which Christ has no revenue of glory. O that his grace may enable me to employ things present for, this holy purpose! And when I arrive at the actual possession of things to come, they shall be improved in an unknown, but a nobler manner, for the everlasting glory of my God, my Father, and my Saviour.

THE RECOLLECTION OF THE DOCTRINAL PART.

In this discourse, O my soul, thou hast not only. been called to survey the riches of thy inheritance, but thou hast learnt also, in what manner this inheritance is made over to thee, if thou art a sincere Christian, and a believer on the Son of God.

Look backward, my soul, to eternal ages, before the world began ; when God marked out the bounds of this creation, and the limits of these heavens, and this earth, he designed them with all their treasures, for the service of his holy ones, for the benefit of his children, angels and men; and thy name, and thy share was written down amongst them. The great God, in those early days of his eternity, has provided a rich sufficiency for thy present and future blessedness. O may my faith take this delightful and distant retrospect, and rejoice in God's eternal love!

God has given all things into the hands of his own Son Jesus, whom he hath ordained Lord of all, that he might govern and dispose of all things for the good of his people. Christ is risen from the dead, and hath taken possession of all the blessings of grace and glory, in the name of bis saints, that he may make them possessors in their season, and according to their measure; that he may make thee, O my soul, a rich possessor of so fair an inheritance; and that he may keep every part of it secure for thee, till in succession of times and seasons, both

in earth and in heaven, thou art fit to receive and enjoy it. If thou art made a joint heir with Christ, thou art heir of all things.

But remember, it is a living faith in Christ that must intitle thee to this rich inheritance. It is of infinite importance then, to search often and enquire, Am I a Christian indeed? A sincere convert, a believer in Jesus? And does my faith evidence itself in all the fruits of repentance, love, and holiness? O may I feel my soul to live daily this divine life by the faith of the Son of God, that I may maintain an humble claim to these treasures of mercy laid up in the gospel; treasures committed to the hands of Christ to be kept safe for me.

And may the blessed Spirit instruct me daily to improve all things to my spiritual and eternal benefit, that I may not be like a fool who has a prize put into his right hand, and knows not how to make use of it! May I be taught to draw some sacred advantage, some holy delight and refreshment from the continual new scenes and occurrences of life! May I derive knowledge, and love, and heavenly sweetness from the surprising works of God, as the God of nature, and from the more surprising wonders of his grace! May I learn something divine and holy from all the transactions of his providence, and the various turns and changes of this present state, till I am prepared and made meet for a more fit and ample possession of the everlasting inheritance of the saints in light! Amen.

HYMN FOR SERMON XVI

LONG METRE.

My soul, survey the happiness,

If thou art found a child of grace,

How richly is the gospel stor❜d!
What joy the promises afford!

All things are ours; the gift of God,
And purchased with our Saviour's blood:
While the good Spirit shews us how
To use and to enjoy them too.

If peace and plenty crown my days,
They help me, Lord, to speak thy praise:
If bread of sorrows be my food,
Those sorrows work my real good.

I would not change my blest estate
With all that flesh calls rich or great ;
And while my faith can keep her hold,
I envy not the sinner's gold.

Father, I wait thy daily will,
Thou shalt divide my portion still:
Grant me on earth what seems thee best,

"Till death and heaven reveal the rest.

SERMON XVII.

THE RIGHT IMPROVEMENT OF LIFE.

1 CORINTHIANS iii, 22.

Whether life or death-all are yours.

It is a inheritance have no need to divide

T is a large inheritance that belongs to the chil

themselves into little parties, and to quarrel about their particular interest in one minister or another, in one blessing or another; for whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, whether life or death, all things are theirs.

My former discourses have explained in what sense Christians possess all things, and that is, that all things present or to come, that can any way affect or concern them, shall certainly turn to their benefit, and subserve their great and final interest. I proceed now inore particularly to enlarge on the words, which I had chiefly in my design, whether Life or death, all are yours.

The first doctrine arising from the words is this, life itself, and the continuance of it to the saints, is for their advantage.