It

mercies which we every day receive. might be otherwise. Neither we nor our country have been a people so fearing God and working righteousness as to deserve these his bounties. If we have not suffered, it is of his mercy he hath not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. The mercies of his providence, as well as those of his grace, are many and great, and his forbearance has been long and kind. Yet even these things are perverted by many. There are those to whom this text will apply, "The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib, but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider;" and this to others, "Jeshurun waxed fat and kicked;" and to some again this, "Because sentence against their evil works is not executed speedily, therefore the hearts of the sons of men are fully set in them to do evil." O brethren, while we think of the plagues of Egypt, and the punishments of Pharaoh, let us beware lest after our hard and impenitent heart we treasure up unto ourselves wrath against the day of wrath

and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.

To escape this, the heaviest of all judgments, let us take care not to reject the warnings and counsels of God. His word has been sent to us. It has been confirmed by signs and wonders which followed it. It is established as the word of God by a series of miracles of whose truth and power we have the most decisive testimony, and by a succession of prophecies fulfilled and still fulfilling. It has been made known to us by the Son of God himself, and we still possess it in those holy Scriptures which were written by his inspired Evangelists and Apostles. Well therefore does one of them ask, "If the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; how shall not we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles and gifts of the Holy

Ghost?" My brethren, if we be disobedient to the word of Christ which warns us to flee from the wrath to come, and calls us to the obedience of faith, and proposes to us eternal life and glory, verily Pharaoh himself may rise up in the judgment with us, and condemn us; for the evidence which he rejected was not greater than that which we have received, the command given to him not more authoritative than those which are given to us, the light which he possessed not at all equal to that which shines on us. Let us beware then that we harden not ourselves against the Lord who speaks to us in the gospel, lest we suffer a punishment worse than the turning our rivers into blood, yea, lest our own blood be upon our heads, and we perish, body and soul, everlastingly.

Let us however remember, brethren, that there is blood for which we may indeed be thankful. There is "the precious blood of Christ," which "cleanseth us from all sin." This we may drink by faith. So he himself My blood is drink indeed." He

saith,

adds,

"He that eateth my flesh and drinketh

my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him." "Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day." We eat the body of Christ and drink his blood, not after a carnal but after a spiritual manner, even by feeding on him in our hearts by faith with thanksgiving. Thus we drink the sacramental cup, which being so received, becomes the communion of the blood of Christ. May we thus partake of him to our soul's everlasting happiness and glory.

SERMON IX.

MORE PLAGUES OF EGYPT.

EXODUS VIII. 29.

Let not Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.

THE Contest between God and Pharaoh is still continued; for God did not see fit to confound and destroy this his daring opponent all at once, but gave him various different signs and warnings, that by his continued refusal and rebellion he might be left wholly without excuse. It is thus that the Lord ever waiteth long upon sinners; he spares them when they deserve punishment; he bears with them and is kind; he affords them a longer space of trial; he sends them repeated warnings and invitations; he would have them come to