to do of his good pleasure, appear for us in time of temptation, sorrow or affliction, for his express office it is, in the economy of redemption, to comfort, revive, build us up, and abide with us for ever, so that at the last we shall finally come off more than conquerors, through him that hath loved us, Thess. v. 9, 10. But enough, for paper will not allow me to add more than merely to say, I trust you are living in a constant, unceasing enjoyment of these soul-comforting realities, which alone, through grace, can lift a man or woman out of their very selves, and make all their trials but light indeed, 2 Cor. iv. 17, 13.

he hath chosen us in him, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love." Secondly, our holiness consists in the infusion of divine life into our souls, at regeneration, when God the Spirit, takes possession of the heart; as it is said, "I will dwell in them, and walk in them," when the new man is formed in the heart. I was much exercised some time ago, to know wherein the difference was, between those who appeared sound in judgment, yet no savour, and the real ministers and children of God; when it was clearly opened to me in this point, namely, the indwelling of the Spirit of God: and where this is the case, it will, Thirdly, produce holiness of life and conversation; for thus it is written,

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"Per

Be ye holy, for I am holy." And again, "What manner of persons ought ye to be, in all holy conversation and godliness?" Also, fecting holiness in the fear of the Lord." What holy desires there will be not to sin in thought, word, or deed not from fear of punishment, This soul would but from love.

Its

rather suffer any thing than sin. desires are to walk in the fear of God all the day long; and if at any time we are left for a moment to fall by temptation, what sorrow and grief does it cause, and we get no peace till there is experienced a fresh application of the precious atonement to the soul.

But I shall proceed, Secondly, to speak of the redeemed people. In the first place redemption by price, and secondly, by power. First, by price: which was done by Christ, in his active and passive obedience. In his active obedience, by fulfilling the law, and bringing in everlasting righteousness: "In the fulness of time God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, and made under the law, that he might redeem those under the law." "Lo I come to do thy will, yea thy law is within my heart."

By his passive obedience, in freely yielding up himself to the hands of justice as the sinner's Surety, and into the hands of wicked men. His precious blood must be spilt to atone for the sins of his elect. "Forasmuch ye know ye were not redeemed by corruptible things, such as silver and gold, but by the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without spot." Secondly, the redemption by power, is in the deliverance of the sinner from this world. When God says, "Come out from among them, and be ye separate, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty:" when God thus speaks, it is a powerful voice, that causes obedience. How was it with Abraham? he obeyed, and went forth, &c. And God says, "I will redeem them from the hand of the terrible:" how did he redeem his people from the iron furnace in Egypt, where they had lain 400 years? And this redeeming work is still going on.

I shall next speak of being "Sought out," and bring forward some characters who were conspicuously sought out. There is a particular account of this work in Ezek. xxxiv. 11-16. And as we are commanded to look unto Abraham our father, I shall call your attention to him as a particular object sought out, and notice wherefrom; why from an idolatrous nation, and by nature he was nothing better than those from whom he was chosen. And by way of application, cannot you and I, my friends, trace how God sought us out? For my own part I can say, no poor creature' was a greater idolater than myself; I do not mean in the gross sense, falling down to an idol made with hands, but in following every vanity, to gratify the human heart. Oh! discriminating love, to snatch such a brand from the burning. I shall next speak how the Lord sought out a poor Gentile, I mean Ruth the Moabitess;

and by what a mysterious providen ce was this brought about! the history of which you know, and can read when you go home. Oh! the wonder-working way of the God of Israel, a famine must be the means and what was said in reference to the cause of Jacob and his family going to Egypt, may be applied here :

Moreover, he called for a famine." Mark, God called for it here was no chance work. Oh how I love to trace these things. Look now at Naaman the Assyrian, how he was sought. Do observe the means it was from a captive maid. I wish you, my friends, to read the history; it is good to peruse it; you will find it in 2 Kings v. How did the Lord seek David? Samuel was ordered by God to go and anoint him; all Jesse's sons were brought but him, he was thought too young perhaps by his father, but God seeth not as man seeth: David was the person, and David shall be sought out.

