blessed name, make use of this name with God, use this name with Jesus himself, use this name Jesus with others, (1 Thess. iv. 1.) use it with yourselves.

6. Consider that the time is coming, when this name Jesus will be the most lovely sound, and he that wears it will appear to be the most lovely person in the world. At death, O then for an interest in this Jesus! At judgment, for an interest in his friendship.

THE BLESSEDNESS OF THE WATCHFUL SERVANT.

Blessed are those servants whom the Lord, when he cometh, shall find watching.-Luke xii. 37.

VARIOUS and well-chosen are those parables whereby our Saviour gave warning to his disciples, that, when he was departed from this world, they should ever be upon their guard; be always in readiness to receive him at his return; that he would come on a sudden, in such an hour as they thought not; that he would demand an account of their behaviour; distribute his recompenses according to their works.

Inquire,

I. What is meant by the coming of Christ.

1. He cometh in the course of his providence, to punish a nation, to destroy a city, to put an end to a state, as he did the Jewish nation.

2. At the hour of death, it is he who appointeth the very moment when the soul shall be dismissed from the body. He is the Lord of the world of spirits.

3. He will come on the day of the general judgment. The words of the text, in their supreme and most important sense, point to this day, when Christ shall come to shut up all the scenes of this frail life, to put an end to the present world, to finish all the works of this mortal state, and to decide and determine the eternal states of all mankind.

II. What is implied in the watchfulness which our Saviour recommends.

1. A principle of spirit and life in the soul. Such as are asleep in sin, are not prepared to receive their Lord; they know him not, they love him not, they obey him not. But those who are alive from the dead, whose lamps are trimmed with the oil of grace, and burning with the light of good works, are the only persons who are prepared at the coming of the Lord. It is only this divine life that can secure us from eternal death.

2. A holy solicitude and diligence to know our spiritual state, a keeping all the spiritual senses in proper exercise, a delightful relish of heavenly objects, frequent thoughts of death and eternity, constant waiting for those awful events, with a quick apprehension and resentment of all things that help or hinder the spiritual life.

3. A foreseeing of approaching evil, and preventing it, (Prov. xxii. 3,) whether from the world, the flesh, or the devil. He hath his spiritual armour girt upon him, he is daily loosening his heart from created things, because he knoweth he must quickly leave them; he is ever upon his watch-tower.

4. A lively and vigorous exercise of every grace, and a diligent attendance on every duty, a constant converse with heaven, (Phil. iii. 20,) an active zeal for God in the world, a steadfast faith in the promises, a joyful hope of heavenly blessedness, a longing expectation of the coming Saviour, 2 Peter iii. 12.

III. The blessedness of the watchful soul at the hour of death.

1. That moment dispossesses us of every earthly enjoyment, by dissolving the union between soul and body, removeth us from all commerce with this visible world. The watchful saint is content to be dissolved. (Phil. i. 23; 2 Cor. v. 2.) The wicked is driven away. (Prov. xiv. 32.) The believer, with holy pleasure, can bid farewell to all things below, he is going to a world where the Sun of Righteousness ever shines in unclouded glory, and discovers such glories as infinitely surpass all created good. 2 Cor. v. 1.

2. The moment of death finishes our state of trial, and fixes us unchangeably in that state for which we are pre

pared here. (Eccles. ix. 10.) As the soul parteth from the body, so it remaineth through all eternity. It is no wonder the sinner is surprised at death, while the saint dies with a hope full of immortality.

3. Death sets us in the more immediate presence of God. The watchful Christian longed and prayed for it, he delighted himself in God, and now he enjoyeth the desire of his heart. (Ps. xxxvii. 4; Matt. v. 8.) The sinner hated his presence here, and now he is punished with everlasting destruction from his presence. 2 Thess. i. 9.

4. Death, in whatever manner it cometh, is welcome to the watchful soul; he is fit to receive the sentence of death in any form, the great work being done before death appeared. The sinner is in a deplorable condition in that moment. What a madness to leave our infinite concerns at such a horrible uncertainty.

Reflections.

