who build their hopes of Salvation upon fundry external performances, which are indeed right, and their bounden duty, but which are of no avail in the fight of GOD, unless they flow from that Spirit of Love, which I have just mentioned. All the outward ordinances of religion are to be considered as channels of Divine Grace, by which it is conveyed to those who have it not, and strengthened and increased in those who have already received it. The Children of GoD alone, even fuch as have received this Spirit of Adoption and Love, are they that profit by these outward ordinances. is to them alone, that they are "favour of life unto life."

It

"the

Having thus feen the grand principle and fource, from whence alone all Righteousness can flow; let us now attend to the influence, which it hath upon the life and converfation of him,

to

to whom GOD hath vouchfafed to communicate it. "Mark the perfect man, "and behold the upright; for the End "of that man is Peace."

Obferve him, first, in the devout exercises of religion: his very countenance glows with the flame that is kindled in his heart. By the Spirit of Prayer, he is raised far above this fcene of vanity the world, with all its empires, and kingdoms, and riches, and pomps, and pleasures, finks beneath his feet. He is borne upon the wings of Love to the Heaven of Heavens: he mixes with that immortal Choir of Angels and Seraphs, that furround the Throne of God: nay, he enjoys, in fome degree, the Beatific Prefence of GoD himself. His foul is poffeffed of that "Peace of GOD, which paffeth all understanding;" of that transcendently great and glorious joy, which is beyond the power of words to exprefs.

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In the course of his meditations, the wonders of REDEEMING LOVE pass in order before his view, and make deeper and deeper impreffions upon his yielding heart. His eyes are fixed to the top of trembling Calvary—to a CRUCIFIED SAVIOUR--groaning--bleeding-dying for his fins! At this inftance of unexampled tenderness and affection, his love blazes afresh; his heart is melted beneath the flame; and his whole foul rushes forth, as it were, to embrace fo Compaflionate a REDEEMER. He has no reft, till he finds himself in the Arms of his BELOVED, where, fhielded from the temptations of the world, and the affaults of Satan, he enjoys an Heavenly Peace and Repose, which nothing here below can rob

him of.

View him, fecondly, in the practice of thofe focial duties which he stands engaged to perform to his brethren,

confidered

confidered either as the Workmanship of the fame Almighty Creator, or as fellow-members with himself of "the

Mystical Body of CHRIST." In conformity to the excellent precept of the Apostle, he finds himself conftantly difpofed to "do good unto all men; but, especially unto those that are of the houshold of Faith."-" He is a com

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panion of all those that fear God, and keep his commandments." His love to his brethren is always proportioned to the degree of love, which they exercife towards GOD: confequently, none can be his intimates, but those, whose hearts are animated by the fame warmth of affection which he continually feels. To others, however, he is always ready to minister in temporal as well as fpiritual things: " He is eyes to the blind, "and feet to the lame:" his presence brightens the gloom of poverty, and chears the retreats of diftrefs: at his approach, the languishing fick revive,

P 3

and

and the difconfolate mourner fmiles ; the tears of the orphan cease to flow, and the hopeless widow fings for joy. The fame Spirit of Love diffuses itfelf throughout his whole conduct in every relation, which Providence calls him to fuftain: the fame Divine Principle, working in his foul, renders him a dutiful child, an affectionate husband,. a tender father, a kind master, an obedient subject, a just magistrate, a fincere friend. Thus is his whole life a feries of benevolent actions, every one of which is attended with that fweet Peace of Mind, that flows from an approving confcience.

Confider him, in the next place, either as bleffed by the hand of Providence with a flow of profperity, or vifited with the rigours of adverfity. In the former cafe, his affluence is fanctified by pious and charitable uses: he expends none of it upon the lux