the near relation to him of his sheep and of his lambs? That he fhould affume to them the tender, gentle and endearing character of their shepherd? This is a branch of the unfearchable riches of his love. It ought to be reflected back with affec tionate wonder and adoring admiration., With propriety may we employ the rapturous language of the loving and beloved defciple, "Behold what manner of love is this," that the Sa viour hath bestowed upon us, that any fuch as we should be felected for his sheep, that he should lay down his life for us. Truly he is the good thepherd, who gave his life for the sheep. "O the depth of the riches, both of the wildom and know"ledge of God, how unfearchable are his judgments and his "ways paft finding out?" "O that we may be able to com"prehend with all faints, what is the breadth and length and "depth and height, and to know the love of Chrill which "palleth knowledge." Should not the love of Christ have 2 fenfible and constraining influence upon our hearts? Should we not live wholly to him? Ought we not to imbibe the fpixit of St. Paul, who in raptures laid, "For me to live is Chrift "and to die is gain." What can be more ungrateful, untender and unkind than to offend him, than not to love him with the most ardent affection? How dear ought every thing to be to us which appertains to him? How fhould we take pleasure in his word, his truths, his worthip, his fabbaths, ordinances and people? Every thing which wears his image or feal, fhould be to us instead of a thousand arguments to induce us to elteem, refpect and cleave to him.

Secondly, this fubject calls for folemn fearchings of heart. In the light of it, we ought to try and examine ourfelves. Do we belong to his flock, or are we all of the number of his fheep? How bleffed and happy should we be, if this were the cafe? What a glorious affembly, what a precious church? But alas! however extenfive our charity, there can be no jus

ground for fo enlivening a hope. It is a melancholy truth, they are not all Ifrael, who are of Ifrael. Some, perhaps, not a few, who have no lot or intereft in this matter. Let us therefore to-day, make a ferious enquiry into this business. What will it avail us to comfort ourselves that we are of Chrift's flock and confort with it, if, when the great dividing day commences, we fhall be ieparated from it, as a fhepherd divideth his sheep from the goats, and hear the awful fentence pronounced upon us, "Depart from me ye curfed." Wherefore let us, in the prefence of a heart searching and rein trying God, look into our hearts and into our lives. Have we the nature of the sheep of Chrift?-Are we of an holy nature ?-Do we chufe holinefs for its own intrinfic beauties and excellencies?-Have we the talte and fagacity of his fheep, to discern between good and evil?-To dilcover fpiritual food, from that which is noxious and corrupted?-Do we find paftures in his word and ordinances, which are sweet to our fouls as the honey, and the honeycomb to the talte ?-Do we know Christ's voice, understand, and distinguish it from the voice of ftrangers? Can we difcriminate the pure doctrines of grace, from false colourings or corrupt mixtures, which are poison. ous to fheep, and deftructive to the fold?-Do we follow the good shepherd, wherefoever he leads?—Is his example prevailingly before us?-Are we frequently recalling it to remembrance ?--ls the imitation of it the joy and rejoicing of our hearts?

Those who can understandingly and with a good confcience answer these queries in the affirmative, have reason for confolation and hope. "Rejoice in the Lord, and again I fay unto "you rejoice." "Fear not, little flock, ye are the charge of " him, who shall feed his flock like a fhepherd, gather the "lambs with his arms, carry them in his bosom, and gently

"lead thofe that are with young." I must not enlarge; may the Lord give you understanding in all things, and make you all the sheep of his fold, that you may fing eternal halle lujahs to him in the celestial mansions, to whom be honor and glory forever, and ever. Amen.

SERMON XXV.

The pleafantnefs of Religion.

Prov. iii. 17. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

IF we look into the facred oracles of God, and take a furvey of the religion exhibited therein, we will find it represented to us under various forms; fometimes as pleafing to heaven, therefore we should be religious; sometimes as of the greatest advantage and benefit to ourselves. At one time it is defcribed as the only method of escaping mifery, at another as the only way to eternal felicity. The Holy Spirit hath stated it before us in every point of view, in order to gain our attention, captivate our hearts, and engage us in the practice thereof. And as the omniscient Jehovah well knew that nothing made a deeper impreffion on the human mind than pleasure, hence in our text it is stated before us in this form alfo, to see what effect it will produce, when it is reprefented in a way which is univer. fally courted by mankind. "Her ways are ways of pleafant"ness and all her paths are peace." Thefe words are a part

of the encomium which Solomon, in the context, is pouring forth upon the excellencies, advantages and bleflings, of wisdom. "Happy is the man that getteth wifdom, that findeth under"standing; for the merchandise of it is better than the mer"chandise of filver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She "is more precious than rubies; and all the things thou can't "defire are not to be compared unto her. Length of days are in "her right hand, and in her left hand riches and honor." It is well known that Solomon generally employs the term wif dom to exprefs the fame thing with what is ufually intended by the word religion, and wickedness he commonly ftiles folly. Religious men are defignated wife, and the wicked fools. Surely there can be no wisdom fo truly excellent as religion; and there can be no folly greater than iniquity and defpifing our fouls. It is predicated of wifdom or religion, that her ways are pleasantnefs. They are not merely pleasant or pleasurable, but they are pleasantness, in an abstract and abfolute manner. As if pleasantnefs was to be found in those ways, and not in any other. This is declared of her ways, that is, her duties,, exercises and employments. These things are pleafure in themfelves, and they iffue in eternal felicity. The ways which lead to heaven are pleasant, and nothing but unmixed pleafure enters and dwells in that bleffed abode. Delightful walks thro' fhady groves, fruitful gardens or flowery parterres, scarce. ly any thing captivates or charms the human mind more than thefe. Travelling in them affords delight, and they frequently lead to places of the highest entertainment, where every fenfe is regaled, every paffion foothed and every appetite gratified. But what are the higheft wrought, and most refined pleasures of fenfe, in comparifon of mental pleafures and fpiritual delights. The royal preacher infcribes upon the former vanity and vexation of fpirit, while the latter is preferable to all the gold of phir, and the riches of Potofi. It is further fub. joined, "That all her paths are peace?" Ways may be pleafant and delightful, yet not guarded by peace. Affaflins and robbers may lurk in the arbers to annoy the unwary