which it is not lawful for a man to utter. How then must his soul have been overpowered with exalted and adoring views of the character of God? St. John, the revelator. on the isle of Patmos, had an overwhelming sight of the manifestations of the brightness of the glory of his God and Saviour Jesus Christ. Later saints, eminent for their lives of piety, have experienced similar views in some of their near approaches to him. The Lord is by nature invisible; and as it respects his uncreated glory, he dwelleth in light ineffable. In heaven are manifested the brightest and most perfect displays of the glory of the being and perfections of God. And glorified saints and angels, cherubims and seraphims, prostrate themselves before the throne with the highest reverence and adoration. And how are the supreme wisdom and power, the greatness and goodness of God, wonderfully displayed to the view of man in the works of creation, providence, and redemption. The immensity of the divine works is a theme calculated to fill a contemplative mind with profound astonishment and awe. Let those, who desire clearer and more enlarged views of the glorious displays of the Supreme Being, behold as in a glass the brighter glories of revelation. How wondrous are thy works, O Lord! in wisdom hast thou made them all. The heavens declare thy glory; and the firmament showeth forth thy handy work. Says the prophet, With twain he covered his face. Well then may we be filled with exalted and adoring views of the character of God.

Second. This subject is calculated to teach us, that mankind should be filled with deep humility in view of their best performances. With twain he covered his feet. All external symbols are inadequate fully to represent the majesty and excellence of the Lord. Yet they may suit our present state, in which we sec through a glass darkly. All the glorified spirits above, cease not day nor night, to render unto God the glory

which is due to his name. They most perfectly fulfil the law of love, and their obedience is that of sinless perfection. But when they compare themselves and their services with the infinitely amiable and glorious character of God, they behold their comparative nothingness and unworthiness. How then must vile man appear in his sight? Says Job, Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly. How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust? Man, as a rebel against God, in an unrenewed state, is considered in a moral point of view, as wholly an unclean thing. And his righteousness is accounted as filthy rags. But let us contemplate the character of mankind as renewed by grace. Let us take a view of some, who have been considered as the faithful servants of God. The sublime vision of the divine Majesty, and the exalted worship of the seraphim, overwhelmed the prophet Isaiah with a sense of his unworthiness and vileness. Then said I, Wo is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips; and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. If glorified spirits above, think nothing of their services, what would become of him, who had presumed to speak to Jehovah, with mortal and polluted lips? The prophet, having compared himself to the seraphims, was never before filled with such humility. Hear Job's confession to the Lord: Behold, I am vile, what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. The zealous apostle Paul, exclaims, O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death! The most holy lives of the greatest saints on earth, that have ever lived, are tarnished with deficiency and sin. They cannot compare with the spotless lives of seraphs. To witness their holy strains and fervent obedience, would be more than mortals could endure. 'There is not a man upon earth, who would not be

ashamed of his most admired performances, and sink into self-abhorrence, if he had a clear view of the divine glory, and of the worship of heaven. Then may we be filled with deep humility in view of our best performances.

I proceed in the third place, to show, from several considerations, why mankind should be inspired with alacrity in the service of God.

1st. They should be inspired with alacrity, because it is a great work. To work for the great King of the universe, is far the greatest undertaking, in which human beings can be engaged. The magnitude of the employment rises high, when we consider, that they, who devote themselves to the service of God, are engaged in the service of a Being, whose perfections are infinitely adorable and amiable. And, although mankind cannot be profitable to God, by their alacrity in his service, as one man may be profitable to another, yet they can do much for the honour of his name, and the promotion of his declarative glory. They who are engaged in the service of God, are not only working for him, but they are co-workers with him. They are both engaged in carrying on and promoting the same great and glorious work. Says the apostle Paul, We are labourers together with God. To be engaged in any important human labour or enterprise, demands attention and diligence. But what is the work of man for time, when compared with the work of God and for eternity? How then should mankind, not only engage perseveringly in the service of God; but they should be inspired with alacrity, because it is a great work.

2d. The consideration of the vast number of holy beings, engaged in the service of God, should serve to inspire mankind with alacrity in his service. The employments of all the principalities and powers above, are of the same nature as those of saints on earth. They are the creatures of God, are under the same law and obligations, and are seeking the

same glorious end. The only difference, is circumstantial. They never sinned as man: their place in the universe is different; and their capacities are far more enlarged. In the Psalms, we find this expression: Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening to his word. But the commands and word of God are essentially the same to all his intelligent creatures throughout the universe. If the innumerable worlds which are spread abroad throughout the immensity of God's works, are inhabited by intelligent beings; they are all under the same universal law of supreme. love to God, and benevolence towards their fellow beings. Whether the capacities of some be more enlarged than any of the angelick orders; and some inferiour to those of mankind, their duties and service are essentially the same. They may be commissioned as heralds to other worlds, with messages from the Supreme King; but still the moral law of God is the rule of their obedience. Concerning the angels, the apostle Paul interrogates, Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them, who shall be heirs of salvation? This expression may serve to show the unanimity of law, government, and service throughout the moral kingdom of God. Obedience is the same, whether in concerns of apparently vast magnitude, or of small moment; whether in exalted or humble station. In the vision, of which the words of the text are a part, we behold the seraphim engaged in the same kind of worship, as that which becometh us. He revered, worshipped, and adored the great Jehovah in view of the displays of his glorious and adorable perfections. He was filled with humility, in contrasting his worship with the awful brightness and glory of God. And since a vast number of invisible, holy beings, of other worlds are engaged in the same work, let this consideration serve to inspire mankind with alacrity in the service of God.

3d. The conduct both of holy and sinning angels should serve as a motive to mankind, to engage with alacrity in the divine service. With twain he did fly. The ever watchful and vigilant seraphims are constantly ready to fly at the command of God. They execute the mandates of heaven with winged zeal and burning love. Whether they go with messages to an individual, to excite to faithfulness; or to a world, to make known the laws of God, they delight and hasten to do his will. Their kind errands to the earth, should excite its inhabitants with vigilance to prepare to be their companions in heaven. Shall holy angels be so earnest for the salvation of men? and shall they be slothful in working out their own salvation? Again: Hear the caution which the apostle Peter gives in view of the malevolent conduct of those wicked spirits, the fallen angels. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil, goeth about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. The malicious fiends of darkness, are constantly going about, seeking the utter ruin of man. Then both from the friendly, active conduct of holy angels, and the hostile pursuits of sinning angels, let us be inspired with alacrity in the service of God.

4th. We may be excited to vigilance in the service of God, for it is a short time that is allotted us to work, as a preparation to receive our reward. The probationary state of man is diminished to a mere point, compared with his being rewarded for eternity. How short is the extent of mortal life, to lay up an eternal recompense of reward; an everlasting treasure in heaven? And would the inhabitants of earth, at last shine forth gloriously in the kingdom of God; let their lives be eminent for their vigilance in his service. How short is time for bankrupts to inherit a heavenly prize; to obtain an immortal crown! Surely it is the part of wisdom for all now to engage with vigilance in the heavenly race, and boldly maintain a good warfare. The work of conviction, re