He exhorts them continually to expect his return ; and even condescends to mention the very terms in which he will, at that time, salute every waiting believer.

The prayers of Christ, as well as his exhortations and promises, tend to produce and support the most exalted hope in the souls of believers, he has graciously interceded for them; he still continues to make intercession, and his prayer is always prevalent. Mark a few sentences of that memorable prayer, which he once offered up for all his follow. ers, and which forms the 17th chapter of St. John's Gospel. "O Father! I pray not for the world, but for them, which thou hast given me. Holy Father! keep through thine own name, those whom thou hast given me and sanctify them through thy truth.... Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also, which shall believe on me through their word; that they may all be one, even as we are one. Father! I will, that they whom thou has given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory."

A lively hope founded upon these prayers and declarations of the blessed Jesus, enabled the primitive christians to triumph over every affliction.... In the midst of the most terrible persecutions, they could congratulate one another on their common blessedness, and say; "Our life is hid with Christ in God: and when Christ, who is our life shall appear, then shall we also appear with him in glory. For he shall yet come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe."

The Apostles, agreeable to the example of their Master, were unanimous in publishing this glorious hope and St. Paul very frequently insists upon it, as a most important duty. "Let us," saith he, "who are of the day be sober, putting on the breast-plate of faith and love, and for an helmet the hope of salvation. I beseech you, brethren, present your bodies a living sacrifice unto God....rejoicing in hope. Rejoice in

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the Lord alway: and again, I say, rejoice." This "evangelical hope" will ever be experienced, as a never-failing source of consolation and thankfulness: and hence, wherever the hope of the Gospel is preached, there believers continue to be filled with unspeakable joy. How truly happy would christians be, were such an hope to flourish among them! Far from disputing any longer for the trifles of time and sense, they would joyfully renounce them all, in expectation of an eternal inheritance; and instead of running to the frivolous amusements of the world for a momentary recreation, every passing day would appear too short for the exhilarating duties of praise and thanksgiving.

It is asserted by many, that this divine hope is usually preached by every minister. That preachers in general are accustomed to exhort their hearers, in a cold and languid manner, to hope in divine mercy, will readily be granted: but that such do not publish thereal, evangelical hope" of christians, may be easily proved beyond the possibility of a doubt. We have seen, in the preceding sections, that the minister of the present day is unacquainted with this hope that he is even without any just ideas of that true repentance, and that living faith, from which alone this hope can flow and hence, it is impossible for him in the nature of things, to publish it in the church of God. In vain has Christ himself declared, that the "broad way" will conduct multitudes to destruction, and that "except a man be born again, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God" in spite of these solemn declarations, the worldly pastor still imagines, that this very way will conduct him to life, and that he shall be counted among the inhabitants of that Kingdom, without scriptural regeneration. He supposes, at least, that he is sufficiently sanctified, though his righteousness exceeds not that of the pharisees, nor his devotion that of the Laodicean church. Thus entertaining a vain hope in his own heart, and indulging

a confidence, which is repugnant to the concurrent testimonies of every sacred writer, he necessarily leads his hearers into the same dangerous delusions.

As in order solidly to found our hopes upon a benefactor, or a surety, it is necessary to have an acquaintance with the person, who presents himself in either of these characters; so the Hively hope of which we speak, must flow from an experimental knowledge of God, by Jesus Christ: "This is eternal life, that they may know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whem thou hast sent." But the children of this world, whether they be laymen or ecclesiastics, are without this knowledge. They know neither the Father, nor the Son: and were it otherwise, the love of the world would not have dominion over them.

This lively hope can never dwell in an unregenerate heart. The child, that is not born, cannot possibly rejoice in hope of possessing the heri tage of his father; since he is equally unacquainted, with his parent, and the patrimony, that is likely to be reserved for him. It is, therefore, absolutely necessary to be born of God, before we can exercise this exhilarating hope. Now a man is thus born. when he is regenerated by that spirit of adoption, which God hath promised to those, who sincerely believe in Jesus Christ. But they, who are conformable to the maxims of the world, are not able to receive this vivifying spirit. "I will pray the Father," said Christ to his disciples, "and he shall give you another comforter, that he may abide with you for ever, even the spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it sceth him not, neither knoweth him; but," being already regenerate in part, ye know him for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you," when you are fully born of the Spirit. It is not, till after the accomplishment of this promise has been experienced, that the followingexpressions can be perfectly understood...." Know

ye not, that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost? now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost."

Far from preaching this primitive hope, the worldly minister is alarmed at the bare mention of it. Let it here be observed again, that this celestial plantcan flourish only in those hearts, where the word of God, sharper than any two-edged sword, has cut down every unfruitful appearance of pharisaical hope. Now when a true minister is engaged in performing this painful operation, cutting away the mortified members of the old man, and plucking from pride its unprofitable supports; the inexperienced minister preposterously takes offence at his holy zeal, and censures this necessary severity, as leading souls into horrors of despair. Slow of understanding in spiritual concerns, he comprehends not, that they who recline themselves upon a broken reed, must give up all the confidence they foolishly place in so slender a prop, before they can effectually choose the Rock of ages for their support,

The true character of these false Apostles is not generally known. Covering their impiety with the cloak of religion, they are supposed by many to act on the part of Christ, and are frequently esteemed as pillars in the church. But there are occasions, on which they unwittingly throw off the mask, and make an open discovery of their secret thoughts. Some few persons are found in the world, who, refusing to attend card assemblies, rejoice to be present in those less polite assemblies, which are formed for the purpose of prayer. Here it is usual for consenting neighbours to take sweet counsel together, and wrestle with ardour for the hope of the Gospel, in words like these ...." Gracious Father! forgive "the sins of thy returning children, and grant us "an increase of spiritual strength. Sensible of our "own unworthiness, assist us to place all our con

"fidence in thine unbounded mercy, manifested through Jesus Christ. Increase our faith in the "Son of thy love, and confirm our hope in thine un"changeable promises. O thou divine Saviour! "descend this day into our hearts as thou didst once "descend upon thy first disciples. Consecrate us thy "living temples, fillus with thy graces, and, during "the time of our earthly pilgrimage, vouchsafe to "lead us with the right hand of thy power. Let not "thy spirit of illumination and holiness, thy spirit of consolation and joy, abandon us for a moment, as "we pass through this valley of tears. May its "potent operations subdue in us the power of sin "and produce in our outward conversation the happy "fruits of righteousness, peace and joy. Permit us "at this time, to return to our houses, with a con"sciousness of thy love, and an assurance of thy fa "vour and grant that, after having been the temples of thy Spirit upon earth, we may one day be "received into the temple of thine eternal glory in "the Heavens."

A worldly minister, on a certain time, entering into an assembly of this kind, heard the prayers of these humble believers; and as much surprised to see the ardour with which they offered their petitions, as to observe the time and place in which they were presented, withdrew from their society, with as much indignation, as a good pastor would retire from a company of jugglers. But having understood that one of his own parishioners was of the religious party, he took the earliest opportunity of testifying the utmost disapprobation of his conduct. 'What was it,' said he, 'that you was doing with those 'people the other day, in such a place ? Conventicles 'of that kind are contrary to order, and unworthy of 'toleration. The Church is the only proper place 'for the performance of divine worship: moreover, 'I heard you foolishly praying for, I know not what 'consolation, light, and power, of the Holy Spirit.