If we come to the New Testament we find the same work. See how our dear Saviour sought his disciples and other objects of his love. Observe particularly the woman of Samaria. "He must needs go through Samaria." Oh, this needs! And I can say, but with deep humility, He must needs go to the village of Henfield, to seek poor John Vinall, or there I had remained to this day, at least remained in my awful course of sin. matchless grace to save such sinners, Oh! how we prize our dear Delivrer :

"Sinners are high in his esteem, And sinners highly value him."

Oh!

was

could more than was lawful. And where did he live? why in Jericho, of all places. But you will say, the calling of such characters will open a door for licentiousness. Just the reverse, my friends, will be the effects. None I believe will walk so tenderly, and endeavour to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. This sovereign grace will be the only thing, as I have already observed in speaking of the holy people, that will effect a consistent walk and conversation. A greater sinner never called than myself, and I take you to witness what has been my conduct for the last thirty-nine years past. I speak not by way of boasting, but to show what God can do. It is by his grace I am what I am. Again, it is a sweet account of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. It is not often the case that a whole family is taken, but here is an instance. know it has been a trial to some to find many of their relatives are called: Surely I cannot be too. But here is an instance to show that the Almighty will do as he pleases.

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Again, we have the call of many recorded in John i. Do, my friends, read it, when you go home, and meditate thereon.

Have

I would make an observation on another character, Nathaniel. not some of you, when first quickened, often got alone in some wood, barn, or any where to secret yourself from mortals, and to pour out your soul to God. I have many times. I have looked this way and that way to see if any one was near. Oh happy seasons doth the sincere seeker find these times. The whole heart is opened to the all-searching God. It is far better felt than by me described.

Another instance we have of this being sought out, is in the instance of the poor blind man, as recorded in John xi. Poor man, he had never sought Jesus had not Jesus first sought him. The effects of it are so remarkable that I must again request

you will read the whole chapter. See what blessed effects were produced, as in verse 38-" And he said, Lord, I believe; and he worshipped him.”

I shall now speak of this work in which the apostles were the instruments, of seeking out some of the elect. I was struck on reading Jer. xvi. 16" Behold I will send for many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall fish them; and after I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks." Now when I was a hearer I often knew what it was to have my path traced out, or, I may say, when I was in muddy water I was fished out. I remember once in particular, under the late Mr. Jenkins, when I was in sore temptation, and full of rebellion, he spake from these words, 'We roar like bears," &c., to the end of the verse. It came to my very case. Oh how suitable was the word. But you will say, enough of myself. I shall first, therefore, begin with Philip, as recorded in Acts viii, in the case of the eunuch, and how singular is the account. How was Philip directed to speak to his very case, and what was the effect, went on his way rejoicing."

"he

We have anothar instance in the case of Peter being sent for by Cornelius, how he was prompted to speak words whereby he and his house were saved." Oh! the wondrous working way of the God of Israel.

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I could enumerate many more, but having nearly run out my time I must forbear, wishing to speak of the last clause of my text-" A city not forsaken."

By the city we are to understand the church of the living God, sometimes called by the name Zion, at other times of Jerusalem, in the following scripture by both :-" Awake, awake, put on strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garment, O Jerusalem, the holy city." Again we have this city spoken of:-"Look unto

God.

Lastly.

Now to treat a little of what constitutes a citizen of this city. I shall bring forth three evidences whereby we may prove we are citizens of this blessed city; regeneration. reconciliation, and faith to believe in God: all of which we shall find in Eph. ii. The first is in verses 4 and 5-" But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ: by grace are ye saved."

There we

have first the fountain-the love of God. And what is regeneration but, as I often observe to you, and have at the commencement of this discourse, the infusion of divine life into the soul. Oh what work is going on where this quickening work is begun. How it is discovered in breathings, hungerings, keen sensations, atrong wrestlings in prayer, much earnestness in the means of grace, &c. We have a sweet account in Ezek. xxxvii. 1—15. And it is generally the case that it is communicated through the medium of preaching, as in this instance by the prophet. Read, also, Gal. iii. 2:"Received ye the spirit by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith?" There are exceptions, I myself am one, but, I repeat, it is generally by the preaching of the word.

