1st. That none shall be against us whose favor is desirable.

That the children of God too frequently

and plead the honor of the Godhead for this warfare cease till that great day of every blessing we need. Nay, this cove-the Lord come, when "all his enemies nant is sealed with the blood of his own shall be made his footstool." But the Son; upon which account it sometimes question, or defiance, may lawfully be congets the name of a Testament; that is, an sidered as importing the following particuirrevocable deed, made sure and unalter- lars. able by the death of the testator. Hereby the firmest foundation is laid for our faith and hope; and that our joy may be full, he hath instituted the holy sacrament | fall out among themselves, and squabble of the supper, wherein visible pledges of in the dark, is a melancholy truth; and his love are put into our hands, and by that these contentions are unseemly and bread and wine, the appointed symbols of hurtful things, cannot be denied: But a the broken body and shed blood of our little more daylight would soon put an Redeemer, Christ, and all the benefits of end to the scuffle, make them ashamed of his purchase, are represented, sealed, and their mistakes, and unite them in the applied to believers. bonds of an everlasting friendship. The persons I speak of are they who are enemies to believers as such; and of them I say, that their favor is not worthy to be coveted, neither doth the want of it deserve to be regretted. What regard is due to the judgment of those who are so blind, that they see no beauty in the infinitely perfect God himself? especially when their enmity against us is only the natural effect of this woful stupidity; according to that assertion of the apostle John, "Therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not." "If the world hate you," saith our Lord, "ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." And ought any wise man to be disquieted on that account? Nay, my brethren, did we view our enemies in this light, we should look upon them as objects of pity, rather than of fear or resentment; and any little hurt they could do to us, would scarcely be felt, whilst we thought of the infinitely greater mischief they were doing to themselves.

These few hints may serve to give you some view both of the meaning and worth of this important privilege: God is for us: he is our friend; he is on our side; he is our God in covenant, and hath given us every kind of security our hearts could desire, for whatever is conducive to our real interest. In all, and in each of these respects, may the Christian say, that God is for him. Let us now consider, in the Second place, The consequence of this privilege, or the joyful conclusion which the apostle draws from it, Who can be against us?

It is expressed, you see, in the form of a question or challenge. St. Paul, in the name of all true believers, gives a bold defiance to earth and hell, and triumphs in the assurance of their safety and happiness. The question doth not imply, that they who have God on their side, shall have no enemies at all; such an immunity would be inconsistent with a state of trial, and the Scripture gives us no warrant to expect any thing of this kind; on the contrary, they assure us, that "through much tribulation we must enter into the kingdom of heaven." "Our adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, secking whom he may devour." "We wrestle not only against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual wickednesses in high places." And as, in the days of Abraham, "he that was born after the flesh, persecuted him that was born after the spirit; even so it is now." Nor shall

2dly. If God be for us, who can prevail against us? Who shall be able totally to subdue us, to deprive us of the glory and happiness we look for? Indeed, if the safety of believers depended on their own ability to keep hold of God; if they were left, as it were, to hang upon him by the mere strength of their own arms; a little force or cunning might soon loosen their grasp, and pull them away

from him. But herein, my brethren, lies | grace; but instead of that he kindles it their security, an omnipotent God keepeth into a flame, and only blows away the ashes fast hold of them; they are committed that covered it. He plieth the saints with to that good Shepherd "who gathers the his fiery darts; but instead of killing them, lambs with his arms, and carries them in he renders them more expert in the art his bosom, and gently leads those that are of defence, teacheth them the use of "the with young: " They are joined to God by shield of faith," and the other parts of the bond of an "everlasting covenant, order- their spiritual armor. In short, God ed in all things and sure; " and they who effectually baffles every attempt of their would attempt to tear them from him, enemies: He "beats their swords into must first of all make void that covenant, plough-shares, and their spears into prunreverse the unchangeable purpose of God, ing-hooks; " that is, he converts their and oblige the Almighty to resign his hostile weapons into instruments of huspower. Such is the desperate enterprise bandry, for the culture and improvement in which the enemies of God's children of his people, that in greater abundance are engaged; it is not the creature, but they may bring forth "those fruits of the Creator they have to cope with; Je- righteousness, which are, through Jesus hovah himself must be overcome, before Christ, to his praise and glory.' the weakest believer can fall into their hands. Justly then might the Apostle say, as in the close of this chapter, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Nay, my text will allow us to advance a step farther, and to say, in the

