moving, but melancholy scene of forrows, Job's case, O that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the baLance together; for now it would be heavier than the fand of the jea, therefore my words are fwallowed up, or as it is in the margin, I want words to express my grief; which at that time was incon ceivable and inexpreffibly great. The fore anguifh of his body, deep diftrefs of his mind, lofs of his fubftance, death of his children, accufations of his friends, power of the Devil, temptation of his wife, all met upon him, wave after waye, till they became like an inundation to carry him away. This was a trying time indeed, if it had been poffible for a Chriftian's love to cease, this must have been the unhappy time with Job. But, on the other hand, we find indubitable marks of real affection to GoD in him, for he faith, Though he flag me, yet will I truft in him. The Lord gave, and the Lord taketh away, and bleffed be the name of the Lord. Which discovers 2 very great degree of love to the LORD, though I own that under dark and gloomy trials, efpecially if they continue long, the true Christian may murmur and complain, but then this is his grief, and he says with the Prophet, wherefore should a Hoing man complain? Love to the LORD teaches him another lef fon, fubmiffion to his will, It is the Lord, let him do what feemeth him good. He lies at the feet of mercy, begs for pardoning grace for his murmuring foul, cannot be eafy until the LORD fhews his gracious smiles, and he is enabled to adore and love the hand that uses the rod. Now when a creature frowns and fhews his displeasure, it foon removes our affection; but it is not fo with the Chriftian, whose love abides the ftorms of adverfity, as well as the smiles of prosperity.

Once more, the conftancy of the Chriftian's love to CHRIST appears through the whole of his life; amidst all the enfnar ing objects wherewith he is encompaffed, endeavouring to catch his affections from CHRIST, yet he despiseth them all in competition with his LORD; he counts all things but lofs and dung for the excellency of the knowledge of CHRIST JESUS: the firmness of the Chriftian's affection is feen in meeting with trials, perfecution, yea death itfelf for the fake of CHRIST, with fo much chearfulness and refolution of mind, like Mofes, who counted the reproaches of Chrift greater riches than the trea fures of Egypt; and the believing Hebrews, who took joyfully the fpailing of their goods, fuffered cruel mockings, fcourgings, yea bonds and imprisonments; they were ftoned, fawn afunder, tempted, flain with the fword; they wandered about in sheep and goatskins, being deftitute, afflicted, tormented. And what

could poffibly be a more forcible proof of the conftancy of their affections to GoD, and his ways, for these all obtained a good report through faith? the Apoftles and martyrs loved not their lives to the death, but embraced for CHRIST the most cruel tortures that Hell and nature could invent, or malice inflict, with raptures of joy, longing to depart and to be with CHRIST; all which befpeak the firmnefs of their affection, and the unchangeability of their love.

The Chriftian's love to CHRIST is fupreme, he loves CHRIST above all, there is nothing ftands in competition with JESUS, as no object is fo lovely, no name fo dear, no ways so precious, no prefence fo defirable as his.

Firft, There is nothing in life, can stand in competition with JESUS, for all things that can be defired are not to be com pared with him; what is the world, with all its glittering riches, high honors, enervating pleasures, and trifling vanities, when compared with him, before whom all nations are as nothing. In him the Chriftian poffeffes things prefent, and to come, 2 Cor. vi. 10. As having nothing, and yet poffeffing all things.

Secondly, There is no object so lovely as CHRIST, for in him all perfections meet, and every glory fhines, as the brightnefs of the father's glory, exprefs image of his perfon, and chiefeft of ten thousand; there is none like, none to be compared to him; he is the delight of JEHOVAH, admiration of angels, joy of his Saints, and fuperlative object of the Chriftian's love, for in him every excellency fhines with undecaying luftre, all created and acquired excellencies fade, wither, and die away, but the loveliness of JESUS, is all divine, as undecaying as the DEITY, his bright excellencies fpread glory itself through the Heaven of Heavens, attract every angel, and engage the admiration of every Saint."

Thirdly, The Chriftian loves CHRIST above all, because his name is fo dear, fweet, comprehenfive, dearer to him than every name that can be named in this world, or in that which is to come, Whom have I in Heaven but thee, and there is none upon earth that I defire befides thee? Thy name, dear JESUS, how fweet it founds! how healing and balfamic it is to my foul, as ointment poured forth; it, is the quinteffence of joy in every forrow, of light in darknefs, and of life in death; it affords ftrength to the weak, fupplies to the needy, cloathing to the naked, food to the hungry, peace to the troubled, pardon to the guilty, deliverance in danger, and falvation to the weary, The Chriftian finding his name Jehovah Jesus, lo

comprehenfive, as to contain all that perfection of bliss his foul defires, makes the mention of his name fo favory, fweet and precious.

Jefus, in thy transporting name
What blisful glories rife!
Jefus, the angels fweeteft theme,
The wonder of the skies.

Jefus, O lovelieft, dearest name!
The fum of every blifs

That feeds the fweet immortal flame
Of facred joy and peace.

The very mention of thy name
My fainting fpirit chears;
To all my wounds 'tis goodly balm,
It quite expels my fears.

I love thy Scriptures, fill'd fo full
Of thy moft precious blood;
The name and travail of thy foul
My dearest Lord and God.

Nor can I like that work or word,
That doctrine, book, or theme,
That takes no notice of my Lord,
Or leaves out his dear name.

