GOD will also complete the work of grace already begun in the soul. No good reason can be assigned why he should begin such a work and not bring it to perfection. The Scriptures represent him as working all things according to his own purpose and good pleasure. It must be so unless he depend wholly upon the will of the creature. But it is always declared to be his pleasure, that his people should be saved, never, that any of them should finally perish." He hath predestinated them to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will." Eph. i. 5. To be conformed to the image of his Son." Rom. viii. 29. It was to secure the accomplishment of this that the Son was appointed to be the Saviour of sinners: it is therefore declared that, "He shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Conformity to the image of the Son of God is the perfec tion of their natures; it is the divine will that it should be so, and the work must succeed in so able a hand as the Son. The Spirit is also employed in the same work, and is equally well qualified to carry it on.. "He that hath begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." Phil. i. 6. That life which he communicates to the soul will prove an increasing and abiding principle, being a participation of the life that is in Christ, and proceeding from union to him. Hence his own declaration, "Because I live ye shall live also." The light which is imparted to the mind will shine more and more unto the perfect day: And the righteous, in the strength of that grace which is bestowed upon him, shall hold on his way, and shall wax stronger and stronger. A firm persuasion of this made the Psalmist sing, "The Lord

will perfect what concerneth me." Although the believer is required to be active and diligent in the work of his salvation, and though the progress of it is inseparably connected with his attention to the use of means, yet the success of the work depends, not on his will, but upon the will of God. "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling: for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." Pail. ii. 12, 13. His good pleasure is his love design from which he acts in the whole of our salvation. Influenced by this, he works in us to will and to do." He destroys our natural enmity, and our aversion to what is good; he powerfully inclines the will to comply with his own will, to chuse his law, to delight in holiness and oppose sin; and imparts all necessary strength to the soul for prosecuting this work in the diligent use of all means. In this way he gives "grace" to prepare his people for that "glory" which he has promised at last to confer upon them.

2. THE consideration of that sovereignty which God uses in manifesting his love, ought to compose the souls of his people, and lead them to a becoming exercise, whatever may be their present sense of that love. In the present imperfect condition of the believer, his highest enjoyments are but partial; and even these are liable to many interruptions. Now he walks in the light of God's countenance, he is sick of love, his mountain stands strong; and, like David, he begins to sing of security, "I shall not be moved:" Soon, however, a change ensues; a gloom covers his soul, his joy is turned into sorrow, and his song becomes as low and plaintive as it was formerly elevated and cheerful: "Thou didst hide thy face and I was troubled." It is difficult for the believer, when his enjoyments are

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sensible and transporting, to maintain a just sense of his own unworthiness and dependance; to exercise humility and self denial; and to guard against being too much elated, and to become secure. On such accounts he often experiences a suspension of these sensible manifestations. On the other hand, when his sun has gone down, or dark clouds intercept his rays, and an evening time overtakes him; when his God seems to have forgotten him, or appears to contend with him; and when the joy of his heart ceaseth, and his mind is filled with distress; he is then in danger of going to another extreme. He forms severe and unjust conceptions of the divine procedure, and questions the truth and immutability of his love: He considers himself as an outcast from God, and treated by him as an enemy: He is very apt to fall under dejection, and become remiss in the proper use of means for his recovery; or to neglect the steady exercise of faith, resignation, and patience, until another lucid interval returns. As there is no believer who does not experience, in one degree or other, and more or less frequently, such changes in their sensible enjoyments, they should remember that they act a sinful part when they reflect upon God, and charge him foolishly. If there are any in this audience who are walking in the light of God's countenance, and whose consolations abound; or if this shall be the attainment of any on this solemn occasion, I would remind them that they do not occupy a higher place in the heart of God than those who are walking in darkness, although, in the mean time, their sense of his love is greater, and their joy more abundant. As these disconsolate souls are as a seal upon God's heart, and engraven on the palms of his hands, as much as you are, he can soon draw a cloud,

over your souls, and illuminate their darkness: He can soon wipe away the briny tear from their eyes, remove sorrow from their hearts, and put a new song in their mouths; and at the same time make your sorrows to abound: He can easily cast out their enemies, and let loose yours to molest you. Magnify the Lord for your high enjoyments; admire his wondrous loving kindness, and improve it to the increase of your love, and the vigorous exercise of faith in his promises. Do not promise an uninterrupted or long continued enjoyment of what you now feel, as you have no certain security for it. Beware of undervaluing or overlooking those who are not, at present, so highly favoured as you are; they need your sympathy, your prayers and your encouragement: remember that you are also in the body, and may soon need their assistance. Be not elated, be not secure, glory not in your attainments, give yourselves much to the power and life of religion, and attend carefully to the work of self-examination, while you have light to direct you in it. On the other hand, I would also address those who are walking in darkness, and whose eyes run down with water, because the Comforter that should relieve their souls is far from them. Entertain good thoughts of God, admit the justice and propriety of his procedure towards you, believe assuredly, that though it is trying and unconfortable, it proceeds from love, and will have a good and joyous issue. "At evening time it shall be light." It is a chastisement from the hand of your God, because he loves your person and your interest, and hates your sin. Search for the cause, and have it removed; follow hard after him in the way of all holy duties; and rely upon his faithful word that, in due time," he will bring you forth to the light, and cause

you to behold his righteousness." Despise not the day of small things, lest you deprive yourselves of higher enjoy. ments. If your joy does not come when you seek or expect it, beware of dejection, as this includes unbelief and a distrust of the promises of God. Let the exercise of the mournful prophet be your exercise. "The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord." Lam. iii. 24-26. He will rest in love.

3. THIS doctrine suggests to the believer the propriety of putting work into the hand of God. It has been shown that his love is fixed upon the complete salvation of its objects, and that all the divine perfections are engaged to promote this end; it must be past all doubt, then, that he will attend to that work and fi nish it. But he will have his people to put him in mind of it, to put work constantly into his hand, and to solicit with much importunity, the execution of it. He does not require this as if he were indifferent about it, or were apt to forget or neglect it; but to excite his people to diligence and activity in a matter of so much importance to themselves. In Ezek. xxxvi. 25

-36 we have many great and precious promises made by God to his people-The promise of the new heart and new spirit, of purification from sin, and of pardon, the communication of the Holy Spirit and divine direction in the ways of holiness, &c. &c. After God has enumerated many great things to be done for his people, he adds, "I the Lord have spoken it, and I will do it:" from which we are assured that he will infallibly execute the work, and fulfil his promises. But