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the spirit of the mystery set before me: but I shall have consolations on my death-bed, triumphs after death, and oceans of felicity and glory for ever. God hath not preserved me till now merely to give me an opportunity of sitting here: but to open to me the treasures of his patience and long suffering: to enable me to repent of my former negligence, of breaking the sabbath, profaning the communion, committing iniquity, forgetting my promises, and of fending my Creator.

I ask, my brethren, what is the man who approaches the Lord's table with such dispositions? Is he a common man? Verily with eyes of flesh; I see nothing to distinguish him from the crowd. I see this man confounded with all others, whom a lax discipline suffers to partake of this ordinance, and to receive with unclean hands and a profane mouth the most holy symbol of our religion; at most, I see only an agitation of his senses, a spark shining in his eye, a look cast towards heaven, emotions which the veil of humility that covers him cannot entirely conceal : but with the eyes of my mind I behold a man of a superior order, a man in paradise, a man nourished with pleasure at the right hand of God, a man at whose conversion the angels of God rejoice, a man fastened to the triumphal car of Jesus Christ, and who makes the glory of the triumph, a man who hath the happy art of making heaven descend into his soul; I behold, amidst the miseries and vanities of the world, a man already justified, already raised, already glorified, already sitting in heavenly places with Christ Jesus, Rom. viii. 30. Eph. ii. 6. I see a

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man ascending to heaven along with Jesus Christ, amidst the shouting of the heavenly choir, "Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors, and let the King of glory in," Psal. xxiv. 7. I see a man with uncovered face beholding the glory of the Lord, and changing from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord, 2 Cor. iii. 18.

But it is particularly in a dying bed that the pious man enjoys foretastes of the life to come. A worldling is confounded at the approach of that dismal night, which hides futurity from him, or rather despair seizes his soul at the rising of that dreadful light, which discovers to him a dispensation of punishment, in spite of his obstinate denial of it. Then he sees fire, flames, devils, a lake of fire, the smoke of which ascendeth up for ever and ever. Then he shrinks back from the bitter cup, the dregs of which he must drink; he tries though in vain to put off the end by his too late prayer, and he cries at its approach, Mountains fall on me, hills cover me! As for the believer, he sees and desires nothing but that dispensation of happiness, which he hath already embraced by faith, possessed by hope, and tasted by the comforts of the Holy Spirit in his soul; and hence comes that active fervour, which makes his countenance luminous like that of departing Stephen. I cannot better express such sentiments than in the words of the primitive saints, who so happily experienced them.

"I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord! I know that my Redeemer liveth, and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh I shall see

God; whom I shall see for myself, whom mine eyes shall behold and not another. Though thou slayest me, yet will I trust in thee, O God! Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded, that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. Neither count I my life dear so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Lord Jesus receive my spirit. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith, henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? In these things we are more than conquerors, through him that loved us. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God! my soul thirsteth for God, for the living God! When shall I come and appear before God? How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of Hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house, they will be still praising thee! Thine altars, even thine altars, O Lord of Hosts, my king and my God!"

May you all, my brethren, may every one of you know these truths by experience. God grant you the grace. To him be honour and glory for ever.

SERMON IV.

The Repentance of the Unchaste Woman.

LUKE Vii. 36-50.

And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. And behold, a woman in the city which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, and stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him, saw it, he spake within himself, saying, this man, if he were a prophet, would have known who, and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering, said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. There was a certain creditor, which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, thou hast rightly judged. And he turned

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