with greatest actions. But another cries, How should I believe that Christ is exalted, and that by virtue thereof I shall be exalted, when I see myself in a forlorn condition, forsaken of God, an object amongst men: "Alas! man at his best is altogether vanity, yea, men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie, to be laid in the balance, I am altogether lighter than vanity; how then should I believe any such a condition? Is a worm a fit, or a capable subject to wear a crown?" Psa. 62:9. Yes, the Lord is great, and he can do great things, "He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory; for the pillars of the earth are the Lord's and he hath set the world upon them, he will keep the feet of his saints," 1 Sam. 2:8,9. Why, there is iny sad. ness, cries another, "He will keep the feet of his saints;" if I were but a saint, I could believe in his power; but alas! I am unholy, an unsancti fied piece of clay; I am a sinner, a sinner of the Gentiles, a chief of sinners; I deserve to be thrown down into hell, rather than to be invested with glory, and to sit in heaven." True, but yet the Holy Ghost is given to make thee holy; of thyself, thou art vile, and most vile; but hath not the Holy Ghost entered in, and taken possession of thy spirit? Hath he not washed thee with water? Yea, thoroughly washed away thy blood? Hath he not anointed thee with oil, and covered thee with silk, and decked thee with gold and silver, and made thee comely through his comeliness, which he put upon thee? Why, this is the office of the Holy Ghost, and if thou hast but the indwelling of the Spirit, this is thy state: I know there is a part of thee unregenerate, and it will be so while thou art on earth, but withal there is in thee a new nature, another nature; there is something else within thee which makes thee wrestle against sin, and shall in time prevail over all sin, and this is the Spirit of Christ, sanctify. ing of thee," Being sanctified (saith the apostle) by the Holy Ghost," Rom. 15:16. Other complaints may be thus brought in, but if we under-/ stand the meaning, the design of Christ in his ascension, session, and mis. sion of his Spirit, how might a true faith answer all? Oh believe! believe thy part in Christ's ascension, Christ's session, Christ's mission of his Holy Spirit, and thou mayest go singing to thy grave: a lively faith in such par ticulars, would set a soul in heaven, even whilst yet on earth.

SECT. VI. Of loving Jesus in that respect.

6. LET us love Jesus, as carrying on the great work of our salvation for us in these particulars; much hath been said already of Christ's conception, birth, life, death, resurrection: such arguments of love, as are enough to swallow up souls in love to Christ again; O the treasures of love, and wisdom, that have been opened in former passages! but as if all these were not enough for God, see here new gold-mines, new found out jewels, never known to be in the world before, opened and unfolded in Jesus Christ. Here are the incomes of the beams of light most inac cessible; here are the veins of the unsearchable glories of Jesus Christ; as if we saw every moment a new heaven, a new treasure of love, the bosom of Christ is yet more opened; the new breathings and spirations of love, are yet more manifested. See! Christ for us, and for our salvation is gone up to heaven, is set down at God's right-hand, and hath sent down the Holy Ghost into our hearts; in the pouring out of these springs of heaven's love, how should our souls but open the mouth wide and take in the streams of Christ's nectar, honey and milk, I mean his sweet, and precious, and dear love breathings? We have heard of Christ's invitations,

"Come to me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden,” Matth. 11:28. But suppose Christ had never uttered his love in such a love expression, "Come to me," yet Christ himself in these glorious particulars is such a drawing object; the very beauty of Christ, the very smell of the garments of Christ, the very capacious and wide heaven of Christ's exaltation are intrinsically, and of themselves, such drawing, ravishing, winning objects, that upon the apprehension of them we cannot choose but love Christ: as gold that is dumb and cannot speak, yet the beauty and gain of it crieth aloud, "Come hither, poor creature, and be thou made rich;" so if Christ should never open his lips, if he should never gently move, "Open to nie my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled, for my head is full of dew, and my locks with the drops of the night," Sol. Song 5:2. Yet the glory, the power, the sovereignty of Christ, the exaltation of his person, and the magnificence of his gifts, should even change our souls into a globe or mass of divine love and glory, as it were by the Spirit of the Lord, 2 Cor. 3:18.

