ingratitude can there be, than for you to go, and say in your extremity, "Lord, I am thine; save me;" and then turn your back upon him, when your purpose has been accomplished? O my friends, take care of all approaches to such a character. If you be not steadfast in his covenant, you, in effect, throw up his bond, and tell him, that you neither value nor expect any of the blessings which it contains. For as the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting, to such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them; by leaving his service, you would release him from all obligations to pardon and save you, or to help you in the time of your distress: you would not only lose him as a friend, but you would provoke him to be your exasperated enemy. "If any man draw back," says he, "my soul shall have no pleasure in him." A time will come when you will want his help; and how dreadful would it be, if, when you cried to him in your distress, he should say to you, as he once said, on a like occasion, "Ye cried unto me, and I delivered you out of their hand; yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods, wherefore, I will deliver you no more. Go, and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation." Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord; for as much as ye know, that your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord.

This is what I intended to offer as the next advice.

Do much for him.—

Where there is a sincere appropriation of God for our safety and happiness, there will be a cheerful resig

nation to him, to obey his will, and submit to his disposal. When, therefore, you said to the Lord, Thou art my Lord, the very next words should have been, "What wilt thou have me to do? I can never do enough for such a Master; but I would be always doing something. Unprofitable I know I shall be; but I would not be a wicked and slothful servant. I will run the way of thy commandments when thou shalt enlarge my heart."

Right, Christians, by all means say so, and do so. Be not slothful in business, but fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. In your own spiritual concerns, in the family, in the church, and in the world, there is work enough to keep you always employed. You have but a little time allotted for this service; but a day, and a very short day, a considerable part of which is already passed away; and with respect to you, the shadows of the evening are coming Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure; and whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no more work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave, whither ye are hastening. Thirdly, expect much from God.

some of

on apace.

If your work be extensive and difficult, your wages shall be great in proportion, or rather beyond all proportion. "I reckon, that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to be revealed in us." You may expect grace to help in every time of need, and then what signifies it to what services you are appointed? Let them be hard or hazardous, what need have you to regard it, when you think of that precious promise." Fear not,

yea,

for I am with thee: be not dismayed, for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; I will uphold thee, with the right hand of my righteousness." You may expect a ready and full supply of all your real wants; though not of those of an imaginary nature, which proceed from sickly and injudicious desires. A supply in that case, would be hurtful, rather than beneficial. But no good thing will be withheld from them who walk uprightly. Your worldly circumstances may be low; but God forbid that this world should be necessary to your happiness. Where it would be for your benefit to have a share in the good things of the present life, it will be granted; and should it be denied, the want will be abundantly supplied. In the season of trouble he will either keep all destructive evil at a distance, or secure you in heaven before the tempest approaches. Or he will make the valley of Achor a door of hope; an outlet to misery, and an inlet to a thousand unthoughtof mercies. With a multitude of suffering saints, you will say, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted. I never experienced more of the presence and love of God than while I was in the fiery furnace. If he took away some of my outward enjoyments, he gave me inward consolations, which were infinitely sweeter. If he lessened my comforts, he subdued my depravity; so that I was always a gainer by my losses, and had cause in every thing to give thanks."

Finally, you may expect, that if you continue faithful, you shall receive a crown of life. None ever served God for nought. Even in the keeping of his commandments, there is a great reward. But look not for

rest or recompence here; for in this world ye shall have tribulation. You may be treated unkindly by men; but I hope that you will be able to say, "All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant." Then you shall find that God is not unrighteous to forget your works of faith, and labours of love. He will say to you, " Friend, come up higher;" and then he will bestow---I cannot tell you what he will bestow. There is more of heaven than we can comprehend, in that declaration of our Lord, "If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be. If any man serve me, him will my Father honour."

SERMON III.

THE BLESSEDNESS OF APPROACHING TO GOD.

PSALM 1xv. 4.

Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee.

Ir is a question much debated, Who is the happiest man? and the answer is different, according to the various characters and dispositions of the persons to whom it is proposed. The miser says, Blessed is the man whose corn and wine are increased. The sensualist says, Blessed is he who has no Lord over him, and who walks after the ways of his heart, and the sight of his eyes, without the least controul from any laws, human or divine. The ambitious man says, Blessed is he who is highest in favour at court; who is admitted to the confidence of his prince, and is intrusted with the management of states and of kingdoms. But, "Blessed is the man," says David, (and so says every Christian,) "whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee.'

From these words, I shall first inquire, what it is to approach to God :---I shall then attempt to describe the blessedness of it ;--and afterwards mention some of the principal hinderances by which it is often prevented.

O my soul, loose thy shoes from off thy feet, for