created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." "Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ."

3. Believers have peace from the challenges of an evil conscience through Christ, as they have an absolute assurance of being delivered from the power of sin, and effectually enabled to glorify him with their souls and with their bodies which are his. This must be the most earnest desire of every convinced sinner. He breathes after deliverance from the bondage of sin; the more he hath felt the weight of his chains, the more he longs to be free. This is inseparable from genuine convictions, on the principles above laid down. How much must it contribute to compose the conscience, to know that this desire shall certainly be accomplished! However much cause he may have to condemn himself for his past provocations, or to dread the weakness of his own resolutions of future amendment, he knows and trusts in the power of his Redeemer. He knows that henceforth he shall not serve sin, that its dominion shall be gradually broken through life, and entirely destroyed at death. As the end of Christ's coming was to glorify his heavenly Father, he knows that the glory of God cannot be promoted by leaving the sinner under the bondage of corruption, and therefore that he shall be purified, and made meet to be a "partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light."

If we look with care and attention into the New Testament, we shall perceive that there is a close and mutual connection between our justification and sanctification, and that both are represented as the fruit of our Redeemer's purchase: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death for what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin condemned sin in the flesh." All the blessings of salvation are represented as following one another in a continued chain or series, not one link of which can possibly be broken: For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first-born among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified." There is a cleansing and purifying virtue in the blood of Christ, as well as an infinite value in the way of purchase and atonement: "For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works, to serve the living God?”

None but real Christians, exercised in the spiritual life, know the value or necessity of the promises of strength and assistance contained in the Scriptures.

The glory of their Redeemer's person, spoken of in so magnificent terms, both in the Old Testament and the New, is surveyed by them with the most exquisite delight. The power and efficacy of his administration is to them a source of unspeakable comfort. Under him, as the Captain of their salvation, they display their banners, and go forth with undaunted courage to meet every opposing enemy, believing that they shall be "more than conquerors through him that loved them." Among many

others, see the two following passages: "O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength: lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young." "Fear thou not, for I am with thee: be not dismayed, for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not, I will help thee."

SECTION VII. How the Christian is governed in his daily conversation.

Before concluding this chapter, I shall speak a few words of the principles by which a believer is governed in his after obedience. On this the reader may observe, that a change in his whole character and conduct immediately and necessarily takes place. The love of God is "shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Ghost," and is the commanding principle of all his future actions. It constantly discovers its influence, except in so far as it is resisted and counteracted by the remaining struggles of that "law in his members, which warreth against the law of God in his mind." By the discovery which he hath obtained of the real nature and infinite amiableness of God, his will is renewed; he approves the things that are excellent, and gets such an impression of the obligation of the law of God, as cannot be afterwards effaced. So long, however, as he continues under a load of unforgiven guilt, and sees every perfection of God armed with terror against himself, there can be little else than slavish fear: but when he hears a gracious promise of pardon; when, on examining the evidence, his doubt and uncertainty is removed; when he sees the righteous ground on which this forgiveness is built, he lays hold of it as his own, and is united to God by unfeigned love. This love, though weak in its measure, is, notwithstanding, perfect in its nature, and therefore powerful in its influence; being at once a love of esteem, of gratitude, and of desire.

The love of God is the first precept of the moral law, and the first duty of every intelligent creature; but it is easy to see, that unless our love is fixed upon the true God, it is spurious and unprofitable; and, unless the true God is seen in "the face of Jesus Christ," for any sinner to love him is impossible: but through the glorious gospel the new nature is effectually produced, and cannot be produced in any other way. It is Christ Jesus who reveals to us the true God, the knowledge of whom we had lost. "No man hath seen God at any time; the onlybegotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." It is he who makes our peace with God, whom we had offended by our transgressions; for, "being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." And it is he who reconcileth our minds to God, by discovering his mercy to us; so that he might well say of himself, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me."

I might easily show, that the love of God is the source, the sum, and the perfection of holiness. All other duties naturally flow from it; nay, all other duties are nothing else but the necessary expressions of it. But instead of entering into a particular detail, suffer me only to observe these two things:First, That a believer is under the constant influence of gratitude to God; and, Secondly, That this includes in it, and will certainly produce, the most sincere and fervent love to all his fellow-creatures.

1. A believer is under the constant influence of