inattention and perverseness, we may be able to congratulate each other: you blessing God for us, as helpers of your faith; and we presenting you to God, as our joy and crown of rejoicing. Then will be exultation and triumph for ever and ever. Yes, my fellow-labourers, though at present we are but frail and contemptible, yet, if we can deliver up the treasure committed to us, not merely not embezzled, but in some degree improved, the Lord, the gracious judge, will honour us with his public approbation; and he will infinitely overpay our poor attempts to serve him, when he shall say, "Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." DISCOURSE I. ON THE ADMISSION OF TWO PERSONS TO THE LORD'S TABLE. ESTHER V. 6. And the king said unto Esther, at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be performed. THIS, for an earthly monarch, was noble and ge nerous. But the King of Kings does nothing by halves. The meanest of his servants is a king, and is possessor of a kingdom extensive and glorious, in comparison with which, the whole empire of Ahasuerus is no more than the smallest particle of sand. In the distribution of his favours, he regards the majesty of his own character more than the meanness of ours. His bounty is confined by no restrictions. Ask what ye will, and it shall be given you. If ye ask for grace, for a pardon, and a title to the favour of God through the infinite merits and righte ousness of Christ, for the sanctifying and comforting influences of the Holy Ghost, they shall be freely bestowed. Yea, if you ask for an interest in the various perfections and attributes of Jehovah himself, bold as the request may seem, it shall not be denied VOL. I. II |