holy one to see corruption : "1 "I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness." —And such honour, brethren, have all his saints. By the death of Jesus, Death is swallowed up in victory. "If we believe that he died and rose again, even so them also that sleep in Jesus will God bring with him, and they shall ever be with the Lord."3 The destruction of life must take place-but the life shall be redeemed from it. The soul indeed of the pardoned believer never dies; but even his dead body shall live again—an incorruptible, spiritual, and glorious body.

4. He crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies."

Here is revealed to us the source of all our blessings. The dealings of God towards his forgiven, are all dealings of love-merciful acts, flowing from a tender and loving heart. Like a circling crown, they encompass the believer on every side: or, like a crown of dignity set on his head, they shew the distinguishing estimation in which the Lord holds his redeemed servant: or they are a crown of victory; implying that, through the Divine Redeemer, all his enemies are conquered, and can harm him no more for ever. And in these respects, David's benefit is but a pattern to all, who have the same God and Saviour; "he that is feeble among them shall be as David" surrounded by perpetual mercies, and secured by the same tender love which assures every faithful soul, "He that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of mine eye."—Once more,

15. He "satisfieth thy mouth with good things, so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's."

"Give us this day our daily bread " 6—such is the prayer dictated by our kind Teacher; and in this matter

1 Psalm xvi. 10. 4 Zech. xii. 8.

"Psalm xvii. 15.
5 Zech. ii. 8.

3 1 Thess. iv. 14-17.

6 Matthew vi. 11.

he far exceeds what the terms of the petition lead us to expect. Nay, whether we ask or not, "he giveth food to all flesh, for his mercy endureth for ever."'-But there are choicer dainties, and more nourishing food; enjoyed by those only, whose " iniquities are forgiven." Earthly food is but a short relief, to hunger which soon recurs again. The consolations of God in the soul are a "well of water, springing up into everlasting life.” 2 The gratification of earthly food is mean, sensual, and sordid; rather satiating than satisfying. The consolations of God fully satisfy, never surfeit; they communicate joy, health, vigour, light, and gladness.

Here is an allusion to the eagle. Like all other birds, it annually moults its feathers, appearing to renew its youth by that means; but, unlike them, it does this for many successive years-being understood to be one of the most long-lived. So the servant of God, by daily gifts of grace, renews his spiritual strength. Age, impairing other things, still finds him flourishing. Death itself does but render his graces more complete, by transplanting him to the paradise of God.

Such are the benefits enjoyed, not by David alone, but by every servant of the Lord.-If pardoning and converting grace has made them yours, now reflect upon

II. THE GRATEFUL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS WHICH THEY DEMAND.

Take the Psalmist as your pattern.

1. Recount in your prayers the instances of the Lord's goodness; blessing him severally for each.-Think it not superfluous, to name things already known to God. He requires this service at your hand. If he sets a value on it, it is not for you surely to refuse it.-Do this, not only in prayer, but on all proper occasions ;

1 Psalm cxxxvi. 25.

2 John iv. 14.

that others also may hear.

for

291 soul." my

"Come and hear, all ye

that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done Some, who fear him not, may be led "We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you." 2

to say,

2. Rouse your whole soul, with all its faculties, to the performance of this delightful service.-It is not your voice alone that must speak. It is not only your sense of duty which must prompt you; not fear alonenor shame-nor love; but all of these together: that, while "the heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament sheweth his handy-work;" while "day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge; "" the Universe within you may join the song, and every faculty which God has bestowed may "bless his holy name.

3

3. Specially enjoin yourself never to forget the benefits received. Can this injunction be needful, after the former directions?' It may not seem so; but it is so in practice. Memory, so tenacious of evil and folly, is fearfully treacherous here. Was it not in a moment, that David forgot all, in the matter of Uriah? -However willing the spirit may be, the flesh is weak, Therefore-as Moses said to the Israelites-" remember, and forget not.”

What must I say to those vacant and insensible souls, who know none of these benefits? or who never feel any thankfulness to God because of them? I will say this-that God keeps a perfect account of every favour he bestows; and therefore let him who has received but " one talent "5 tremble, if that talent is producing no revenue of praise to the Giver.-The day of reckoning will come ;-sooner, probably, than you expect. "But what? even now!"6

SERMON XI.

REVELATION xxii. 17.—And the Spirit and the bride say, Come! And let him that heareth say, Come! And let him that is athirst come. And, whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

THESE words-nearly the last that were ever spoken from heaven to our guilty world-declare at once their own gracious Author. He who, at the opening of his ministry on earth, proclaimed, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest," had been revealing to his beloved John, by the lips of an angel, the heavy woes which he intended to bring upon his incorrigible enemies. But he will not suffer this last revelation to be closed, without once more speaking in his own person: and his language is still the same-full of "grace, mercy, and peace." He reminds you that his old invitation is not yet repealed; but that others, by his appointment, do still (and must still) re-echo it, even till time shall be no more. "The Spirit and the bride say, Come! And let him that heareth say, Come! And let him that is athirst come! And, whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely."

Let me then in treat you to listen, as if to the very last sermon you should ever hear, to those reflections which I may be enabled to make, upon two leading topics in the text.

1 Matthew xi. 28.

JESUS CHRIST.

I. THE GRACIOUS INVITATION OF THE GOSPEL OF "Let him that is athirst, come; and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."

1. To whom is this Invitation addressed?-To every one "that is athirst." An expression this, very frequent in the word of God; and commonly used in a figurative way, to describe a state of craving want, and painful destitution. In the present instance, it represents that strong desire after happiness, which is natural to man, but which he knows not how to gratify. For, though we were created with faculties for knowing, loving, and enjoying God, sin has so debased our nature, that we shun him, and seek our happiness in the things of this world alone. But all its pleasures and pursuits leave our appetites unsatisfied. We thirst-we drink at "broken cisterns," and thirst still.-Happily, God does not leave all men in utter darkness, as to the cause of their disappointment. He convinces them of sin: he sets their guilt, and his displeasure, before them: he leads them to thirst in a right direction—that is, after him and his love. Are you thus longing for better comforts, than any you have hitherto known? "To you then is the word of this salvation sent.'

992

While, however, many thirst in ignorance, there are those who thirst, but are still reluctant to be satisfied. Observe, therefore, that the invitation is addressed to "whosoever will"—and cannot indeed be accepted by any who are unwilling. Let this consideration awaken the presumptuous; who make themselves sure of heaven, though they have never felt their will consenting to the proposals of the Saviour. Let it still more encourage the lowly and penitent sinner, who looks in vain for any qualifications in himself, that may entitle him to the mercy of Christ. If it be so, that you are unwilling to

1 Jeremiah ii. 13.

2 Acts xiii. 26.