mercy towards us. "God who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ." Here we may justly break out with surprize, saying, "What is man that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?" We may as justly admire it here, as in any instance whatsoever. For how surprising the grace, mercy and love of God! when it breaks forth in the actual discoveries of it in effectual illumination, quickening and regeneration! at which time, all the thoughts of love which God had of us from everlasting, and which he gave evidence of when he so loved the world as to give his only begotten son, which love was expressed with an emphasis, when he having laid on him our iniquities, was pleased to bruise him, and put his soul to grief, begins to be manifested to us. Now the eternal purposes of the Trinity towards us, actually take place in us, the Holy Ghost actually quickening us, with spiritual and everlasting life. At which time we

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actually pass from a state of spiritual death, into a state of spiritual life, being brought into actual communion with the Lord, made meet for eternal glory, and the Spirit of Christ and of glory dwells in us, and rests upon us. It is but for death to do its office on our bodies, and we are in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, in heaven with Christ our head, who hath said, "Because I live, ye shall live also." God magnifies, or exalts his people, as he raises them up from a state of sin and death, translating them into the kingdom of his dear Son. He sets his heart upon them, rejoices over them to do them good, and they have their seasons of refreshment from his blessed presence. The Holy Spirit quickens the souls of the regenerate, by putting forth his power in their hearts, and by virtue of the promise in which Christ is set forth and exhibited, he draws forth their faith into spiritual

acts of hope and love and joy in God. By which we at times taste upon earth the joys of heaven, being filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory. It is true we have cause greatly to lament, that the

greatest part of those who pass for believers in Christ Jesus, live as though they did not experience, or expect to experience, such inestimable blessings. But I must tell you, sirs, real believers are implanted into Christ, and have an influential union with him, and a real communion from him. By which means the Holy Spirit quickens, enlightens and refreshes their souls with his sanctifying grace. He breathes within his people, and he breathes upon them, and he carries on a most sacred, blessed and delightful intercourse between Christ and them. The compassions of the Lord to his children, are never failing; his bounty is exceeding great, he is to them an ocean of mercy, a fountain of never failing supply, who never leaves nor forsakes them; but will be their God and guide even unto death, at which time he will receive them to eternal glory. Which brings me lastly, to endeavour to preach a part of Job's meaning from the text, that the Lord is pleased to visit man, worthless and insignificant as he is, with reproofs, rebukes, and chastisement for sin; and his great

end and design herein. As God out of his own heart's love, draws his people to himself by the cords and manifestations of it to their souls, so all the Lord's dealings with them, all his paths of nature, providence and grace are mercy and truth. God loves the persons of his people with an invariable, invincible, immutable love, yet he hates sin in them. And when under the influence of it, they incline towards it, and fall by it, and into the commission of it, God will visit for it in a way of chastisement, or conviction; and it is the fruit of his love and affection if he deals thus with any of us. For some there are, who call themselves the Lord's, who though they walk careless and live in sin, yet the Lord will not spend a rod upon them, nor give them any reproof, because he does not love them well enough, so to act and deal towards them. "What is man that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him? and that thou shouldest visit him every morning and try him every moment?" Have any of you been in affliction, visited with sickness,

or disease! look back and examine, try and search diligently to find out the Lord's end and design in it? Is it not a rebuke for sin committed? for abstaining from his holy table? for some secret corruption. connived at by you! Sirs, God is jealous of his glory, and will act according to the rules of his holy word. He searches the heart, and tries the reins of the sons of

men.

If you undertake a journey on the Lord's day, depend upon it your business will be quite marred, the Lord will frown upon you, and ye shall find, think of it as ye will, Christ Jesus will highly resent it in you. I look at times upon, and into the families of some, who profess to know Christ; and it appears to me, that though many attempts are made, and many enterprizes undertaken, which are looked upon as just and lawful; yet no blessing is upon it, nor success from the the Lord granted. Perhaps God is neglected in the closet, and family, Leave off prayer, restrain morning and evening worship before the Lord, and mark it! you will, it may be, fail in business, and