conceive the immensity thereof! Well might a worthy divine exclaim, "If all the water of the sea was ink, and all the piles of grass were pens, and every star a scribe, they would fail in describing a thousandth, thousandth part of my ever loving and ever lovely Lord Jesus." Such warm and pathetic effusions, are looked upon as wild reveries by our cool, philosophical gentlemen; but we find much of this sort in the book of psalms, and in the song of Solomon, and other experimental parts of God's word. It were much to be desired that professing people, and more especially ministers, were possessed more of the good old puritanical, I would rather say, the primitive, spirit which appears in the new testament writers. WHAT did the great apostle feel when he said, Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but lost for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ. (a) For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God; or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. For the love of Christ constraineth us. (b) I sincerely join with one of our poets who sings aloud, (a) Phil. iii. 8. (b) 2 Cor. v. 13, 14. "Oh ye cold hearted frozen formalists! We need not wonder at reading that the lame man that was healed at the gate Beautiful, that he should walk with them into the temple leaping and praising God. (a) What noble enthusiasm did David feel when he cried out in sweet exclamation, Wake up, my glory; wake, lute and harp! I myself will awake right early. 6. HE bestows these gifts unto men that the divine donor may be glorified. Hence he saith, This people have I formed for myself, they shall shew forth my praise. (b) All the works of God do praise him. Even the heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament sheweth his handy work. And our blessed Lord, speaking of the spirit, whom he stiles the comforter, which he would send, says, He shall glorify me : for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. (c) In the psalms we find every thing rational or irrational, animate or inanimate, celestial or terrestrial, is pressed into this noble service to form one grand chorus; and after all the creation is called upon to the heavenly concert, it is added, Let every thing that hath breath praise the (a) Acts iii. 6. (b) Isa. xliii. 21. (c) John xvi. 14. N 9 Lord.. Praise ye the Lord. (a) Indeed, praise is the highest part of the worship of God that we have, or can have any knowJedge of. Who so offereth praise, saith the great Jehovah, glorieth me. (b). Ten lepers were cleansed; but one is taken particular notice of, that finding what was done turned back and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell at the feet of his divine benefactor, giving thanks to him. IN short; if we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, what is it for? that we may shew forth the praises of him who hath called us out of darkness into his marvellous light. (c) Thus we find the whole process of redemption hath these two grand ends in view, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will among men. LASTLY, we see how much depends upon the glorious undertaking of our ever adorable Redeemer. In him every attribute sweetly harmonizes; and all contribute glory to the deity, and all the comfort and happiness which a world of ruined sinners stand in need of. What amazing encouragement does this give every penitent sinner? The number and magnitude of his sins need be no obstacle in his way, seeing it is a faithful saying, aud worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came (a) Psa. cl. 6. (b) Ps. 1. 23. (c) 1 Pet, ii. 9. into the world to save sinners, even the chief of sinners. The Son of man came to seek, and save that which was lost. To our unspeakable comfort this adorable Godman receiveth sinners. For, "The Lord, in the day of his anger, did lay See a lewd Magdalene weeping at his feet, but is received by him who said, Go in peace, thy sins are forgiven thee. See him bring salvation to the house of a covetous Zacheus. See a persecuting Saul taken into his service, and never once upbraided. In short, whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely. Him that cometh to me, says our Immanuel, I will in no wise cast out. BUT we must remember, this tried stone, this precious corner stone, will be a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence to all the disobedient; to such as prefer either their sins, or their own righteousness to the saviour of the world. Indeed this is the condemnation that light is come, but they love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil. If there had been no Saviour, I apprehend the human race would have been clear, except Adam and Eve; at least the sin of rejecting the Saviour would not be required at their hands as our Lord says, If I had not done among them the works that no other man did, they had not had sin; but now there is no excuse; no palliation, they are without excuse. Behold this child is set for the rising and falling of many; to many his second coming shall have a dreadful appearance; they shall look upon him whom they have pierced, and shall wail because of him. For God will assuredly wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalps of such as go on in their sin. Such will cry to rocks and mountains to fall on them, and hide them from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the lamb; but all in vain. For every island, sea and mountain, BUT 0, it is too late; the door is shut; and nothing but a fearful looking for of judg ment and fiery indignation from the Lord. For, behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven, and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly shall be as stubble. The wicked shall be turned into hell and all the people that forget God. And the smoke of their torment shall ascend up for ever and ever. How inconceivably dread |