fides, we are called not unto uncleannefs but unto holiness, faith the fcripture, and "God hath "chofen us that we fhould be without blame be"fore him in love," now holiness and happiness are infeparable, and it is as impoffible in the nature of things, that a holy man should go to hell, as it is that a wicked and ungodly man should go to heaven. The perfeverance of the faints is therefore certain as the truth of their calling; feeing he that calls them, will from the fame principle of free and undeserved goodness, confirm them in holiness, and compleat them in happiness.

5thly. The certainty of Chrift's refurrection, may yield another proof of the faints prefeverance. By this our bleffed Lord might be fuppofed to remove the doubts that diftreffed the minds of his disciples concerning him; hence the news of his refurrection was handed about with joy and fatisfaction proportioned to the credit of the fact. We trusted, fay they, that this was he; but now where's the proof? But when the tidings are brought, the Lord is rijen indeed, he that believed the report could now cry out, my Lord and my God; and and that for juft reafons, for Jefus died as a man, but rifes as a God; and is by this act declared to be the Son of God with power. Now from the relation the believer has to Jefus, it is not poffible he can be deprived of his part in the bleffedness Jefus enjoys if the members could be fevered from the head, what becomes of the body? And if God raises the head, in token of acceptance, it must neceffarily follow that he raise the members too, which are accepted in him. Believers therefore may stay themfelves upon his word and pro

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mise, in all their droopings, and desertions, that because he lives, they shall live alfo.

6thly. The indwelling of the fpirit, which is a privilege common to all believers, may be confidered as another argument for their perfeverance. Our bleffed Lord when about to leave the world, effayed to comfort his difciples by telling them, he would fend them another comforter, even the fpirit of truth; whofe gracious care over them fhould be manifested, in bringing to their memory the things they had heard; making new difcoveries of the love of Jefus unto them, and in leading them into the way of all truth. Now, notwithftanding the holy fpirit might here be promised in an extraordinary manner, and for extraordinary purposes; yet it is equally certain, that this promife is fulfilled to believers in all ages and places, for the ordinary purposes of falvation; for if any man bath not the spirit of Chrift, he is none of his ; and all that are fons of God, are led by the spirit of God. Being led by the fpirit, they are led in the way acceptable to God, even the way everlafting.

I might go on to adduce Chrift's feffion and interceffion, as further proofs of the faint's perfeverance, but think it needlefs; for if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more being reconciled we shall be faved by his life.

I would now beg your patience with me a few minutes, untill I point out unto you fome uses I would have you make of what has been faid, and I fhall have done.

Ift. Often call to mind God's free and difcriminating grace to you; let that foul-humbling interrogation be often in your lips, nor

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let it ever be absent from your minds," Lord what am I, or what is my father's houfe ?" You have no caufe or reafon to lift up yourselves in the fpirit of the Pharifee, and with a haughty brow to look down on others; you know both who, and what makes you to differ from another; and ye have nothing excellent, that ye have not received, and therefore you have no cause to boast,

Be refigned to all the providences of God, and fubmit with pious patience to every difpenfation; it should be your greateft joy that the Lord reigns, and fits at the helm of all the world's affairs. Come what will you have reason to rejoice in it, because it is a bleffing, and is intended to fit you for your manfion in your Father's houfe; for all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them that are the called, according to his purpose.

3d. Amongst you, let not the heathenish names, and more especially the heathenifh notions of chance, misfortune, in any wife prevail, as if these governed the world, and not the Lord Jehovah, Such fentiments have an evil tendency upon the mind, and greatly dishonour God; who fuperintends the affairs, even of this infignificant world, with fuch particular regard, that a sparrow does not fall to the ground without his knowledge, permiffion; yea, appointment. Therefore fear and honour him.

4th, You, of the abundant mercy of our God, are "begotten again to a lively hope of an in"heritance, incorruptible, undefiled, and that "fadeth not away." 1 Pet. i. 34, and whilft in the body to be abfent from home; yea profess to have here no abiding city, but are strangers and

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pilgrims on the earth. See that your whole conduct comport with this your profeffion; let there be no cause for the adverfaries of the truth, to fay, "these men are as fond of earth, and earthly things, as we who eftéem it our portion, and "make no profeffion of higher attainments.' Your character is defcribed, and your duty fet forth by the great teacher of the Gentiles in thefe words, if ye then be rifen with Chrift, 66 ye are dead, and your life is hid with Chrift "in God; feek thofe things which are above, "fet your affection on things above, not on

things on the earth" Coloff. iii. 1, 2, 3. You are to live under a heart-reviving expectation “ of "that bleffed hope; and the glorious appearing "of the great God, even our Saviour Jefus "Chrift." Tit. ii, 13. Therefore,

5thly, Live in a conftant, confcientious, devout and religious ufe of all the means of grace; God has joined the means and the end together, in no wife do ye put them asunder. The truth of grace will best discover itself, by a cordial affection to the word, and ways of the Lord. You know the doctrines you maintain are said to lead to licentiousness, it is therefore incumbent upon you, to wipe off the falfe afperfion by all poffible means; and no argument you can produce will be fo forcible in your favour, as a holy life and converfation. Befides, none have fuch motives, and powerful incentives to holiness, as you have. The victory is already obtained, and the land contended for is at prefent poffeft; you therefore fight not for the field which is already won, but

to bind and fubdue your enemies, who have received each a mortal wound.

You are not to fcale the deathful wall, or en ter the bloody breach with your lives in your hands; this the great captain of your falvation hath done in his own person; and entirely routed fin and fatan. You may boldly fay, in respect of all that rise up against you, "I will not fear for "God is on my fide; and I am perfuaded that "neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor prin"cipalities, nor powers, nor things prefent, nor ૬૮ things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, fhall be able to separate us "from the love of God, which is in Christ Jefus our Lord."

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