or less it is a talent, and we must give account of it as stewards; and the Christian spirit is, to deny ourselves, to deduct from our gains and our expenses, to abridge ourselves of many gratifications, conveniences, and comforts, which are not sinful in themselves, that at one and the same time we may mortify the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, and provide a fund for works of piety and charity. And what a revenue might be raised even in this land for such purposes, were this conduct universal among those who profess to be governed by the principles of Christianity! This, I am persuaded was very conducive to the spread of the gospel in the apostles' days. The disinterestedness and public spirit of Christians, who, living in fervent love, had even all things in common when circumstances required it, were both the effect and the evidence of their abundant grace, and were instrumental to the glory of God and the good of men. Thus they brought forth fruit, and their fruit remainetk. And so doth their example, though but few are willing to follow it. Nor do I much doubt that the same spirit will be revived amongst believers previously, and as preparatory, to those glorious times which the church is waiting for, when the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. And how worthy is it of our high calling, how becoming the gospel of him who, though he was rich, yet for our sakes became poor, that we through his poverty might be made rich, to be so dead to outward things, and so filled with love to others, as cheerfully to retrench a needless ornament, to forego a superfluous delicacy, to wear a coarser, cheaper garment, or to keep a plainer table, on purpose to secure a fund for works of piety and charity.-And, If thou, O Christian, thus draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul, then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon-day; and the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought; and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters fail not.

"As therefore ye abound in other things, see that ye abound in this grace also; for herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit: so shall ye be my disciples."

6. CONTENTMENT AND THANKFULNESS,

"TRUE Christians are required to glorify God and adorn the gospel by a patient, contented, cheerful, thankful spirit

in all circumstances and under all dispensations of providence.

"Man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upwards. All these troubles and sorrows, which intermingle with and embitter every relation and situation of life, are the effects of the righteous sentence of God pronounced on our fallen race: for affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground. Is there evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it? And indeed, as every thing is so far sinful as it comes short of the perfection of the law, so every thing inflicted on sinners, short of complete unmixed misery, is not only just but merciful. It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

"But none can or will see and allow this, but they who, being enlightened to behold the infinite glory and loveliness of the divine Being, perceive the reasonableness and equity of the divine law, and in consequence the utter hatefulness of sin, of every kind and degree of sin, which is the transgression of that law; (arouía;) and the righteousness of the curse denounced against every one that continueth not in all things written in the book of the law, to do them; and who in their judgment consider sin as justly deserving God's everlasting wrath, and complete misery in hell....... He, therefore, who professes to believe that even perfect obedience merits nothing, being no more than the payment of a just debt, but that every sin deserves unspeakable punishment, is most inconsistent indeed if he indulge impatience and discontent, and give way to murmurs and repinings when he meets with troubles, however complicated and heavy. Still the evils he endures are much less than he deserves, and the good he enjoys is what he has no right to claim. He is called upon, therefore, when the trial comes, to shew whether he believes his own professed principles, and is influenced by them.-A true Christian sees it right that the world, being full of sin, should be full of sorrow; that mankind, having abused, and indeed deified God's creatures, should have them all embittered to them. Especially he sees this in his own case to be fit and right; and, although even innocent nature would flinch from suffering, yet he will heartily join with Jeremiah, and say, Shall a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sin?-And this will produce, in proportion to the degree of grace he possesses, an habitual contentedness in his station, thankfulness for the mercies he enjoys,

patience under the sufferings he is visited with, and resignation to the will of God under losses and trials: which will lead him to say with Job, the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord: or with Eli, It is the Lord; let him do what seemeth him good: or with David, I was dumb with silence, because thou didst it. And this is in a high degree honorable to God; to his wisdom, justice, faithfulness, and goodness. It shews the power of religion in the heart; recommends it to others; and conciliates the regard of men, who often cannot withhold their approbation, and even admiration, of such conduct.

"And, although Christians have not only their share in the ordinary troubles of life, but also many troubles peculiar to themselves, yet they have also peculiar supports: and they experience both one and the other for this end, among others, that they may glorify God, evidence the reality of religion, and recommend it to men by their patient, contented, cheerful, thankful conduct under troubles. -Whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth; and whom he loves, the world will hate and persecute, and the devil will envy and tempt: and from all these causes they will in the world have tribulation, and through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. Their Father sees it good for them to be crossed and disappointed, to be despised and reproached, to be persecuted, tried, and tempted, to be poor, or sick, or bereaved; that they may be weaned from the world, driven from amongst the ungodly, brought near to him in prayer, made acquainted with his word, have experience of his faithfulness, be corrected for their sins, taught to sympathize with others, and led to admire the love of a willingly suffering Saviour. They shall have grievous chastisements, that they may be partakers of his holiness.

