munion has no fence, nor her most sacred rites any security from the unhallowed and profane.

3. How negligent are many Christians in seeking to cultivate this sacred fellowship. Are there any indifferent to this in a public way? Let me ask you, "Does it appear of no importance to acknowledge Christ's authority in public? Or if in some instances, why not in all? Are you not bound to unite as part of a flock under a pastor, to be fed with knowledge and understanding? Do you think the primitive Christians who were stedfast in the apostles' doctrine, in fellowship, in breaking bread, and in prayers, are unworthy of your imitation? Do you think it of no consequence to countenance a punctual regard to the ordinances, and the universal regard to them? For, remember, if one may be neglected so may another, and the remissness of one person may prove a bad example to another, to all; if all were to act as some, ordinances would be lost, opportunities pass unnoticed, and societies be broken up. Can you be under too many, or too powerful obligations to a circumspect and holy walk? or do you fear it will clash with any selfish plan you have formed? When men look only upon "their own things, and not upon the things of others also;" when they inquire how can I prevent generously contributing, and yet the cause be carried on? or how can I neglect such a duty because it does not suit my humour? it is a very bad sign; it makes every thing done a burden, and tends as the bane of an interest to its total overthrow.

There is, however, something worse than this negligence. What can that be? Why, it is an attempt to produce discord and separation among the people of God. How contrary to the spirit of the gospel, Phil. ii. 1,2; Eph. iv. 3. 4. To divide between Christians is an attempt devilish in its nature and source.

4. What a wide contrast between the fellowship of the saints and the communion of sinners. The confederacies of sinners are very numerous,

66

they join hand in hand," and "assemble themselves together," they are united in one head; but he is the leader of angelic and human apostates; they visit the same temple of dissipation, and of mammon; they have communion in the same works of darkness, and, how shall I declare it? I must-it may awaken you sinners in Zionthey will have fellowship with each other in the end of their course; the misery of the damned; your fellowship in present pleasures will end; your fellowship in ruin will be inevitable and eternal. May Heaven prevent it! may you be brought from having "fellowship with the works and workers of darkness," to "have fellowship with us ;" and, whatever some say, or you may think, truly our fellowship is with the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, with angels and saints.

5. How truly desirable and glorious will be the perfection of gospel fellowship. If it be here so pleasant and improving, "so good and pleasant for brethren to dwell together in unity," what

must it be in heaven? There will be nothing to detract from the fulness of its excellency, nothing to interrupt its perpetual flow, nothing to lessen our apprehension of its value, or make us indifferent to the enjoyment. Around the throne of God and the Lamb shall be assembled Adam and Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, David and the Prophets, the holy apostles, and evangelists, the noble army of martyrs, and the confessors of our God; there shall be an innumerable multitude redeemed from all kindreds, tribes, nations, and people; all in the uniform of heaven; and of one heart, engaged in the same blissful employment. Alleluia to God and the Lamb shall be their unceasing shout; heaven's high arches shall ring with the triumphs of its inhabitants; the music of angels shall aid their rapture; and God himself shall bless them with his eternal smile.

O thou gracious God, who didst send thy Son to seek and save sinners, and to bring thy children nigh unto thyself, here and hereafter, bless me, even me, and my dear reader of these pages, that we may have the felicity of thy redeemed, and at length join our feeble strains to the shouts of that innumerable multitude.

SERMON XX.

For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen.— 2 COR. I. 20.

person,

THERE may be in this passage an immediate reference to the promises of God in the Old Testament, which had a glorious reference to the coming, work, and kingdom of Jesus the Christ. He was promised as "the seed of the woman to bruise the serpent's head;" as the "seed of Abraham in whom all nations were to be blessed;" as the "star out of Jacob, and the sceptre out of Israel;" as the "branch from the root of Jesse;" as the "child born, the son given, the glory of his people, and the light of the Gentile world." These and such like promises centre in him, and in him appear verily fulfilled, really and abundantly confirmed unto the glory of God by us Christians. But the text need not be so limited; for it hath pleased the Father, "that all fulness should dwell in Christ, and therefore the fulness of blessings contained in the promises, are in him "yea," freely and without uncertainty; and in him, are " Amen." They are confirmed and ratified.

I propose to set before you,

I. The nature and excellences of the divine

promises.

II. To whom they belong, and how they are to be used.

I. The nature and excellences of the divine promises.

A promise is the declaration of some benefit to be conferred, or the assurance of some good to be bestowed. It is however to be noticed, that in some cases the good is rather negative, that is, rather the delivering or preserving from evil, than of any positive good to be bestowed, but this is certainly considerable.

A promise having good to be bestowed is distinguished from narration, doctrine, or information, which simply refer to the truth of any fact, and is opposed to threatening, as that which denounces an evil or punishment.

The promises of God may be distinguished into absolute or conditional, spiritual or temporal. Many of the promises are absolute; the fulfilment depends not in any respect upon man, any more than the descent of rain or the copious showers of the dew. Of this nature are such as, Isa. ix. 6, "A virgin shall conceive and bring forth a son,” &c. Psa. cx. 3, "Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power." "I will work, and who shall let it?" "He shall be great, and in him shall all nations be blessed." "He must increase, and of his kingdom there shall be no end." "I will give unto my sheep eternal life and none shall pluck