2. This glory must be presented to him through the mediation of Christ. To him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus. We should never have dared to offer the sacrifice of praise to God, had it not been for this glorious Redeemer; since he has by his cross glorified the divine perfections, we can contemplate them with holy pleasure and delight, and adore him for them all. But he would spurn at our attempts at adoration, if we had no reference to the atonement of his Son. Our praises will never be acceptable in his sight, unless they are offered through faith in Christ Jesus. Besides, he must present them to God, even the Father; hence we rejoice that "we have a great High Priest passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God," who bears our praises to the eternal throne. Yes, he stands at the altar, "having a golden censer, and there is given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which is before the throne." How pleasing is the thought, that our imperfect praises are conveyed to God the Judge of all, by the Angel of the covenant. What need have we of saints to be our advocates, when we have Christ Jesus? Who else can render our acknowledgments worthy of the acceptance of the eternal Father, but Jesus only? hence, Jesus alone shall bear my cries Up to his Father's throne; He, dearest Lord, perfumes my sighs, And so shall it be with our songs of praise, even till we are admitted into his presence. O, to him be glory by Christ Jesus. 3. The honour must be rendered to him to the latest period of time, and throughout eternity. "To him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." So long as Jehovah possesses this divine power, so long must he be honoured on account of it. And I leave with yourselves to judge, whether this will not be for ever and ever. It must be throughout all ages; when the present generation shall have passed away, and another shall have come; when our heads shall be all laid beneath the clods of the valley, and the worms feed sweetly on our bodies; even then there will be a generation to call Jehovah blessed, and a seed to serve him. For then this power shall be exerted, and the people that shall be created shall praise the Lord. Yea, till all his saints are gathered in, must the Head of the church be glorified, and world without end. When all the redeemed shall be united in Christ, this glory shall be rendered to Jehovah; since the sweet work of praise shall be our employment in heaven, for ever and ever. Now to all this you are called upon to add the solemn word-Amen. My text is a prayer for the glory of God. O offer it up from the bottom of your hearts! And what think you, sinner, of the power of God? it will be exerted in destroying you. O dread his anger, and take refuge in Jesus, the Sanctuary.* We have before noticed, that Mr. Spencer was accustomed to enlarge on his written notes, in the improvements of his Sermons; we annex the following specimen, which was taken down in short-hand : "Now to all this, my dear hearers, you are required to pronounce the solemn word-Amen! Because God possesses this power, you ought to rejoice in it; because he can do exceeding abundant above all that you can ask or think, you ought to entreat him, from the bottom of your hearts, that he would do it for you. My text is a prayer, a prayer for the glory of God, to which all our exertions ought to be directed. Is this, then, the object to which your exertions are directed? Are you saying, by your lives and conversations, Worthy is the Lamb?' Are you glorifying Jesus by your lives? Remember, that you have now an opportunity of shewing that you desire to glorify him; and I trust that Jesus will receive a revenue of praise, within the walls of this place, at this opportunity. "Sinners! What aspect does the mighty power of God wear toward you? It wears the most terrific aspect. You may think of defying the power of God; but once hath God spoken, yea twice have I heard this, that power belongeth unto God; and power to destroy as well as to save. I have told you that there was a power that worked in the hearts of them that believe; but oh! you have not submitted to it; your lusts are your guide; and God may say of you, Ile is joined to idols, let him alone! He is able to inflict exceeding abundantly more pain upon you than you can think; he has so much ability, that he can terrify you by his anger, frown you into hell, and make you the eternal subject of the gnawing of the worm that never dies. Whither will you flee from his anger? Jesus shall be a sanctuary; but if you refuse him, whither will you flee from the divine anger? A But so man shall be a covert from the tempest, and a shelter from the wind, and you can only take shelter in that way. soon as you have embraced him, he will present you to God as one who has received his good Spirit. The moment you lay hold on the hope set before you, that moment the omnipotence of God shall be engaged on your behalf, and the prayer of Christ shall be answered: Keep, through thine own name, those whom thou hast given me. "Now to the God, whose power can do More than our thoughts or wishes know, Through all the church, by Christ his Son. Amen." SERMON XVII. PREACHED JUNE 10, 1810. ACTS XX. 9, 10. 66 AND THERE SAT IN A WINDOW, A CERTAIN YOUNG MAN, NAMED EUTYCHUS, BEING FALLEN INTO A DEEP SLEEP ; AND AS PAUL WAS LONG PREACHING, HE SUNK DOWN WITH SLEEP, AND FELL DOWN FROM THE THIRD loft, AND WAS TAKEN UP DEAD. AND PAUL WENT DOWN AND FELL ON HIM, AND EMBRACING HIM, SAID, TROUBLE NOT YOURSELVES, FOR HIS LIFE IS IN HIM." "WHEREVER," says the Great Shepherd and Bishop of souls, "two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Confined to no walls, he dispenses the blessings of his grace in every congregation of faithful men, who approach him through the veil,-that is to say, his flesh,-and humbly expect, that their services will be accepted through his own mediation and death. In all places where such characters record his |