PERHAPS the pious parent who hath died in the Lord, may regard the little orphan which he hath left behind. Experienced in the troubles and difficulties, snares and temptations of this life, he may watch over it, and in ways to us unknown, "do it good and not evil all the days of its life." Little ones are not defstitute of invisible keepers" Their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.* SOME are early called out of life; make but a tranfient visit to this scene of forrow, and just taste the bitter cup of affliction. But though short their slay, they may yet begin to form fome dear connexions-connexions which might perhaps, have been ensnaring; for more fet bad, than good examples before the little strangers committed to their care. These, taken from the evils to come, may be friends to those who had appeared to be. friend their helpless state in this strange landmay watch for their good, and rejoice if they fee them minding the things which belong to their peace, and by a wife improvement of more talents than had been committed to themselves, preparing for greater joys and honors in the kingdom of God. THOSE who had sustained a still nearer relation -who had been " one flesh," may bear like regard to those "with whom they had taken sweet counsel and walked to the house of God in company"-and may be the first to welcome their arrival at the world of joy. * Matthew xviii. 10. THE Romish church have abused the doctrine which we conceive to be contained in the text, by decreeing adoration to departed saints. Others have gone into the opposite extreme, denying that they know ought of terrestrial matters, or have any concern in them. Adoration belongs exclusively to God. It belongs neither to glorified saints, nor to angels of light, though the latter " are all fent forth to minister to the heirs of falvation."* "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. THE righteous are not suffered to continue here by reason of death. Their removal is one of our severest trials. Our subject ministers support and comfort under it. When we reflect upon it, we seem to hear them calling to us from behind the scene, with "Weep not for us-we are not dead. Our bodies fleep, but our spirits wake-Death is not the period of our existence. It is only our removal-our birth day into the world of glory.We are joined " to the spirits of the just made perfect"-enjoy the society and that of the angels of God-behold the face of our heavenly Father, and of the divine Redeemer. We rejoice to fee you "followers of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises" are ready to help you in your work, and to shout God's praises, and unite in songs of triumph, should you come off conquerors, and rise from your humble state of forrows, sufferings and temptations, to be our com. panions in glory." * Hebrews i. 14. THESE are confoling and animating views. They tend to excite a divine ambition in working out our salvation. We are yet doomed " to bear the heat and burden of the day." But we are not alone-not unobserved. God, angels, and the good, who were lately " our companions in tribulation," witness the part we act. We would not dishonor ourselves in their view, and fink ourselves in their ef timation. If they are ready to help our infirmity, we would not render their heavenly aid of no avail, or cut ourselves off from enjoying their society. CONSIDER some dear departed child of God thus interested in your concerns, and you will find it a spur to duty, and an incentive to labor and not faint in the work affigned you, preparatory to your join. ing the church of the first born above. Think now that the godly ones who loved you here, and labored to animate you in the service of God-or those who lately looked to you for counsel and guidance, having made their way to glory, are waiting your arrival, and longing to hail your entrance into the kingdom, and by all the strength of your love to them, now freed from the imperfections of their earthly residence, and made glorious and heavenly, you will find yourself drawn on toward that state of blessedness, in which you hope again to rejoice with those whose distresses you witneffed here--yea whose dying agonies, may have chill. ed your frame and filled you with anguish unut. terable! To meet them again, and find yourself and them, forever removed from the fear of evil, either natural or moral-forever secure the divine friend. ship-forever happy and glorious in the enjoyment of God, " the former things being all passed away, and all tears forever wiped from your eyes!" There to recount with those blessed spirits, the travels and trials of this life, and look back, perhaps, on many hairbreadth escapes from eternal death! There, to dwell on the wonders of divine love and mercy exercised towards you, and often in things which you once thought to be against you! Who would not willingly suffer many deaths to enjoy these things ? Such confiderations are animating in duty, and supporting in times of trial. If realized, we shall adopt the language of the suffering apostle"None of these things move me, neither do I count my life dear to myself, that I may finish my course with joy" and share such blessed society-fuch inconceivable felicity and glory in my Father's house above, in which are many manfions! SERMON XXVIII. The Danger of Deviating from Divine Institutions. COLOSSIANS ii. 8. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. ST. PAUL was the apostle of the Gentiles. The care of the churches gathered among them devolv ed particularly on him. At the writing of this epistle he had no personal acquaintance with the church to which it is addressed.* Epaphras, a bishop of the Coloffians, then his fellow prisoner at Rome, had made him acquainted with their state, and the danger they were in from false teachers, who, during the absence of their minister, labored to turn them from the simplicity of the gofpel; and this letter was written, through divine influence, to guard them against those deceivers, and perfuade them to abide in Chrift. * Verse 1. |