not to pray for them, that God would give them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, in the knowledge of Christ; the eyes of their understandings being opened, that they might know, or experience, what was the exceeding greatness of the power of God towards them that believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Eph. i. 16, &c. In this passage the Apostle has respect to the power of God in converting and renewing the soul. He also exhorts the same persons to put off the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and to be renewed, in the spirit of their minds; and to put on the new man, who after God is created in righteousness and true holiness, Eph. iv. 22-24.

There is a kind of high affection which some persons experience, which afterwards leaves them without the appearance of any abiding effect. The impression passes away, so that a degree of rapture is soon exchanged for spiritual languor and inactivity. It is not thus with high gracious affections; they leave a sweet savour and relish of divine things, and a stronger bent of soul towards God and holiness. The face of Moses not only shone while he was on the Mount, conversing with God, but it continued to shine after he had come down. When men have been conversing with Christ, the evidence of this intercourse remains on them; there is something remarkable in their dispositions and frame of mind, which shows that they have been with Jesus, Acts iv. 13.

VIII. Gracious affections are attended by the same spirit and temper which were manifested by Jesus Christ.

If we judge of the nature of Christianity, by the word of God, this spirit and temper must be regarded as forming the true, and distinguishing disposition of all real Christians; it is the spirit by which they are so governed that they take from it their proper character, and denomination. This is evident from the description which Christ gives of the temper of those who are truly blessed: "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of God," Matt. v. 5, 7, 9. This is the spirit by which the elect are distinguished: "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another," Col. iii. 12, 13. The Apostle, speaking of that temper or disposition, without which none are true Christians, describes it thus; "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not: charity vaunteth not itself, is not" easily "puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil," 1 Cor. xiii. 4, 5. Describing the characteristic marks of true Christian grace, the same Apostle chiefly insists upon what belongs to such a spirit and temper as those of which I am speaking: "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance," Gal. v. 22, 23. The Apostle James, speaking of that wisdom which is from above, says, "If ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife" "there is confusion, and every evil work.

But the wisdom" which "is from above, is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits," James iii. 14-17.

Every thing that belongs to holiness of heart, belongs also to the nature of true religion; but the spirit of holiness, as appearing in some particular graces, may more especially be called the Christian spirit or temper. There are some virtues which, in a peculiar manner, agree with the nature and design of the gospel constitution; and which were more particularly exercised by Jesus Christ in the work of redemption. These virtues are humility, 'meekness, love, forgiveness and mercy they therefore belong, in a very special manner, to the Christian character.

These virtues are represented as forming the character of Christ himself, the great Head of the Christian Church; "Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold thy King cometh unto thee, meek and sitting upon an ass, and a colt, the foal of an ass,' Matt. xxi. 5. "Learn of me," said the Redeemer himself, for I am meek and lowly in heart." This temper is also evidently implied in the name by which Christ is so often called in scripture— THE LAMB. And as these virtues are especially characteristic of Christ, so they are also characteristic of Christians. Christians are Christ-like. None deserve to bear the name, who do not exhibit the likeness of Christ: the new man is renewed, after the image of him that creates him, Col. iii. 10. The elect were predestinated to be conformed to the image of the Son of God, that he might be the first-born among many brethren, Rom. viii. 29. Christ is full of grace, and all Christians receive of his fullness, grace for grace: there is grace in Christians answering to grace in Christ,

such a correspondence as there is between the wax and the seal, the same kind of graces, and such a spirit and temper. Christians who shine by reflecting the light of the Sun of Righteousness, shine with the same kind of brightness, the same mild, benignant beams. Those lamps of the spiritual temple, which are kindled by fire from heaven, burn with the same kind of flame. It would be strange if Christians were not of the same temper and spirit as Christ, when they live so that it is not they that live, but Christ that liveth in them. A Christian spirit is the mark which Christ sets upon the souls of his people; his seal in their foreheads, bearing his image and superscription. Christians are followers, or imitators of Christ, and they are so in proportion as they learn of him, who is meek and lowly of heart. True Christians are distinguished by the meek and loving temper of Christ; for as many as are in Christ, have put on Christ. Rom. xiii. 14. The church is not only clothed with his righteousness, but also adorned with his graces.

That the virtue here spoken of, is of the very nature of the Christian spirit, is evident from this -the dove is the symbol chosen of God to represent it. The Spirit that descended on Christ, when he was anointed of the Father, descended on him "like a dove." Now the dove is an emblem of meekness, innocence, peace and love. But the same Spirit that descended on Christ, the Head of the church, descends also on the members: "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." Rom. viii. 6.

Meekness is so much the character of the saints, that the words meek and godly, are used in scripture as synonimous terms. The wicked and the meek are set in opposition to each other. "Yet

a little while and the wicked shall not be ;-but the meek shall inherit the earth," Psa. xxxvii. 11. "The Lord lifteth up the meek; he casteth the wicked down to the ground." Psa. cxlvii. 6.

It is without doubt principally on this account,' that Christ represents the heirs of heaven as little children: "Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven," Matt. xix. 14. Little children are meek, and though irritated, their anger is of short continuance. They do not cherish resentment, or entertain deep-rooted malice. They are ingenuous and sincere; strangers to all disguise. They are pliant, diffident of their own understanding, relying on the instructions of their parents and teachers. They present therefore a fit emblem of the followers of the Lamb.

But here some may be ready to inquire, Is there then no such thing as Christian intrepidity or fortitude? To this I reply, there doubtless is. 'The whole of a Christian's life is very properly compared to a warfare. The most eminent Christians are the best soldiers, endued with the greatest degree of Christian courage. Many persons appear to be mistaken as to the nature of Christian courage. It is very different from brutal fierceness. It consists in strength of mind exerted through grace:

First, in ruling and subduing our evil passions; and

Secondly, in steadfastly exercising holy dispositions, without regarding opposition. But the passions which are restrained in the exercise of Christian courage are those very passions which are vigorously exerted in unsanctified boldness and those affections which are vigorously exerted in holy intrepidity, are in direct opposition to the