL.
III.
E