THUS have I opened the joyful import of this question, or challenge, If God be for us, who can be against us? And in the review of all that hath been said, can we forbear to cry out with the holy Psalmist, "Happy is the people that is in such a case; yea, happy is that people whose God is the Lord!" What I further intend is, to give you a few plain and necessary directions about the use you ought to make of this comfortable subject.

But before I proceed to these, compassion to the souls of some who may be hearing me, obliges me to set before you a very different prospect, by inverting the question, and putting it in this form :

If God be against us, who can be for us?

3d place, If God be for us, who shall be able to do us any material hurt in the "The Lord is in his holy temple, the mean time? To be assured of final sal- Lord's throne is in heaven: his eyes bevation, is indeed an unspeakable blessing; hold, his eyelids try, the children of men. to know that our enemies shall not totally The Lord trieth the righteous: but the prevail against us, is a desirable privilege; wicked, and him that loveth violence, his yet a great addition would be made to our soul hateth. Upon the wicked he shall comfort, could we also be assured, that rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an their malice and enmity, instead of hurting horrible tempest: this shall be the portion us, shall contribute as means to promote of their cup." "Thine hand shall find our true interest. Well, then, the Apostle, out all thine enemies," saith the Psalmist ; under the direction of God's unerring "thy right hand shall find out those that Spirit, hath asserted this in the strongest hate thee: thou shalt make them as a and most absolute terms: "We know," fiery oven in the time of thine anger; the saith he at the 28th verse of this chapter; Lord shall swallow them up in his wrath, we do not barely hope, but "we know, and the fire shall devour them." How that all things work together for good to awful are these words, uttered by God them that love God, to them who are himself! "I, even I, am he, and there is the called according to his purpose." Sa- no God with me: I kill, and I make alive; I tan endeavors to blow out the spark of wound, and I heal; neither is there any

gave to the Gentile converts is always in season: Be not high minded, but fear;" and again, "Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall." At the same time, though you must not despise your enemies, yet neither, in the

2d place, Ought you to be afraid of them. The true Christian temper lies in the just medium, betwixt these opposite extremes: and therefore we are exhorted, not only "to watch," but also " to quit ourselves like men;"" to endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ;" and to be

that can deliver out of my hand. For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live forever. If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me; I will make mine arrows drunk with blood." And "Can you stand before his indigna- them. stand before his indignation? Can you abide in the fierceness of his anger, when his fury is poured forth like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him?" Consider this, ye that forget God, lest he tear you in pieces when there shall be none to deliver. Who can make strong in the Lord, and in the power of you happy if God pronounce you miser- his might."" Fear not," saith God," for able? Who can give quietness, if he I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I cause trouble? Who can screen you from am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, his justice? And, Oh! who can support I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee you under the weight of his vengeance? with the right hand of my righteousness." For the Lord's sake, take a serious view After this encouraging manner doth God of your condition; and then turn your speak to his children. Nay, he chides eyes to that compassionate Redeemer, them when they betray the least timorouswhose arms are yet extended to embrace ness in his service; as in Isaiah (chap. li. you: Flee speedily to him as your only 12, 13.) "Who art thou, that thou shouldst sanctuary let the earth be acquainted be afraid of a man that shall die, and of with your bended knees; let the air be the son of man which shall be made as acquainted with your fervent supplications, grass? and forgettest the Lord thy Maker, till you have reason to conclude, that you that hath stretched forth the heavens, and are vitally united to the Lord Jesus laid the foundations of the earth? and Christ, who "of God is made," unto all who hast feared continually every day, because believe in him, "wisdom, and righteous- of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ness, and sanctification, and redemption." ready to destroy? And where is the fury As for you who are Christians indeed, of the oppressor?" Hear how David to whom all the comfort of this text be- triumphs in the assurance of his safety, longs, let me beg your attention to a few upon grounds which are common to all necessary advices, with which I shall con-believers in Christ: "The Lord is my clude this discourse.

