xxxi. 18. where Ephraim says, "Thou art the "Lord my God." "Lastly (says Witsins) by the

use of this sacrament they were put in mind of "the duties of a becoming gratitude." So most. probably was Ephraim, by the language held out. Witsius's Econ. Foed. Vol. II. chap. viii. pages 252 to 254. Now all this I trust confirms the supposition, that conversion as a work of the Spirit precedes sorrow or repentance for sin.

3d. This sorrow pre-supposes some degree of faith.

All Christian graces grow at the foot of Christ's
The Spirit of God gives life to

cross.
the blood of Christ must water it too.

the soul, but
And it
And it may

be observed, the energy of the Spirit follows the races of the sprinkling of blood. As the destroyng angel abstained from visiting with death, those souls whose houses were sprinkled with blood, so the Spirit comes to give life to those souls to whom Christ deigns to apply the merits of his blood. Now this idea seems to plead strongly within me For the doctrine, that Christ shed his blood only for the elect: for without now contending that if Christ died for all, none can even in justice experience the pains of hell in their own persons for ever; I think this is evident, that if Christ died for all, all do merit through him, the renewing influence of the Spirit; and where this is withheld, Christ would be the minister of sin, or the Holy Spirit worthy of blame. But this is blasphemy both against Christ

and the Holy Spirit. But in the covenant, God eternally chooses his objects in Christ Jesus, without any condition, pre-requisite or merit on their parts, and notwithstanding the hatefulness of their transgressions, Christ pledges himself to die for these; and in due time, did die for these, and for these only. And to these only, he promised his Spirit to follow his blood, to the renewal of the hearts of God's chosen. Now the time of the spiritual birth of the elect, being resolved upon by God in the eternal decrees of Heaven; down cometh the Spirit at the time appointed, to open the eyes of such and shew them the supreme efficacy of the cross, to instruct them, that that bleed. ing spectacle, there hanging between Heaven and earth, shed his blood for them. Now this is seen by throwing light into the understanding; it is com prehended and received by faith being instilled into the mind, through the operations of God the Spirit.

Now here sorrow gushes from every pore of the heart: faith asks was this for me? The heart replies, Here let me weep, for me my Lord has died. Now I would put this question to all the opposers of particular redemption: Why do you love Christ? Because he died for all mankind. But why need you love him for that, seeing he seemeth to have done no more for you than he has for others? Because I hope to be saved by his death. Now this is at best but a very general love to Christ. I con

fess I love him because I feel he hath died for me: for me whilst thousands die around me, for whom he never deigned to shed his blood. Is this a cause for-gratitude? Doubtless it is-for unceasing gratitude and highest praise, to feel myself a most miserable and most sinful wretch included in the arms of sovereign grace and undeserved mercy, whilst many who have made a fairer shew in the flesh, are left to perish, unregarded by him: oh, I must feel this in a particular way: here I melt in sorrow, to think my sins crucified my Lord; here I rise in rapture; that though through my sins he was given up to be crucified through the determinate counsel of God, yet his very blood. doth cleanse those sins away. Some will say, this is presumption, and ask me who made me so wise in regard to such particular interest in Christ Jesus; but I answer, " Hereby we know that he abideth "in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us," I John iii. 24. for "If any man have not the Spirit "of Christ he is none of his," Rom. viii. 9.

Now in regard to the nature of a Christian's gorrow': it is like his joy--a something which the world meddleth not with. The world exalteth itself, and careth not that the Lord of life and glory suffered a bleeding sacrifice on account of transgression. But a Christian, a true disciple of Christ, cries with holy Job, “ I abhor myself, and repent "in dust and ashes Job xlii. 6. He bleeds at the sight of a bleeding, Lord. He mourns at the

thoughts of what Christ suffered for him and such hell-deserving sinners, from the cradle to the

cross.

Further, this sorrow is not a trifling or momentary thing. Regeneration begins it: death only ends it. Daily sins require a daily sorrow. A body of sin and death, is a daily cross. Imperfection in Christian graces, short comings in duty, relapses to sin, which would be fatal, but for the renewals, revivals, and revisitations of the Holy Spirit, these give a Christian continual sorrow, from which he is only relieved by frequent approaches to that cross, where Christ agonized and bled for his sins, and bore both the sins and sorrows of all his chosen. Now whilst a Christian sorrows thus, even Christ declares the world shall rejoice.

And

so it is, as facts prove every day. But it has its reward; it has it now; and eternity itself will rather take away what it now has, than give it more. But how will this end? Will things remain so for ever? If we Christians be thus now, and had no better hope beyond the grave, we should be of all men most miserable. But blessed be God we have. Christ hath given us it, in his own words: "Your sorrow shall be turned into joy." Now joy in some measure is a Christian's lot here below. But joy in perfection, consummation and eternity, is reserved for the immediate presence and full fruition of God. Everlasting joy is in contrast with all the temptations, trials, losses, crosses of this mor

tal state. Christ in his man-nature partook of all the sorrows of mankind; yea, he drunk the cup to the very dregs. And if this is the case, shall we refuse to taste of the same; nay rather, we should stay by our Lord, through good report and evil report, esteeming it an honor to partake of his sorrow, that so we may partake of eternal joy. And let it be recollected also, that however intense a Christian's sufferings may be, they bear no comparison to the sufferings of our Lord. Who of us could bear to be blindfolded and buffetted like our Lord? who of us could bear to be tortured with a piercing crown of thorns, like our Lord? Who of us could have sustained that dreadful agony and bloody sweat in the garden; which was so intense, that even Christ in his human nature, needed the support of an angel from his heavenly Father? The apostle Paul calling us to "Consider him that en "dured such contradiction of sinners against him

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self,” adds, " Ye have not resisted unto blood, "striving against sin," Heb. xii. 3, 4. But Christ surely resisted unto blood, the devil and all his works, striving against sin, and conquering it for all his chosen. Now through the riches of his grace, our sorrow, who truly believe upon him, shall end in eternal joy. "Our light affliction, (says "St. Paul), which is but for a moment, worketh "for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight "of glory," 2 Cor. iv. 17. And this our affliction worketh not our salvation meritoriously; (for