tions of the Divine Excellence, arising from the phenomena of nature, and the stupendous miracles of Divine love, ask, "Who will show us any good?"— he, animated with a supreme desire of enjoying the smiles of his heavenly Father, unites with the inspired poet, in saying, "Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon me!" But it is not only in seasons of enjoyment, that the child of God evinces this devout temper; it accompanies him through all the changes and distresses of life. Let the wildest storms beat upon him, the principle of grace is unshaken; the filial disposition, invigorated by Divine power, still glows in his heart, and enables him to recognise, even in his sorrows, the discipline of an affectionate Parent. Let him be plunged into the wretchedness of which Job complained; let afflictions appear to have exhausted its vials on his head; let him even mourn the departure of his spiritual joys; still he will adhere to his heavenly Father, and hope for that support which will render him finally triumphant. Far from imitating the wicked, who despise the chastening of the Lord, he can appropriate the language of the afflicted patriarch;-"O that I knew where I might find him; that I might come even to his seat! I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments :"—"Will he

plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me." Supported by Divine power, through what dangers may not the believer pass? Relying on the conduct of his heavenly Father, he resembles the child, who, traversing a pathless and rugged waste, under a midnight sky, clings to the side of a beloved parent, and feels a delightful security beneath his protection. "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty."

6. If God is our Father, we have reason to expect that he will acknowledge us at the last day.

God, as the righteous Judge, will then summon before his tribunal the whole world of intelligent creatures; but he will maintain the character of a Father to them that love him. The relation which he bears to them shall never be dissolved. Originated in matchless condescension and love; acknowledged by the kindest manifestations, by the tenderest sympathies, by innumerable deliverances; and rendered progressively endearing by frequent intercourse, by holy fellowship, and by expressions of mutual regard; this exalted relation shall survive the dissolution of the most interesting connexions, and the dissolution of all human

society. Whatever, in the whole circle of creation,-whatever worlds and systems the Almighty may throw from his protection; the sentence which dooms them to annihilation will not affect the security of his children. Whomsoever he may disown at that day, among the sons of fame, of wealth, and of splendour, he will not disown his children. Them only, of all things which exist in the visible world, will he deem worthy of preserving as his peculiar property. Having bought them with a price which it is impossible for man to calculate, and having bound them to himself by the dearest and firmest engagements, he will never relinquish his claim; but, after gathering them from the four winds of heaven, he will, in the hearing of all his subjects, acknowledge them, with Divine complacency, to be "his sons and daughters,"""heirs of God, and joint-heirs

with Jesus Christ."

What a day of triumph will that be, when, as the representative and elder brother of this august and numerous family of kings and priests, he shall introduce them to the seats of the blessed, "not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing," when, in those characters, he shall approach the eternal throne, and say with exultation, "Lo! I, and the children whom thou hast given me;"-when he shall

see the travail of his soul, the fruits of his agonies, and be satisfied; when, amidst wondering angels, and the harps and songs of heaven, the efficacy of his mediation shall be amply recognised, and the relation of his people to the Deity declared permanent and indissoluble !

Such are the encouraging views, my christian friends, which we are permitted to form of the Supreme Being; and such are the supports, enjoyments, and anticipations, with which we are indulged by his paternal condescension. It now remains for me,

II. To present you with some additional motives to affiance in our heavenly Father, arising from the glory of his perfections. He is our "Father in heaven."

This expression, indeed, might be urged as an argument for humility and reverence; that, while we are cheered in our devotions with the thought of approaching the throne of a Father, we may, by considerations derived from the grandeur of his nature, and the magnificence of his abode, guard against that presumption and that frivolity which would render our prayers unacceptable and offensive. But, con

ceiving that our Lord intended to impress his disciples with sentiments of endearment and hope, rather than with those of awe and terror, I shall confine myself principally to that view of the term which will best accord with the preceding observations.

As it is impossible for us, in the present limited state of our faculties, to form any accurate conceptions of the Deity, considered as an infinite Spirit, such modes of expression are employed in the Sacred Volume, as are conformable to the weakness of our perception. At the same time, they contain nothing derogatory to the Creator; but, on the contrary, all that is calculated to elevate and expand our minds, and to fix within us correct ideas of his sublimity and grandeur. What can be more conducive to this end than the following passages:-"O Lord, my God, thou art clothed with honour and majesty; who coverest thyself with light as with a garment, who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain; who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind. He sitteth on the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants of the earth are as grasshoppers: that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in! Will