nant-God, and of his being one of God's redeemed people; from which relations he has a right to, and by faith may enjoy every covenant-mercy in time, and shall be a partaker of them all in eternity. This is the knowledge, concerning which so many and such great things are spoken in scripture, and which St. John says these fathers had received: they had attained by the Spirit of Wisdom and revelation to that knowledge of Christ, which is life eternal; and the same Spirit enabled them to be continually growing and increasing in the knowledge of Christ. As he shines more clearly into their hearts, he dicovers to them more of their wants. He makes them better acquainted with themselves, and lets them feel more of the workings of their corrupt nature, and of their own entire helplessness. Thus by his light they see deeper into that mystery of iniquity, which is in them, and they grow in the sense and experience of it, all their lives. Day by day some failing, short coming, infirmity or temptation leads them to more lowly and humbling views of themselves, and brings them fresh discoveries of their fallen and helpless state. While they attend to what is passing in their own breasts, every moment something will be speaking for Christ—" Without me ye can do nothing." It is this abiding sense of their wants, and faith in his promises to supply them, which lead them to be constantly looking unto Jesus. Many wants do not discourage them, for his promises are as many as their wants can be-nor great wants, for he has given them exceeding great promises-nor continual wants, for he has promised them grace every moment. As they grow in the knowledge of themselves, they see more need of living upon Christ in the several offices, which he sustains. The daily experience which they have of their own ignorance, and sinfulness and helplessness endear to them their divine Prophet, Priest, and King. The continual sense of their want of him makes them glad to live in a settled fixed dependence upon his fulness, and to be always receiving out of it. They would not live

otherwise if they could. They know that their dear Saviour will manage better for them than they could for themselves. He has taken their affairs spiritual and temporal into his hands, and he can make no mistakes. His infinite love is guided by unerring wisdom, and its blessings are bestowed by almighty power. Happy for them, they and theirs are under the care of this best of friends. They know it, and are sensible of their happiness. Daily experience brings them fresh proofs of the love and power of Jesus; which makes them wish for more, still more faith, that they may glorify their blessed Saviour by trusting him more. However, in this they are growing, increasing day by day in their knowledge of the salvation, and gaining a closer acquaintance and fellowship with the person of God their Saviour, until they come to see him as he is.

This is the character of those believers who are stedfast in the faith, and are become fathers, able now to teach others also. They have attained to that knowledge of Christ which is life eternal, and they are daily pressing forward. What they already know of him increases their desire to know more. And by being always conversant with him, (for without him they can do nothing) they have continual opportunities of making new discoveries. In him are laid up treasures of every thing that is great and good. His riches are unsearchable, infinite and eternal. There is no coming to the end of them. Believers are persuaded of it, and therefore they try to dig deep into this golden mine. It is all theirs. The farther they go, the more is their faith strengthened, and the more precious Christ becomes: for they find such an excellency in the knowledge of Christ Jesus their Lord, that their souls hunger and thirst to know more of him. The more they attain, the more the appetite increases, and nothing can perfectly satisfy it, but the full enjoyment of Christ in glory, when they shall know, even as also they are known. Till that blessed time come, they will be

growing in grace, and in the knowledge of God their Saviour.

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This is the distinguishing mark of these fathers, they are pressing forward. They have not yet attained to the perfect knowledge of Christ, but they are going on to perfection: and they make an happy progress. God meets them in and blesses the means, which he has appointed for their daily growth. In those he requires them to depend and to wait upon him, and he gives them clearer discoveries of the adorable person, and of the gracious offices of the Lord Christ, and thereby enables them to live more by faith upon him, for all things belonging to their temporal, their spiritual, and their eternal concerns. These particulars will include the principal acts of the life of faith, and while we take a short view of them, may every page, reader, be made the means of increasing and strengthening thy faith in the Lord Jesus.

