fail to employ fome part of this day in our clofets, and in devout meditations on the crofs of Ghrift, we are unworthy of that redemption he purchased for us. "What" (faid our Saviour to his fleeping difciples, when he was entering on his agony) can you not watch with me one hour!" Mat. xxvi. 40. Can you not thake off your drowfinefs, and bear me company in my forrows for a few moments, on fo important and becoming an occafion? Can your fluggith inattention and indifference to what concerns me fo nearly, confift with a true love of me, or with the character of my faithful difciples?" What! can you not "watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, "left ye enter into temptation."

2. A Second step towards fulfilling our obligation to glory in the crofs of Gorift, is, if we endeavour to imitate the perfect example he hath fet us, and to form in our minds fome faint refemblances of thofe meek graces and virtues, which adorn the character of our fuffering Saviour. And this step is a natural confequence of the former; for imitation will in fome degree fpring from attention: If "we fee him as he is," fhall be like him," as St. John argues, 1 John iii. 2. In vain do we boaft of the crois of Chrift, as that whereby the guilt of our fins is abolished, if the power of them ftill remains unfubdued in us. Then are his fufferings our glory, when they become a fruitful principle of holinefs to us, and affect us in fuch a manner, as to give us refolution and ftrength to live above the world, and all its temptations. In hoc vince, was the infcription of the cross, in that vifion, by which

we

the

the first Cbriftian emperor was encouraged to give battle to his enemies. And this alfo is the motto, by which every good foldier of Christ is to animate himself in his fpiritual conflicts; this is to be written on our banners, and graven in our minds: "This is the victory which overcometh

the world, even our faith" in a crucified Jesus, 1 John v. 5. When from him we have learnt to undervalue the falfe glories of this world, and to defpife its terrors, to live above the gratifications of fenfe, to refign ourfelves abfolutely to God's difpofal, and to make it "our meat and our "drink," our only ftudy and delight, "to do the

will of him that fent us;" John iv. 34. when we fhall have emptied ourfelves of all fwelling thoughts, all vain conceits of our own privileges and perfections, and shall be thoroughly inftruc ted in that great leffon of humility, which he, who was "meek and lowly in heart," hath taught us; Mat. xi. 29. when we fhall have fo" confi"dered him that endured the contradiction of

finners against himself, as not to be weary and "faint in our minds," upon the like oppofitions and trials; Heb. xii. 3. fo, as to bear indignities and injuries decently and well, and to forgive and pray for those who do them; fo as to be able to fupport ourfelves under any of the calamities of life with equaninity and patience, with fortitude and firmness: Then may we be faid, most truly, moft effectually, to glorify in the cross of Chrift ourselves, and to promote the honour of his religion with others, who fhall obferve our progress in all divine graces and virtues, and be edified in VOL. IV. behold

beholding "our good converfation in Chrift "Jefus."

3. A Third inftance and proof of our glorying 'as becomes us in the cross of Chrift, is, if we frequently and worthily celebrate the memorial of his death, the bleffed facranient of his body and blood. "For as often as ye eat this bread, and "drink this cup, ye do fhew forth the Lord's "death, until he come," xalafyλle, 1 Cor. xi. 26. ye do fignificantly exprefs it, ye do folemnly publish and declare it. Indeed both the facraments, that of baptifm, and this of the Lord's fupper, as they derive their efficacy from the cross of Chrift, fo do they carry in them fome resemblance of his death: Baptifm, of his death and refurrection jointly; the eucharift, of his death only; being inftituted for this very end and purpose, to imprint on our minds, by fymbols of bread broken, and wine poured out, a lively image of the great facrifice of the crofs, and to infpire us by that means, with fuch holy thoughts and affections, as a good Chriftian would have, if he were really an eye witnefs of the paffion of Chrift. Often therefore ought we to refort to this mysterious repaft, even as often as we have occafion (and 'when have we not occafion?) to raife our gratitude, and improve our devotion, and inflame our love towards God, for the abundant mercies beftowed on us, in the fufferings and death of our Saviour. Nor can we abftain from this table of the Lord, without forgetting (indeed without fo far renouncing) our relation to Chrift crucified, and thereby declaring ourselves utterly unworthy of that holy name whereby we are called. "Ve

"rily,

"rily, verily, except we eat the flesh of the Son "of man, and drink his blood, we have no life "in us," John vi. 53.

'Twas his dying charge to us, "Do this in remembrance of me: Luke xxii. 16. And furely, confidering how much he has done and fuffered for us, had he commanded us fome hard thing, we should not have refused to comply with him: How much less fhould we refuse, when we are only commanded to remember him, by an action naturally pleafing and delightful to us ? when he invites us only to eat and to drink at his own table?

"Chrift, the fame night that he was betrayed, took bread:" At that very time, when men were laying fnares for his innocence, and conriving his ruin, did he appoint this great means of bleffing and ftrengthening them: When his body was now about to be pierced, and his blood to be fpilt by the hand of violence; then did he inftitute this myftery, by which the merits of both were to be conveyed to the whole race of mankind, even to his murtherers themselves, if by faith and repentance they fhould lay hold of them. Muft not our stupidity and ingratitude be as amazing at his love, if the very circumstances, in which he gave us this precept, do not incline us to obey it? Can we be faid to "glory in the cross of "Chrift," while we neglect and defpife this great memorial of his death, which he inftituted for the good of fouls? Ought we not rather to fear, left, by abstaining wilfully and contemptuously fron this holy table, we fhould involve ourselves in fome degree of their guilt, whom the apoftle de

O 2

clares

clares to "have trodden under foot the Son of "God, and counted the blood of the covenant, "by which they were fanétihed, an unholy thing?" Heb. x. 29. But finally, we may

4. In the Fourth Place, be faid (very p operly faid) to "glory in the crofs of Ch ft," when we zealously affert, and vindicate the true doctrine of his fatisfaction, against all the enemies and oppofers of it; against the falle notions of the Jews, and the falfe religion of the M hometans; against the mischievous opinions of fome deceived or deceiving Chriftians; against the vain pretences of reafon and philofophy, and against the proud infults and blafphemies of Atheists and Infidels. But these particulars would open too large a field of matter to me at prefent, and may perhaps (God permitting) be no improper fubject for our reflexions on a like occafion.

In the mean time, let us conclude, by rendering to the great Lover of fouls the thanks that are due to him, for the Redemption, which He, as on this day, purchafed for us.

"Worthy is the Lamb that was flain, to re"ceive power, and riches, and wifdom, and "ftrength, and honour, and glory, and bleffing: "For He hath redeemed us to God by His blood, "out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, "and nation. Therefore bleffing, and honour, "and glory, and power be untó Him that fitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever! Amen." Rev. v. 12. ver. 9. ver. 13.

A SER