ners take heed, left he alfo fpare not them.-What was addreffed to the church of Ephefus, Rev. ii. 5.-7. may be confidered as spoken to all in a fimilar fituation: Remember, therefore, from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the firft works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of bis place, except thou repent. HE THAT HATH AN EAR, LET HIM HEAR

WHAT THE SPIRIT SAITH UNTO THE CHURCHES.

After explaining the fubject, it only remains, before I proceed to the application, that I detain you a few moments, in fhewing the actual accomplishment of the promife in the text. That it was verified under the Old Teftament, we have fufficiently feen; and the outlines of its fulfilment under the New, are eafily drawn.

At the beginning of the difpenfation, on the day of Pentecoft, the name of the Lord was gloriously recorded. He came agreeably to his promife, and difpenfed his bleffing. Three thousand were converted under one fermon ; and these were only the first fruits of a great and plentiful harveft. Throughout the whole primitive gofpel-ministry, the most evident tokens of the Divine prefence, and a concurring bleffing, were uniformly exhibited. God was with his fervants, and bore them witness with divers figns and wonders, and there were added to the church daily fuch as fhould be faved.

In every fucceeding age the Great JEHOVAH has remembered his inheritance. The bleffing has been more copious at one time than another, but the promise has never totally failed. Under the perfecutions of Imperial Rome, the Lord did not withdraw from his afflicted Zion. He gave his people ftrength equal to their day. He made the blood of the martyrs to prove a feed to the church; and caufed the Gofpel finally to triumph, against all the powerful efforts of Pagan fuperftition and cruelty.

During the long and dark period of Antichriftian tyranny, when a train of fiery trials attended the faithful followers of the Redeemer, the prefence of the Lord was abundantly experienced, and the promise sweetly accomplished. His little flock, hemmed in on every fide by devouring wolves, obtained, in their pious affemblies, fuch confirmations of their faith, and fuch exalted confolations and encouragements, as rendered the church of Chrift, even while groaning under the fierceft hatred of the church of Rome, a witness for the truth expreffed in the text.

Since the happy Reformation, in different nations where his name has been recorded, the Lord has often manifested his Glory and Majefty, by astonishing difplays of his prefence and power in the fanctuary. And where the rich out-pourings of his Spirit have been suspended, he has ftill continued, by his more ordinary bleffings, to be as the dew unto Ifrael. At all times he has fulfilled his gracious promise, and made himself known in Zion, as a God of Salvation. In this teftimony, his people on every coast, and in every age, unite. This alfo we ourselves can witness this day. With us his name is recorded within thefe walls-he has formerly afforded us his prefence. Here, in this very place, as well as in our other fanctuaries, he has often come and difpenfed his bleffing.

I have fhewn you what we are to understand by the name of the Lord, and what is implied in his recording that name in any place. I have also pointed out the peculiar bleffings promised to the fanctuary, and the faithfulness of God in accomplishing his word. Suffer me pow to apply the subject. And,

Firft, We learn, " that the Son of God, from the beginning to the end of the world, gathers, defends, and preferves to himself, by his Spirit and word, out of the whole human race, A CHURCH, chofen to everlasting life, and agreeing in true faith." This church is but one, confidered in its relation to the exalted Redeemer, the Head and King of Zion. It confifts of many members. Millions are already in heaven, and conftitute that part which may be called the church-triumphant. Millions are now on earth, who compofe the church militant. And millions more will yet be gathered, even as many as the Lord our God fhall call.

Interesting obfervations might be deduced from this fubject, respecting the love of God towards his people— the fafety of Zion-the communion of faints, and the difcipline and government of the church. It might be proper, alfo, to attend to the marks of a true church-the diftinguishing characteristic of a member, and the peculiar obligation upon all who enjoy the privileges of the fanctuary, to preserve them pure, and to be found faithful.— But it is impoffible at present to enter upon these. I can only remind you, that you have seen it is not a mere form of words, or any ceremonies in the vifible church, that can dedicate a temple to God, or render any building a confecrated fanctuary. Nothing less than recording the name of the Lord, by found evangelical doctrine, and worshipping in fpirit and in truth, can infure the blefling.

Secondly, We learn, that there is forgiveness with our God, that he may be feared; and thus a foundation laid for TRUE AND SPIRITUAL WORSHIP. The great object of religious adoration is clearly revealed, and a glorious way

opened

*Heidelb, Catech. fect. xxi.

opened for our return to him. All the angels in heaven worship God, and they cease not day nor night in ascribing the homage, praise and thanksgiving, which are due to his holy name. Should we not, then, esteem it an unspeakable bleffing and honour to be permitted to join in fuch exalted service? Ought we not to rejoice in libertyof access to the Father of our spirits, who, in fovereign mercy, has made himself known as the God of Salvation? It is in this faith, and with views and exercises founded upon these principles, that we adored the great JEHOVAH in thofe prayers, with which Divine fervice was just now opened in this houfe; and with this worship, in spirit and in truth, HIS NAME IS NOW RECORDED in this place.

Thirdly, We fee, that the doctrines of the Gofpel, like their Divine Author, are the fame yesterday, to-day, and for ever. Larger measures of knowledge, and of the Spirit, may have been granted under one difpenfation than another, but the nature and properties of faving faith are ever the fame. The great Redeemer has always been precious to his people; and, in their Emmanuel, all the faints have ever found both righteousness and ftrength. Know then, my brethren, the God of your Salvation; and remember, that the PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST is the fole meritorious caufe of the juftification of a finner, and the bafis on which every bleffing in the SANCTUARY, as well as all your hopes for eternal life, are founded.This righteoufnefs the Son of God has wrought out, by his active and paffive obedience, for all his people: This they receive by faith; and this the Father imputes to them, as he imputed to Chrift their fins. He who knew no fin, fays the Apostle, 2 Cor. v. 21. was made fin for us, that we might be made the righteoufnefs of God in him. But how was Chrift made fin for us? Not furely by par

taking

taking in our depravity, nor having any fin inherent in himself; but, by having our fins imputed to him, that he, as a fin-offering and facrifice, might atone for them. In like manner we are made righteous in him, not by any inherent righteousness in ourselves, but by having his righteousness imputed to us. The name by which he was known, under the Old Testament difpenfation as well as the new, is the Lord OUR righteousness. Jer. xxiii. 6. But in what way can the righteousness of Christ become oURS? It must be fo inherently or imputatively.— There is no other alternative. But, is it inherently ours? Certainly no, for it is exprefsly opposed to all inherent righteousness in us, Phil. iii. 6. Nor can that be inherent in us, which was performed by Christ. It is, therefore, OURS by imputation. Wherefore God is faid to IMPUTE righteousness without works. This is that righteousness of God which is manifefted without the law, being witnessed by the law and the prophets. This is the righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jefus Chrift, unto all, and upon all them that believe. By faith we are justified, in as much as we receive the offered falvation by the hand of faith. Through faith we are faved, as there is no other way of appropriating to ourselves the righteousness of the Surety, than by believing in him. But it is not for faith, nor any other work performed by us, or even graces wrought within us, that we obtain pardon for fin, and a right to eternal life. In the Redeemer alone God is well pleased, and for his fake alone is become the God and Father of all who are united to his Son. Faith is his gift, and every grace is bestowed by him.-This infures his glory in our juftification, and is the only productive principle of fanctification in heart and life ;-of that inherent holiness which conftitutes moral rectitude, and without which no man can fee God. Thefe are the doctrines we profess

and