faith," you will then be able to "comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge; that ye may be filled with all the fulness of God."

XIII. Finally, we may, in the light of this discourse, understand the secret of the preeminent piety of. Paul and of primitive Christians. It is all explained in one single expression of the sacred writer"Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith." At all times, and under all circumstances, they "knew nothing but Jesus Christ, and him crucified." They literally "counted all things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus their Lord." He was their "wisdom,” their "righteousness," their "sanctification," and "redemption," He was their consolation in every affliction. He was their perfect pattern, their sole leader and guide. He was their certain victory, in every conflict with the "world, the flesh, and the devil." He was their joy, their hope, their inheritance, their shield, and their 'exceeding great reward." He was their "bright and morning star," the magnet of their souls, which held all the powers of their being in a blissful fixedness to one changeless centre.

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Now, Christian, if you will believe it, Christ will be to you all that he was to them. He is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever;" and you may share as fully as they did in the infinite fulness of the love and grace of Christ. If, however, you would enjoy this full redemption, all the powers of your being must be brought under the perpetual influence of this

one principle, "Looking to Jesus." Do your sins rise up before you, and fill you with apprehensions of coming retributions, "look to Jesus." Do you desire to be wholly freed from the power of sin, and to have your entire character presented to God "without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing," "look to Jesus." Are you burdened with care, or do the storms of affliction gather around you, "look to Jesus." Is your temper unsubdued, do your appetites and propensities rebel, and call for unhallowed gratification, "look to Jesus." Do temptations beset you, from within or around you, "look to Jesus." Do you need wisdom and grace for any exigency whatever, "look to Jesus." Whatever your condition or necessities may be, hear his gracious voice "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest to your souls."

"Jesus, we come at thy command,

With faith, and hope, and humble zeal ;

Resign our spirits to thy hand,

To mould, and guide us at thy will."

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DISCOURSE VII.

EXCEEDING GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES.

"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."-2 Pet. i. 4.

IN the verse preceding, we are informed, that God, in giving us a revelation of Jesus Christ; has furnished us with a knowledge of every thing which "pertains to life and godliness." In the text, we are informed, that in the same revelation he has given unto us “exceeding great and precious promises;" that these promises are conferred upon us for this purpose, that through them, or by embracing them by faith, we may become "partakers of the divine nature," and escape the "corruption that is in the world through lust." A promise is a pledge of good. In every promise of divine grace, Christ discloses to us the good which he stands pledged to confer upon us, on condition that we look to him, by faith, for the blessing presented in the promise. Now, the success of all our efforts after holiness, depends upon the use we make of the promises. I propose, therefore, in the following discourse, to illustrate the following propositions:

I. I will present to the contemplation of the reader

some of the "exceeding great and precious promises " of divine grace.

II. Show what is implied in our becoming "partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruptions that are in the world through lust."

III. Show the manner in which the promises must be used, in order that we may obtain the good which they present to us.

I. I am to present to the contemplation of the reader some of the "exceeding great and precious promises" of divine grace. As much that I should otherwise say upon this part of our subject has been anticipated in preceding discourses, my remarks under this head will be very brief. In presenting the reader with a slight view of these "exceeding great and precious promises," I would remark in general, that Christ has pledged to us an eternal exemption from all that would be to us, on the whole, a real evil, and the possession of every thing, in time and eternity, the possession of which would be to us a real. blessing. “Not a hair of your head shall perish." “And nothing shall by any means hurt you.” “No good thing will be withheld from them that walk uprightly." These promises belong alike to all Christians, in all ages and circumstances. For their fulfilment, they are required, with full and humble confidence, to cast themselves upon the power and faithfulness of Christ. But, to be more particular, I remark,

1. That Christ has promised, to all who will believe in him, an eternal exemption from all the condemnation which they deserve on account of their sins, and

which actually will fall upon the wicked. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me ; and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand." "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my words, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life.” "There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus."

2. A sure title to all the blessedness enjoyed by the pure spirits around the throne of God. "Ye are come," "to an innumerable company of angels, and to the general assembly and church of the first born, which are written in heaven.” “I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish." "Who shall separate us from the love of God?"

Suppose, reader, that you were introduced within the veil of eternity, and were permitted to look down into the gulf of death, until you should fully apprehend the infinite wretchedness of a lost spirit, as he wanders on, through ceaseless ages, amid the gloom and despair of the eternal sepulchre; suppose you were then permitted to raise your vision to those infinite heights of purity and blessedness to which redeemed spirits in heaven will ascend, as eternity rolls on its endless years. While these depths of gloom and heights of bliss were distinctly before your mind, suppose Christ should pledge himself to you; that he would free you from all exposure to the former, and give you a sure title to the full possession of the latter. What an "exceeding great and precious promise" that would be! Such is the promise of Christ