First, they grow in the knowledge of his person, which is altogether wonderful; so that they can never come to the end of his perfections, nor to eternity can they shew forth all his praise; for he is God and man in one Christ-Jehovah incarnate-Immanuel, God with us. This is the great mystery of godliness, God manifested in the flesh: in which he came amongst us, that he might be the second Adam, who is the Lord from heaven; that as the first Adam by sin had ruined all those who are born of him after the flesh, so the second Adam might save all those who are born of him after the Spirit. And for this end he has all power in heaven and earth committed to him, he has all fulness, yea the fulness of the Godhead dwelling in him, that he might be the head of the body the church, and that out of his fulness his members might be receiving grace in time and glory in eternity. Of this divine Person all the prophets have spoken since the world began; and what they have spoken in many words the apostle sums up in a short description, Col. i. 15, &c. where he is treating of that Person in the Godhead, who covenant

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ed to come into the world to save sinners; "who is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every "creature; for by him were all things created that 66 are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and in"visible, whether they be thrones or dominions, or principalities or powers, all things were created by "him and for him, and he is before all things, and by "him all things consist. And he is the Head of the "body the church, who is the beginning, the first-born "from the dead, that in all things he might have the "pre-eminence, for it pleased the Father that in him "should all fulness dwell." In which words these three glorious truths are declared of Christ Jesus; first, that he created all things visible and invisible; secondly, that he upholds them all by the word of his power; thirdly, that he has redeemed unto himself a peculiar people through his own blood, who are his church, and he is to them what the head is to the body, the head of authority, the first in rank and dignity, and the head of influence, from whom life and motion and sense are communicated to all his members: for in him they live and move and have their being. In all things he is first, or has the pre-eminence, he is Jehovah the Creator and the Preserver of all things, Jehovah incarnate, the Head of his church, and the Saviour of the body. This is the blessed object of faith: and what can there be conceived beautiful, useful, or happy, what excellency is there or perfection, which is not in its highest degree in this most adorable God-man? What can a believer want, what can his heart desire, which is not here treasured up for his use? Here is a Surety perfectly qualified, as man to act and suffer for man, as God to merit infinitely and eternally by what he did and suffered, and as God-man he has now all fulness of wisdom, and righteousness and holiness, and strength, and every thing needful for his people's happiness. Whither then should they go, but to him for every grace and blessing? And to him they do repair, according to the command-" Look unto me and be ye

"saved all the ends of the earth," Isa. xlv. 22. The promise to them who are looking unto him, is very extensive" My God shall supply all your need accord❝ing to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus," Phil. iv. 19. By him they expect a continual supply of all their theytemporal and spiritual needs, and therefore on him would have their eyes ever fixed, looking unto Jesus. While by faith their eyes are kept steady upon him, they will be discovering something new in this wonderful God-man, and receiving something out of his fulness, to strengthen their hopes, and to inflame their affections. He will grow more lovely in their sight, fresh beauties will discover themselves, new words of delight will appear for all the glories of heaven and earth shine in their fullest lustre in his person. The believer sees them at present: for by faith he can see him that is invisible, and although he has not such a perfect vision, as they have who standing round his throne see him face to face, yet he hopes to enjoy it soon! and he has even now this peculiar pleasure in viewing the glories of his God and Saviour, that he can truly say of him "this is my Beloved, and my Friend," here I fix, and on him I rest; I want to look no where else for any good, since it all meets and centres in one object: for it hath pleased the Father and the eternal Spirit, that all fulness should dwell in the Son of God, and he is my beloved Saviour, and my dearest Friend; he is the Chief among ten thousand in my affection, yea he is altogether lovely. The more I live by faith upon him, the more I love him: for I experience such tender compassion in his heart, and such a kind concern for me and my interest, that the love of Christ constrains me to love him again. He endears his person to me by continual favours. I do love him, but not so much as he deserves. I would increase, and abound more and more in love to him, as his mercies increase and abound to me; but a grateful sense of them, and love to him for them are his own gifts, for which, as well as for his mercies, I must be content to be indebted to