"And much of the fruitfulness, which our heavenly Father requires of us, consists in our properly conducting ourselves in these circumstances. He hath therefore set before us a perfect example in his beloved Son, that under all we may look to him, lest we be weary, and faint in our minds. He hath also given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, peculiarly to an afflicted state; and is ever ready to fulfil them to us in answer to our prayers. Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. Having convinced us that the worst we endure is immensely better than we deserve, he holds

forth to us the assurance that all things work together for good to them that love God; he affords the comforting influences of his Holy Spirit, and refreshes our souls with the invigorating hope of eternal happiness-that our light afflictions, which are but for a moment, work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.-Now then he bids us be content with such things as we have; be patient in tribulation; possess our souls in patience; rejoice in the Lord always; yea glory in tribulations also. And he who most habitually and eminently obeys these precepts does most honor God, adorn the gospel, and let his light shine before men: and all true Christians will be disposed to do so in proportion to the degree of grace which they possess, except as its efficacy may be restrained by erroneous views. "The grand difficulty which sincere Christians find in these duties proceeds from remaining sinfulness, and the doubts thence arising about their state. This can be removed only by carefully examining the word of God, in order to discover what is the real nature of true grace, and how it influences the heart; carefully comparing with this what we have experienced, and do experience; praying much and earnestly to be satisfied in this matter; and especially giving diligence to make our calling and election sure. However, did not many strangely confound a complaining, desponding, gloomy spirit with true humility, they would by no means yield to it so much as they do. Did they consider how it prejudices men's minds against religion, as an uncomfortable thing, they would watch more against it, and complain to the Lord, and not to man. And, did they duly consider what their deservings are, and what their mercies; and how able and willing Christ is to save sinners, though they might not be able to rejoice evermore, yet they would not dishonor religion by appearing always dissatisfied and discontented. On the contrary, for a professed Christian cheerfully, patiently, contentedly, thankfully to bear poverty, pain, sickness, reproaches, contempt, and injury; under all praising the wisdom, justice, goodness, faithfulness of God; still recommending him to all around as a good master and a kind father; and expressing himself satisfied in religion, desiring no other portion than God, glorying in this choice of him, and rejoicing in the hope of heaven; this is so powerful an argument for the reality and excellency of religion, as can scarcely be totally withstood. This alone has been instrumental to

the salvation of multitudes; and so great has been its effect, that times of persecution have ever been noted as times of great success to religion.-May God help us thus to glorify him!"

7. OBSERVANCE OF RELIGIOUS ORDINANCES.

"CHRISTIANS are called to glorify God, and to promote the cause of religion and the salvation of men, by a rever ent regard to all religious institutions. Thus Zacharias and Elizabeth, who were both righteous before God, walked in all the ordinances and commandments of the Lord blameless: yea thus our Lord declared that it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. I do not find that he any where speaks of himself singly in the plural number, nor conceive that we are to interpret this answer to John the Baptist otherwise than in this manner: 'It becomes all the servants of God to put honor on all his appointments, even respecting instituted worship, by attending upon them: much more does it become me, who as the surety for sinners, as well as their example, am to magnify the law, and make it honorable, by a perfect obedience.'

"There are two things to be considered in all public ordinances of religion: they are means of grace, channels, as it were, through which divine blessings are communicated from Christ to those who sincerely and diligently use them: and they are also appointments intended to keep up the knowledge of the true God, and regard for religion in the world. Every religious ordinance, in general, when seriously and reverently attended on, is of the nature of a confession of our faith in the being and perfections, the authority and government of the true God; and forms a protest against atheism, idolatry, and irreligion: and each ordinance, in particular, having its own specific meaning, gives the Christian an opportunity of professing his faith in some particular part of divine truth, and protesting against the opposite error.

"Thus bloody sacrifices, made by fire to Jehovah at his appointed altar, were a profession of faith in him as the true God; that the worshippers were sinners; that sin deserved death, and the fire of the divine wrath; that, if the sinner were spared, a substitution must be made; that without shedding of blood, and a sacrifice to divine justice. there was no remission; and that the offerers expect