this prevailing high Prieft-None ever perished that did fo. Neither fhalt thou, unless almighty power be weakened, or infinite compaffions exhaufted. Let this be the day of thy return. Speedily break covenant with hell and death, that thou mayest be inrolled among those whom the Father himself loves, and for whom the Son does in a peculiar manner conftantly pray.

3dly, As for you who fincerely love the Redeemer, and believe that he is come out from God, to you belongs all the comfort of thefe gracious words: Whatever you ask in the name of Jefus fhall be freely given you; for the Father himself loveth you, and his bleffed Son conftantly prays for you. Whatever carnal men may think of this, yet furely it is a privilege of which I hope you know both the value and ufe. To be allowed accefs to God at any rate, is a prodigious favour; but to come before him hopefully, with good affurance of being accepted, this is a fignal bleffing, which is peculiar to yourfelves. Lift up thy head, then, O fincere believer. Does thy confcience bear teftimony that thou loveft Jefus, and believeft that he is

the

the fent of God. Apply, then, these gracious words to thyfelf. The Father himfelf loveth thee, and makes thee welcome to ufe the prevailing name of his once fuffering, but now exalted Son. In all thy difficulties come freely to him. "Be careful for "nothing, but in every thing by prayer and "fupplication, with thankfgiving, make thy

requests known to God." The Redeemer, too, enforces thy requests, and is more mindful of thee than thou canft be of thyfelf. He fympathifes with thee in all thy infirmities. and diftreffes; and when thou canst not utter thy defires, yet he understands the groanings of his own Spirit within thee. He forms thy petitions, and urges them with all their force; yea thy very need has a language which he can interpret. He forefees the trials that are coming upon thee, when thou doft not. Thus, whilst Peter was glorying in his ftrength, his Saviour, knowing his weakness, and the malice of Satan, was praying for. him that his faith might not fail. The like provident tenderness will he fhew to thee.

Even now, O believers, he is pleading on your behalf, whilft the Father liftens with de

light and approbation.

He kindly accepts

of this teftimony of your love, in keeping up the memory of his bitter paffion *; and no doubt all your well qualified prayers have been this day powerfully enforced by your faithful high Priest.

What shall I say more to you: Praise and thanksgiving is your duty at this time. Let your fouls, and all that is within you, be ftirred up to blefs your heavenly Father, whofe love was the fountain and fpring of your happiness, and is ftill the foundation of your trueft comfort.

Let your fouls, and all that is within you, be stirred up to blefs your gracious Redeemer, who hath ranfomed you by his blood, and who, amid the exaltation of heaven, the fplendour of his Father's right hand, still kindly remembers his humble followers whofe ears are ever open to their prayers, whofe mouth is ever ready to plead their caufe, and as if it were not love enough to die for them, who alfo lives and reigns for them, yea and even glories in being made head over all things to the church. Alas our praises are so feeble and

low,

* Preached at the celebration of the Lord's Supper.

low, that we may blush and be afhamed to offer them.

But do you not long for heaven, that, with a more elevated fong than this dull state can admit, you may join in praifing this object of your love. Continue yet a little longer-have patience for a while, give fome" farther teftimonies of your faith here, and he who intercedes for will receive you to himself; and that you may not doubt of this, read and ponder these gracious verses with which I conclude, John, xvii. 24.

you

"Fa

"ther I will, that they also whom thou haft given me be with me, where I

am, that they may behold the glory which thou haft

given me; for thou lovedft me before the "foundation of the world."

To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, one God, be glory and honour, dominion and power, for ever.

Amen.

SER

94

SERMON VI.

HEBREWS, xii. 28, 29.

Wherefore, we, receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may ferve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a confuming fire.

HE gofpel of our falvation, which con

tains the wholesome words of our Lord Jefus Chrift, is exprefsly ftiled the doctrine which is according to godlinefs. It manifefts the grace of God to finners of mankind; but all who receive that grace are thereby taught effectually to deny ungodlinefs and worldly lufts, and to live foberly, and righteoufly, and godly, in this prefent world. It abounds with great and precious promises; but all these promifes have a practical tendency, that by the belief and improvement of them, we may be made partakers of the divine nature; hav