this gospel at Rome, and tells them, he was not ashamed of it.

3. To preach it as a minister. Acts xxvi. 26, 27.

4. To contend for it as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Phil. i. 7.

And lastly, He was not ashamed to suffer and die for it as a martyr. Load we with reproaches, ye Jews, my countrymen: load me with chains, ye magistrates at Rome: "I am not ashamed." Acts xx. 24; xxi. 13.

Observe, More is implied in the text than expressed; I am not ashamed; i. e. I glory, make my boast of it. Phil. iii. 4; Ephes. iii. 8; Gal. vi. 14.

III. The reasons why the apostle was not ashamed, "It is the power of God unto salvation."

1. This gospel is the power of God to awaken. Acts ii. 37.

2. To justify. 1 Thess. i. 5.

3. To purify. John xvii. 17.

4. The power of God to eternal salvation. Jude ver. 21; 1 Peter i. 5.

5. To every one that believeth. No believer excluded from salvation: none excluded from believing. (John iii. 16.) To the Jew first, and also to the Greek." Rom. x. 11-13.

Inferences.

1. What an affront to the Majesty of Heaven, and a reproach to ourselves, should we be ashamed of this gos pel. Mark viii. 38.

2. If this be a gospel not to be ashamed of, then study it well. Let us furnish ourselves with arguments daily, that we may believe it without shame, and profess it without a blush.

3. So far from being ashamed of this gospel, let it be our glory and boast.

THE RICHES OF DIVINE GRACE EXEMPLIFIED.

That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace.-Eph. ii. 7. .

In these words we have the conclusion of the longest continued sentence, perhaps, in all the book of God, viz. from the 18th verse of the preceding chapter to this. It began with the "riches of glory," and it ends with the "riches of grace." It contains a parallel between what was done in Christ the head, and in us his members; that so in Christ's glory, as in a lively pattern already perfected, we might see what God had done, and will do for us, to the praise of his rich grace and glorious power. For this is the great and ultimate end of all, as is plain from the text, That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace."

I. Speak of God's kindness to men in Christ.

1. This appears in the assumption of our nature to a personal union with himself. Ps. lxxxix. 19; Heb. ii. 16; John i. 14.

2. In his tasting of death in that nature. Heb. ii. 9.

3. In the resurrection of that nature from the dead. Rom. vi. 9; Matt. xxviii. 6; 1 Pet. i. 21; Acts xiii. 32, 33.

4. In giving it a glorious ascension into heaven. Ps. Ixviii. 17, 18; Heb. xiii. 20; 1 Pet. i. 3.

5. In his intercession for transgressors. Heb. vii. 25; 1 John ii. 1.

6. In bringing that nature into the full enjoyment of blessedness. Ps. xxi. 4-6.

Some instances of God's kindness to believers, in and through Christ, is manifested in,

1. The remission of their sins. Eph. i. 7.

2. The gift of the Spirit. Rom. viii. 16; Titus iii. 5, 6.

3. Union with his person. John xvii. 21; Isa. liv, 5. 4. His bringing them into covenant-relation with himself, as their God. Gen. xvii. 7; Ps. cxliv. 15.

5. Justification of their persons. Acts xiii. 38, 39; Ps. xxxii. 1.

6. In his adopting them into his family. 1 John iii. 1 ; Rom. viii. 17.

7. In the regeneration of their nature. 1 Pet. i. 3; Titus iii. 5.

8. In giving them victory over death. (Hos. xiii. 14; Ps. xxiii. 4; 1 Cor. xv. 55.

And, lastly, in their resurrection and glorification. Rom. viii. 11; John xvii. 24.

II. The objects of this kindness.

1. Creatures, frail creatures (Isa. xl. 6; Ps. ciii. 5, 6;) worms (Job xxv. 6; xvii. 14;) poor nothings. Isa. xl. 17.

2. As sinners. Impotent creatures (Rom. v. 6;) impoverished (Rev. iii. 17;) dead (Eph. ii. 1 ;) enemies (Col. i. 21;) they are rather devils than men. John viii. 44.

III. In what respects this kindness of God is through Christ Jesus.

1. It is through Christ Jesus, as he is the meritorious cause of all our blessings. Col. 1. 20.

2. His kindness is through Christ Jesus, in regard that all God's kindness to us flows from his kindness to him (John xvii. 26;) and "we are accepted in the beloved." 3. Given to us through Christ. Rom. vi. 23.

