(2.) The lookers on at the spectacle of this triumphant procession were partly strangers who had come up to the feast of the passover, or were the multitude of the city, which like all other cities had its crowds of idlers and babblers, ever on the look out for something new, and therefore gathered to the sight of our Lord's entry, as the eagles to the carcase. Born and

bred as we have all been in the city of God, the new Jerusalem, His Church, we cannot be compared with the former division of this crowd. But may we not with the latter rabble? Alas! is there not rabble, idle rabble, more concerned with seeing something new and exciting than with doing something old and regular in the city of the Church of God? "Who is this?" cried that rabble in its impatient curiosity. Some perhaps, since the whole city was moved, and they heard the acclamations at the entry of a triumphant King, might have run to see if it were not the Christ indeed, who might be expected any day. But then, O the grievous disappointment of their carnal hearts. We may imagine them asking impatiently, as expecting an earthly king and worldly conqueror, "Where are His trumpets, timbrels and cornets? Where are His banners and flags? Where are His body-guards

with their golden helmets and shields? Where is His triumphal chariot, to which conquered kings with crowns on their heads are harnessed instead of horses? Where is the long file of prisoners of war, following behind with their hands tied behind their backs? Where is He Himself, clothed with royal purple, with a crown of pure gold upon His head, and with a sceptre of ivory in His hand? Where are all these tokens which we expect if He be indeed the Christ? Who is this?"

Such a question it may appear strange to suppose coming from the mouth of any Christian, who should be allowed from his very profession to know Christ too well for him to have any doubt upon the matter. But let us not be content with mere outside, but examine more narrowly, and look inwardly. Most assuredly we shall then find that this question is asked by the hearts of too many.

What a numerous class in God's Church is that of mere sight-seers, of those, who even though they may affect spiritual things, are content with externals. And with how many does religion consist in following some religious novelties of the day, one after another as they arise. Some cannot find any comfort to their hearts un

less they find something new to their ears or eyes almost every day. Can Christ be seen in His true character by persons before whose eyes all things pass in such continual change? Can His stedfast, immutable example be estimated or followed by such? When therefore He is proposed to such in the regular attendance at church, in the continued and thankful reception of His Word and Sacraments there, in the diligent discharge of the daily and minute and obscure duties of the Christian stewardship, in the observant and painful watchfulness of the Christian soldier, in the regular plan of Christian life which is pursued by him who exercises the faith which worketh through love, and seems to go plodding on through a dull routine, and formal system; what wonder if they be offended, and cry out "Who is this?" But what a more numerous class still than this is that which has formed for itself a mere worldly and carnal view of Christian duty. It is too well known, and, it may be added, too well felt in that evil which it works among us, how much there is of careless indifference as to this matter. Could this day be so made unholy instead of holy, could its solemn assemblies be so deserted for worldly assemblies, could the road to church be left for the road to some

haunt of worldly pleasure, could such things be witnessed in every neighbourhood, as they unhappily are, unless this antichristian spirit prevailed far and wide? And yet such persons would not give up the name and title of Christian. They will, almost all of them, attend now and then in their places before the Lord. But in what spirit do they come, what offering do they bring Him? Can they possibly bring Him that which alone will satisfy Him, that of the heart? No indeed. They consider all that concerns religion just as any thing else that has to do with the practice of the world. To the extent of a few forms it is the fashion of the world around them, and therefore with these forms, for the mere sake of respectability, they will comply. Their heart is carnal, it reverses the Lord's commandment of seeking first the kingdom of God, and thence expecting the things of the kingdom of this world to follow, in faith on His promise. Its grand concern is to provide for this life, and let the service of the Lord come in, as it may or can, at any opening which may arise out of their having nothing else to do. Thus man puts himself before God, earth before heaven, flesh before spirit, temporal before eternal, accidental before essential.

Now when to such a heart as this comes forth a voice preaching, "Repent and believe the Gospel," and summoning it to rise from the death of sin to the life of righteousness, and to serve the Lord in newness of life: when that voice accuses it of unthankful disobedience, threatening it with the deadly wages of sin, on that day when the labourers in the service of Christ and in the service of Satan shall be severally paid off: when Jesus is proposed to it as the propitiation for our sins, in whom we must have faith that we may be saved, and must shew that faith by the love which fulfils His commandments, and strives after copying His example; when the same Jesus is proposed to it as Lord and King, demanding from it the first-fruits, and not the refuse of its service, and the surrender of its will to the sovereignty of His will; what does such a heart say to all this? And when again the same Jesus is proposed to it as the Judge of the quick and the dead, whom all must prepare to meet at His coming to take account of His servants, and to render unto every one according to that which he hath done in the body; when the thrones in heaven are shewn forth for the victorious saints above, and the chains and darkness of the pit for the impenitent sinners below; when the true nature