OUR LORD'S ASCENSION.
Christ the King of Glory.
" Arise, be enlightened, O Jerusalem, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. God is ascended with jubilee, and the Lord with the sound of trumpet." (Is. lx. i. and Ps. xlvi. 6.)
I. Christ is often called in the inspired pages the King of glory, and on this day He triumphs in the most complete manner, by ascending to the highest heavens in great glory and majesty. He is the source from which glory issues to all the Saints, and whence the several gifts of grace flow upon the faithful. This is especially the day of His triumph; and as earthly princes are accustomed on similar occasions to be more profuse of their gifts, so on this day our triumphant Saviour has bestowed His thousand benefits on mankind. "Ascending on high," says the Apostle, " He led captivity captive, He gave gifts to men." (Eph. iv. 8.)
II. This King of glory will visit you to-day, concealed in the cloud of the Eucharistic species, in order that by bestowing on you the gifts of His grace, He may make you a partaker of His glory. " The glory of Libanus shall come to thee to beautify the place of My sanctuary, and I will glorify the place of My feet." (Ps. lx. 13.) What a favor is this! what may you not hope for from so liberal a guest!
III. How ought you to receive this King of glory? " Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lifted up, O eternal gates, and the King of glory shall enter." (Ps. xxiii. 7.) The gates of the soul are its interior powers, by which .intercourse is kept up between the soul and exterior objects. They enter through these, and through
