2. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God 1 John v. 13.

1. The word of God describes the character of those who have eternal life.-2. If our character correspond with that description, we may know that we have eternal life.

Assure my conscience of her part

In the Redeemer's blood;

And bear thy witness with my heart
That I am born of God.

3. Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John i. 29.

1. The character of the Victim.-2. The effect of his sacrifice.

In every state, and time, and place,
Nought plead but Jesus' blood;
However wretched be your case,
Behold the Lamb of God!

4. If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 1 Pet. iv. 16.

1. He suffers in a good cause.-2. He suffers in good company.-3. His sufferings are nothing to his discredit.-4. They furnish him with an opportunity to glorify God.

Bless'd are the sufferers who partake
Of pain and shame for Jesus' sake:
For they shall glorify their Lord,
And triumph in a rich reward.

5. If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 1 Pet. iv. 18.

1. An admitted truth, that should make the Christian vigilant.-2. A rational inference, that should alarm the sinner.

When thy mortal life is fled,

When the death-shades o'er thee spread,
When is finished thy career,

Sinner, where wilt thou appear?

6. You hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins. Eph. ii. 1.

1. A deplorable condition.-2. A wonderful change,-3. The Author of that change.

Our quickened souls awake and rise
From their long sleep of death;
On heavenly things we fix our eyes,
And praise employs our breath.

7. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. 1 John iii. 14.

1. Christians, as such, are not loved by the unconverted.-2. He, therefore, who loves them, as such, may thence know that he is renewed by the grace of God.

My soul to Jesus joined

By faith and hope, and love,

Now seeks to dwell among the saints,
And rest with them above.

8. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. 1 John ii. 15.

1. They are unworthy.-2. They are unsatisfying.-3. They are temporary.-4. They exclude the love of God.

Ye vain and flattering toys, begone;
Ye false delights adieu;

My glorious Lord fills all the space,
And leaves no room for you.

9. He that doeth truth, cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

John iii. 21.

1. The character of a good man.-2. The character of a good work.-3. Such men and such works will bear the light.

His conscience knows no secret stings,
While peace and joy combine

To form a life whose holy springs

Are hidden and Divine.

10. Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John iii. 3.

1. Because he is unfit for the society of heaven.— 2. Because he is unqualified for the employments of heaven.-3. Because he has none of the spirit of heaven.

Those holy gates for ever bar

Pollution sin and shame;

None shall obtain admittance there,
But followers of the Lamb.

11. Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. Ps. lxxiii. 1.

1. Those who have clean hearts belong to the Israel of God.-2. To all such the God of Israel is, in a peculiar sense, good.-3. Confidence in this truth is of special service to the believer.

Bless'd are the pure, whose hearts are clean,
Who never tread the ways of sin;

With endless pleasure they shall prove
The depth of God's unchanging love.

12. The just shall live by faith.

Gal. iii. 11.

1. God accounts believers in his Son as just.2. Their faith is the medium of spiritual and eternal life.

Jesus, how glorious is thy grace!
When in thy name we trust,
Our faith receives a righteousness
That makes the sinner just.

13. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for Gal. iii. 13.

us.

1. An extraordinary favour bestowed.-2. An extraordinary sacrifice to procure it.

Our sins and griefs on him were laid;
He meekly bore the mighty load;

Our ransom price he fully paid

In groans and tears, in sweat and blood.

14. Put on charity which is the bond of perfectness. Col. iii. 14.

1. A perfect bond of individual character.-2. A perfect social bond.

Happy the heart where graces reign,
Where love inspires the breast:
Love is the brightest of the train,
And strengthens all the rest.

15. Even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. Col. iii. 13.

1. Gratuitously.-2. Cheerfully.-3. Completely. -4. Perpetually.

Jesus, thy pardoning love we sing,
And whilst we sing, admire;

Breathe on our souls, and kindle there
The same celestial fire.

16. He that judgeth me is the Lord.

1 Cor. iv. 4.

1. Then shall I be judged intelligently and impartially.-2. Then will many a human judgment be reversed.

Great God, what do I see and hear!
The end of things created:

The Judge of man I see appear,
On clouds of glory seated:

Before his cross I view the day

When heaven and earth shall pass away,

And thus prepare to meet him.