believes are taught there, and was the mind of Jesus and his disciples, then it is gone far indeed, and the rising of one from the dead to attempt his conversion might be dreaded, and thought to be in vain.

As the apostle of our profession humbled himself to read out of the scriptures, reasoned out of them with men, with his disciples," and expounded out of them the things concerning himself," and also therewith answered the tempter to set us a pattern, let us be his followers, and, as it is written, so believe, so act in every thing, that we may not only shew to others we believe and are disciples of him whose oracles they are, but also happily experience the fulfilling of the promises in our hearts, and be witnesses that they are true and faithful, to the glory of Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom be praise and blessings for ever and ever! Amen.

A PRAYER.

GOD my Saviour, I beseech thee for thy tender mercies sake, let not the deceitfulness of riches, nor any of the things of the world get my affections, nor suffer thou my own desires and lusts to blind my eyes to the pleasures at thy right hand.

Be pleased to make me a stranger and pilgrim here, and let faith in thee be my riches, thy word my lanthorn and staff in this dark world; and let my unfeigned love to thee, and my continual thirst to be for ever in thy favour, make me think little of all carnal joys and happiness. In all company and in all places draw me after thee. Give me a sensible conviction of thy love to me, and the assurance that I am born again of thy Spirit, and made a child of God; and let me know that all my

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changing his want to eternal riches, his rags to God's righteousness, his dunghill to a throne, and his poor troublesome life to a life eternal! Instead of dogs to lick his sores, angels attend him and hail him to his thrice-blessed home and harbour, where he shall rest for ever and ever!

But now we will leave him in his glory and return to the rich glutton in his pomp and splendor, "who also died and was buried." All his gold and silver could not purchase him a renewal, or longer term of life; he died, and left all his companions, his costly furniture, his fine raiment, and plentiful table; he died and went into another state, whither his gold could not be carried, "neither could his pomp follow him." There is no mention made of the beggar's funeral, it was too mean and insignificant to notice; if he was not cast out into the open fields to the beasts and birds of prey, it is likely, as I before observed, he was buried with the burial of an ass; but Dives was buried: He, no doubt, was laid in state, and his hearse attended with mourners, and such as were skilful in lamentation, and in solemn magnificence interred in the sepulchres of his fathers; but O! while his brethren and friends were bearing their once rich brother with such splendor to the grave, his soul sunk down to hell, and in hell he lifted up his eyes being in torments, and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom." Amazing change! his pleasures are turned to torments, his riches to eternal wants, his scarlet and purple robes to purple and scarlet flames of fire, his bowls of new wine to insatiable thirst, his musick to howlings, his fine house to the bottomless pit, his brethren and merry company to devils and wicked spirits. "He lifted up his eyes," but saw no more grandeur and delicate things; he should have opened them before, and have seen the

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things that made for his peace, but now they were hid from him, he opened his eyes too late. It is true, he saw Abraham and Lazarus in glory, but it was afar off; yes, there he saw the same beggar he suffered to perish without mercy at his gate; he saw him now in the bosom of the friend of God; he beheld him who was once unworthy his notice, sitting among the favourites of the God of Abra ham; and he who had scarce any covering, while Dives wallowed in riches and was cloathed with purple and fine linen, now was cloathed with the white and fine linen, which is the righteousness of the saints, and in which they stand without spot before the throne. He had not minded his cries once, but now he cries for his help; and he cried and said,' "Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame." He perhaps had never prayed before, and now prays when it is too late, but he prayed to Abraham. It is the only prayer in the scripture made to the saints, and is a prayer made in vain.' He called Abraham, father, but found it not avail to have had believing or good parents, without having their experience of the love of God, and trod the steps of the faith of Abraham. No more strong drink and new wine refreshed him; he begs not a drop of water, but less if possible, for he prays only that "Lazarus might dip the tip of his finger in water to cool his tongue." "" See how he intreats mercy from him to whom he would shew no mercy! Thus shall it be in the day when Jesus comes; then the despised and persecuted few, who loved him in the world, and who for his sake were hated, abused, slandered, reviled, and as it were, "killed all the day long," shall be honourable in their sight who slighted and used them ill. They shall then worship

at

sins are forgiven and buried in thy wounds, and in the red sea of thy blood for ever.

I will be thine, body and soul, O keep that which I entrust to thy care till the day of restitution, and in all dangers be near me. If I should be rash, or run in a way which is not right, or should mistake thy mind, disappoint and hinder me; but O let my soul be still precious in thy sight, till the appointed time is come for me to depart. Then, my dear Saviour, let the angels carry me to thy bosom, and without fear or dread in the assurance of faith, let me leave the world and come home to thee. Let this be my happy lot, and do what thou wilt with me here. Hear me, O thou good shepherd of Israel, and grant my prayer for thy name's sake. Amen.

DISCOURSE

DISCOURSE XXVII.

THE HIDDEN TREASURE.

MATT. xiii. 44.

The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; which, when a man hath found, he hideth; and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

THOUGH our Lord, in the days of his flesh,

was pleased to speak in parables, yet he delivers his doctrine in such a plain manner, uses such easy comparisons, and with such an inimitable simplicity, that the peasant and herdsman, the little child and servant-maid can be as capable of understanding and comprehending his mind, as the most learned and studious philosopher on earth.

He did it, out of his infinite wisdom, to destroy the wisdom of the wise; and to set at nought, and baffle, and bring to nothing, the understanding of the prudent.

He would not leave room for the wise man to glory in his wisdom before him; nor give an occasion for the ignorant to complain, because he had not the gift of knowledge, or sigh under the disadvantages of a slender education; for however a solid judgment, letters, study, books, and sciences, may be valuable in respect of other matters, they help not often in the matter of salvation; nor have the N 2

most