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fromise, unto the day of redemption; therefore, there is now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus; who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Thus, accepted in the Beloved, and their conscience sealed with pardoning love, what can destroy their hope? Who shall rob them of their title to their Father's blessed habitation?

4. The gift of a ring was an ancient token of the highest HONOUR AND EXALTATION. Such a mark of distinction Pharaoh conferred upon Joseph, when he made him Vice-Roy over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand. By this Joseph at once enjoyed his freedom from the dungeon, was invested with authority, and was publicly received in the Court of Pharaoh, and in all the land, as elevated to the height of grandeur, being the second upon the throne of Egypt. We therefore believe that no greater token of honour and exaltation could the father bestow upon his safe-restored, prodigal son, than by ordering his servant to place a ring upon his hand. Yet, what are all these, with ten thousand other tokens of distinction, when compared with that honour which cometh from God, and is connected with the salvation of an immortal soul? In thy name, O most blessed Saviour, shall thy people rejoice all the day; and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted! The repenting, prodigal sinner, restored, finds himself exalted from a state of wretchedness to the high honours of a child of God; to take possession of Christ as his portion, with all the treasures of his grace; to improve all the blessings of providence for his best interest, enter into his father's habitation below, and enjoy its privileges, in certain expectation that when time with him shall be

no more, he shall be exalted to a throne of glory in the mansions of blessedness above! Such honour have all

his saints. Praise ye the Lord.

allow him to enjoy the

And, O that it may be

With pleasure we may now congratulate the prodigal on his happy restoration, and felicity of so great a change! our happiness, equally to review the grace of Christ in our personal conversion to God! What humility and self-abhorrence must pervade the prodigal's heart while reflecting upon his past disobedience; his abused moments; his profligate life; and his forgetfulness of his tender parent! How deep, how unexpected that conviction which penetrated his heart, when, by the provi dence of God, a famine was created in the land, and first dictated his return to his father's arms! But, what lips can sufficiently describe the sensibility of his soul, when he beheld his father approaching, and felt himself encircled within his tender embraces! How great his astonishment, on hearing the parental orders, Bring forth the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring upon his hand! These, so far from being the fruit of his merit, were completely prepared without his knowledge, and freely bestowed upon him without his request. From what source could these favours flow but a parent's com passionate heart? And what more calculated to pro duce future obedience, gratitude, affection, and an infinite train of other excellent qualities, as worthy the man as it was a relation to such a valuable father! In each of these instances, as in a glass, the humble Christian may see his own likeness, and be taught to exclaim,

O! to grace, how great a debtor,

Daily I'm constrain'd to be!

Let that grace now, like a fetter,
Bind my wand'ring heart to thee!

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love-
Here's my heart-O take and seal it!

Seal it for thy courts above!

As a necessary conclusion to this, and the preceding LECTURE, permit me to urge each of you to collect the remarks which I have made upon the conduct of the father to the prodigal son, and apply them to yourselves; inquiring how far, and in what part, you become interested. The three principal stages of the prodigal son are sufficient, if God shines upon your understanding, to discover your real character. The prodiga', at a DISTANCE, in a strange land, spending his time, debasing his faculties by sin, and abusing the bounties of Providence, will teach you what is the state and practice of every sinner at a distance from God. Is this your case? Are you acting the prodigal's part? And can you in such a state be happy? Impossible! and, sooner or later, like them you will find it so. The prodigal, on his RETURN, describes the state of man in his repentance and conversion. The evident cause of his return was a famine created in the land; which, confessedly, is one of the special judgments of God. How many more such prodigals might have been in that land we know not; however, this person came to himself; saw and felt his wretched state, and knew he must perish or return to his father. Had we seen him on the road, covered with rags, without a shoe to his foot, watering the path with his tears, while his breast heaved with conscious guilt

, and shame, how could we have forbórn our tenderest sympathy? Ah! my dear fellow sinners, if you have felt the evil of sin, your departure from God, and have ever returned to him, you are able to measure the steps of the prodigal in your own experience. Valuable indeed has been that affliction, or those means, under God, be they what they may, which have brought you to yourselves, and now conducts you to the Lord! Disobedient and vile as the prodigal had been, the only secret source of relief was the remembrance that he had a father; to him he would return with tears of contrition, in hope of forgiveness and acceptance. This too is your consolation, that the Parent of nature is your everlasting Father in Christ Jesus. He sees you, though yet afar off; soon and unexpected he may surround you with his embraces, for no returning prodigal was ever spurned from his presence. Turn unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord. The last state in the parable, is the prodigal RESTORED. Here, all that can awaken the finer sensibilities of the soul, and that can ensure a repenting transgressor of acceptance, union, and love, are exhibited in the most charming manner! If this has been your happy case, you need not my aid to describe the memorable scene. You returned in rags, and received a robe. Though you broke the divine law, and rebelled against the Author of your being, you received the ring of assurance and love, as a pledge of your pardon. Incapable of walking in the paths of obedience, like the prodigal without a sandal to his foot, you received the^shoes of the preparation of the Gospel of peace; hungry and thirsty, finding nothing but hus in the vanities and riches of the world, you received an invitation to the house of your God, and was regaled with a banquet!

They began to be merry. And is that joy yet extin guished in your breast? Surely not. You began to be merry; but not like the mirth of the ungodly, that expires as a vapour; your joy shall remain, and be coeval with eternity! I said, from these three stages, each of you might learn your characters, the prodigal—at a distance, on his return, and in happy restoration.

Sincerely do I wish these lectures may be the mean of awakening the careless, encouraging the penitent, and increasing the joy of those who are accepted. Happy that family which resembles the father's house-where prodigals are happily restored, the blessings of peace enjoyed, and heavenly mirth attends them all the way to the mansions of glory above!

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