1st. Beware of despising your enemies; for that shall betray you into security and carelessness. Remember, that however weak they are in comparison with God, yet in themselves they are strong and formidable; insomuch, that were God to look on, and leave you to your own defence, you should quickly and easily be overmatched. In other armies, the strength of the general consisteth in the number and valor of his troops; but in the Christian army, the strength of the whole host, and every soldier in particular, lies in him who is the Lord of Hosts. We ought therefore to maintain an habitual jealousy of ourselves: we are never in greater danger than when we are most confident that we are out of danger; so that the caution which the Apostle

light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Though an host shall encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident." Let the wicked tremble; they have reason to do so; but "let the heart of every one re joice that seeks the Lord." Victory is insured to you; the great "Captain of salvation" hath already conquered all your enemies, and ere long he shall return, and bring you with singing into the heavenly Zion; then shall you obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. But as the strength by which you must overcome is not your own, this makes it necessary that I direct and exhort you, in the

3d place, To depend upon God, and to walk closely with him. For this end, "abide in Christ," for there it is alone that God and sinners can meet as friends. "God is in Christ," saith the Apostle Paul," reconciling the world unto himself." Indeed he is nowhere else in the character of a reconciler; and consequently, if we wish to dwell under his shadow, it is ne cessary that we be in Christ also. This was one of the solemn advices which our Lord gave to his disciples a little before his death; "Abide in me me;" "as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself except | it abide in the vine, no more can ye except ye abide in me;" for "without me," or separated from me, “ye c ye can do nothing." In the

receive us unto himself " in that day when he maketh up his jewels ;" and then shall an everlasting distinction be made "between the righteous and the wicked; between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not." Amen.

SERMON XIII.

THE GIRDED, WATCHING SERVANT. LUKE XII. 35, 36, 37.-"Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the Lord, when he cometh, shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them."

4th and last place, Seeing God is for us, let us be for him; let us appear openly on his side, and act with resolution and vigor in his service. God can do his work without us; he stands in no need of our assistance; yet such is his condescension, THE obvious design of this passage is, to that he invites us to the honor of being excite us to a serious consideration about "workers together with himself." And the awful solemnities of death and judgwhat can fire our ambition if this do not? ment. We are here directed to consider He is just now calling aloud, both by his ourselves as servants who have a master word and by his providence, "Who will in heaven; of whose return we have the rise up for me against the evil doers? strongest assurance, but are utterly ignoWho will stand up for me against the rant of the precise time of his coming; workers of iniquity?" O! let each of us and therefore it is both our duty and our make haste to reply with the evangelical interest to be always on our guard, and in prophet," Here am I, send me." At the a fit posture to receive him; the happy same time, let us echo back the call, and consequences of which shall be, that our humbly expostulate with him in the words Lord will not only approve of our pruwhich his own Spirit hath dictated; "Arise, dent and zealous concern to please him, O Lord, and plead thine own cause; re- but he will even delight to honor us; he member how the foolish man reproacheth will not deal with us as servants, but as thee daily." "It is time for thee to work, friends; and will bestow upon us a reward for they have made void thy law." Thus infinitely beyond what any services could doth God permit us to remind him of his entitle us to. So that here we have a own interest, while we ourselves are in short, but comprehensive account of the a posture for active service; and such Christian's work and recompense; our pleadings are highly pleasing and accept-duty and encouragement are both set able. Let us then, my brethren, in our before us. respective stations, do what in us lies to advance the kingdom of Christ in the world, and to bear down every thing that stands in opposition to it. Let the "right eous be bold as lions ;" and then may we hope that "Iniquity," as ashamed, shall hide her head, and "stop her mouth." At any rate," our record shall be on high," our reward with our God." He will

and "

Our duty is represented, by the diligent care of servants to have every thing in readiness for the reception of their absent master. As the Jews, and other eastern people, commonly wore long and loose garments, it was necessary, when they had any thing to do which required strength or agility, that they should tuck them up, and gird them close about them; now,