soul inquire of them of the certainty of their doctrine, they can answer, "We are witnesses of these things;" we have been lost, but are now found, we have been dead, but are alive again, and shall live, because Jesus is our life for evermore.

The Israelites had been dejected, and thought, "as for us, we are cut off, and God has cast us away, we have no hope," therefore was Ezekiel shewn this vision, and ordered to say to that poor disconsolate house of Israel, that though there was no more likelihood of their deliverance than of their resurrection of dry bones, yet would God surely visit them, and bring them up out of their graves, that is, the low estate in which they were like men dead and buried, "then will I put my Spirit in you, and you shall live, saith the Lord God!”

In this way a poor troubled sinner may think to himself, I am dead and like one gone down to the pit; my hope lessens, and my heart and soul is dead and heavy to the last degree; I am afraid I am gone too far to be saved, and that, for my part, I am cut off as a dry branch and withered, and fit for nothing but to be cast into the fire. Such thoughts often occur, where a person gets awakened and is much alone, or who has not understood, though they were. dead, who believe in Jesus, yet they shall live. Here the gospel is of the utmost weight and importance, it is of real service, and sets before the soul ready to perish a crucified Saviour, a dying and bleeding Lamb, the sight of which revives the heart, and begins a new and everlasting life. The feet of them who bring the glad tidings are beautiful to such, for of them they hear that "the dry bones can live." In this respect, therefore, we must admire the wisdom of our dear Saviour, in sending men with the gospel rather than angels; for though many may think, If I could have an angel appear

to

to me and tell me of salvation, it would at once satisfy me; yet in great measure such, who have so thought, had their wishes been granted, would be mistaken; for should an angel or blessed spirit announce the death and merits of our Saviour, and declare his love and mercy, it is easy for a soul convinced of sin to think, Alas! thou art an angel, and one who kept his first estate, thou hast never sinned, nor been disobedient, nor felt a heart cold and dead like mine, to thee therefore it may be right and just to believe so well of the Redeemer, but I am a sinner, a poor, lost, helpless, and dead sinner, and have no right to venture to the Saviour like thee. In this case, I say, a minister of Christ can be of more use than a vision of angels, for he is a witness of the grace and pardon of God our Saviour; he was once in the same deep mire and clay, and convinced of his sad condition by nature, but found mercy and everlasting life in the wounds of Jesus Christ: but there is a greater witness than men or angels, and that is the Holy Spirit, who is the "Lord and Giver of life, and who beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God." He will not commit this most important and weightiest work to any minister, however trusty or faithful, nor to any of the most dear angels, but is himself the ascertainer and witness of our adoption and sonship, that we need not be left to reason and question of the truth of an angelical vision, or be at the uncertainty of the message of a man, or be exposed to doubt and fear in their absence, supposing we could be well persuaded of their veracity and faithfulness; but we have the Spirit of truth with us, who cannot lie, and whose conviction in the heart is more solid and sure than if all heaven was opened, and every angel assured us of our part in Christ; yea, more solid and certain than if all the prophets, apostles, mar

VOL. II.

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tyrs,

tyrs, and witnesses of every age stood before us, and preached to us how we were beloved of God, and confessed by our Saviour, in presence of all his holy angels. This witness remains, when visions cease, when we do not dream blessed dreams any more, when preaching is over, and time is no longer. "He will abide with us for ever. He will never leave or forsake us," and in our last moments, when our strength fails, and our friends and nearest relations can comfort us no more, then he will continue "the faithful and true witness," in whom, till then, we live in peace here, and shall live to all eternity, through the death of Jesus, who is "the resurrection and the life." To whom be glory and thanksgiving for evermore. Amen.

DISCOURSE

DISCOURSE XXXV.

THE SAFETY OF A TRUE CHRISTIAN.

Ezzx. ix. 6.

Come not near any man upon whom is the mark.

THESE words are part of the charge which God

gave to the destroying angels whom the prophet, in a vision, saw standing in the Lord's presence, each with his destroying weapon in his hand; and who were waiting at his word to slay without mercy all but such as were distinguished by a hidden or secret character, called, in the text, "the mark.” Ezekiel relates the manner of the sealing some to be saved, and the order to slay utterly all the rest, with án uncommon and striking solemnity. "He sings of mercy and judgment, of the goodness and severity of God," before the whole rebellious house of Israel: nor was the vision intended for their sakes only to whom at that time the oracles of God were sent, but the whole, like most of the other inspired writings, concerns the race of mankind in general, and particularly those who are called by the Lord's name.

It was undoubtedly sent to warn men of an approaching day, wherein all who have satisfied themselves without "the power of godliness, the one thing needful," should weep and wail bitterly, and be cut off and destroyed from among the people of

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God;

God; and to inspire all who are any ways disposed to be saved to make their election sure, and to get their interest and part secured in the book of life, as well as to shew forth their safe and happy condition" who are sealed to the day of redemption," and who have obtained of "God our Saviour the witness of the Spirit, that they are the children of God."

The blessings as well as curses made to the Israelites under the law have been observed chiefly to relate to things temporal, but then they were shadows of eternal things, and of which now the gospel treats plainly and without a veil. Hence we may innocently conclude, that how far soever this vision might relate to the overthrow and rejection of the Jews, on account of their unbelief, idolatry, and perverse behaviour, yet it certainly had respect to a time of greater desolation than that of cutting off the Israelites, or dispersing and scattering them among the nations: for St. John, in his book of Revelations, mentions of the things which shall come to pass in the last day, in much the same manner as in this part of Ezekiel's prophecy.

He saw that some angels, who had power to hurt the earth and the sea, &c. were charged not to do it "till the servants of God were sealed in their foreheads," and then to hurt and torment such who had not received that seal. Thus Ezekiel says, "There stood a man by the brazen altar, clothed in white linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side," who was appointed to set a mark on all that were mourners in Israel, and who sighed because of the abominations of Jerusalem; and when he had done this, then the other angels, who had destroying weapons in their hands, were commanded "to go out after him and spare not, neither shew pity, but kill utterly old and young, women, maids, and little

children,