he hears that voice which proclaims, "I am the "resurrection and the life. He that believeth in "me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: " and whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall 26 never die."

My brethren, what shall disturb the serenity of a bosom into which God himself pours the confidence of his presence, and the consolations of his favour! Shall it be the pains of departing and dissolving nature? The Lord maketh all his bed in his sickness, and underneath him are the everlasting arms. Shall it be the pang of separation from pious objects of affection? He knows it is but for a little time, and that very soon eternity will consecrate for ever the re-union of these sundered ties. Shall it be anxiety for the welfare of those who are left, while they remain behind in this wilderness of sorrow? Ah! when the hour of death arrives, the little troubles and ills, which have reference only to this fleeting life, dwindle into insignificance; nor can the spirit which feels the beneficence of its heavenly Father in nature's deepest extremity, doubt, even for a moment, that he will direct, or overrule, for their everlasting good, all his providential dealings to the survivors who are committed to his protection. "A Father of the fatherless, and a Judge of the "widows, is God in his holy habitation." And he consoles the solicitude of the dying hour by the soothing injunction, "Leave thy fatherless chil

"dren, I will preserve them alive; and let thy "widows trust in me."

Such are the support and consolations provided for the believer in Jesus Christ. Such the privileges of a Christian faith. And who is there that has marked the perfect man, and beheld the upright; who that has seen him

"Sustained and sooth'd

"By an unfaltering trust, approach his grave
"Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch
"About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams;"

Who that has thus been assured that the end of the good man is peace, has not been touched with the sublimity of that hope, as well as with the fulness of that trust, which could divest the soul of all apprehension under circumstances so full of terror?

My brethren, that awful hour, these circumstances of terror, await every individual of us. And what is our hope? Are we living the life of the righteous? Has our path been as the shining light which shineth more and more unto the perfect day? Do we continually, by prayer, seek for grace from on high to direct and support us in our Christian course, humbly trusting only in the atonement and righteousness of Jesus Christ for pardon and salvation? Is the love of Christ a controlling principle of our actions and desires? Do we bear his image? So bear it in our life and conversation, that all men may perceive that we

are actuated by a strong sense of religious obligation; and may take knowledge of us that we are his disciples? Have we obtained that precious faith which is through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ? And have we given all diligence to add to our faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, and patience, and godliness? And do we crown all these graces of the Spirit by the exercise of brotherly kindness and charity? If this be our case, then do we make manifest that our religion is pure and undefiled; then may we rejoice, for we have made our calling and election sure; and when our mortal hour shall arrive, an entrance shall be ministered unto us abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Brethren, this happiness may be the portion of us all. We may all die the death of the righteous, and our last end be like his; not, however, by wasting our lives in empty wishes, nor by deferring to the hour of need the preparation which should support it; but by now acquainting ourselves with God, by now taking up our cross, and daily following our Saviour; continually seeking the favour of God, supplicating grace to repent, obey, and believe, and to work out our salvation with fear and trembling; being assured that God will work in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Let us ask of him, in this our day of

grace, that he will make us wise unto salvation; that by his Holy Spirit he will excite in our minds good desires, and by his continual help enable us all to bring them to good effect; that so being acknowledged and accepted of him, we may pass through the valley of the shadow of death, and fear no evil; and at the last be admitted to a joyful resurrection through Jesus Christ our Lord.

SERMON X.

The Christian complete in Christ.

COLOSSIANS ii. 10.

And ye are complete in him.

IN the present discourse, I propose to bring to your view, my brethren, three several particulars, which it is of the greatest importance to every Christian who would know the grounds of his salvation, to understand and believe. The first relates to the divine character and perfection of our Mediator and Redeemer; the second to the offices and relations which he sustains towards his people; the third to the entire safety of all who put their trust in him.

In respect of the first of these particulars, namely, the divine character and perfection of Jesus Christ, the declarations of Scripture are explicit and abundant. The most lofty attributes and the names under which such as can only belong to

are ascribed to him; he is spoken of are VOL. II.

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