xxxii. 17. "And the work of righteoufnefs fhail be peace, and the effect of righteoufnefs, quietnefs, and affurance for ever." How foon is the reft of the wicked broken, their candle put out! But this, although it may meet with fome difturbance by temptations, as the clouds may go over the fun, yet it fhall be as fure as the fun fixed in the firmament; it will be proof against the difturbances of the world, against the temptations and accufations of the devil; yea, against the demands of justice, and the threatenings of the law. Then in the life to come, he will give them all complete rest who come to him: Heb. iv. 9. “There remaineth, therefore, a rest for the people of God." He will give their bodies reft in the grave, Ifa. lvii. 2. and both foul and body reft in heaven hereafter; and that is a reft beyond expreffion.

If it should be inquired, Who is it that gives this reft? this is answered in our text; Christ fays to fuch labouring and heavy-laden finners, and he is able to make good his word, I will give you reft. The gift of this reft is his prerogative; they that obtain it muft get it out of his hands.-For illustrating and confirming this, consider,

1. That all creatures cannot give rest to a restless foul. Not any thing in them, or the whole of what can be afforded from them, can give it: Ecclef. i. 2. "Vanity of vanities, faith the preacher, vanity of vanities, all is vanity." Men, the beft of men, cannot do it. Minifters may be directed to fpeak a word in feafon, but the Lord himself can only make that word effectual, 2 Sam. xii. 13. compared with Pfal. li. Nay, angels cannot do it, Exod. xxxiii. 2. compare ver. 15. It requires a creating power: Ifa. lvii. 18. «I have feen his ways, and I will heal him."- Confider,

2. There can be no reft to the foul without returning

turning to a reconciled God, for it is impoffible the foul can find true reft elsewhere; and there is no returning to God but by Christ: John, xiv. 6. "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." He is the only ladder by which the foul can afcend to heaven.

3. Chrift is the great Lord Treasurer of heaven. The fulness of power is lodged in him: Matth. xxviii. 18. « All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." There is nothing that any can get from heaven in the way of fpiritual favour, but what comes through his hands: John, v. 22. "The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgement unto the Son." Jefus alfo hath the keys of hell and death, Rev. i. 18.

4. He is the ftore-house, where the treasure is laid up, and out of which all needful fupplies come: John, i. 16. " And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace." -Confider,

5. The glorious types illuftrating this: Jofeph, Gen. xli. 40.-44.; Jofhua, that brought the people to the reft in Canaan.-Confider,

6. That high character which he sustains: Heb. xii. 2. He is the author and finifher of our faith."--Confider,

Laftly, It is reafonable it should be so, he hath purchafed this reft with his blood; and therefore there is an high propriety that he should be the giver, the difpenter of this glorious blefling.-In the

IV. AND last place, it was proposed to make fome practical improvement of the whole. To enlarge here, however, would be improper, as a practical improvement has been made of the feveral parts of the fubject all along, as they have been. confidered. At the fame time, your attention may

be

be called to the following brief hints. From what has been observed, you have had fet before you,

1. A melancholy picture of the miserable state of all mankind by nature ;-they are labouring and heavy-laden, they have various burdens lying on them, the burden of fin, the burden of the law, a burden often of fears, of terrors, arifing from the former; and while thus heavy-laden, they are labouring, ftriving to cafe themfelves of their burdens, itruggling hard to get rid of them, while after all they are only labouring in vain in the fire, wearying themfelves in the greatness of their way; are fpending their money for that which is not bread, and their labour for that which fa. tisfieth not," instead of obtaining the least ease or quiet. Their fituation is in this way rendered more and more grievous and diftreffing, their burdens become heavier than they can bear, and their labour is rendered quite intolerable.

2. We may learn a fpecial ingredient in the mifery of those that thus labour, and are heavyladen. They are under the law as a covenant of works, which requires the full tale of brick, with-out affording the leaft ftraw with which to make them. They are under moft grievous task-masters, who are conftantly faying, Give, give, while they are unable to work; and, what is ftill worfe, they are without Chrift, without God, and fo without hope in the world. It is Jefus only that can help them; while afar from him, and enemies to him, they have no other profpect than that of perishing eternally. But,

3. There is hence opened up a door of hope, even for fuch as are labouring and heavy-laden, whatever their characters or conditions have been, or at prefent may be, though they may have long laboured in vain, and fpent their ftrength for nought.

nought. However heavy, numerous, and continued burdipis thefe may be, though in their view their condition may not only be diftreffing and deplorable, but even almost desperate, there is here a door of hope opened up to fuch. On Jefus is their help laid; in and from him it is to be found. He is faying, "Look unto me, and be ye faved, all ye ends of the earth; for I am God, and befides me there is no Saviour." "Hearken, ye ftout-hearted, and ye that are far from righteoufnefs." Nay, he speaks to fuch exprefsly by name; without excluding a fingle individual, whatever his prefent character or condition be, his gracious words are, Come unto me, all ye (the whole of you, and each of you) that labour, and are heavy-laden, and (in coming to me without peradventure) you shall have reft.

In the last place, There is pointed out to us what is the indispensable duty of all the hearers of the gofpel. It is to come to Jefus; to comply with the gracious call and invitation here given. It is true, this in the text is addreffed only to the labouring and heavy-laden; but is not this a character common to all the hearers of the gospel? Are not all more or less in this fituation? A fituation fo far from being desirable, that it is exceed-, ingly uncomfortable. If fuch, then, would confult their prefent or eternal welfare; if they would hearken to the gracious call, the kind invitation which Chrift gives them; if they would obey Heaven's great command, it must be admitted, that it is their bounden duty to come to Jefus, that is, to believe on him; for it is only in the exercife of faith as coming to him, and according as faith is in exercise, that any can be freed from their heavy burdens, or be releafed from that vain and irksome labour in which they are engaged.

Let all fuch, then, be exhorted to ceafe from the labour

labour which fatisfieth not; from these fruitless attempts which they are engaged in to rid themfelves from these heavy burdens that they are weighed down under. Be exhorted to come to Jefus; caft all your burdens and your cares over upon him. He is able and willing to fuftain both you and your burdens, whatever they are. Come to him, then, as you are, as labouring and heavyladen. There is the most cordial welcome afforded to all fuch; the greater your burdens, and the more preffing your neceffities are, in the way of putting your cafe unreservedly in his hand, and under his management, you may in due time affuredly expect a comfortable iffue. He hates putting away. Whofoever will may come, and him that cometh unto him, he will in no wife caft out. Come unto me (fays he) all ye that labour and are heavyladen, and I will give you reft.

CHRIST,