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mercies in themselves, but small in comparison with this which you now see.

Here you behold his own Son given to be your Saviour. Here you see this Saviour crucified for you, suffering in your stead, dying for your sins, that you might obtain pardon, life and glory. God sent his Son to be a propitiation for your sins, that you might live through him.

Here then is a sure foundation for your faith and hope. He who spared, not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, How shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Go to God with deep repentance, and be assured, he will not cast you away. The blood, which has been shed, is sufficient to expiate, and the mercy which has been displayed, is sufficient to pardon the most accumulated guilt. Look unto Christ, and be ye saved. Behold him suffering for sinners like you, smite your breasts in deep contrition, and say, God be merciful to us sinners. Thus may you return justified, while they, who trust in their own righteousness, and commit iniquity, will be surprised with aggravated condemnation.

5. Look here, and behold an instructive example of patience and resignation.

We live in a world full of adversity. Do we censure the ways of God, and think our lot undeservedly severe ? Let us turn our eyes to the suffering Saviour.-How calm, how patient was he, under trials far greater than ours? He was brought as a lamb to the slaughter; as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. Yet he suffered, not for his own sins, or for his own benefit, but for ours. We are corrected for our own profit. It is only, if need be, that we are in heaviness through manifold temptations. Let us learn of him, who was meek and lowly. When we consider the patience of our Redeemer, let us

rebuke our own complaints, and chide our fretful spirits; let us smite our breasts in shame, and learn to be like him.

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6. Look to Christ and learn to despise the world. Are your affections set on things below? Are you anxious for future supplies? Do you distrust the care of Providence under your worldly straits and embarrassments ?-Consider him, who gave himself for you, that he might deliver you from this present evil world. Think how he lived above it; how contented he was in the most humble condition; how he shewed the vanity of the world, by dying on the cross; what blessings his death has purchased for believers; and whither he is gone to prepare for them a place with himself. Consider these things, and smite on your breasts, and say, We are crucified to the world, and the world is crucified to us, by the cross of Christ.

7. Look to Christ, and learn meekness and forgiveness.

When you meet with injuries, Do your pas sions rise?-Do malice, and revenge kindle and glow in your breasts? Think how different was, the mind that was in Christ. How calm and gentle was he under the greatest provocations! Far from the thoughts of revenge, he prayed for those who shed his blood. In fervent intercessions for them he employed his dying breath. Can you, with this example before you, suffer anger to rest in your bosoms?-Come here, behold the most wonderful pattern of goodness and philanthropy, that ever was exhibited on earth, and then bid every resentful passion be still.-Come here, and forgive your enemies, and pray for them, who despitefully use you. Come here, with a spirit of peace and love. Be like minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus.

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Finally, look to Christ on the cross, and learn how to die.

He died with full resignation. When nature recoiled, and wished, if it were possible, to be saved from the dreadful hour, he thought on the cause for which he came to that hour-he thought on his Father's will, and said, "Thy will be done-Father, glorify thy name." He died in the exercise of benevolence, in love to mankind, in the forgiveness of, and in intercessions for his enemies. He died, committing his spirit into the hands of the God of truth, and contemplating the joy that was set before him. As we should live like him, so like him we should die with resignation to God-with benevolence to men-with forgiveness of injuries, with prayers for our enemies, with faith in God's promises, and with heaven full in our view.

Thanks to our gracious Redeemer, who has given us such an example to conduct us through the paths of life, and to guide us through the valley of death. O send thy good Spirit into our hearts, to form us according to thine amiable pattern-to direct us in the way of peace-to comfort us in all our troubles-and to strengthen us in our last conflict. And when it shall be thy will to call us hence, enable us to die like thyself, and receive us to thyself in glory.

SERMON IX.

The Works of God, as King of Saints, great and marvellous.

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REVELATION xv. 3

Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

THIS is a part of the song of those, who,

having adhered to the purity of religion, in times of great persecution, are now brought forth from their sufferings into a state of security and peace. Taking a review of God's dispensations toward his church, and his judgments upon her enemies, and contemplating the happy, but unexpected result of all, in the advancement of true religion, they are filled with admiration of his wisdom and goodness, and especially of his providence toward his saints, which had long been mysterious, but was now opening to their view. And, in the gratitude of their hearts, they break forth into this hymn of praise, a part of which has been read-Great and marvellous are thy works-thou King of Saints-Who shall not fear and glorify thy name? For thou art wor

thy. All nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

God is here acknowledged in the character of King of saints.

His providential kingdom is universal and everlasting. His dominion is without bounds, and without end. All creatures are under his care; all events under his direction. Even ungodly men and apostate spirits are, in some sense, his subjects. Though they obey not the laws of his kingdom, they are under the restraints of his power; and their actions and disigns, though tending to mischief and confusion, are overruled to serve the great purposes of his government. "The wrath of man will praise him, and the remainder of it he will restrain." In this sense wicked men are called his servants. They are used, in his providence, as instruments to accomplish the purposes of his wisdom.

But he is King of saints in a more special and peculiar sense.

They yield a voluntary obedience to his government: And he administers his government in an immediate reference to their interest. They are the objects of his peculiar care, and he causes all things to work for their good.

And his works, as King of saints, are great and marvellous. Such indeed are all his works; but more eminently such are the works, which respect his saints.

We will illustrate this important and pleasing thought.

1. The work by which the saints are redeemed, is great and marvellous.

For the human race, fallen into guilt and ruin, and lying under a sentence of everlasting death, What remedy can created wisdom find?-Who can expiate their guilt ?-Who can reverse the sentence of God's law ?-Who can ransom them from

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