"and rose again;" a patience "that endureth to the "end;" a perseverance that keeps us from "being "weary in well doing." "The Lord grant that we may find mercy of the Lord in that day”—Amen.

SERMON XI.

THE PRIVILEGES OF THE RIGHTEOUS.

PSALM 1Xxxiv. 11.

FOR THE LORD GOD IS A SUN AND SHIELD; The Lord WILL GIVE GRACE AND GLORY: NO GOOD THING WILL HE WITH-HOLD FROM THEM THAT WALK UPRIGHTLY.

Hence

DAVID was remarkably distinguished by the fervency of sacred affections. He could say with propriety, "the zeal of thy house hath eaten me "up." Hence his anxiety and resolation to establish a residence for the ark; "Surely I will not come into “the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed; "I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine "eye-lids, until I find out a place for the Lord, an "habitation for the mighty God of Jacob." his peculiar distress, when deprived of public privileges; "when I remember these things, I pour out my "soul in me; for I had gone with the multitude, I "went with them to the house of God, with the voice "of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday." When by the unnatural rebellion of Absalom he is driven from his throne, he feels the loss of his palace much less than the loss of the sanctuary; and

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the feelings of the king are absorbed in the concern of the worshipper for the ordinances of religion. Infidels may indeed endeavour to explain this, by supposing that David was a man of a melancholy turn of mind, and that like other weak and gloomy persons, he sought relief in devotional exercises, when he should have been engaged in forming wise counsels, and adopting vigorous measures. But let us attend to his real character. He was the hero of the age, and had immortalized his name by numerous exploits. In him were united the prowess of the soldier, and the skill of the general; and a succession of the most brilliant victories had procured for him the highest confidence, as well as the highest honour. He was qualified to rule as a judge, and to govern as a politician. To all these he added the charms of poetry and music, and "the "harp of the son of Jesse still continues to drive away "the evil spirit." Nevertheless he passes by all these distinctions; every other exercise, every other pleasure, gives place to ONE; in this he centers all his happiness" ONE thing have I desired of the Lord, that "will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of "the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beau

ty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple." "How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of Hosts !" "Blessed are they that dwell in thine house; they will "be still praising thee." "For a day in thy courts "is better than a thousand; I had rather be a door"keeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the "tents of wickedness." Such was the language of his decided preference; nor was it the ebullition of enthusiasm. He speaks "the words of truth and sober

"ness;" he gives solid reasons for his predilection. The house of God had afforded him multiplied advantages; there he had experienced divine manifestations and influences; there he hoped to enjoy fresh communion, and renewed supplies; "FOR the Lord God "is a Sun and Shield; the Lord will give grace and "glory, and no good thing will he withhold from

them that walk uprightly." Let us examine these words in a sense more detached and general. Let us contemplate "the Lord God" we adore in the sanctuary; let us consider what He Is A SUN AND "SHIELD," What He GIVES- GRACE AND GLO"RY." What He WITHHOLDS" NO GOOD THING; ;" and whom He REGARDS" THEM THAT WALK UP. "RIGHTLY."

PART I. If God, my brethren, speaks to man, He anust condescend to employ human language, not divine. He has done so; and behold nature and art lending their combined powers to aid the weakness of our apprehension. Nature furnishes us with a sun, and art with a shield; and all that is implied in these images, and more than all is God to his people.

He is a "SUN." Who can be ignorant of the glory and importance of this luminary in the system of nature; always the same; dispelling the horrors of darkness; making our day'; gladdening, fertilizing and adorning the whole creation of God; Every thing here below is changeable and perishing; "the grass withereth, the flower thereof falleth away;" man himself partakes of the general instability. How many empires has the sun beheld rising and falling! how many

generations has it seen successively descending into the grave! how many new possessors have occupied yonder estate! how many fresh classes of labourers have toiled in yonder field! while the same sun, from the beginning, has annually called forth the produce. At this moment I feel the very sun which "beat upon the "head of Jonah." While I speak, mine eye sees the very same sun which shone on "the dial of Ahaz;” and "stood still in the valley of Ajalon;" the very same sun which saw our Saviour "going about doing "good;" Noah stepping forth from the ark; Adam walking in the garden of Eden. It hath shone near six thousand years, but it is unaltered; it has been perpetually dispensing its beams, but it is undiminished; it has blessed myriads, but it is not less able to cheer us. Kindle a thousand lamps or fires, they will not enable you to discern the sun; the sun can only be seen by his own light. As he discovers himself, so he renders every thing else visible; by means of his rays the volume charms us, we hail the smiling face of friendship, we pursue our callings, and shun the dangers to which we are exposed. "If any man walk "in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the "light of this world." "The sun ariseth;" "man go"eth forth to his work and to his labour until the "evening." The illumination of the sun is progressive. The dawn is neither clear nor dark; night reluctantly resigns its sway; it struggles for a while, but by and by it yields; the shadows retire, the clouds disperse, the mists and fogs evaporate before the rising orb; and "the shining light shineth more and more "unto the perfect day;" and "truly the light is