lege; for every moment's freedom from pain, for every comfort I enjoy; for everything that makes life desirable, for everything short of hell. O, the evils prevented? O, the blessings conferred! O, the deliverance granted! O, the prospect unfolded! And why? For what reason? Simply, and only, because God is love-God is gracious-God is a Sovereign, and in the exercise of His adorable sovereignty, He prevents my ruin, and works my salvation. In my nature is a fountain of evil, sufficient to pollute the universe-in my life, I have committed enough sin, to justify God in the condemnation of millions-I had not one good thought until God suggested it, nor one good desire, until God produced it; nor did I ever speak one good word, but as God by His grace prompted it-nor should I ever have been different to all eternity, except that I should have grown worse and worse, if God had not wrought a change in me by His Holy and ever blessed Spirit. Surely, surely then, if I give unto God the honour due unto His name, I shall ascribe unto Him all that is good in me, or that flows from me; I shall for ever love Him, adore Him, and praise Him, as only one raised from such depths of misery, converted from such awful wickedness, saved from such a dreadful hell, and raised to such a glorious heaven, can! Surely the praises of angels will be poor and cold compared to mine.

We are all too much taken up with appearWe do not look beneath the surface

ances.

as we should. A title, a grand equipage, a good name, large property, a splendid house, fine dress, or popular applause, attract our attention, win our admiration, and even at times excite our envy. But it should not be 80. Many are titled on earth who are de spised in heaven. Many ride to hell in carriages, while the poor trudge on foot to hea ven. Many are commended by creatures who are condemned by the Creator. Many have worldly wealth who are strangers to the true riches. Many live in splendid habita tions on earth, for whom no mansion is pre pared in heaven. Many who clothe their bodies in purple and fine linen, will find their souls naked when they come to appear be And many who are applauded now will be accused and condemned by and bye. Let us not judge, then, according to appearance, but let us judge righteous judg

fore God.

ment.

The only dignified being on earth is a Christian. All others are traitors against God's crown, rebels against God's govern ment, and lie under sentence of death. They

are spared for a time, but unless grace prevent, they will perish for ever. They are opposed to God, at enmity with God, and constantly provoke God. But a christian is God's child, the Saviour's brother, the Holy Spirit's temple. He has a new nature, a new name, and a glorious inheritance. God walks with him, angels minister unto him, and a mansion in heaven is preparing for him. He is clothed with God's righteousness, influenced by God's grace, and guided by God's wisdom. All that God does has reference to him; all that God has provided, is made over to him; and all that God is, is promised to him: so that he can sing in the darkest day, "The Lord is my portion, saith my soul, therefore will I hope in him." For him God entered into covenant before time. For him God delivered up his only begotten Son. For him God hath made so many, exceeding great, and precious promises. For him Providence works, and for him the world stands. He is taken into the closest union to God, he is constituted the child and friend of God, he is intended to be associated with God for ever. For him a crown is prepared, to him a throne is promised, and on him inconceivable glory will be conferred. The christian, therefore, is the dignified creature, and the christian, alone. Let it therefore be my object and aim, to be not merely a professor of Christ's religion, but a possessor of Christ, a christian indeed and in truth.

The only grand pursuit is eternal life. Many are in pursuit of riches, fame, and pleasure. But if they become rich, they will not necessarily be happy. Indeed very few rich persons know what true happiness is. If they become famous among men, they may be wretched in themselves. If they live in the midst of pleasure, they may know nothing of satisfaction. Yes, they may amass wealth, acquire fame, and enjoy carnal pleasure for a time, and then perish for ever. One thing demands our attention, one thing deserves our regard, one thing should be the object of our pursuit, and that one thing is,-ETERNAL LIFE. Life in God's fa vour. Life in God's presence. Life in the enjoyment of God's love. Life like that which the angels live. Life like that which the Saviour enjoys. Life in the highest and holiest sense of the term. The life which God promised before the world began. The life which Jesus came to confer on his sheep. The life after which our hidden nature sighs and pines. Life which stands in the know ledge of God, in the service of God, and in the enjoyment of God. This life is set be fore us to attract our attention, to excite our desires, to draw forth our hopes, and to em

ploy our efforts. Hence the Apostle says,

66

Fight the good fight of faith; lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art called." The gospel, therefore, sets eternal life before us, calls us to possess ourselves of it, and pro

mises it to every overcomer. Oh, may it be the chief object of my life to secure a title to it, enjoy the foretastes of it, and look forward to death as my introduction to it! The only grand pursuit, or the only object worthy the pursuit of an immortal being, is,-ETERNAL LIFE.

The only great attainment is conformity to Christ. The Lord Jesus is the great model of all excellency. All Divine and human beauty meet and shine forth in him. Of him it was testified while he dwelt below, that he was "holy, harmless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens." To his image, God predestinated all his people to be conformed. To make us like him is the great end of the Spirit's work within us, and all the dispensations of Divine Providence towards us. And one grand evidence of the presence and work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, is an habitual, hearty, growing desire to be conformed to the Lord Jesus Christ.

No one ever had a view of Christ by faith who did not possess a burning desire to be like Christ; for the natural effect of seeing Jesus by faith, is an unquenchable desire to be conformed to Christ. The gospel reveals Christ,-Christ reveals the Father, Faith, as the eye of the soul, fixes upon Christ, and takes in correct views of the Father; then the working of grace is discovered by an imitation of Christ. Hence the Apostle says, "But we all with