"new covenant, and the blood of sprinkling, that "speaketh better things than that of Abel," Heb. xii. 22 to 24. Oh! this is bliss consummate; yet we cannot tell how great it will be. But observe further, this joy is a fulness of joy. Hearken how an old Testament saint rejoiceth at this; " in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand "there are pleasures for evermore,” Psalm xvi. 11. Nor shall the wicked be there to interrupt the harmony of the scene: for "There shall in no "wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither "whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a "lie; but they which are written in the Lamb's "Book of life," Rev. xxi. 27. We know not except by faith, how much we shall really love God, who shall taste for ever of his grace, and rejoice for ever before him; for in our present state, we can conceive actually of no state which is unalloyed with flesh and blood; but when we by death are changed, so as we shall become like the angels of Heaven; then like the angels in Heaven we shall perfectly praise, and unceasingly adore, and sing eternal Hallelujah's to God and the Lamb. Nay, we have ten thousand times more cause to adore unceasingly than angels have. Angels never sinned, except those who are now in hell: who never had a call to repentance; nor ever have reason for a gleam of hope, that they shall escape that place of forment, where Christ "Hath reserved them in everlasting chains under darkness, unto the

"judgment of the great day," Jude 7. Whereas mankind, all and every one of whom have sinned and come short of the glory of God, is looked upon in the eternal counsels of the Father. A seed is chosen out of them, who shall serve him. These are looked upon in their blood, and whilst in their blood are bidden to live: for them the Son of God, becomes man in all things, except sin, and at last comes, bleeds and dies; for them he lives to intercede, and them he has pledged himself to redeem, from the curse of an offended law and from the

pains of hell for ever.

Now what will be the em

ployment of such redeemed souls for ever? Ascriptions surely of praise to God and the Lamb. To God. "Great and marvellous are thy works, "Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy "ways, thou king of saints. Who shall not fear "thee O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou "only art holy," Rev. xv. 3, 4. To the Lamb. The four beast, and the four and twenty elders, fell down before the Lamb, having every one of "them harps, and golden vials full of odours, "which are the prayers of the saints. And they "6 sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to "take the book, and to open the seals thereof: "for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to

God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and "tongue, and people, and nation," Rev. v. 8, 9. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to re"ctive power, and riches, and wisdom, and

strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing,”

ver. 12.

Lastly, this blessed Jesus ever liveth to give this happiness to, and eternally to dwell with his people." I am he that liveth, and was dead; and "behold, I am alive for evermore. Amen," Rev. i. 18. And to all Christ's people himself hath declared, "I will come again, and receive you to "myself; that where I am, there ye may be also," John xiv. 3. And "Because I live ye shall live "also," John xiv. 19.

CONCLUDING REMARKS.

THUS have I endeavoured to comment upon the words of my Lord Jesus Christ. O that it had fallen into better hands. But if he hath filled my earthen vessel, oh! that it may be emptied in praises to his name.

Christ is the Amen, the true and faithful witness; he hath sealed his testimony with his blood. Of him the world was not worthy; for when he came to his own, his own received him not. Nor could they know him till he was pleased to put his Spirit into their hearts, so that under a heartfelt conviction, they were led to cry with the once unbelieving Thomas, "My Lord and My Lord and my God." Thus he continues yet to work in the hearts of his chosen. Hath he thus won my heart? What shall

I do? Shall I slight his testimony, deny his divinity, as thousands do? Nay I cannot-necessity

is laid upon me. A pleasing necessity, a violence I love: breaking not down my will as a fettered slave, but bending my will, and by diverting it into a new channel, making it a most delightful employment to my freed soul, to love and adore him. Some will say, how know I so clearly my interest in Christ, my being in him, and he being in me? I answer, by the rules laid down in his word; Hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the'

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Spirit which he hath given us,” 1 John iii. 24. And further, we may know whether the Spirit of God resteth upon us, by feeling within us those fruits of the Spirit, which St. Paul enumerates in the 5th chapter of Galatians, as dwelling in the seed of Christ. Now these dwell not in us perfectly, by reason of the infirmities of our own flesh, but they are the earnest of perfection, when the soul shall by death be separated from a body of dishonor, to fill eternally a body of glory, fashioned like to Christ's body, by that power whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself.

Now not only is it comfortable for every Christian, to make his calling and election sure to his own comfort here below; but it is the very pride" of hell, and device of the devil, to keep God's chosen, ignorant of the same as long as he can, though let this be remembered, which has been the remark of many pious men, that the enemies of the church

are in the hands of her best friends; and of this may we feel continually convinced through the renewing operation of the Holy Spirit. "More"over (says the celebrated Martin Luther) God "hath also sent the Spirit of his Sonne into our "hearts, as Paule here sayth. But Christ is most "certaine in his Spirit that he pleaseth God, &c. "therefore we also having the same Spirit of "Christ, must be assured that we are under grace, "for his sake which is most assured. This 1 have "said, concerning the inward testimony, whereby

a Christian man's heart ought to be fully per"swaded that he is under grace, and hath the Holy "Ghost. Now the outward signes, (as before I "have said) are, gladly to heare of Christ, to preach " and teach Christ, to render thanks unto him, to "praise him, to confesse him, yea with the losse of "goods and life: moreover to do our duty accord❝ing to our vocation as we are able; to do it (L. "say) in faith, joy, &c. Not to delight in sinne, 66 nor to thrust ourselves into another man's voca❝tion, but to attend upon our own, to helpe our "needy brother, to comfort the heavy hearted, "&c. By these signes as by certaine effects and 66 consequences, we are fully assured and confirmed "that we are in God's favor. The wicked also do "imagine, that they have the same signes, but they. have nothing lesse.

"Here we may see what great infirmity is yet in the faith of the godly. For if we could be fully