pear in the presence of God for us.' His love for his people will never end; "neither pray I for these alone (his then disciples) but for them also which shall believe in me through their word." This is his continual intercession for us. Read in his history the tender concern he felt towards his followers; and in your hourly needs, he bears the like love to you. Say, thou believing soul, why, chargeable with so many sins and so much unworthiness, do not the terrors of a guilty conscience follow and dismay thee? Why, though altogether weak, and still inclined to evil as thou art, do not sin and Satan every hour get advantage of thee? Whence is it, that amidst all the temptations which a beguiling world presents continually to thy eyes and heart, thou art not seduced from "the hope set before thee?" How comes it, that thy trials are so proportioned to thy strength, that thou always findest a way to escape? Who provides for thee those awakening instructive providences and means, thou daily dost meet with? And who, at the same time, those secret and suitable suggestions thou perceivest to rise within thee? Sit down at the close of the day, and review what hath past in it, what thou hast gone through, how thou hast been protected, supported, blessed; and thy very soul will be filled with admiration of that loving care, which the great Head of the church exercises towards thee; thy heart will grow big with thankfulness and praise; thou wilt be wanting some pious friend, with whom to communicate the overflowings of thy joy, to "declare what the Lord hath done for thy soul."

5. A delightful fellowship with the faithful. I speak not of the various ways wherein the true members of Christ do communicate to and with one another, nor of that excellent charity which enlarges all their hearts, and inspires them with all readiness to this communion; but I speak of the delight that accompanies it. The rest of the world having no common head, nor satisfying hope, live hateful unto, and hating one another. O the uncomfortable state, where hatred, variance, emulation, strife, and envy, rage in every breast! But the company of the faithful live together in "love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness." For why, all their interests are one, their enemies, their warfare, their dangers, their fears, their hope, their head, their spirit, their crown, their kingdom, one: all alike "members of Christ, children of God, and heirs of the promises.' With such as these thou livest, since thou hast known the Lord Jesus; partaker of their faithful admonitions, tender consolations, and affectionate prayers. And didst thou ever know before, what society, what friendship was? Now thou canst truly say, "All my delight is with the saints that are in the earth." "Behold how good and joyful a thing it is for brethren to dwell together in unity."

6. A thankful enjoyment of all God's creatures. It is written, when God had finished the creation of the heavens and the earth, that he "saw every thing that he had made, and behold it was very good." In like manner, since a new life hath been breathed into thy soul, thou seest all the creatures

of God, that they are very good: the conveniences, the comforts of this life, houses, friends, food, raiment, every thing good. God's various provision is become satisfying, content sits upon thy heart, gratitude rises upon thy breast, while all is "sanctified to thee, by the word of God and prayer." This may seem a light matter to the discontented world, but thou receivest all as the gifts of God for Jesus' sake, with whom he freely giveth all these things. This sweetens them all, that in Christ Jesus thou

art reinstated into a right in them. And say, if, while thou regardest them as so many tokens of the love of the Father, they are not inexpressibly delightful, and do not build up in thee a reviving and high expectation of those bounties, which are stored up for his children in the everlasting world? Thus every thing contributes to render the believer blessed: and while he knows himself unworthy of the least o all God's mercies, the very least bounties of heaven draw out well-pleased expressions of praise, and minister complacency and happiness. But why stop I upon these meaner things? Forgive me, thou heir of glory, that thou hast been detained thus from the refreshing views of thy heavenly inheritance.

To read to thee joys above, were deepest impresThere faith hath

7. A hope full of immortality. the Scripture descriptions of the but to transcribe that which, with sion, is graven upon thy heart. painted them in the most lively characters, and hope glows with inextinguishable ardour for the enjoyment of them. A hope which is an "anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast," amidst all the various

calamities of life. A hope that "maketh not ashamed of whatever reproaches, or sufferings. A hope that purifieth even as God is pure. A blessed hope, that waits for the glory of God, with abundant rejoicing; while, with abounding hope, thou lookest forward to the everlasting kingdom of Emmanuel, a joy springs up within thee "unspeakable and full of glory." And if to see the land before thee, be a source of so much joy, how then the possession of it! To enter into the new Jerusalem, to "see God as he is," to "be for ever with the Lord," to be "fashioned like unto his glorious body," to be "presented without spot or wrinkle, holy and without blemish," to taste of, and feed upon those full joys and ravishing pleasures, which are to be had at the right. hand of God for evermore: Lo, this is thy inheritance, thou believer! But what the sum of this glorious inheritance, no earthly tongue can express, no mortal heart conceive. Yet, whatever it be, it is thine, the gift of God to thee in Jesus Christ; for his will is, that "they whom the Father hath given. him be with him where he is," may may "enter in

to the joy of their Lord."

Often reckon over, with thankful acknowledgment, these blessings which attend thee in thy fellowship with Christ: endeavour daily to get a clearer and clearer evidence of thy interest in them. Hereby, thy love of Jesus shall increase; that love shall draw thee still nearer to him; from whence thou shalt experience growing strength and consolation to be inspired into thy soul, to the increase of his praise and glory, and of thy peace and salvation.

SERMON V.

THE BELIEVER A NEW CREATURE.

2 COR. v. 17.

If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.

IT was made too sadly evident, in the first of these discourses, that sin had deformed the soul of man, ruined the image of God stamped upon us, and had set us in such a state of alienation from God, that, while he was forgotten and slighted by us, having no manner of influence or rule in our hearts, we were found to be intent upon carnal gratifications and earthly pursuits, and affecting above all things self-love and self-pleasing. With the miserable bondage and tremendous danger of this condition, the true believer hath been made acquainted. He hath been led to Jesus for deliverance, and, to his inexpressible consolation, he finds, that Christ hath set him free; that this mighty Redeemer hath heard his suit, and "renewed a right spirit within him;" that he dwelleth in his heart, and liveth in him; and that he is actually joined to the Lord, having the same mind, temper, course,

and way

of conduct