Two things I shall instance, which may be as the loadstones of our love to Christ: the first is his glory, and the second his bounty.

1. For his glory; no sooner was he ascended, and set down at God's right hand, but John, the divine, had a sight of him, and oh! what a glori ous sight!" He was clothed with a garment down to the feet, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle; his head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire, and his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace, and his voice as the sound of inany waters: and he had in his right hand seven stars, and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and his countenance was as the sun that shineth in his strength," Rev. 1:13-16. When John saw him thus, he swoons at his feet, but Christ for all his glory, holds his head in his swoon, saying, "Fear not, I am the first, and the last; I am he that liveth, and was dead, and behold I ain alive for evermore, Ainen. And have the keys of hell, and of death," vet. 17,18. A glorious Christ, is good for swooning, dying sinners; would sinners but draw near, and come, and see this king in the chariot of love, and come and see his beauty, the uncreated white and red in his sweet countenance, he would certainly draw their souls unto him. Nay, say that all the damned in hell were brought up with their burning fiery chains to the utmost door of heaven; could we strike up a window, and let them look in, and behold the throne, and the Lamb, and the troops of glorified spirits clothed in white, with crowns of gold on their heads, and palms in their hands, singing the eternal praises of their glorious king: Oh! how would they be sweetened in their pain, and convinced of their foolish choice, and ravished with the fulness of those joys and pleasures that are in Christ's face for evermore? Surely much more may this glory of Christ warm thy heart, O my soul! What an happiness were it to see the king on his throne; to see the Lamb, the fair tree of life, the branches which cannot for the narrowness of the place, have room to grow in, "For the heaven of heavens cannot contain him!" What a happiness were it to see love itself, and to be warmed with the heat of immediate love, that comes out of the precious heart and bowels of this princely and royal standard bearer? As yet thou canst not, must not see these sights, there is no seeing the King thus in his beauty till thou comest to glory; for then, and then only inust thou see him face to face; and yet the idea and image of his glory, is seen, and may be seen in every true believing soul; enough may be seen by an eye of faith, to kindle in thine heart a flame of love to the Lord Je

sus Christ: Oh! who can think of the glory that is in this dainty delight. ful one, and not be swallowed up in love? Who can think of Christ's sitting at God's right hand, and sparkling in this glory round about, and casting out beams of glory through east, and west, and north, and south, through heaven, and earth, and hell, and not love him with the whole heart, soul and might? I remember one dying, and hearing some discourse of Jesus Christ: "Oh! (said she,) speak more of this: let me hear more of this; be not weary of telling his praise, I long to see him, how should I but long to hear of him?" Surely I cannot say too much of Jesus Christ; in this blessed subject, no man can possibly hyperbolize; had I the tongues of men and angels, I could never fully set forth Christ; it involves an eternal contradiction, that the creature can see to the bottom of the Creator. Suppose all the sands on the sea shore, all the flowers, herbs, leaves, twigs of trees in woods and forests, all the stars of heaven, were all rational creatures, and had they that wisdom, and tongues of angels to speak of the loveliness, beauty, glory, and excellency of Christ, "as gone to heaven, and sitting at the right hand of his Father," they would in all their expressions, stay millions of miles on this side of Jesus Christ. O the love. liness, beauty, and glory of his countenance! can I speak, or you hear of such a Christ? And are we not all in a burning love, in a seraphical love, or at least in a conjugal love? O my heart! how is it thou art not lovesick? How is it thou dost not charge the daughters of Jerusalem, as the spouse did, "I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, I am sick of love," Sol. Song 5:8.

