66

Jesus Christ, "the Author and Finisher of our "faith" and to that should succeed the important question,-in what manner have we hitherto accepted His goodness? It might seem improper to put the case, that any members of a Christian congregation are wilful despisers of the Gospel. You have all, no doubt, been baptized, and are professedly choosing to have God for your God, and are accustomed to desire the recompense of the reward. Let me advise you, however, further to examine, whether you have justly laid "the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith to"wards God, and of resurrection of the dead, "and of eternal judgment." (Heb. vi. 1, 2.) This foundation must be laid broad and deep in "the hidden man of your hearts," or you will hardly run well" towards the mark, for "the prize of your high calling in Christ "Jesus." You will not otherwise be prepared to deny yourselves, and to mortify your corrupt affections and lusts. Instead of readily foregoing worldly conveniences, when they would prevent you from better things, you will be apt to grasp them with a covetous spirit: you will partly, at the least, be servants of "mammon;" and the name of God will be blasphemed, rather than made honourable, through your conduct; and He will be

ashamed to be called your God, and finally deny you admission into His rest. Many there be, who thus fall and perish, being disapproved of by God in their generations, because they will not set themselves to be followers of Him, as confiding and obedient children. But they who will adopt the worthier part, they are spiritually conformed to the father of the faithful, and "shall rest, and stand in their lot, at "the end of the days," (Dan. xii. 13.) with Him. Having heartily repented both of their inbred and acquired corruption, such are free to forsake all, (if it be necessary,) in pursuit of the righteousness and promises placed before them by faith they are persuaded of their excellency, and disposed to embrace them, as they would naturally embrace any present benefit: by their remembrance that the Lord will assuredly judge His people, they never cease from keeping their souls in a state of watchfulness, and humble awe. Wherefore of them God is not, nor ever will be, ashamed. Contrariwise, we may imagine Him saying of each one that is answerable to this description, "Be"hold my servant, whom I have chosen; mine "elect, in whom my soul is well-pleased; I "have put my Spirit upon him—that he may "be to the praise of the riches of my grace :“he shall call upon me, and I will hear him:

"yea, I am with him in trouble; I will deliver "him, and bring him to honour. With long "life will I satisfy him, and shew him my sal"vation." (Isa. xlii. 1; Eph. ii. 7; Psalm xci. 15, 16.)

So precious and distinguishing is the favour continually borne by God to all that, with a pure affection, will incline their hearts to love and serve Him. Finally then, my brethren, be exhorted to render yourselves of that holy number. “Let us lay aside every weight, and "the sin which doth most easily beset us, and

let us run with patience the race that is set "before us," (Heb. xii. 1.) after the example of that "cloud of witnesses," which the apostle hath recalled particularly to our view; nothing doubting but that, according to the sincerity of our exertions, God, even our own God, will abundantly recompense us with His blessing.

SERMON IV.

EXODUS V. 23.

Neither hast Thou delivered Thy people at all. THESE words, although few in number, and uttered on a special occasion, are, nevertheless, adapted to suggest some important and generally interesting remarks. The sentiment which they apparently express, and with which they tend in the first instance to inspire us, is one of disappointment and complaint; as if the Lord had been found unfaithful, and had deceived His people, by not making good to them the deliverance which He had promised. And when we remember the speaker to have been His servant Moses, it may almost occur to us, that, for once at least, such a sentiment could not have been totally unfounded. However, a notion of this kind is on no account whatever to be deliberately allowed. Suppose the text to have been spoken, not in haste, nor without a proper cause, a warrant for murmuring in a like strain might be thence derived by large numbers of each successive generation. In

order, therefore, to impart right views of a matter so extensively momentous, I design, on the present opportunity, to explain, first, the true nature of the circumstances, in which Moses and the Israelites were then placed; and afterwards, to bring into comparison with them our own circumstances, in this world of trial.

First, then, in the two preceding chapters, Moses is described to us, hardly consenting to undertake the arduous office of delivering the children of Israel out of Egypt, and bringing them into the promised land. With his meekness there seems to have been mingled a considerable portion of timidity and mistrust. The sight of the burning bush, and the voice of the Lord calling to him from the midst of it, should have enabled him to get the better of these infirmities. Yet, notwithstanding that, and other miracles, which were wrought expressly to assure his mind, Moses continued to raise objections, until "the anger of the Lord "was kindled," and would not suffer him any longer to decline becoming the messenger of redemption unto his brethren.

It is expedient previously to recollect this, because the same temper which makes a man slow and reluctant to enter upon any difficult work, renders him quick to take discourage