with fresh vigour and even when we are cast down, and in any particular instance overcome, we still maintain our confidence stedfast to the end, and declare it, in the face of danger and in the face of death, "Rejoice not over me, O mine ene→ my! though I fall, I shall yet rise again: When I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be my light."-To be entirely free from clogs and fetters, is the sole prerogative of heaven. As long as we creep upon this earth, briars and thorns will every now and then entangle and vex us; but when we once get above them, when we mount up on eagle's wings to heaven, we shall "run, and not be weary; we shall walk, and not faint: for the joy of the Lord shall be our strength."

4. From exile.

Like the prodigal son, we are carried by our Justs into a far country; at such a distance from God, that we were become " strangers and enemies to him in our minds by wicked works:" we had been aliens so long, that home was become disa greeable; and when the blessed God at any time sent his ambassadors, or condescended to come himself, and made any overtures of a reconciliation, we insolently rejected the proposal, and said, "Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways."-What a miracle of mercy was it, that we were not left to perish in this chosen and obstinately preferred exile! and, especially, that he should send his Son "to seek us and save us:" that we, who were "once afar off, should be brought nigh by the death of his Son!" Behold what manner of love is this, which the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God!'!

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"Now, therefore, we are no more strangers and foreigners; but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God." We are now no longer kept at the awful distance of slaves, but admitted to all the intimacy and endearments of domestics and children. Henceforth," says our all-condescending Master, "henceforth I call you not servants, for the servant knoweth not what his lord doth but I have called you friends," &c. (John xv. 15.) We are not left to wander in wild and dangerous deserts, unassisted, and alone; but are safe in a Father's house, and happy in a Father's arms: and if at any time we are called out to extraordinary services or sufferings, he is still at our right hand, that we may not be greatly moved or hurt. "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burnt; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." (Isai. xliii. 2.) And this is another blessed consequence of our redemption by Jesus Christ, that he restored our souls when they had strayed; and showed our feet the path of life; and brought us back, weary and heavy laden, polluted and perishing, to our duty, to our God, and to ourselves.

5. From want.

During our captivity, we were “ poor, and blind, and wretched, and naked, and miserable;" we wanted necessaries: we served a tyrant, who gave us nothing but "the husks which the swine did eat ;" and if at any time we" asked for bread, would give us a stone; if we desired fish, would give us a scorpion." But, O the happy alteration that was

made in our circumstances, when Christ came and preached Deliverance to the captives! How did he "lift the poor out of the dust, and the beggar from the dunghill;" took off our "filthy rags," and "put on us the best robe" that ever was contrived to cover and adorn destitute souls; and "put rings. on our hands, and shoes on our feet;" and " brought us into his banqueting-house," and "spread our table for us in the presence of our enemies;" and "anointed our head with oil," and "made our cup to run over," and said "Eat, O friends! drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved; for in your Father's house is bread enough and to spare!"

And now, Christians, do you want any thing but gratitude? Have you not all things richly to enjoy? While the Lord is our shepherd, we cannot want he maketh us to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth us beside the still waters. He opens to us the treasures of his grace, and communicates of his fullness to our several necessities. He many times regards our wants more than our prayers, and does exceeding abundantly above all that we could ask or think. He delivers us from present difficulties, by suitable supplies; and relieves us from the tormenting anxiety about future straits, by the kind assurance that he will never leave us nor forsake us. Can we wonder, then, that the Apostle, who lived by his own labour and the charitable contributions of others, could yet say, "I have all, and abound :" "as having nothing, yet possessing all things!" We wonder at none of those expressions, when we come to find, and feel, that Christ is "all and in all." Difficulties and straits, and circumstances of pressing distress, often fall to

our share; and it is well they do we should not else drink so deep of the cup of God's consolation, nor know how exceedingly the grace of God hath abounded to us in all wisdom, nor what an inexhaustible variety of blessings we possess in Christ Jesus. But, in all our wants, straits, and difficulties, let this support and satisfy us, that his mercy is everlasting; that no calamity can befal us which our ever-watchful Guardian did not foresee, or could not prevent or cannot redress, or will not cause to work together for our good. And moreover, Christians, remember that ye are not yet come to that rest, and to tat inheritance, which the Lord your God will give you. You are yet pilgrims and strangers; and must therefore expect, in your passage through a wilderness, to meet with hardships and much tribulation. You are yet minors; your patrimony, indeed, is large, and fair, and certain; but it is your Father's good pleasure that you should suffer awhile before he give you a kingdom. You have this general promise; "No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." (Ps. Ixxxiv. 11.) I say, you have this promise which is a maintenance for any Christian in this world and for the next, you are provided for beyond all that you could expect, desire, or

conceive.

And now, Sirs, what is our character? what is our state? what are our views and expectations? We were all born captives, and slaves. Are we so still; or are we rescued, ransomed, delivered? This is an inquiry that merits our attention.-Reflect a little on the glorious privileges that attend the li berty of the "sons of God:" to be delivered from

the dreadful curses of the law, from the bitter charges of conscience, from the mortal sting of death; to be children of the light and of the day;

to be delivered from this body of sin and death, and those domineering lusts which war against the soul, and chain it down to earth and sense ;-to be brought home to God; to dwell, as it were, under his eye; and enjoy the protection and plenty of our Father's house ;-to have enough now, and a kingdom in reversion:-Is this the deliverance which Christ preached to the captives? and has this deliverance been preached to us? and-have we accepted it? Do we see with our eyes and hear with our ears, and understand with our hearts?" Are we, in short, "converted and healed ?".

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Do you not know whether you are so, or no? Must you have marks and signs to prove whether you are in prison, or at home? Does it require tedious examination to prove whether it be midnight or mid-day? Must you have a long time to determine whether you are poor and miserable, or have all and abound?-Alas! what is your Christianity? Is the difference between the bondage of sin, and the gentle yoke of Christ, so very small, that you are at a loss to say which of them you wear?-Why, then, to bring the matter to an issue, that "every one may bear his own burden," and that you may "have rejoicing in yourselves and not in another," let the following criterions be attended to.

If you have never been sensible what a miserable bondage it is to be in subjection to Satan ;-if you have never been "weary and heavy laden" with the burden of sin; nor so far pinched with its fetters as