his eternal smiles. God will be his eternal all, and he shall be full of glory. But "eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man to conceive, what God has prepared for them that love him."

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To conclude:-This subject instructs us all it teaches us to be concerned to be always ready for our account; to walk humbly and closely with our God; to sit loose to all created objects; and to set our affections on things above: to improve all our mercies; to redeem every hour of our time; to hear the word of God, so that we may profit; to look for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life and to keep in view the end of our journey, being constantly looking unto Jesus. In short, what our text first said to the Romans, it now says to us all,-" WATCH."

SERMON III.

PREACHED JULY 23, 1807.

JOHN X. 9.

"I AM THE DOOR BY ME IF ANY MAN ENTER IN, HE

SHALL BE SAVED, AND SHALL GO IN AND OUT, AND FIND PASTURE."

ONE striking feature of the gospel of Jesus Christ is, its variety; for it makes known the same truths by various methods, and in various ways. In the book of God, our attention is arrested to consider the things that belong to our peace, by well-chosen metaphors and suitable language; and as it is God's own word, it shall accomplish the end whereunto he has sent it, for which he has designed it, and to which he has said it shall prosper.

The chapter out of which we have read you a text, abounds with metaphors: in it God's people are represented as sheep, to denote their simplicity, patience, usefulness, and meekness. Jesus Christ speaks of himself as the good Shepherd who has laid down his life for these sheep; and the church of God is described as a fold, into which our Lord

will shortly bring all his flock, so that there shall be "one fold under one Shepherd." In the beginning of the chapter, the Saviour shows the folly which those men manifest who seek to get into his fold by some other way, than by the door. The disciples understood not these sayings, yet without a parable spake he not unto them; but, having compassion on their infirmities, he told them, that he himself was the door of the sheep, that all who ever came before him were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. "I (says he, in the words of our text) am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." It is our design to consider these words-as affording a significant representation of Christ, and as describing the blessedness of all his people. Praying, therefore, for the divine illumination, and trusting that our meditations will be profitable to all our souls, let us consider the passage

I. As affording a significant representation of Christ.

The name of our Lord Jesus is as ointment poured forth: as, in all his offices, relations, and characters, he is exceedingly precious to the believing soul, he must be at all times worthy of our attention, nay, deserving of our highest admiration, ardent love, and constant praise. Let us, then, laying aside every other concern, fix our minds on Him, who is the object of angelic ado

ration, the delight of God the Father, and the only foundation of human hope.

It is very remarkable, that Jesus Christ is always spoken of in Scripture, in that manner which is best suited to the sinner's wants. Does

he hunger and thirst after righteousness? Christ is that bread of life, of which if a man eat, he shall live for ever.-Does he want a foundation on which to rest his eternal all? "Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."-Does he lament his ignorance? Christ is the great prophet and teacher of his church.-Is he oppressed with sin and guilt? Christ is an atoning priest; "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."-Does he groan under the power of his enemies? Christ is King in Zion, and shall subdue them all. Or, is he put to flight through terror? "The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous runneth into it and is safe."-Does he often forsake and wander from the Saviour? Christ is the good Shepherd that will bring him back to the fold. —Are any of you desirous of entering into the state of believers here, and into the house where they expect to dwell above? "Christ is the door, by him if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." This representation of Christ, therefore, is designed to teach us this one great and important truth: that Christ is the only way of entrance into the church militant below, and into the church triumphant above; yes,

we say that Jesus is the door through which poor sinners of the race of Adam are admitted

1. Into the privileges of the gospel church. That this is the true literal meaning of the passage is evident, both from the design of the chapter, and from the latter part of the verse. From the design of the chapter, which represents Jesus as sustaining a character which he exercises in the church militant, and describes the people of his choice as scattered about, and shortly to be gathered together from the latter part of the verse, which mentions blessings that are to be enjoyed in the present state, "He shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture."

The privileges of the saints are very great and numerous; and what renders them so infinitely valuable is, that the possession of them is secured to all real believers, by the oath and promise of the Lord.

What excellent enumerations of many of them do we find in the book of God, especially in the eighth chapter of St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans: there you may find a list of the greatest blessings that God can bestow upon man, or that man can possibly receive. It would be in vain for us to attempt to mention all these inestimable privileges, but it may not be amiss to mention one or two of them, and see that they are all enjoyed through Christ; that he is the gate that leads to the garden of the Lord, where grow the choicest flowers; where spring the best delights. To approach unto God, to be favoured with sweet access to the