ἐσ

they had a better and more enduring "fubftance." They did not regret the lofs of those perifhing trifles, for which carnal men contend with fuch eager and unremitting labour: they looked beyond them to permanent and fubftantial bleffings, and rejoiced in the hope, "that when the earthly "houfe of this tabernacle fhould be dif"folved, they had a building of God, an "house not made with hands, eternal in "the heavens."-But I muft here add, that all these discoveries, which have fo obvious a tendency to feparate us from idols, derive their virtue and efficacy from that divine Spirit which Christ purchased by his fufferings, and obedience unto death; whofe office it is, not only to throw light upon the great truths revealed in the gospel, and to open or unvail our eyes, that we may fee them in all their evidence, but likewise to carry them home into our hearts with fuch demonstration and power, that they fhall become the type or mould wherein that new man is formed, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. By this divine agent we are born into the

kingdom

kingdom and family of God, and arę connected with the fpiritual world as really ast by our natural birth we were introduced into and connected with this material world. In confequence whereof, we become fons, not in name only, but in nature; and, as St Paul reafons, upon a principle univerfally admitted, "If fons, then are we alfo "heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs with "Christ Jefus." This powerful renovation pulls down at once every idol from the throne, and lays them all under the feet of the "man in Chrift;" for every thing tends to the place of its original. "They that are "after the flesh do mind the things of the "flesh; and they that are after the fpirit, "the things of the fpirit:"-" They have "not received the fpirit of the world, but "the Spirit which is of God, whereby they "know the things that are freely given "them of God." And these they find to be a portion fufficient to fill the most enlarged capacity of their fouls. Being rifen with their Lord, they "feek the things " which are above, where Christ fitteth at "the right hand of God." They are dead

to

to whatsoever is confined to their prefent ftate of existence; and the new life they have received, being "hid with Christ in

God," they are enabled to conclude, with the most abfolute certainty, "that when he "who is their life fhall appear, then shall they also appear with him in glory, and ever after be with the Lord."

"MAY he who at firft commanded the

light to fhine out of darkness, fhine into "all your hearts, to give you the light of "the knowledge of his glory, in the face "of

of Jefus Chrift," that each of you may be disposed and enabled to say, What have I to do any more with idols? And let those who have experienced the power of divine grace, fhow, by their future conduct, that they find enough in their God and Saviour to render them completely happy; and that the draught they have got of the pure water of life, hath effectually quenched their thirst after the muddy pools of earthly enjoyments.

Beware, O Chriftians! of every thing that may fully your profeffion, or grieve

the.

I

the Spirit, and thereby breed in you a dif trust of your perfonal interest in God's pardoning mercy and fanctifying grace: for it is "by faith you ftand;" and in the fame proportion that your faith fails, idols will regain their influence in your hearts. fhall therefore conclude with that affectionate exhortation of the Apostle Jude, " Ye "beloved, building up yourselves on your "most holy faith, praying in the Holy "Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, "looking for the mercy of our Lord Jefus «Chrift unto eternal life." Amen.

SERMON XI.

I JOHN iii. 8.

265

For this purpose the Son of God was manifefted, that he might deftroy the works of the devil.

Among the various motives to the love

in

and practice of universal holiness with which this facred epiftle abounds, the one I have now read to you doth certainly merit peculiar attention; and must to every genuous mind appear not only most perfuafive, but likewife most animating. For who that hath any thirst for true glory, would not afpire to the high dignity of becoming a "worker-together" with the Son of God? Or can any man have reason to entertain the least doubt of victory and triumph, who is engaged in a caufe which the great Lord of heaven and earth hath undertaken to fupport?