4. As they are dispensed by Christ. Acts v. 31.

5. As Christ comprehends all God's kindnesses. Col. iii. 11; John iv. 10; Prov. viii. 35.

IV. The reasons.

1. Because "God is love." 1 John iv. 8; John iii. 16. 2. That God might show the exceeding riches of his kindness to man. Titus iii. 4, 5; Eph. ii. 7.

And, lastly, For his own glory. Isa. xlviii. 11; Ps. cvi. 8.

Inferences.

1. There is no cause of boasting in ourselves.

2. Meditate frequently on God's kindness. Isa. Ixiii. 7; Ps. viii. 4;. xxxvi. 7; Job vii. 17.

3. Prize that gospel which reveals to us so much kind

ness.

4. Believe it. Mark xvi. 16.

THE SECURITY OF TRUE CHRISTIANS, THE THEME OF THEIR CONSTANT EXULTATION.

Let the wilderness, and the cities thereof, lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.-Isa. xlii. 11.

THE preceding verses exhibit a clear prophecy of the Messiah, in the person, character, and office of Cyrus. Behold, he cometh with infinite meekness, and invested with omnipotent power, for the arduous enterprise of our salvation. He wrought wonderful miracles, to show that he was the Messiah. Verse 1-11. By the top of the mountains, &c. we may understand that part of Arabia which is called Petrea; i. e. rocky: not only Gentiles, but the rudest and most barbarous race of men.

The greatest scope of all the sacred scriptures is Christ the Saviour: as all the winding streams of a river lead to the fountain, so all divine revelation obviously point to the Redeemer. By the rock, therefore, understand (at least by way of accommodation) the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Cor. x. 4; Ps. xviii. 46.

In what respects Jesus Christ may be considered as a rock.

1. In regard of his omnipotent power. Rocks have an amazing power to resist all opposing violence; Jesus Christ bath infinitely more. "Before him the mountains skip." (Ps. cxiv. 4; Job xxvi. 14; Matt. xxviii. 18.) He overcame all the enemies of our salvation. "Travelling in the greatness of his strength, he went from conquering to conquer, till he bowed his head, and it was finished." This rock was smitten for us (Isa. liii. 5;) in the clefts thereof we may find a secure retreat.

2. In regard to his splendour and ineffable greatness. Rocks may lie low and deep, but they rise high, their lofty heads divide the clouds; so Christ, when veiled in

our flesh. (2 Cor. viii. 9.) shone forth (John i. 14;) Ixviii. 18.

Yet, even then, his glory now he hath ascended. Ps.

3. In regard to his fulness, and the unchangeable nature of his perfections. Those storms and tempests, that spread desolation, and bury islands, remove not the rocks out of their place. Jesus Christ unchangeable. Heb. xiii. 8.)

Rocks shall wax old. (Heb. i. 10, 11; 2 Cor. i. 20.) Let all our dependence be on him. Matt. vii. 24, 25.

4. In regard to his majesty and beauty. Rocks have a natural grandeur, that art can never equal. There is a transcendent majesty and beauty in the Son of God. (Ps. xciii. 1; civ. 1; Jude 25; Cant. v. 10.) Christ is the beloved of his Father, the delight of his people.

II. How believers are the inhabitants of this rock. 1. It is the place of their nativity. They are born from above. Eph. ii. 4-10.

2. Their dwelling-place. "Lord, thou hast been our dwelling-place in all generations," saith the church of old, and 1 John iii. 24. There is a reciprocal union between Christ and believers; they dwell in him, and he in them. Eph. iii. 17.

3. As they may be said to dwell on high. (Isa. xl. 31; Phil. iii. 20.) What is said of the Kenites, is true of every believer. Num. xxiv. 21; Rev. xii. 1.

4. As they receive all their supplies from this rock (Phil. iv. 19;) as a person in a strange land receives his supplies from home, or as the waters in the wilderness supplied Israel of old.

And, lastly, As they are to abide there for ever. Rom. viii. 35; John x. 28.

III. The subject matter of their song.

Redeeming love is the subject matter thereof; it can never be exhausted. More particularly,

1. It is a new song, proceeding from a new nature, animated by new mercies. (Ps, cxliv. 9; Rev. v. 9.) A new song, suited to the new covenant, Jer. xxxii. 39, 40. 2. A spiritual song. Exceeds all carnal mirth. Rom. v. 11; Isa. xii. 1; Ps. ciii. 1.

3. Of distinction. None but those who are taught of God, can sing this song. Rev. xiv. 3. 4. On a sacrifice. 1 Cor. v. 7.