ing the terrors of the Lord we persuade men,"we call them, in God's name, to repentance by every means which the word of God affords; and, because an Eclipse is a wonderful instance of His Almighty power, and because the Bible tells us that the day will come when the sun shall be turned into darkness, for that reason may the consideration of the present Eclipse turn our hearts, by God's grace, to think upon the judgment, and to prepare to meet our God 1" If any then, within this parish, be "a blasphemer of God, an hinderer or slanderer of his word, a breaker of his Sabbath, a drunkard, in malice or envy, or any other grievous crime," crime," may such, whilst it is called to-day, break off his sins by repentance, and flee the wrath which is to come. Sinner though he may have been, there is no need that he should consider himself as excluded from mercy, let him call upon the Lord, and be saved. The terrors of the Lord, in that case, shall gather up before him, as the heavy clouds when the thunder-storm is past; and as the sun clears the heavens, so shall the "Sun of Righteousness" dispel the gloom and the thick darkness which has surrounded the sinner's heart and vision. "As I 1 Amos iv. 12. 2 See Luke xv. "The Parable of the Prodigal Son may well be called a wonderful passage of the Holy Gospels."-Ogilvie's Bampton Lectures, p. 166. live, saith the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked should turn from his way, and live'." In conclusion, and looking to that day when the sun shall be turned into darkness, "Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so THAT DAY come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man2. 2 99 66 And now, though the sun be eclipsed, “ Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord; and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night, for the love of thy only Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ." Amen. 1 Ezek. xxxiii. 11. 2 Luke xxi. 34-36. THE END. GILBERT and RIVINGTON, Printers, St. John's-Square. SACRED EDIFICES: 19 A SERMON, PREACHED AT THE CONSECRATION BY HIS GRACE THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY, OF ST. MARK'S CHAPEL, IN THE PARISH OF BUXTED WITH UCKFIELD, SUSSEX, ON FRIDAY, MAY 6, 1836. BY THE REV. CHRISTOPHER WORDSWORTH, D.D. MASTER OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE, AND RECTOR OF BUXTED WITH UCKFIELD, SUSSEX. LONDON: PRINTED FOR J. G. & F. RIVINGTON, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH YARD, AND WATERLOO PLACE, PALL MALL. ADVERTISEMENT. THE Author, in submitting this Discourse to the press, in compliance with the requests of several who were present when it was delivered, hopes to be excused if, in his anxiety for the early accomplishment of the important objects there adverted to, he takes the liberty earnestly and respectfully to invite the special notice of his readers to the paragraph at the conclusion. Any contribution to either of those objects will be very thankfully received, and may be paid to the Author's account for St. Mark's Chapel ("Minister's House," or School") either at Messrs. Barnetts, Hoare & Co., 62, Lombard Street, London; or at Messrs. Hurly & Co., bankers, Lewes. May 30, 1836. 66 |