Does he give himself up to the wiles of Satan, to be led captive at his pleasure? How degrading is this bondage, how awful is this condition!

Let us then beseech our Lord, that he would make us free from every yoke of sin, and endue us with the filial spirit of the sons of God; that our obedience may flow from the heart, our hearts being renewed in righteousness and purity. Let us renounce all those lords and masters which so imperiously rule in the children of disobedience; and with all our powers may we endeavour to serve and please our almighty Creator and gracious Redeemer.

We should consider, that if a man be held under the dominion of any evil lust or propensity, he is still the slave of sin, and is a stranger to "that glorious liberty" wherewith Christ makes his people free. We ought, therefore, to be circumspect and watchful over our own hearts, lest those enemies which seemed to have been destroyed, should again revive, and trouble us, and lead us into bondage. "Yield not your members" then, my brethren, as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as

instruments of righteousness unto God." And being now made free from sin, and become servants to God, we shall have our fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

SERMON XVII.

THE CHRISTIAN'S DUTY AND PRIVILEGE TO

REJOICE EVERMORE.

1 THESS. V. 16.

Rejoice evermore.

THAT a religion so divine and excellent as the Christian Religion evidently is, should be frequently misrepresented, needs not occasion us any surprise, if we consider who are the persons that are the most forward in misrepresenting it. It is necessarily opposed and disliked by those persons whose vices it counteracts, and also by those who are pursuing a

course of pleasures which it pointedly condemns. By the latter of these, who are a numerous class, it is represented as productive of melancholy and gloom, as depriving its possessors of the comforts of this life, and as leading them to look forward to a future uncertain state of visionary felicity. That our holy religion has sometimes been productive of these unhappy effects we do not deny; but then it has been the case only with those who have laboured under infirmities of mind or body, or who have entertained some false notions respecting religion, and have looked upon it as an object of terror rather than of joy and delight. It is certain that "the author and finisher of our faith," does not wish his followers to be melancholy and unhappy, but of all men the most joyful. He was indeed himself " a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;" but HE wept that we might be joyful, and he bore our griefs that we might rejoice evermore. He said to his disciples, just before he left them, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." It is said also of the Apostles and first Christians, after the day of Pentecost, that "they continua John xvi. 33.

a

ing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people." In the Epistles to the Churches afterwards established, we find many exhorta tions to "rejoice in the Lord." That in our Text is short and expressive, Rejoice evermore,

C

This precept is found in the midst of others that are equally beautiful and important, which come one after another like the links of a golden chain, all conducing to the ornament and comfort of upright Christians. Evermore

rejoice. Without ceasing pray. In every thing give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

What an amiable character do these words exhibit of our heavenly Father! He commands us to be happy, he sets before us our privileges, and he points out the means which tend to produce in us those excellent effects of peace and joy.

Let us supplicate his blessing while we consider, First, In what respects the Christian is commanded to rejoice evermore. Secondly, What are the causes which impede this rejoicing. b Acts ii. 46, 47. c Phil. iv, 4.