1. None can begin too early to awake to righteousness, since none are too young to be sent for by the messenger death.

2. When we mourn the deaths of watchful Christians, let their preparedness be our support, for, "Blessed is that servant."

THE GOSPEL, THE WORD OF SALVATION.

To you is the word of this salvation sent.-Acts xiii. 26.

In this book is shown the Christian doctrine, and the method of applying it to the Jews, heathens, and unbelievers. That is, to those who are to be converted, and those who are converted. The hinderances of it in particular men, in several kinds of men, in different ranks and nations. The propagation of the gospel, and that grand revolution among both Jews and heathens. The victory thereof, in spite of all opposition, from all the power, malice, and wisdom of the whole world, spreading

from one chamber into temples, houses, streets, markets, fields, inns, prisons, camps, courts, chariots, ships, villages, cities, islands; to Jews, heathens, magistrates, generals, soldiers, eunuchs, captives, slaves, women, children, sailors; to Athens, and at length to Rome.

In this chapter we find that Paul and Barnabas, after departing from Perga, they came to Antioch, in Pisidia. (verses 14. 26.) "To you is the word of this salvation sent."

Consider,

1. The nature of the gospel. "The word of salvation." Salvation.

Salvation supposes misery. The state of the unregenerate is a miserable one.

1. Without God, alienated from the life of God, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel.

2. A state of enmity. Rom. viii. 7.

3. Darkness and ignorance. Hos. iv. 6. 4. Bondage.

5. Impotence, without strength.

6. In a condemned state. John iii. 36.

2. Salvation implies the whole of our redemption pur. chased by Christ, and applied by the Spirit. From a state of estrangement to a state of acquaintance. (Ephes. ii. 19.) Enmity, to peace and reconciliation. (Rom. v. 1.) Darkness to light. (1 Pet. ii. 9.) Bondage to liberty. Gal. v. 1, 2; 2 Cor. iii. 17.

3. Salvation also includeth pardon, adoption, sanctifi cation, and glorification. Eternal life, a being for ever with the Lord.

2. The word of salvation.

Hence the apostle declares. Rom. i. 16.

The gospel is the word of salvation.

1. Because it discovers salvation. The law, separate from the gospel, shuts us up in prison, condemns us; hence called the ministration of death, of condemnation. The gospel discovers and proclaims deliverance. Luke iv. 18. 2. Describes salvation.

3. Conveys salvation, as a charter with an estate, or as a testament doth a legacy. Ephes. i. 13.

4. Offers salvation. Isa. Iv. 1, 2; Rev. xxii. 17.
II. The sending of this word.

1. From whom, from the God of salvation. Hence called the gospel of God. Rom. i. 1; xv. 16.

2. By whom. Not by angels, but by men. 2 Cor. v. 20; iv. 7.

3. To whom. To all sinners. (Gen. xii. 3.) It includeth all. Every sinner may take hold of it. (John iii. 16; 1 Tim. i. 15.) Blind, sinful, polluted, lost sinners have a Christ presented in the gospel, who of God is made wisdom, &c. (1 Cor. i. 30.) In this word is sent pardon to the condemned, sight to the blind, health to the sick, liberty to the captive, life to the dead, salvation to the lost. To you is the word of this salvation sent."

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Apply.

1. Since the word of this salvation is sent unto us, we need not say, Who shall ascend to heaven? Rom. 1.6.8; Isa. xlvi. 12, 13.

2. Have we received the word of this salvation? It is the interest of all to welcome it.

3. How great would be cur condemnation should we neglect. Heb. ii. 3.

Lastly, let none despair of salvation, for the word of salvation is sent to the vilest.

THE DIVINE DISPENSATIONS OF PROVIDENCE AND GRACE ELUCIDATED.

I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known; I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight : these things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.Isa. xliii. 16.

"KNOWN unto God are all his works, from the beginning." (Acts xv. 18.) And he has been gradually unfolding his designs from the beginning. The restoration of the Jews from Babylon, and the calling of the Gentiles into the church, were wonderful events. But in them the prediction before us wag fulfilled; it receives a farther