mend his

pace,

who is affured that every ftep

brings him nearer to heaven?

What a mighty cordial will this be, under the sharpeft afflictions, to confider that God meaneth us no hurt; but, on the contrary, hath pledged his faithfulness to make them all work together for our good? One who hath eternal life in the eye of his faith and hope, can look through tribulation, and fee funfhine at the back of the darkeft cloud.

And then what comfort does it give in the hour of death? How miferable is the foul that must be turned out of doors fhiftless and harbourlefs, and is not provided of an everlafting habitation, or a better place to go to ; but affurance makes the foul to triumph over the grave, and take death chearfully by the cold hand, and even long to be gone, and to be with Chrift. Dark and doubting Christians may indeed fhrink back, and be afraid of the exchange; but the affured foul defires to depart, and needs as much patience to live, as other men do to die. Let us then, my brethren, prefs after this attainment, and not only feek to be in fafety, but to know that we are fo. And as it is a gift of God, let us, by

humble and importunate prayer, afk it of him who giveth to all men liberally, and upbraid eth not. And,

Laft of all, let thofe who have got this invaluable mercy, improve it for those purposes for which it was beftowed. "I will run the 66 way of thy commandments," said the Pfalmift, "when thou haft enlarged my heart." Make fwift progrefs in the way of duty, if you defire the continuance of this comfortable privilege. Let it appear to all that your converfation is in heaven. Live above this world, and be daily "adding to your faith "virtue; and to, virtue, knowledge; and to "knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, ઃઃ patience; and to patience, godlinefs; and to godliness, brotherly kindnefs; and to brotherly kindness, charity:" And then shall an entrance be adminiftered unto you abundantly, into the everlafting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift, to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

SER

277

SERMON XVI.

I. JOHN, iv. 9.

In this was manifefted the love of God towards us, becaufe that God fent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through bim.

『

HE value of different truths, like that of

THE

all other objects, is to be estimated by the different degrees of their usefulness and importance. Judging by this rule, there are none which better deserve our attention, than those which relate to the character of the Supreme Being. If our ideas of him be different from what he really is, it is impoffible that we can love him truly, or ferve him with acceptance. There may be qualities in the imaginary being which we adore, utterly repugnant with the perfections of the true God; and the mode of worship by which we strive to please him, may of coufequence be as abfurd

S 3

furd as the ideas which we entertain of his character. Various are the means which God hath provided for guiding us to the true knowledge of himself. The heavens declare his glory, and the firmament fheweth his handy works. The invisible things of him, even his eternal power and Godhead, are clearly feen, being perceived by the things which he hath made. His moral perfections may be learned from his general adminiftration of the world, and especially from his conduct towards his rational creatures. Had we capacities fufficient to take a comprehenfive view of all his works and ways, fuch a review would refult in a full conviction, that righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne, and that mercy and truth continually go before him. But as we fee only a fmall part of the great fyftem which he is carrying on, and of confequence are liable to miftaken and impartial conceptions, he hath been graciously pleased to reft his character on one great fact, which it is impoffible to misunderstand. This fact the Apoftle places in our view in the paffage before us. He is engaged in an argument for his favourite doctrine

of

of univerfal benevolence. To enforce this doctrine, he reminds his readers of the love and benevolence of God, and of this he can find no other way to exprefs his ftrong conceptions, than by denominating him love and goodness itself. Beloved," faith he, at the 7th verfe, "let us love one another, for love "is of God, and every one that loveth is born "of God, and knoweth God. He that lov"eth not knoweth not God, for God is love." To prove this, he enters into no refined difquifitions, or abstract reasonings, on the divine nature. Thefe, he knew, were but little adapted to the general apprehenfions of mankind. He thinks it fufficient to appeal for a proof of it to that wonderful expedient which God devifed for faving loft finners. "In this," fays he, " was manifefted the love "of God towards us, because that God fent "his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him." Thefe words then imply,

I. That the redemption of mankind was an act of the freest and most unmerited grace.