and to good works, and so much the more as they saw the day approaching; we can imagine them saying, "Come unto me, all ye that fear God, and I will tell you what he has done for my soul:" methinks I hear them together reviewing the divine dealings towards them, till their hearts burn within them, while they talk to one another by the ' way. They were to one another what Jonathan was to David, when he strengthened his hands in God, thus proving that two are better than one. And do we not know that "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise, whilst a companion of fools shall be destroyed."

How truly deserving of imitation was the conduct of Anna the prophetess, who came into the temple when Simeon was blessing Jesus, "and spake of him, to all them that looked for redemption in Israel." We see also fine instances of the same communicative disposition in the disciples who conversed together about Christ, and brought one another to him. So let us then comfort ourselves together, and edify one another, and exhort one another daily, "looking diligently, lest any one of us fail of the grace of God."

We know that men, like Simeon and Levi, are brethren in iniquity; but, "O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly mine honour be thou not united." They invite one another for the worst of purposes, why should not we for the best?" They say, "Come with us, we shall fill our houses with spoil, cast in thy lot with us,

let us have one purse:" but let us turn our eyes from them to the select society of christians, and "behold how good and how pleasant a thing it is for brethren to dwell together in unity of love." They are all loved with the same everlasting love, all united to the same precious Jesus, all travelling to the same glorious heaven: surely then, those communications ought to be, must be sweet. Learn to bear one another's burdens, to pity one another's faults, to pray for one another's best interests; so shall you copy the example of the best of men, and evidence that there is no bond in heaven or in earth, so uniting as the love of Christ, which begets, preserves, and powerfully constrains to love.

While infidelity prevailed over many in those days, yet the grace of God influenced some: the Spirit of Christ dwelt in them, the presence of Christ was enjoyed by them, even that presence which turns mourning to joy, and death to life; which cherishes our weak faith, and illuminates our dark understandings; which adds new life to fainting hearts, and would make a heaven of hell. It is our mercy, that whenever two or three are gathered together in his name, there his presence is, to chill our corruptions, and bring heaven into our souls.

Having considered the excellences of good men, which are here celebrated, let us now notice

II. The approbation which God here testifies of them.

And, taking up the ideas of our text, we observe, that this approbation appears, in his paying kind attention to their employment, in his granting them a share in his affectionate remembrances,and in his promising to own and spare them in the day of judgment.

1. Let us see how God evidences his approbation of them, in paying kind attention to their employment: for "the Lord hearkened and heard it."

God, indeed, has searched us and known us, for there is not a word in our tongues, but lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether! and so vast is his notice, that "for every idle word that men speak, they shall give account in the day of judgment." But in a peculiar manner, in a gracious way, does he attend to the groanings of the prisoners, to the cries of the needy, to the conversation of fellow-pilgrims. When you, brethren, unite in enquiring, What has God wrought for our own souls, for our families, for the churches to which we belong, or for the world at large? the Lord hearkens and hears it.

With real pleasure he sees, he listens to the public testimonies you give of the excellences of his cause, for, O glorious truth! the Lord taketh pleasure in the prosperity of his servants. Think not that the heavens are brass against you, or that he takes no notice of your actions, for he knows and he approves the way of the righteous. What real consolation does this convey to our minds! for

though our spiritual conversation may be neglected by most, and held in the greatest contempt by many, the Lord hearkens and hears it. As God could remonstrate with the ungodly in the days referred to in the text, so his eyes were upon the righteous, and his ears were open to their cry. Satan, your subtle and too powerful enemy, cannot, after all, prevent the approbation of your God in covenant, and your God in Christ. O, then, go forward to sing in the way to Zion: "Be of one spirit, and of one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel," and the Lord will hearken and hear it.

2. Jehovah manifests his approbation of them, by granting them a share in his affectionate remembrance; for "a book of remembrance was written before him" for them.

"Remember me, O my God, for good," was the prayer of Nehemiah: "Lord, remember me, when thou comest into thy kingdom," was the petition of the dying thief; and an interest in the Divine recollection is indeed a great blessing; and great as it is, it is granted to them "that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name." "A book of remembrance was written:" this language is metaphorical, and is used to express the particular, the abiding, the never-to-be-forgotten recollection, which God has of the honour his saints put upon him. "He tells even their wanderings, and puts their tears into his bottle; are they not in his book?" Of every thing, you, christians, are enabled

to do, to the glory of his grace it may be said, "It is written before him." The deeds of Bigthana and Teresh were written in the book of the Chronicles before king Ahasuerus, to their infamy and disgrace; but yours are inscribed by an immortal pen in the book of God's remembrance, to your joy and the lifting up of your head.

It is evident, from the following verse, that this is one of the books which shall be opened in the day of judgment; and do you not recollect in what approving strains "the King eternal, immortal, and invisible," speaks of the acts of his saints, as recorded in the 25th chapter of Matthew's gospel? But remember, these deeds are by no means spoken of as approved by God as meritorious; no, but only as testimonies of their real religion, as evidences of their possessing faith, without which, none of these things could be acceptable in the sight of God; and as proofs of their superiority to those on the left hand of the Judge.

And what are we that God should think of us? Say, brethren, are we not altogether unworthy of his notice? Have we not indeed merited his wrath? And yet he gives us every blessing, and records our names on the palms of his hands, yea, prints them on his very heart.

3. God gives an evidence of his delight in their services, by promising to own and spare them in the day of judgment. "They shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my jewels."