The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-04-25

towards che Redeemer, through whom the
restoration. of man is effected, and fountain
opened for sin and for all uncleanness The
more we contemplate the mighty work which
was necessary to undo the consequences of
sin in the world, the more must we be filed
with that love of our Divine Master which
issues at length in q complete detestation of
sin, in saving repentance, In the most
watchful heed against future assaults of the
evil within and without us.
The love exhibited in the atoneEaent pro-
vokes our love in return; and when that love
is perfected in us the bitterness OF sin aud
the fears Of its reward must be cast out
forever.
But the remedy for sin is neither intellec-
tual alone, through understanding of Holy
Scripture, nor selfish alone, through fear of
the punishment of sin, or even through de-
5ire for the blessedness of heaven; nor is it
emotional alone, through q jealous love ef
Him who so loved us; but il must come of
grace infused into the heart and soul, gift
direct from God. 1t is participation vouch-
safed us in the divinity of Him whose men,
bers we were made in baptism. II is the
taking of our human nature into God; the
extension to us of the incarnation of Christ.
Began in baptism, it is increased to us in
confirmation, and in all the ordinary ap-
pointed means of grace offered through the
Church, and specially strengthened in 1o0pthy
communicable feast upon the sacrifice Of
the body and blood of Christ
Without these divinely instituted means of
grace, there could be no true conviction
of sin; no repentance, no amendment, no
love for Him who redeemed us by His mighty
passion and death.
Thus the sacrament of baptism is our new
birth in Christ, the beginning of our spiritual
life, the enlightenment of our moral under
standing.
Through its virtue we first conceive filial
love for Him who has thus begotten us anew
in Christ that we should be sons with Him
and joint heirs in His everlasting kingdom.
Through its light we discern the boundaries
of good and evil; nor can we choose evil, after
we have received baptism, without knowing
what we are doing and wilfully abandoning
the underground Of truth and purity on
which we had been placed. Aud even With
regard to sins after baptism, the power of the
sacrament is not limited; it reaches forward
as well as backward, and all the penitence of
our after-life is but striving to recover the
lost innocence which the waters of the holy
flood of baptism bestowed upon us.
Baptism, therefore, is the prime sacrament
OF the Christian life; the sacrament most ne
cessary to salvation; the first remedy, the
chief remedy against sin, original and actual
alike.
Then what q mighty means for the with
standing of sin is the sacramental rite of con-
frmation! The seven-fold gifts OF the Spirit
are poured out upon the worthy recipient,
and at the most critical period of their days
they receive large increase of strength where
with to fight the battle of life. Would that
1t were more common to bestow this gift
before the special dangers of life come in like
a, flood upon the young soul, rather than when
those dangers are already come!
Then there is the feast of love a,S +horL
fulnpEq a.
a n "on"rcs JUS remedy against sin, if we seek to
be in deed and in truth worthy partakers in it
and of it.
For, in order to a worthy partaking, there
must be a very sincere repentance, IN actual
forsaking of wilful sin, sincere love for
God and man. While the result of o worthy
partaking is such q measure of spiritual
strength and refreshment, such a drawing
closer of the bonds of our union with Christ
as makes us strong to resist the assaults and
temptations of the Devil, and to bear the
burden of that spiritual watchfulness and
bodily self-denial essential to any real and
true progress in a godly life. 1t is the nearest
approach to heaven which mortal flesh can
make.
In the language of our own bishops, it is
indeed heavenly place.
SIN the bread and wine of that holy COM
munion, faith discerns the body and blood
of our Saviour Christ; and to those who
worthily receive that sacrament, how inesti-
mable its benefits
1t is unlike any other festival on earth. The
| host, whose table we surround as guests, is
there set forth, evidently crucifed before us;
and though we do carnally and visibly press
with our teeth the sacrament of the body and
blood of Christ, yet if we be void of lively
faith, we only eat and drink damnation to
ourselves.
''But though this table is laden with sym
bols of death; though we are to eat and drink
memorials of death-the most fearful death
that ever took place on earth, yet it is most
joyful feast, and we partake of it with a
solemn gladness, and with calm yet ejoicing
soul. Our eyes, indeed, may overruu with
tears, as we remember how deeply how fire.
quently, and how vilely we have sinned against
the Blessed Saviour, our hearts, indeed,
may throb with mOmentary anguish, as we
call to mind the intense sutferings of the
dying Jesus; but the pervsding tone of the
mind is that of holy JOY, springing from
peace with God, through the blood of the
Cross. For that feast assures that "a full,
perfect, and sufficient sacrifice oblation aud
satisfaction has been made" for our sins;
that the Atonement has been accepted OF
God; that that death has purchased for us
eternal life; that blood secured our pardon;
those merits have become to us a robe OF
righteousness; and thus clad in the garment
of our Elder Brother, thus washed in the
blood of Calvary, thus reconciled to God, anC
united to Christ by living and soul purifying
faith we approach with gladness, and gain
there new assurance of mercy new strength
for duties, new supplies of peace, and {
deeper fulness of Joy in the Holy Ghost A