darkness itself. "Those who believe not their eyes are blinded, But he who once makes a dedication of himself to God, what light, glory, and splendor, unveil all the paths of duty, and point with sun beams, his way to God and felicity? "They with "open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are "changed into the same image, from glory to glory," that is, from holiness to greater degrees of holiness, "even as by the "Spirit of God." This illumination poured upon the visive eye of regeneration, has an indescribable efficacy, directing the soul to new apprehensions of God, to humiliating discoveries of sin, and to the wonders of salvation by Jesus Christ. All is astonishing in his view, and overcoming to his heart.

Rejoice, O You believe,

New discoveries of God cause him to mantle his face in dust, and cry out, "Lord I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth thee." O how does this enlightened sight, humble the heart, fill it with relentings for all its sins, and introduce floods of unutterable joy to the soal. illuminated minds, in holiness-and again rejoice. you see and know God and Jesus Christ; and this is life to your Souls, it is life eternal. This illumination is a light which will never be extinguished. It is life from the dead; even life everlasting. You behold the glory of the only begotten of the Father. This vision is your holy life; and the life of this life, is your precious Saviour. He bursts in effulgency upon your mind, he appears to your souls, "the chief among ten thousand." He charms, he captivates and overwhelms the soul; and this is the beginning of holiness. The rays of spiritual light irradiating the darkened mind; the discovery made by Archemides of the deceit in the weight of Hieroin's crown, or Herchel's new planet thrown into his glass, afforded no pleasure equal to this. Those were momentary flashes of rapture; but this is a rising, continual, encreasing and eternal light. The sun will be extinguished, and moon and stars will become dim with age, but this will flour ish in unfading glory. "Christ is made of God, wisdom, and

righteousness, and sanctification and redemption." The soul under the radiancy of this divine light, exclaims, "Who is this "that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah, "this that is glorious in his, apparel, travelling in the greatness "of his strength?" The transporting answer to the illuminated mind is, "I that speak in righteousness and mighty to save." How transcendently glorious is the whole plan of salvation to the enlightened soul, by the mediatorial offices of Jesus, and a return "to God in the way of holiness. "The people of God shall be "willing in the day of his power in all the beauties of holiness." They live and exhibit holy actions from new principles. "Where"as in time past, they walked according to the course of this "world, and according to the prince of the power of the air, the 'spirit that worketh in the children of disobedience; but now "are they washed, sanctified and justified in the name of the "Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." Under this blessed view of divine realities, the whole soul goes forth in breathings after holiness. "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, "so doeth the renewed soul for God, the living God." The brightness of this illumination at seasons fills the heart with extacy, and causes it to cry out, "Whom have I heaven but thee, "and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee?" His soul longs and faints for the courts of God, and his heart and flesh crieth out for the living God. The soul in this branch of holiness, comparitively, delights in no other object but God and the Saviour, and all his pleasure, comfort and happiness is in his duty, obedience to the divine commandments, and in attendance upon divine ordinances. "He feels it his meat and drink to de "the will of his heavenly Father." His conscience is made tender, and becomes the centinel of the soul. His language is, "herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void "of offence toward God and toward man." A watch is stationed upon the door of the lips, and a covenant is the covert and direction of his eyes, and thus he is employed in holiness. The

aan thus engaged is a new creature. "Old things are passed away, and all things are become new."

The Second thing contained in the nature of holiness, is an ho ly frame of mind. This is so much comprehended in the spirit of illumination, that my observations here will be few. With, out a godly temper, no holiness can exist. "For to be carnally

