conversión; "I was a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious, yet I obtained mercy; and the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith, and love, which is in Jesus Christ." Now I am sent to publish and preach to blasphemers and persecutors, that "this is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first, Jesus Christ might shew forth all long-suffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting."

Turn to another text, ye feeble believers, 2 Cor. xii. 9, 10. there you shall find the same Apostle a convert and a Christian, but too weak to conflict with the messenger of Satan that buffetted him, nor able to release himself from that sore temptation that lay heavy upon him; but having received a word from Christ that his grace was sufficient, and that his

strength was' to shine 'perfect in glory in the midst of our weakness,' the Apostle encourages himself to a joyful hope: Now, says he, I can even "glory in my infirmities (so far as they are without sin) that the power of Christ may rest upon me; when I am weak” in myself, "I am strong" in the Lord.

Are not the most diseased patients the chief honours of the physician that hath healed them? And must not these appear eminently in that day, when he display's to the sight of the world the noblest monuments of his healing power? When cripples and invalids gain the victory over mighty enemies, is not

the skill and conduct of their leader most admired? You are the persons then in whom Christ will be glorified, be of good cheer, receive his offered grace, and wait for his salvation.

III. The next use I shall make of this discourse, is to draw a word of advice' from it. Learn to despise those honours and ornaments in this world, in which Christ shall have no share in the world to come.' I do not say, 'cast them all away,' for many things are needful in this life, that can have no immediate regard to the other; but learn to despise them,' and set light by them, because they reach no further than time, and shall be forgotten in eternity. Never put the higher esteem on yourselves or your neighbours, because of the gay glitterings of silk or silver; nor let these employ your eyes and your thoughts in the time of worship, when the things of the future world should fill up all your attention; nor let them entertain your tongues in your friendly visits, so as to exclude the discourse of divine ornaments, and the glorious appearance of our Lord Jesus.

When I am to put on my best attire, let me consider, if I am hung round with jewels and gold, these must perish before that solemn day, or melt in the last great burning, they can add no beauty to me in that assembly. If I put on love, and faith, and humility, I shall shine in these hereafter, and Christ shall have some rays of glory from them. O may your souls and mine be drest in those graces which are" ornaments of great price in the sight of God!" 1 Pet. iii. 3, 4. Such as may command the respect

of angels, and reflect honour upon Christ in that solemnity!

I confess we dwell in flesh and blood, and human nature in the best of us is too much imprest by things sensible: When we see a train of human pomp and grandeur, and long ranks of shining garments and equipage, it is ready to dazzle our eyes, and attract our hearts: Vain pomp, and poor equipage, all this, when compared with the triumph of our blessed Lord, at his appearance with an endless army of his holy ones; where every saint shall be vested (not in silks and gold) but in robes of refined light, out-shining the sun, such as Christ himself wore in the mount of transfiguration. Millions of suns in one firmament of glory. Think on that day, and the illustrious retinue of our Lord: Think on that splendor that shall attract the eyes of heaven and earth, shall con. found the proud sinner, and astonish the inhabitants of hell: Such a meditation as this will cast a dim shadow over the brightest appearances of a court, or a royal festival; it will spread a dead colouring over all the painted vanities of this life; it will damp every thought of rising ambition and earthly pride, and we shall have but little heart to admire or wish for any of the vain shows of mortality. Methinks every gaudy scene of the present life, and all the gilded honours of courts and armies, should grow faint, and fade away, and vanish, at the meditation of this illustrious appearance.

IV. This text will give us also two hints of cau tion.

First, You that are rich in this world, or wise, or mighty, dare not ridicule nor scoff at those poor weak Christians, in whom Christ shall be admired and glorified in the last day.' You that fancy you have any advantages of birth or beauty, of mind or body here on earth, dare not make a jest of your poor pious neighbour that wants them, for he is one of those persons whom Christ calls his glory, and he himself has given you warning, lest you incur his resentment on this account, Matth. xviii. 6. "Whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea." Perhaps the good man has some blemish in his outward form, or it may be his countenance is dejected, or his mien and figure awkward and uncomely; perhaps his garments sit wrong and unfashionable upon him, or it may be they hang in tatters; the motions of his body perhaps are ungraceful, his speech improper, and his deportment is simple and unpolished; but he has shining graces in his soul, in which Christ shall be admired in the last day, and how darest thou make him thy laughing. stock? Wilt thou be willing to hear thy scornful jest repeated again at that day, when the poor derided Christian has his robes of glory on, and the Judge of all shall acknowledge him for one of his favourites ?

The second hint of caution is this, 'You that shall be the glory of Christ in that day, dare not do any thing that may dishonour him now.' Walk answerable to your character and your hope, nor indulge the least

sinful defilement. Say within yourselves, Am I to make one in that splendid retinue of my Lord, where every one must appear in robes of holiness, and shall I spot my garments with the flesh? When I am provoked to anger and indignation, let me say, doth wrath and bluster become a follower and an attendant of the meek and peaceful Jesus? When I am tempted to pride and vanity of mind, will this be a beauty, or a blemish, to that assembly that shines in glorious humility? Or perhaps I am wavering, and ready to yield, and become a captive to some foolish temptation; but how then can I expect a place in that holy triumph, which is appointed for none but conquerors? And how shall I be able to look my blessed General in the face on that day, if I prove a coward under his banner, and abandon my profession of strict holiness, at the demand of a sinful and threatening world?'

V. The last use I shall make of the text, is matter of consolation and joy' to two sorts of Christians. First, To the poor, mean, and despised followers of Christ,' and in whom Christ himself is despised by the ungodly world; read my text, and believe that in you, Christ shall be glorified and admired, when, with a million of angels, he shall descend from heaven, and make his last appearance upon earth; mean as you are in your own esteem, because of your ig. norance and your weakness in this world, you shall be one of the glories of Christ in the world to come: Little and despicable as you are in the esteem of proud sinners, they shall behold your Lord exalted on his throne, and you sitting among the honours at