The powers of darkness furround us, their malice against us, is heightened by the favour of our good Shepherd towards us; they rage, but in vain; for though they could presently deprive us of peace, and fill us with anguish, if we were left exposed to their affaults, they are under a reftraint, and can do nothing without his permiffion. When he is pleased to give quietnefs, who then can make trouble? He preferves and provides for his fheep, in the midst of wolves! We may close this part of our fubject, with two or three reflections, which though, as to the fubftance of them, I may have offered you before, are always feasonable and fuitable, when we are fpeaking of the power and grace of MESSIAH. How precious is this Saviour! How justly is he entitled to the chief place in the hearts of thofe who know him! In the work of falvation, from the first step to the laft, he is all in all. If he had not died and rifen again, we must have died for ever. If he had not afcended into heaven, there to appear in the presence of God for us, we must have been thruft down into the lowest hell. * Job xxxiv. 29. If If he did not plead for us, we could not, we durft not, offer a word in our own behalf. If he was not on our part, engaged to keep us night and day, our enemies would foon be too hard for us. May we, therefore, give him the glory due to his name, and cleave to him, and truft in him, alone. 2. How fafe are the people, of whom he undertakes the care! While his eye is upon them, his ear open to their prayer, and his arm of power ftretched out for their protection; while he remembers that word of promife, upon which he himself has caufed them to hope; while he retains that faithfulnefs, which, encouraged them to commit their fouls to him, it is impoffible that any weapon or ftratagem formed against them can prevail. There are many, it is true, who will rife up against them, but God is for them, and with them, a very present help in trouble *. They are full of wants and fears, and, in themfelves, liable to many charges; but fince Jefus is their head, their fecurity, their interceffor, no needful good shall be withheld from them, no charge admitted against them, none fhall condemn them, for it is God, himfelf, who juftifies the believer in Jesus. * Pf. xlvi. 1. 3. If these things be fo, how much are they to be pitied, who hear of them, without being affected or influenced by them? Will you always be content with hearing? Oh tafte and fee, that the Lord is good * ! Should you at last be separated from those with whom you now join in public worship; should you fee them admitted into the kingdom of God, and you yourselves be thrust out; your present advantages would then prove an aggravation of your guilt and mifery. As yet, there is room. Strive to enter, while the gate of mercy remains open. Think of the folemnities of that great day. Many will then be condemned, though they, who believe in the Son of God, will be juftified. Confider who will condemn them, God himfelf. From his inquifition there can be no retreat; from his fentence there can be no appeal. And confider what the condemnation will be! A final exclufion from his favour; a never-ceafing sense of his awful difpleasure! A ftate of eternal horror and defpair, without mitigation, without the fmalleft ray of hope. Can you deliberately give up all claim to happiness, and determine *Pf. xxxiv. 8. + Ibid. 1. 6. to to rush upon the thick boffes of God's buckler *, to defy his power, and to dare his threatenings, rather than forego the transitory and delufive pleasures of fin? And can you do this, with the gofpel founding in our ears? May the Lord prevent it! However, observe, you are once more warned, once more invited. If now at laft, after so many delays, fo much perverfenefs, on your part, you will honestly and earnestly feek him, he will be found of you. But if you perfift in your obstinacy, your condemnation will be inevitable and fure. SERMON XLVIII. THE SONG OF THE REDEEMED. REV. v. 9. Thou-baft redeemed us to God, by thy blood [out of every kindred, and tongue, and peopeople, and nation.] HE extent, variety and order of the TH creation, proclaim the glory of God. He is likewife, Maximus in minimis. The smallest of the works, that we are capable of examining, fuch for inftance as the eye, or the wing, of a little infect, the creature of a day, are ftamped with an inimitable impreffion of his wisdom and power. Thus in his written word, there is a greatnefs confidering it as a whole, and a beauty and accuracy in |