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Why do true Chriftians fo contemn the world? It is a weary land to all such. What keeps them all under the tribulation of the world, while others faint, fo that they have had a joy in tribulation, took joyfully the fpoiling of their goods, yea, and even death itself? Why, under the fhadow of the great Rock, they got meat to eat the world knew not of.

3. See the tranfcendent excellence of Christ. What a precious one must he be in whom there is enough to balance all the miseries of the weary land! There are some of these that nothing under the fun can balance; what avails all the riches and honours under the fun, to a perfon under extreme bodily diftrefs, or expofed to the arreft of death. But in the most wearisome step of the weary land, Chrift is a refreshing fhade.

4. This lets us fee, where there is a fhelter to be found in the worst of times, against the ftormy tempeft of public or private calamity: John, xvi. 33 "These things (fays Jefus) I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace; in the world ye fhall have tribulation, but be of good chcer, I have overcome the world." In Jefus Christ our fafety lies, and without him there is no fafety. Here is the rock that is higher than we, and higher too than the highest of our enemies, whether devils or men.

I have only now to add an use of exhortation. I would exhort you to come to Christ, and put yourfelves under his fhadow this day. And that you may understand what you are called to, take it in the following advices.

1. Lay afide your fecurity, and see that you ftand in need of a fhade for refreshment and for

protection in the weary land.

However lightly people

people look on the confusions of our day, I think we have no reason to be secure; fecurity is dangerous, seeing the fins of the generation are crying fins, crying for a ftroke. Whatever has brought a ftroke on a church or people, that is not wanting in Scotland this day. Did univerfal corruption amongst all ranks bring the deluge on the old world? that is vifibly the plague of this generation. Did the defpifing of the gofpel bring the Roman armies on the Jews? Matth. xxii. 7. the monstrous profanity amongst some, and loathsome formality among others, fays we cannot escape, though God bear long with us.--The many deliverances we have met with when at the brink of ruin, and yet the generation not bettered by them, fays that the axe, which has been lying fo long at the root of the tree, will be wielded against us at the last: Amos, iv. 11. 12. "I have overthrown fome of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a fire-brand plucked out of the burning; yet have ye not returned unto me, faith the Lord. Therefore thus will I do unto you, O Ifrael! and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Ifrael !" We are ma

nifeftly pining away under spiritual plagues at this day, many given up to vile affections, the generation generally plagued with hardness of heart and deadness, men are turned hateful, and left to hate one another, biting and devouring one another, all which is an evidence, that there is an evil spirit amongst us. Finally, our fecurity in the face of alarming difpenfations, is a terrible token, according to that in 1 Theff. v. 3. "For when they fhall fay, Peace and fafety, then fudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child, and they fhall not efcape."-I would exhort you,

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2. To embrace Jefus Chrift, and lay hold on the everlasting covenant. Ye that are firangers to Christ, come in at length. Let the ftate of your perishing fouls come into your minds in earnest, and lay a fure foundation for eternity. Ye who have already come, come nearer and nearer, renew your acceptance of Chrift, and ftir up the grace of faith, that for the present is lying in such a weak ftate.

3. Repent of your fins, and turn from them. Amend your ways and your doings, and let not iniquity be your eternal ruin. Answer the call. of God at length, that there may be no ftanding controverfy betwixt God and you. Many delays have been in this matter, bring it now to a point, and halt no more betwixt two opinions, whether to be for God or for your lufts,-In a word, I exhort you,

4. To lay the weight of your through-bearing through the weary land over on Jesus Christ.— Look before you to the difficult fteps that may be yet betwixt you, and the grave, and folemnly take him for all you need or may need. Be concerned to depend upon him, and to truft in him, that he will not ceafe caring for you, and working in you, till he completely, accomplish all that good word upon which he has caused you to hope.◄ Το prompt you to this good work, I would propofe the following MOTIVES.

1. This is the fhade God the Father has provided for you. "I have (fays he) laid help upon one that is mighty," Pfal. Ixxxix. 19.; and you hear what he fays to you, in the text. Therefore, honour the Father by coming to his Son, and putting yourselves under his fhadow. He knew finners would need a fhelter in the O neglect not the offered falvation !-Confider,

weary

land.

2. That

2. That all other shadows are and will be but vain and vanishing ones; they will not be able to defend you from the ills to which you are expofed in the weary land; they will be like a hut built within the fea-mark, which will be carried away, together with the inhabitant, when the waters begin to flow: Ifa. xxviii. 17. “The hail fhall fweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding-place." Then your own wisdom will be but folly, your ftrength weakness, your carnal schemes fhall not profit you.--Confider,

3. That the wrath of God will pursue all who are not under this fhadow. O Chriftless finners! what will you do when God riseth up? and when he vifiteth, what will you anfwer him? He is a confuming fire, all elfe you can put betwixt him and you will be but as stubble, or at beft but a partition-wall of dry boards, that will quickly be confumed in that devouring fire.-Confider,

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4. That whatever weary steps ye meet with in the weary land, thefe will be doubly heavy by your not coming in under Chrift's fhadow; for the curfe will be in them; and though they were very light in themselves, that will make them heavy. You will get all your burden to bear alone, as Saul did. And, O what a fad cafe it is to have hea ven and earth dark both at once! Ifa. viii. 21. 22. -Confider,

5. That all the travellers to Zion have made this fhade their fhelter. It is a tried fhade in all ages of the church, Pfal. xc. 1.; whoever pursues them, this is the refuge of all the people of God in all times: Prov. xviii. 1o. "The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous runneth into it, and is fafe." The fpoufe of Chrift looks for this fhade, Song, i. 7. 8. and ii. 3.; and many a Kk 2 good

good word they have spoken of it to recommend it to others. Confider,

Laftly, That under Christ's fhadow there will be fafety in the moft wearifome parts of the weary land. He is the Saviour, and there is none befides him. Under his fhadow there is fafety from troubles, when they are flying very thick in the weary land. He can hide his people in the hollow of his hand in the midst of danger, Pfal. xci. 7. For he has all things at his command; men and devils are under the check of his providence. There is oftentimes a moderation of troubles.Under this fhadow people find, that though they be not quite freed from them, yet they are made. very moderate to them: Jer. xv. II. "The Lord faid, Verily, it fhall be well with thy remnant, verily I will cause the enemy to entreat thee well in the time of evil, and in the time of affliction." And fometimes it is much better for his people to meet with this moderation, Jer. xlv.5. The life for a prey is no fmall mercy. While his people reft under this fhadow, there is always a fpiritual falvation from the fting of evil; thus the nature of afflictions is altered, and the sharpest and heaviest stones thrown at them become precious ftones, which do them no hurt, but rather good; for "who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?" I Pet. iii. 13.-To fum up all in a word,

There is never miffed here an eternal falvation. However they be treated in the weary land, none go to hell from under Chrift's fhadow; but though they fhould go through fire and water, they will land at last in Abraham's bofom, and be brought unto the wealthy place. Amen.

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