him in the flesh, but his gospel is come to us, in a manner, under circumstances, and with characters, which prove it divine. We have as full evidence for the ground of our faith, as they who lived when Jesus was on earth-much fuller evidence than those shepherds who had only seen him in his infant state. If they, on the first notice of his birth, so readily sought him, and believed in him, How inexcusable are we to reject the great salvation, which began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed by the testimony of those who heard him, by the signs and wonders which were wrought in his name, and by the completion of a series of prophecies uttered from his own mouth and the mouth of his Apostles? If, after all the light which we have received, we reject this Saviour, disbelieve his gospel, and despise the salvation purchased with his blood, we make God a liar, and judge ourselves unworthy of eternal life.

2. They glorified God by a ready obedience.

Being informed by a heavenly messenger, where the Saviour lay, they came to him with haste. They made no delay, but immediately obeyed the divine intimation.

Faith operates in a way of cheerful obedience. If these shepherds had refused to repair to Bethlehem, would you have thought that they believed the tidings sent them ?-If the care of their flocks had now detained them from the Saviour, would you have imagined that they regarded him more than these?—The faith which produces no obedience, is unprofitable and vain. How many practically deny the Saviour whom they profess to honour! You say, you believe that the Son of God has come into the world, been manifested in our flesh, died on the cross, risen from the dead, and ascended to heaven; that he is able to save to the uttermost, and that there is salvation in no other.

These indeed are important truths. But, Do you really believe them?-Have you repaired to Jesus for salvation?-Have you received him in all his characters ?-Have you renounced sin and the world?-Have you chosen his religion, and given yourselves up to the direction of his gospel? Then you believe indeed; but if not, your faith is but mere pretence.

3. They glorified God by confessing and spreading the Saviour's name. "When they had seen him, they made known abroad what had been told them concerning the child."

They were not ashamed to own him as the Messiah, even in his infant state. They waited not to see what would be the current opinion; they confessed him early; they were the first who acknowledged him in his high character.

You see, that true faith will prompt you to honour Christ before men. Do you believe that he came to save a lost world, and still do you decline, or neglect to confess him in this character, to dedicate yourself to him, and to attend his ordinances? -Where is your consistency? Do you delay to profess your faith in him, because others are in a different practice? Do you wait to see what they will do?-Are you restrained by the apprehension of contempt? Where is your sincerity? These humble, honest shepherds, waited not for example: They only waited for time to confirm their faith. They would not confess him implicitly, nor fully rely on the word of an angel. They first sought the token, by which the angel's information was to be verified; and when they had found it, they spread abroad the tidings.

4. They glorified God by an attendance on the means of faith.

The angel who announced the Saviour's birth, gave them a token by which they might know him.

This shall be a sign to you, Ye shall find the babe wrapt in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.And they came with haste, and found as he had told them.

God gave them a particular sign for the confirmation of their faith; and he has appointed standing means to strengthen and enliven ours. Jesus Christ is exhibited to us in his word, in his sanctuary, and at his table. Here we are to seek him, and converse with him, that we may increase our faith and warm our love. Had the shepherds refused to see the newborn Saviour in Bethlehem, and to accept the offered confirmation of the angel's word, What would you have thought of them ?-Would not such a conduct have been marked with ingratitude, unbelief and contempt ?-Will you neglect the more easy means of awakening into exercise, your faith in, and love to, the crucified and ascended Saviour? Shall his gospel lie by you unread and unregarded ?-Shall the doors of his house in vain be thrown open for you to enter ?-Shall his table, from time to time, be spread, and this King of Glory take his seat there, and will you turn away your faces, and retire with cold indifference? How unlike are you to these pious swains! Would you have ran with them from a neighbouring field to Bethlehem, to see your Redeemer in his manger, wrapt in his infant robes? And, Will you not come to his table to behold him dressed in all the bright ornaments of grace and love-to behold him offering himself a sacrifice to God for your salvation, and stretching forth the arms of his mercy to invite you to his affectionate embraces? The same faith and love, which winged the feet of the shepherds on their way to Bethlehem, would waft you to the house, where Jesus has appointed to meet you, and place you down at the altar, where he exhibits himself crucified for you.

5. They glorified God with the voice of praise. It is said, They returned-returned to their fields and flocks, to the business of their calling: But they returned praising God. Their rural occupa tion could not engross their thoughts. While they attended the duties of their secular calling, their thoughts ran on higher themes. The sight of the Saviour left their minds replete with sentiments of gratitude, admiration and praise. Pious affections and devout contemplations sweetly mingled with their worldly employment. They conversed together on the things which had passed, and they praised God for the wonders they had seen. The main subjects of their private meditation and mutual discourse, were Jesus, and his salvation.

When you have beheld the Lord at his table, return not to the world with unaffected hearts. Suffer not the devout thoughts suggested here, to languish into indifference, or to be lost in earthly cares; nor the warm affections kindled at the altar, to die away as soon as you retire. Continue to glorify and praise the God of wisdom and grace, for the wonders, which you have seen and heard.

Great was God's condescension to the shepherds, in sending them a message by angels: Greater is his condescension to our fallen race, in sending them salvation by his Son. This is grace, which angels contemplate with astonishment. Shall we be unaffected? When the Redeemer was born, joy and admiration strung their harps and tuned their voices: On wings of benevolence they flew to bear the happy tidings, and teach mortals how to praise. The multitude of the heavenly host sang, Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace; good will to men. These ministering spirits still visit the churches, and hover around the worshipping assemblies of Christians, though invisible to mortal eyes. If when the Saviour came, they, transported with joy, flew in eager haste to proclaim the news, as what,

above all things, should be welcome to guilty mortals, What think you ?—Are they not astonished to see our ingratitude and indifference?-To see in a Christian land the number of professing Christians so small?-To see the assemblies in Christ's house so thin?-To see so few gathering round his table?-To hear our songs of praise to the Redeemer rise with so partial, and so faint a sound? If mere benevolence so deeply interested them in this great event, What must they think, when they see us, whose eternal salvation depends upon it, so indifferent to it-so negligent to secure to ourselves its infinite and everlasting benefits? Shall the air ring with angelick praises for man's redemption, and earth not catch the sound?-The shepherds in the field heard the voice, and felt the devotion-Shall we, under advantages for superior knowledge and stronger faith, be dead to all sense of gratitude ?— Shall we never learn the song of those who are redeemed from the earth ?-Shall the fields and cottages of Israel's shepherds be more vocal in the Redeemer's praise, than the churches of Christians?

How pleasing to saints and angels; to the Redeemer and the Father of men, will be the sight, when sinners, with one heart, shall repair to the throne of grace, and humbly seek an interest in the salvation of the gospel; when the churches shall be thronged with devout and attentive worshippers, and the table of the Lord surrounded with thankful and admiring guests?-There is joy in the presence of the angels, when sinners repent: The Redeemer is satisfied when, in their conversion, he sees the trav ail of his soul: God is pleased, when they bow to the authority of his son, and he hears, with approbation, the songs in which they celebrate redeeming love.

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive blessing and honour and power; for he hath redeemed us to God by his blood. To him be glory in the church, throughout all ages-Amen.