ment of this inheritance. I would repeat the remark, that the children of the kingdom often dishonor God, and forfeit their own comfort, by distrusting his promises and providences respecting them while they are to continue in this world.— They can rely on his mercy for all blessedness and glory hereafter, but they are anxious about his dealings to them here: Through this want of faith on the faithfulness and all-sufficiency of God, they who are poor in this world are anxious about themselves and their families; and the rich “ do not communicate" for purposes of piety and charity, but eagerly treasure up for their children after them. T'he conduct of both classes is in this respect highly inconsistent and dishonorable. As gratitude to a Benefactor so liberal, should excite the rich to nobler conduct; a reliance on the bounty and loving kindness of their Father, might relieve the poor from those anxious, disquieting fears. “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” how shall he not protect, and feed, and clothe, and comfort ? how shall he not justify us freely, sanctify us fully, and save us eternally ? “Rejoice therefore in the Lord, ye righteous ;” trust him for every temporal, no less than every spiritual blessing, until ye“ receive the end of your faith, eternal life.” Will a prudent, affectionate fa

” ther, after providing a large estate for his

son, suffer him to perish through want, before he brings him to the enjoyment ? or will a gracious God after laying up for you a crown, a kingdom, an inheritance, refuse whatever is best for you until you are brought to possess them? “Be not henceforth faithless, but believing.” The more unshaken your reliance is on his promisė and covenant; the more frequently that you come to him for the supply of each want, for redressing every grievance, for. wiping away every tear; he will be the more glorified, and your peace the more promoted.

4. We are taught from this doctrine who they are, who may rationally expect eternal life, they, and they only who believe in Jesus Christ; or, as it is expressed in our text, “ who eat his flesh, and drink his blood.” There is no salvation in any other, and there is no other means of making this salvation our own, but by coming to Jesus Christ, actually receiving him in his covenant fulness, and all-perfect righteousness. “He that hath the Son hath life.” As I desire to be found faithful in the ministry which is committed to my trust: As I wish to give in my account at last with joy, and not with grief, I now admonish you, it is not every one that crieth, Lord, Lord; it is not every baptized person; not every one who frequents the sanctuary, who yields a general assent to the doctrines delivered, who is “almost persuaded to be a christian," or

puts on the mask of a profession, that shall enter the kingdom of heaven; but he in

; whom Jesus is formed “the hope of glory.' Separated from him, you can no more bring forth the fruits of repentance, of love, of joy, of hope, without which no man shall see the Lord, than a branch can blossom without union to the vine, or a stream can flow with living water unconnected with any fountain. “To as many as received him, to them, and to no others, gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." Would the ark, however ingeniously planned, or carefully executed, have saved from the devouring flood Noah and his family, without entering it? No. Would the city of refuge, although devised by infinite wisdom as a means of safety for the nation of Israel, have saved a single Israelite from the avenger of blood, unless he had fled within its walls ? No. Will bread nourish ; will water purify; will medicine heal; will a robe warm,

* unless they are applied ? No. Neither will Jesus the Saviour profit for the salvation of any, but those who particularly receive him. He is “the ark of the covenant,” appointed for the protection of sinners; but the flood of wrath will overtake, and overflow the man who does not actually enter it. He is a

city of refuge,” devised by infinite wisdom and mercy for the security of perishing men; but the sword of the destroyer will be bathed, and that forever in the blood of himn

who does not hasten to this city, and really enter within its walls: Jesus is "the bread of life," but he is nourishment to those only who eat or receive him by faith: His cross yields a sovereign balm for the disease of sin, but it gives health only to such as apply it to their diseases. Examine yourselves, therefore, whether you be in the faith; prove your ownselves; know ye not your ownselves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except you be reprobates." Thou "Spirit of God, and of glory!" pour light upon every heart, enabling us to know in our day the things that belong to our peace: glorify the Saviour by receiving of his, and shewing them savingly unto us, "that being justified by his grace we may become heirs according to the hopes of ETERNAL LIFE;" and to Thee, with the coequal Son, and Ever-Blessed Father, Jehovah in covenant, be ascribed dominion and thanksgiving, world without end.-AMEN.

SERMON IV.

ACTS III. 21.

IV hom the heaven must receive until the times

of resiitution of all things.

THERE were various degrees in the humiliation of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world. It began in his incarnation, it continued throughout the whole course of his life, and was consummated upon his

- That decease which he accomplished at Jerusalem” was the last, and lowest step of his degradation ; and in that he “finished," as to its purchase, “the work that was given him to do.” “He became obedient unto death,” and in dying “ made an end of sin, made reconciliation for iniquity, and brought in everlasting righteousness,” for the justification of his chosen. By one step of his humiliation, the Mediator, as man, was fitted for another, and lower step of humiliation. “Though he was a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered, and being inade perfect became the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him.” As in the humiliation of the Son of God formerly, so in his exaltation afterwards, there was a variety of steps, and by the reception of one degree of mediatorial glory, he was prepared for the reception of another and higher degree.