the church; the prevalency of heresy and impiety; the triumphs of infidels and deceivers, and a world lying in the wicked one, are to him sources of frequent sorrow; and the language of profaneness is as a sword in his bones, "while men say, Where is now thy God?" Thus he "groans, being burdened;" but especially his heart knoweth its own bitterness, in respect of his sins, conflicts, and temptations. He often finds his former sins called to remembrance, and reflects on them anew with deep remorse and self-abasement, especially when he witnesses any of their evil consequences. Alas! he has frequently still to mourn with godly sorrow and inward anguish, because he has contracted fresh guilt, and ungratefully offended his heavenly Father. Sometimes he is thus led to fear, lest he has hitherto deceived himself; and, having grieved his gracious Comforter, he is left in darkness, under rebukes and chastenings to bewail his folly, and is thus brought back with weeping and supplication. But it is well, if he pass through life without, in some degree, rejoicing the hearts of the wicked by more.grievous falls, and thus causing the name of God to be blasphemed: and if preserved from this most deplorable evil, and a stran ger to that anguish which must permanently be felt by those who have thus fallen and been graciously recovered, he has been kept by "fearing always," and so constantly crying for help to God. These fears, however, are a deduction from his comforts, though they conduce to his safety. So long as the christian lives in this world, sin dwells within him, whether it prevail against him, or not; and the more he delights in the law of God, and longs to be perfectly holy, and consequently the more he hates sin; the greater uneasiness will he experience from its presence in his heart, and the risings of evil desires and passions, which will mingle with his best obedience. The less they defile him, being exceedingly detested, the more will they distress him. 'The more he longs to obey as angels do, the greater grief will he feel, that "when he would do good evil is present with him." This, this will cause the complaint, which persecutors cannot extort, and make even the advanced christian mournfully exclaim, "Oh wretched man that I am! "who shall deliver me?" It would take me too far to speak of his temptations from the powers of darkness, which at times are exceedingly distressing; and make him perceive the important meaning of the apostle's words, "Our mer"ciful and faithful High-priest, who can be touched "with the feeling of our infirmities, suffered being "tempted, that he might be able to succour them that are tempted." In short, he has seasons of disconsolation, conflict, and inward distress; he has fears, and sorrows, and difficulties, which are known to God alone: and though by faith and prayer he is carried above all, and is often enabled to rejoice in God; yet he cannot but long for a more settled state, an uninterrupted enjoyment; and death, by which his Saviour in the appointed hour will terminate the conflict, must prove his greatest gain. He then "enters into peace." "There the wicked cease from troubling, there the weary are at rest." There says he, in delightful expectation, 'Sin, my worst enemy before, My beloved brethren, we do not know what we shall be, but we have some knowledge of what we shall not be. When arrived at heaven we shall have no sorrow, fear, or shame. We shall be eternally exempted from all that here makes us weep, and groan, and tremble. We shall have done for ever with sin and temptation: we shall have no bad companions, or uneasy passions. We shall "hunger no more, neither "thirst any more, neither shall the sun light on us, or any heat. For the LAMB that is in the midst of "the throne shall lead us forth besides the living "fountains of water; and God shall wipe away all "tears from our eyes." 3. But the christian has his comforts as well as his sorrows in this world. He has the ordinary comforts of life; and while he would not overvalue them, neither would he by any means despise them: nay, a spi rit of dependence on his heavenly Father, united with submission and gratitude, and moderation-in all things, render even temporal comforts far more pleasant to him than they can be to ungodly men. "A little that "the righteous hath, is better than the treasures of "many wicked." A consistent conduct also in domestick life, and among relatives and neighbours, seldom fails in time to ensure a man respect and affection in his private circle. The world may hate and revile, but those, with whom he spends most of his hours, will add to his comfort by kindness and affec tion. The storm rages without, but there is peace within; he takes sweet counsel with his friends in a secure retreat, and disregards its blustering. But though these are sources of considerable comfort in this present world; yet even in this respect, to die is the christian's gain. Good roads, agreeable companions, an easy conveyance, fine weather, a pleasant country, and convenient accommodations, are great advantages in travelling; yet domestick men, whose hearts are at home with their beloved families, do not choose to travel merely for the sake of these accommodations; but take the comfort of them, dispatch their business, press forward with all convenient speed, and rejoice when they arrive at their journey's end. Thus the christian's home, his treasure, and his heart are in heaven; above all, his beloved Saviour is there: and, though he is very thankful for all his temporal mercies, yet as far as faith and hope prevail, he considers it far better "to depart hence and to be "with Christ;" and even "to be absent from the "body that he may be present with the Lord." He loves his relatives and friends with cordial affection: yet he longs for that state in which all these affections will be swallowed up, or rather perfected, in those of a still more exalted kind. He desires to be in that world, where "they neither marry nor are given in "marriage, but are as the angels of God." He leaves those whom he most loves to the care of his heavenly Father; and when death is about to separate him from them, he rejoices in hope of a re-union ere long in the regions of unchangeable felicity. He is taken from the company of the saints below, who are "the ex"cellent of the earth, in whom is all his delight:" but he goes to join the saints in light, "the spirits of just men made perfect, and an innumerable compa ' ny of angels;" in "the presence of God, where is "fulness of joy, and pleasures at his right hand for "evermore:" and so strong is this attraction, that frequently it is observed to overcome and loosen those ties of long-cemented affection, which before seemed indissoluble. 66 4. The christian, however, even on earth has blessings superior to all his outward comforts. He has peace and joy in believing." Sometimes "his soul "is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, while his "mouth praises God with joyful lips." His "fellow ship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ;" he experiences the strong consolations of the Holy Spirit," rejoices in hope," and often, can also "re"joice in tribulation:" yea, he rejoices in his unseen but beloved Saviour "with joy unspeakable and full "of glory." He "delights himself in God," he "de"lighteth greatly in his commandments:" and has earnests and foretastes of heaven in this present world. These are satisfactions which he most values, and which render him happier than other men, notwithstanding all his peculiar conflicts and trials: yet these especially assure him, that "to him to die is gain." For, my brethren, if such joy spring up in the heart from a transient glimpse, so to speak, of the light of God's countenance; what will the beatifick vision be, the full discovery of his glory and the enjoyment of his love! The branch of Canaan's grapes carried into |