Nor will I call that favory hence
Not falted with the fame,
Nor praise the highest eloquence
Whofe fubject's not the Lamb.

CENNICK.

Thus the Chriftian appears to have a fupreme love for CHRIST; it is not hearing, reading, or prayer, that he fo much loves, as the name and prefence of CHRIST, for though á fermon be delivered with the greateft accuracy, elegancy, and diction, yet if it is not full of the bleffings and import of CHRIST's facred names, it is no more to him than founding brafs or a tinkling cymbal.

Fourthly, The highest degree of the Chriftian's love to CHRIST appears in no ways fo defirable as his, whose ways

There is a peculiar

are pleafantnefs, and paths peace. pleasure, sweetness, and divine folemnity attends the paths of Zion, for it is there where the LORD commands his bleffing, even life for evermore; it is there where he meets his Saints, where he walks in the gallery of his grace, where the king is beheld in his beauty, fa. Ixiv. 5. Thou meeteft him that rejoiceth, and worketh righteousness; thofe that remember thee in thy ways; this made David, that fweet finger of Ifrael fay, Pfalm lxxxiv. 10. One day in thy courts is better than a thufand; I bad rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of wickechiefs; or as in the margin, I would choose ran ther to fit at the threshold, and I am perfuaded, that the door-cill (as we call it) of the houfe of the LORD was more precious to David than the throne of Ifracl, My foul langeth, pea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: My heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. The Chriftian loves to hear of, and from CHRIST, more than any other object or thing whatfoever. And believing the ministration of his word to be the meflage of grace, he delights to hear what Gon the LORD' fhall fay, becaufe he will speak peace to his Saints: This fhows a fupreme affection to him, it eminently appears that no favour is fo defirable to him as the prefence of CHRIST, light of his countenance, and manifeftations of his love; these afford him all the fweets his foul defires, and all the bleffings he prays for, Pfal. Ixii. 2, 3, 4, 5. To fee thy power and thy glory, fe as I have feen it in the fanctuary. Becaufe thy loving kindness is better than life, my lips fhall praife thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live. My foul fhall be fatisfied as with marrow and fatnefs. I will praife thee with joyful lips.

Laftly, It appears the Chriftian loves CHRIST above all, in that he fo much longs for that happy time when he fhall do nothing but love him with a perfection of love and praise. Whilft here, he is often grieved because he can love him no more, nor ferve him no better; and that himfelf and others, who profefs to adore and love him, are not more abundantly zealous for his glory, and fervent in their affections to him. This makes him long for that blissful eternity, when his foul, with all her powers, fhall drink in the fweets of love from the fountain which proceeds from the throne of God and the Lamb; and then make one continual return of love, in one perpetual praife, to him that fitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb. Here, fo vaft is the Chriftian's defire, that not all the world can All his heart, for he knows, as John fays, that if he loves the world, fets his affections upon it, as his principal happiness, the

love of the Father is not in him. Therefore he cannot give the world all his time and thoughts, but retites, like one who has nothing here, to take up his all in God; to spend a few mo ments in converfe with him; to go up to the mount of communion; to step within the vail; to reft his whole foul in the bofom of his love, with full delight, joy and fatisfaction, as his inheritance, portion, and all in all. Though at times the world engroffes fo much of his thoughts and affections, he fears he has no true love to the LORD JESUS, yet this be fpeaks the truth of faith, and that perfect complacency at times he takes in the prefence and bleffings of Chrift. Thus the Chriftian's love to CHRIST appears to have fincerity, judicioufnefs, freedom, conftancy, and complacency in it. Friendly. How does the Chriftian exprefs this love to CHRIST?

Truth. By the extenfiveness of his affection to him, in all his names, characters and relations.

First, In his names; I mean his fimilitude or comparative names, as the Shilo of his people-Shepherd of Ifrael-rock of falvation-rofe of Sharon-lily of the valley-fem of JessePrince of peace-chief corner ftone-foundation in Zion-hope of Ifrael,-rock of ages-King of Saints-door of hope-living way-fun of righteousness-tree of life-fountain opened,—plant of renown-morning ftar-Prince-Meffiah-messenger of the covenant-angel of his prefence - High Prieft over the house of God-advocate of his people-lion of the tribe of Judah-root and off-fpring of David-refiner in Zion-wifdem of Godwonderful counfellor-true vine-bread of life-ftrength of lfrael -city of refuge-fhield of his Saints-lamb without spot and blemish-the beginning, and the end, the amen, the faithful and true witness. Now the Chriftian's love appears to be extenfive, he loves all of CHRIST, loves him in every name he bears; and fays, as the Shilo of his people, may my foul be gathered to him; as the fhepherd of Ifrael, may he feed my foul in living paftures; as the rock of falvation, may my foul rest upon him; as the rofe of Sharon, may my foul be delighted with his fragrancy; as the lily of the valley, may I be charmed with his beauties; as the ftem of Jeffe, may I adore him in my nature; as the Prince of peace, may he be the perfection of peace to my foul; as the chief corner stone, may my foul, as a polished stone in Zion, be cemented to him; as a foundation, may I reft all my hopes of Heaven upon him; as the hope of Ifrael, may I take encouragement from him; as the rock of ages, may I fee in him the immoveability of my falva