2. For his bounty, no sooner was he ascended, and set down at God's right hand, but he gives gifts unto men; and he sends down the Holy Ghost. This was the gift of gifts; I shall only weigh two circumstances in this gift, either whereof both dignifies, and casts a sparkle of bounty from the giver, into the heart of the receiver, to move him to love. As,

1. One circumstance is the greatness of the giver; certainly the preeminence or dignity of any principle ennobleth and enhanceth the effect: a gift coming from a great person carries ever a scent with it of a certain greatness and relish either of excellency, or superiorty, or nobility, or all. It is storied of Charles the fifth, that in his wars, being ever piest with want of money, and so unable to remunerate the services of divers Dutch captains, and nobles whom he had entertained; he used after any great exploit performed by them, to call together his nobles, and camp into such a field, and there in the presence of them all, to take a gold chain from about his own neck, and put it about the neck of such a captain, or such a colonel, and so to embrace him, and to give him thanks for his gallant service: why, this they esteemed a greater favor, (being circumstanced by such a person, in such a way) than if in very deed he had given him a sufficient pay, or remuneration. O! they valued that chain more than many bushels of the like gold; the very person of the emperor hanged at the chain, such a precious jewel, as in warlike conceits, a million of gold could not countervail; O my soul; if an emperor thus gained the affections of men, how shouldst thou but love Christ, the great emperor of heaven and earth? It was he that gave thee his Spirit, it was he that "took of the Spirit which is upon him, (so is the expression of God to Moses) and put it upon thee," Numb. 11:17. And doth not the person of Christ, the dignity of Christ, enhance the value of the gift? As all gifts are signs of love, so the love of a great personage, and the gifts issuing from such a love, ought more to be accounted than any gifts of any person whatsoever.

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2. Another circumstance is, the greatness of the gift: this argueth greatness of good will; and consequently deserveth a correspondence of a semblable affection. Now, what greater gift had Christ in store, than to give his own Spirit? The Spirit proceedeth from him, and is the same essence with himself; the Spirit is the third person of the true and only God-head, proceeding from the Father, and the Son; and co-eternal, and co-equal, and consubstantial with the Father, and the Son; this appears by those divine attributes and properties which are attributed and communicated to the Holy Spirit: as, 1. Eternity, God never was without his Spirit, "In the beginning God created heaven and earth. And the Spir it of God moved upon the face of the waters," Gen. 1:1,2. 2. Omnipotency, because he, together with the Father and the Son, createth and preserveth all things, "by his Spirit he hath garnished the heavens; the Spir. it of God hath made me, Job 26:13.-33:4. And all these things worketh that one and the self-same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will," 1 Cor. 12:11. 3. Omnisciency, or the knowledge of al things, "For the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God," 1 Cor. 2:10. 4. Immutability, or unchangeableness, "Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled which the Holy Ghost spake," Acts 1:16. 5. Infinite mercy, or love, "God is love, and the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto us," Rom. 5:5. 6. Holy indignation, even against hidden sins, "They rebelled, and vexed his Holy Spirit, Isa. 63:10. Why, hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Ghost?-Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God," (a plain text for the divinity of the Holy Ghost)" How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Acts 5:3,4.9. Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption," Eph. 4:30. I might add miracles, and the institution of sacraments, and prophecies, and gifts, and graces, as the effects of his di vinity: "I cast out devils (saith Christ) by the Spirit of God, and baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost," Matth. 12:28.-28:19. And the "Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times, some shall depart from the faith," 1 Tim. 4:1. And "we are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spir it of the Lord," 2 Cor. 3:18. See now how the Holy Spirit is God, co-eternal, co-equal, and consubstantial with God the Father, and God the Son; is not this a great gift? Yea, as great a gift as possibly can be given? What can he do more than to give himself, and to give his Spirit? O the bonds of love that are upon man towards Christ in this respect?