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minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." This holy frame may be considered as habitual, or in active exe ercise. Nong can be saved without the former; and there is little comfort, pleasure, or hope without the latter. Those who have not holy habits, may undoubtedly conclude they have not boly natures. This was the frame which caused Joseph to resist the temptation of his mistress, and gave him boldness to say, "How can I commit this great wickedness and sin against God?" This habitual frame is a constant caution against sin, and a prevailing excitement to the performance of duty. This influenced the Psalmist to say, "O God thou art my God, early will I seek thee, and because thy loving kindness is better than life, my Lips shall praise thee." At times this holy frame is in sweet and actual exercise. Then the soul is elevated; its views strong, and its pleasures joyful. His thoughts are exalted in the rever ence of God; he feels himself as nothing in his presence; and the transcendent excellencies of Jehovah, swallow up his whole powers; and overwhelmed in admiration, all he utters is, "my Lord and my God." It was an extacy of this frame made St. Paul declare, He knew not whether he was in the body or out of the body." This frame awakens all the tender passions of the soul, carries it beyond itself, raises to heaven, and places terrene things beneath its feet; gives life in duty, and all his purposes are marked with zeal to promote the divine glory. These elevated frames are usually transitory in the present life. It is best they should be so; perhaps their continuance would unfit us for our present station. They are rapture while they last, and joy and pleasure are in their train.

The Third thing mentioned as a necessary constituent of holness, and which exceeds all the rest, and affords evidence a

proof to the preceding, is an holy walk and conversation. The foolish and impertinent language of modern times is, when every thing external witnesses a reprobate life, where no virtue, order or morality is exhibited to view, then the carnal world applies to invisibles, and pronounces "he has a good heart." But if the life and conversation be not virtuous, holy, and good, it is a reproach upon goodness to speak of a good heart. "Be not de"ceived," saith the Apostle, "God is not mocked, for whatsoe "ver a man soweth, that shall he also reap." We can imposs upon each other, and delude one another to perdition, but Omniscience admits not of deceit or imposition. The life is the cha racter, and if this be wicked and unrighteous, all pretences and professions will fail. The heavenly decree is, "Be ye holy in "all manner of conversation." We may pretend to holy illumi nations, holy views and exercises as much as we please, and to all the invisibilities of religion, if time be allowed for an holy practice, the latter according to scripture, and reason is the only demonstration of the former. Our text is an aphorism not to be disputed or changed, "Without holiness, no man shall see the "Lord." The blessing of heaven is. settled upon the holy, and none else: "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that "they may have right unto the tree of life, and may enter in "through the gates into the city." No religious fits, however pompous, extravagant or showy, will prove a reality of holiness, without a sober, temperate and godly conversation. All real godliness will prove itself by a mind illuminated and taught in experimental and practical religion; by the sweet experiences of boly views, exercises and frames; and the whole must be testified and proved by a decent, orderly and holy conversation. These things will prove to the church, to the world, and our consciences, that we have entered into the ways of holiness. And if found in these ways, we have the premise of a faithful God;

through prosperity, and adversity, we shall be guided and direst ed to eternal glory.

More uses than can be attended to, ought to be the improvement of this subject-It embraces the whole system of religion in doctrine, faith and practice, therefore, a selection for application must be easy.

First, We are here taught that holiness is of essential consequence to happiness. Without the one, the other is inattainable. All wish for happiness, but few, very few, seek it in the way of holiness. A wicked Balaam desired "to die the death of the "righteous, and that his latter end might be as his." But it would have been of infinitely greater moment, to have been living the life of the righteous, or breathing out our souls with the spouse, "O thou whom my soul loveth, tell me where thou "makest thy flocks to feed, where thou dwellest, that there I

may be and dwell also." A voice from heaven declaring us the favorites of God, could not create felicity equal to this. The coming of an angel, as he did to Mary, "pronouncing her highly "favoured of the Lord," yet an holy nature in our souls would be ineffably preferable. Had we a discovery of God, as Moses in the clift of the rock, yet true holiness of heart would be far better. Fear the Lord, and serve him with integrity of soul. "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the last "end of that man is peace. Give unto the Lord the glory due "unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness."

Secondly, This doctrine recommends and enjoins with the highest sanctions, both of promises and threatenings, our cultivation of, and progression in holiness. The promise is, "The "path of the righteous shall shine more and more unto the perfect "day." The joints, bands, and ligaments of the new man in Christ, "having nourishment ministered and knit together, in"creaseth with the increase of God. The divine power hath แ given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness,