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finds a precious correspondence to it, in his own experience. When you can look back, and see, what you once was, and as thankfully look up, and contemplate, what you now are. When the soul is conscious, of being gathered, and planted, into the Courts of God, from the perpetual supplies you receive from the Lord, as the communicating head of all influences.

Blessed be God, there are some, and that some I trust, not a few, who are as conscious, of drawing all their fresh springs from Jesus, as the streams, depend upon the fountain, or the rays of light, upon the Sun. They are not more sensible, that the animal life, is supported day, by day, by the sustenance derived from the bread that perisheth, than the spiritual life of their soul, by the sweet supplies of grace, which they derive, from their living head.

But if there be no union with Christ's person, there can be no communication in his gifts. Planted the soul must be in the Lord's house, and ingrafted in the true Vine Christ Jesus, or no fruit can be brought forth unto God. The text limits the blessings it promiseth, and common sense limits them also, to this precious implantation. It is they, and they only, which are planted, in the house of the Lord, that are said

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said to flourish in the courts of our God. They shall bring forth fruit in old age, and shall be fat and flourishing.

Shall I beg of you, to pause one moment over this part of our discourse, before we go on to what was proposed under the second branch of it, that every one may make it a subject of diligent enquiry; whether this blessed operation. hath passed upon his mind?

Are you anxious my Brother, to know your state in this matter? The point is easily ascertained. A change of soil, to the plants of nature, is not more visible, than a change of heart, when accomplished, is manifested from the work of grace. They that are planted in the house of the Lord, soon indicate, where they have taken root. They long for the manifestations of God. They are as sensible of his presence, or absence, as the tender productions of the garden, are conscious of heavenly influences.

The sweet communications which pass, and repass, between a gracious soul, and a more gracious God, do, as decidedly testify, when grace is in exercise, and when it is not, as the varied seasons of day, and night, in the natural world, manifest the change, And the sensible

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growth which is promised in the text, though not found in equal degree in all; will yet in some certain proportion, according to the measure of grace imparted, demonstrate, those which are within, the sacred inclosure, from those which

are not.

Are you sensible, my Brother, of any of these things? Do you know any evidence in your own experience, of the transplantation from death to life? Are you acquainted with those vehement desires of the soul after God, which David speaks of; as the thirsting of a dry land where no water is? Can you describe, the different states of divine communications, from the contrary, in your own instance; and do you know what it is, to enjoy the light of God's Countenance, and what to mourn after it, when at any time, suspended, as a soul that waiteth for the Lord, more than they that watch for the morning.

These, and the like enquiries, if closely applied, in a serious hour of examination, will soon enable any man to discover, what, above all things he is most highly interested to know, whether he be truly interested, in the promised blessing of our text, by having experienced the work of it previously exercised on his heart. Let me once more repeat, before this branch of our subject be dismissed, that an union with Christ's person, is indespensible

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indispensible to a communion with his graces. And when this is accomplished, all the sweetness and fulness of that blessed Scripture follows; Because I live ye shall live also.

I shall proceed now, to the second point which I proposed from this subject, namely, to shew the sure effects of fruitfulness, springing out of the former.

Indeed, nothing can more decidedly manifest, that believers are in a state of vital union, with their Almighty head, than when they are growing up to him in all things. For this denotes that they live under his immediate influence.

There is a beautiful order, in the Spirit's work, upon the heart, and which if truly gracious souls would keep more in view, their comforts would be greater, and their confidence more unbroken. "When once the Holy Ghost hath brought the soul into this sweet union, with the Lord Jesus, there is a constant life of receiving out of his fulness. The very life indeed of the soul is in Jesus. It is no longer kept up, than it is preserved in him. The stream doth not depend more upon the fountain, neither the tree on the root, than the regenerated soul doth, upon the life-giving Head. Consequently therefore the effects of that life, in whatever

* John 14. 19.

whatever way it be manifested, is in him. And hence all supplies, essential to preservation, must be constant, unremitting, perpetual. perpetual. As the branch, never ceases to receive sap, and moisture, from the Vine, to which it is united, and. by which it is kept alive; so the believer, never remits one moment, deriving resources from Him, who is the life of the soul, and who by way of explaining this precious affinity saith, I am the vine ye are the branches.

And what makes this life of dependance, so very sweet and interesting is, that God the Holy Ghost, whose gracious office it is, from first, to last, to carry it on, is continually exercising the soul, by its wants, to seek resources. It is He, which reveals to the believer his own necessities, and the Redeemer's fulness, and then brings him to Jesus, for suitable supplies. So that by thus constantly living upon him, the believer is daily increasing, in grace, in knowledge, in obedience, in love, and in affection, to the Person, and character of the Lord Jesus. Nothing can tend more, to keep the soul humble, than a daily sense of its own wants, and insufficiency. And nothing will endear the Redeemer more to the heart, than his daily, hourly, supplies to the soul, of all its necessities. And thus, when God the Spirit, hath accomplished this blessed purpose, by his divine teachings, and induced this spiritual frame of waiting on the Lord, in a constant dependance

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