affliction, that "All things are your's, whether Paul or Apollos," &c. Believest thou this? Then unto you is the word of this salvation sent, that your salvation may be more and more set upon things above.

In opening out therefore, in a particular manner, this glorious proclamation, my humble attempt will be, in the

First place, To point out unto whom the Lord here directs his servant to write; making plain also in what their vast privileges do consist, "For all things are your's." Who saith so? Why Ruach Jehovah himself, by his ordained amanuensis, who only wrote and spake as moved by the Holy Ghost. "Whatsoever things therefore were written afore time, were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, might have hope," Titus i. 2, 2. By this word your's, then, here laying in the position before us, understand both the persons and characters of those unto whom this luminous epistle was sent in love. Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, and called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their's and our's." Then it is likewise addressed unto us this very night, in this very place, for "such honour hath all his saints." Truly so. And therefore as a saint is a vessel of mercy afore prepared unto glory, who hath been saved, and called with an holy calling; so the question immediately ariseth, How many of such honourable sons and daughters are now in the Lord's presence within these walls? Remember, we were all born in sin and shapen in iniquity, living without God and without Christ in the world. As such we were sinners and not saints. And moreover, of such Jesus declared, "Ye must be born again." Say then, hast thou been new-born in grace, whereby old things are passed

away, and all things become new?" If so, well; for then because thou art a child "not appointed unto wrath; hath God sent forth the Spirit of his Son, crying, Abba, Father." And then also unto you hath it been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom; while unto them who are without it is not given, but they are left to fill up their measure of iniquity; after which they "go to their own place." Behold, then, what manner of love the "Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God;" as a pledge or earnest our unworthy names are written in the Lamb's book of life," Rom. viii. 29, 30. "Ye see your calling therefore brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh; not many mighty, not many noble are called," to a knowledge of themselves as sinners in the earthly Adam, and saints in the Second Man or Lord from heaven. Wherefore we are bound, &c., 2 Thess. ii. 13, 14. Now unto such elected, redeemed, and regenerated children is it, Paul is here stirred up in spirit to write: "All things are yours. Not that they are given over into their hands, but they are, as aforesaid, for "your sakes," as will be shewn directly. Be pleased, however, in the mean season just to mark the expression: "all things;" and not all places, for hell is not yours; God having provided some better thing for us in the boundless realms of glory, John xiv. 1—3.

But to be a little more particular: God the Father is yours; having made himself over in the council of peace, as the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named. The Son of God also is yours; having humbled himself to become the Head, Husband, Friend, Brother, Prophet, Priest, King and Advocate of his elect bride. The Holy Ghost likewise is yours; as the Witness, Quickener, and Sealer of

his sons' and daughters' redemption. Moreover the elect angels are yours; for "are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be (called as) heirs of salvation?" Again, that holy thing of which the angel Gabriel spake unto Mary is yours; and in which spotless humanity was wrapped the deity or divinity of the Son, together with every member of his mystic body. This is a great mystery; but I speak concerning Christ and his church. "Forasmuch then as the children were partakers of flesh and blood; he also himself took part of the same, that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, i. e. the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." Suffice it therefore to say, that in all things God manifest in the flesh did, it was not as a private person, but as the loving Surety of his lost people, in our place, room, and stead, Isa. liii. 6. The blood consequently of that holy thing wherein dwelt the Son, in his members' midst, is ours; which hath cleansed us from all sin now and ever. His everlasting righteousness is ours; in which we appear before God without spot or any such thing. And his power moreover as Immanuel is engaged on our parts, to "bring us off more than conquerors through the blood of the Lamb." Thanks unto God for his unspeakable gift. Praises unto Jesus for the gift of himself. And equal blessings to God the Holy Ghost for revealing the whole. 1 Cor. ii. 10. Seeing things are so, what shall we say to these things? If God be for us who can be against us? I speak with reverence: not even the Lord himself. It is God that justifieth, who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather that is risen again, who is ever at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 1 John ii. 1, 2.

But we must not stop here. As

amongst these "all things which are yours,' that exceeding evil thing sin must be reckoned of the number, and that not to damn you, or to cause you to live in the commission; but simply to humble ycu, prove you and shew you, that in your flesh dwelleth no good thing. Rom. vii. 18, 25. 18, 25. God be thanked therefore, ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered unto you.

Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness; having your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. Furthermore, the law entered that the offence might abound; but where sin abounded grace did much more abound. That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we who are dead to sin live any longer therein? Impossible. "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin; but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." Titus ii. 11-14. Which leads me to proceed,

Secondly, And shew in what way or manner these "all things" shall minister for our everlasting welfare; from whence may be distinctly traced out, how to the children every bitter becometh sweet. Was therefore St. Paul a servant of Jesus Christ unto them, with the gospel “treasure in his earthen vessel?" It was to the intent," their faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." So likewise concerning Apollos another man of like passions with ourselves: nearly the same is said of him, though expressed in different language, See Acts xviii. 24-28. And once more respecting Cephas, likewise, or Peter, he was raised up for the self-same purpose, to" feed the church of God

the

bulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

Once more under this branch, it is immediately added" things to come, things to come, all are yours." Now of this invisible state, we cannot speak particularly, as eye hath not seen, nor ear heard neither have entered into the heart of man the things God hath prepared for them that love him." At all events this we can say, "No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast go up thereon, it shall not be found there. But the redeemed shall walk there, and the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." Lastly, the grave is yours, for the vile body with all appertaining thereunto, to rest in, unto the glorious morning of the resurrection; when Jesus shall change our vile bodies, and fashion them like unto his glorious body according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself." Oh then that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past; that thou wouldest appoint me a set time and remember me.' Thou shalt call and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands." In a word, seeing things are thus, "Why sayest thou O Jacob and, speakest O Israel; my way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God? Hast thou not known; hast thou not heard that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint and to them who have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall; but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run

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and not be weary they shall walk and not faint." "Fear not therefore, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom," as "all things are possible with God." And this brings me to close all up.

Thirdly, By giving in before you not only the Lord's reason why things are so ordained, but likewise prove wherein alone our everlasting safety is to be found. How, or in what name? Not in Christ as the Son, for as the Son he is one with the Father over all God blessed for ever;" but as the Son of God, begotten of the Father from everlasting in his divine decree, Psalm ii. 7. And in this way only can we view him in the gos. pel glass, under the Spirit's shewing, as Jesus Christ the same yesterday. to day and for ever." How highly exalted then are the sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty; who are taken up into union and oneness with a precious and adorable Christ. So here" ye are Christ's." Not, ye may be Christ's, but ye are so already by God's election, predestination, adop. tion and "acceptation in the beloved." The thought then is blessed arising from God's acts being eternal: once elected, always elected: once married by the Son of God unto himself, for ever a "member of his body, his flesh, and his bones." And once quickened into a new and spiritual life, by God the Holy Ghost, we are confident of this very thing, that he “who hath begun the good work in you, will perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ." Gal. iv. 6. Thus the truth is manifest, if we are verily members of Christ's mystic body, flesh and bones, say, what can possibly arise to mar the comforts of God's living children? Sin cannot, it being for ever put away, Jer. 1. 20. The law cannot; for "what the law could not do in that it was weak, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh," condemned sin in the holy flesh of Jesus Gal. iii. 13. Death cannot, for Christ by his death hath abolished

death, and brought life and immortality to light by the gospel," 1 Cor. xv. 55, 58. Neither can Satan, nor all his hellish powers of darkness, who is now a vanquished foe, according as it is written, 1 John iii. 8. Herein then do we view our safety and security in Christ, in whom dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily," in whom we are complete, Song ii. 14. 'If therefore I am walking in darkness and have no sensible comfort of his light, still I am in the light and equally as safe, although not walking in the manifestations of his power, Isa. 1. 10.

Behold, saith

But to be brief, as the time is gone, the text closeth with the crowning points of the whole "and Christ is God's." Wherefore as Christ is not the Son only, neither is he man merely, but God manifest in the flesh :" so in him are his members included, as heirs of God and jointheirs with Christ." God the Father uphold, mine elect in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my Spirit upon him, he shall bring forth judgment unto the gentiles." As Christ then is, so are we in this world; " who is made unto us of God, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemp. tion: that according as it is written, he that glorieth, let him glory in the

Lord."

my servant whom I

"Jesus was head elect proclaim'd,

Then all his mystic members named,
One glorious head, one body here,
That should at last one glory share."

Blessed be God therefore for the precious things of heaven; for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun; and for the precious things put forth by the moon, and for the chief things of the ancient mountains; and for the precious things of the lasting hills. And for the precious things of the earth and fulness thereof; and for the good will of him that dwelleth in the bush," Cease ye then from man whose breath is in his nostrils,

The greatest enemies of Christ, false teachers; except Satan, are which the apostle says, shall arise, and deceive many." They by their cunning craftiness lay in wait to deceive." What evil will not the love of honour, and the lust of advantage effect? The love of money in them is the root of all evil from which all false professions, with their curious faiths sprang, have been coined, and sold to the unworthy as sterling by those who live by making counterfeits. It is of little consequence as to what they believe, assert write. or profess; it is evident, they make money by all they do believe, write, and profess in Christ's name; how. ever good or true the things may be in themselves, he is mercenary and self-interested in all he does in the gospel; such conduct decides his character and proves that he is a time-server doctrinally converted to a system by man but not spiritually regenerated by God. "For where the heart is there the treasure is." The introduction of mercenary and covetous preachers, dishonour Christ, encourages a form of godliness without the power; and opens a door for hypocrisy and licentiousness. Love of lucre, generates love of dominion; both of which are antichristian, and abominable to Christ in men profes