Come, my soul, and take a view of the glory and bounty of Jesus Christ. If thy heart be not all brass, and iron, and stone; if there be any fleshi ness, softness, or pliableness in it; why, then how shouldst thou choose but love? if either beauty or bounty, if either majesty, or magnificence can draw thy affection, Christ will have it, for in him is all; O let him be thy all surely if thou hast any thing besides himself, he is the donor of all, he is the beauty of all, the sum of all, the perfection of all, yea, he is the author, preserver, and finisher of all.

SECT. VII. Of joying in Jesus in that respect.

7. LET us joy in Jesus, as carrying on the great work of our salvation for us in these particulars; there is not a particular under consideration, but it is the object of a Christian's joy. As,

1. How should it heighten my joys, and enlarge my comforts, when I do but consider that Christ is ascended into glory? By this it is clear and

evident, that Christ is accepted of the Father for me, or otherwise, he should never have been received into heaven; if any frown had been in the face of God, surely Christ coming so near God, he should have had it; if any exception had been against his satisfaction, any flaw in our pardons, surely Christ should have heard of it, yea, without question, he must have been turned out of heaven, until he had made a full payment of our debts. I need not doubt of my acceptance at the throne of grace, when Jesus Christ is accepted for me, and that I stand in such a relation of Jesus Christ. Oh what joy is in this!

2. How should it heighten my joys and enlarge my comforts, when I do but consider that Christ is set down at God's right hand. Why, now he hath the keys of heaven delivered into his hands. "All power is giv. en unto him in heaven and in earth," Matth. 28:18. And now he can do what he will; God the Father hath given away (as it were) all his prerogatives unto Jesus Christ, "All judgment is committed to the Son, for the Father judgeth no man," John 5:22. Now, he is in a capacity of act. ing out all his love, and the Father's desire to me in the most glorious way; he is highly advanced, and thereby he hath the advantage to advance me, and to glorify me; God hath given into his hands all the treasures and riches of heaven, in bidding him, "sit down at his right hand," he told him that he would have no more to do with the world, but that Christ should have all, and that Christ should bestow all he had amongst his saints; and that this should be the reward of his death, and when once his saints were come about him, and sat with him in his glory, why, then Christ should resign up again his place, " And deliver up the kingdon to God, even the Father," 1 Cor. 15:24. Oh! what joy may enter into this poor dark dungeon, disconsolate soul of mine, whilst I but think over these glorious passages of my Christ in glory?

3. How should it heighten my joys and fill me with joy unspeakable, and full of glory, when I do consider that Christ hath sent down his Holy Spirit into my heart? When sorrow had filled the apostles' hearts, because he had told them, "I must go away," he comforts them with this, "If I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you, but if I depart, I will send him unto you," John 16:7. The Spirit is the Comforter, and where he comes, he fills souls with comforts; O what comfort is this! to know that the Spirit of Christ is my inmate? That my soul is the temple and receptacle, the house and dwelling of the Spirit of God? That Christ is in me of a truth, and that not only by the infusion of his grace, but, by the indwelling of his spirit? Surely it is some comfort to a sickly man that he hath a physician always in the house with him; and to a woman that is near her travail, that the midwife is in the house with her; but what com. fort is it to a poor soul that the Spirit of Christ is always in him? "I will send you another Comforter (said Christ) that he may abide with you for ever," John 14:16. Christ in his bodily presence went away, but Christ in his Spirit continues still, "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world,” Matth. 28:10. He is with us, and which is more, he is in us for our comfort, "Christ in you the hope of glory," Col. 1:27. Not Christ in sermons which we hear, not Christ in chapters which we read, nor Christ in sacraments which we receive, nor Christ in our heads by high notions, nor Christ in our mouths by frequent glorious expressions, but Christ in our hearts by his Spirit, is unto us "the hope of glory." The grounds of our comforts in this respect, are—

1. Christ's presence. It is said of Paul that after a sad shipwreck, the sight of some Christian brethren so cheered him up, that upon the sight of