2. Reconciliation, as in Eph. ii. 12, 13. This reconciliation was first made by Christ, when he suffered on mount Calvary, and is communicated to the soul under the divine influence of the Holy Spirit, as in verse 18.

3. To the belief or knowledge of this, as in verse 19:-" Now, therefore, we are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with

"Not forsaken." There are times when the children of God fear after all they shall be forsaken : yea, sometimes say they are forsaken. So said Gideon: "But now the Lord hath forsaken us." And the church, when she uttered this-" But Zion said, The Lord hath fors aken me, and my God hath forgotten me." And David feared after all of being left, or why should he say, "Forsake me not when my strength faileth." I conld bring forward many more, but as time fails these must suffice. Yet did the Lord finally forsake his people? How did the event prove with Gideon? What was the answer to the church? Can a woman forget," &c. Did he leave David? No, his language on his death-bed, was, "The Lord hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure." And certain it is, however we may sink, never, no never shall we be finally forsaken. What were the last words of our dear Saviour to his disconsolate disciples ?

Lo I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." Precious promise! May we have faith in continual exercise to believe it. May the dear Lord grant his blessing on these few broken hints, and I add no

earnestly desired to know the worst. I had never opened my mind to any person, and was ashamed to think of others knowing what I felt and saw of myself. One Lord's-day, after dinner, it came into my mind to visit my mother, as I had not seen or heard of her for sometime, and on my way from the Minories to Chandler Street Oxford Street, I was haunted with the most distressing fears, and especially when passing the end of King Street, in Cheapside; and again when passing through High Street St Giles's, I felt such agonizing fears, that I could scarcely keep on my feet. I wept as I walked the street, and wished to know the worst. I felt such a presentment of approaching evil, that my animal frame could hardly bear up under it. I truly was in the very state as described by Moses; "At night thou shalt say, Oh that it was morning; and in the morning thou shalt, Oh that it was night." Truly I found no rest, but a continual trembling of heart and sorrow of mind. My life hung in doubt. I had no assurance of my life, I experienced a great part of what is recorded in Deut. xxviii. I never before, I believe, felt it so keenly, and I never have been brought into such a state of mind since that day. I have been brought very low, many times since, and experienced much dejection of spirit, yet having a spiritual understanding of my redemption though our Lord Jesns, my views of his anger against sin, of his chastening rod and rebukes have been very different, both from a knowledge of his pardoning love and mercy, and from that spirit that works compunction and godly sorrow, which hath not suffered me to return to that darkness and bondage I felt that day.

I found my mother very ill, and in bed; she had fell down a steep pair of stairs, and was much hurt, After tea she desired me to read a sermon, written by Mr Huntington, from

· Thou hast a few names, even, in Sardis, which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white for they are worthy,"&c, Rev. iii. 4. As I read on, I felt such sweetness in it, such reliance on the truth of what I read, such a cordial, such a balm to my wounded spirit, that I had never before felt, and it occasioned such an undescribable change in my feelings that no mortal could accomplish. In reading that part of the sermon on," They shall walk with me in white for they are worthy," I was quite overcome, for I felt more then sure that I should be one of that happy number. could not resist this overpowering persuasion that it would be so. Before I left my mother she wished me to kneel and pray by her, I had never done this, only before my wife, a few times, and then under great distress, which took off all fear and shame; but now I kneeled down and blessed the Lord for what I had received that night, and I rose up persuaded she would soon recover, and as I told her, so it came to pass.

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On my way home I wept and blessed and thanked the Lord for his mercy in letting me see that I should walk in heaven with him. This was the first time my soul did truly magnify the Lord.

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When I came to Maddox Street, by the side of St George's Church, the Lord was pleased to visit my soul with such a ravishing view of his glory, and of my eternal security, that I leaped for joy of heart. was a very dark night, which made me clearly see a bright cloud descend from above, which enveloping me around, caused such a sensation in my soul as God only knows of, and myself, and which I am not able to describe; this I believe was the baptism of the Holy Ghost, a true spiritual baptism. The Israelites were baptized unto Moses under the cloud, but I was baptized unto Christ Jesus in this cloud. I felt as if the Holy Spirit