Remember too, that though you may not have indulged all the lusts and vices, which some others have done, yet, if you are children of disobedience, you can no more be saved without renovation of heart and repentance of sin, than they can.And repentance, in its general nature, must be the same in you, as in them; even a change of heart from the love of sin, to the love of God's commands. If you think this repentance necessary for some gross sinners, know, it is as necessary for you, as for them.-If you believe, that great sinners are children of wrath, know, that all sinners are such. And such are you, while the love of sin reigns in your hearts, although, by the restraints of God's Providence and grace, you have been kept back from some presumptuous sins. Think seriously on your guilt and danger, and apply to God, who is rich in mercy, that he would quicken you together with Christ, and raise you up, and make you to sit to gether with him in heavenly places: For by grace ye

are saved.

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he lov ed us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding richee of his grace in his kindness toward us by Jesus Christ.

IN the preceding verses, our Apostle describes the deplorable state in which the gospel found the Ephesians and other Gentile nations, when it first came among them.

In the words now read we shall contemplate, the happy change which the gospel made in them-the rich mercy of God in effecting this change-and the General purpose of God's particular mercy to them.

I. We will consider the happy change which the gospel made in the Ephesians a change not peculiar to them, but common to all sincere believers." He hath quickened us, raised us up, and made us sit together with Christ.

1. He hath quickened us, or made us alive with Christ, in opposition to the state before described, when we were dead in trespasses and sins.

VOL. III.

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True Christians are alive, as they have spiritual senses and appetites.

The eyes of their understanding are enlightened to discern the things of the spirit of God in their truth and importance. They look at things future and unseen, and regard them as real and present.

The heart of stone is changed into a tender and sensible heart. They can now be pierced with the conviction, and pained with the burden of sin; they feel their weakness and need of grace to help. They tremble at God's word, and are afraid of his judgments. They are watchful against temptations, and when sin surprises them, their hearts smite them with godly

sorrow.

They savor the things which are of God. Having tasted that he is gracious, they hunger and thirst after fresh supplies of his grace, and desire the sincere milk of his word, that they may grow thereby.

They are fervent in spirit, serving the Lord-zealous to repent, and to maintain good works-careful to know, and active to do God's will-solicitous to secure his favor, and stand approved in his sight.

They have spiritual motions. The divine principle within them directs their thoughts toward God, and their course toward heaven. They walk with God in newness of life-they run the way of his commandments. Waiting on the Lord, they renew their strength, mount up with wings as eagles; they run and are not weary; they walk and faint not.

They have spiritual pleasures, which once they were unacquainted with-pleasures resulting from a sense of God's favor-from a consciousness of sincerity-from a hope of immortality-from a victory over sin-from communion with God-and from anticipations of glory.

They possess spiritual powers. Strengthened with might by the spirit in the inner man, they can bear afflictions with patience-meet dangers with fortitude

perform duty with cheerfulness-and encounter temptations with success.

They grow in grace. Sensible of the imperfection of all their attainments, they desire to abound more and more in knowledge, faith, love, and every good work, and to reach the stature of perfect men in Christ.

The Apostle says, "We are quickened together with Christ."

Our spiritual life comes through him. "He bare our sins, that we, being dead to sin, should live to righteousness." It is through his atonement and intercession, that God grants the external means of life, and his quickening Spirit to attend them. "We are saved by the renewing of the Holy Ghost, which God has shed on us through Christ."

The spiritual life in believers is conformed to Christ. They have the same mind which was in him. His life is manifested in them. Hence he is said to be formed in them, and they are said to grow up in all things into him.

2. God hath raised us up together with Christ.

On the certainty of his resurrection depends the credit of the gospel. "If he be not risen, our preaching is in vain, and your faith is also vain." This being the foundation of the christian faith, God, took care that it should be firmly established by the circumstances of the fact-by the testimony of angels and men-of friends and enemies-by numerous miracles -and by the fulfilment of divers predictions of the ancient prophets and of the Saviour himself. Hence the Apostle says, "He was declared to be the Son of God with power, by his resurrection from the dead.

God is said to have raised up believers with him. The past time is used for the future to express the cer. tainty of the event.

His resurrection is the proof and the pattern of theirs. It is the proof of theirs. "Now is Christ risen and become the first fruits of them that slept." The first

"He is the head

fruits are the pledge of the harvest. of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the first born from the dead." If the head is raised, the mem. bers united to it will rise also. "If we believe, that Jesus died and rose again, even so them that sleep in Jesus, will God bring with him." Christ's resurrection shews our resurrection to be possible, and it con. firms the truth of the gospel, which declares the event to be certain. "God has begotten us to a lively hope by the resurrection of Christ." On the ground of this assurance, believers are said to be raised with him.

His resurrection is the pattern of theirs. "We look for a Saviour from heaven, who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like to his glorious body." Being planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall spring up also in the likeness of his resurrection." The Apostle adds,

3. God hath made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ.

Christ's entrance into heaven, is a full proof of the final salvation of believers. He as their friend and patron is gone to prepare a place for them; to take possession of the purchased inheritance and keep it in reserve until their arrival. They are said to sit with him in heaven, because he sits there for them, to take care of their interest, and in due time will bring them to sit where he is." "Their life is hid with Christ in God, and when Christ shall appear, they will appear with him in glory." Their happiness will greatly consist in being with him. This was his prayer for his disciples; "Father, I will that they whom thou hast given me, may be with me where I am, and behold my glory." This was St. Paul's consolation in his persecutions; "If we be dead with him, we shall also live with him; if we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him." This was his joy in the prospect of death: "We are confident and willing to be absent from the body, and present with the Lord."