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en grace. We with this to be observed, because the generality of people would pass to the enjoyment of glory without submitting to the laws of grace; but such a hope is false and absurd. Thus stands the purpose of God-" Blessed are the pure in heart, for they "shall see God;" "without holiness no man SHALL see the Lord :" except a man be born again, he CANNOT see the kingdom of God." And hence you perceive that it is not only forbidden, but impoffi ble. Indeed if there were no law to exclude the unsanctified sinner from glory, he would necessarily remain miserable; sin is hell; his disposition would destroy all the happiness of heaven; the service and the joy would only disgust and torment the mind; God cannot make us happy with himself, till he has made us holy like himself." What fellowship hath righteous"ness with unrighteousness? and what communion "hath light with darkness?"

We may observe the connection of these bleffings; for they are inseparable; where the Lord has given grace, he will certainly give glory. And therefore my dear hearers, the grand queftion is, whether you have grace? Decide this by its influences and effects, as they are marked in the Scriptures; by loathing sin; by hungering and thirsting after righteousness; by acceding to the terms of discipleship, denying yourselves, taking up your cross, and following your Saviour; by your love to the ordinances, the word," and the people of God; by your deadness to the world, and having your conversation in heaven. Thus ascertain the reality of your grace, and " rejoice in hope of the "glory of God;" "being confident of this very thing,

"that He who hath begun a good work in you, will Did I "perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." say, where there is grace, there WILL be glory? I go. further; there is glory. there is glory. "The Spirit of glory reft"eth upon them." They are "changed from glory "to glory." They "rejoice with joy unspeakable, "and full of glory.” "He that believeth on the Son

"of God hath everlafting life;" he has more than the promise; he has a part of heaven; he has "the ear"neft of his inheritance;" he has "the first fruits of "the spirit," the same in kind, though not in degree, with the whole harvest. Grace is glory in the bud, and glory is grace matured. Grace is the lowest degree of glory, and glory is only the highest degree of

grace. This He gives,

"NO GOOD

III. And what does He WITHHOLD? "THING." O how full and comprehensive is the language of promise! The Holy Ghoft, in framing it, seems to anticipate all the objections of our suspicious hearts. It was much to tell us, God was "a Sun and "Shield;" but he enlarges and adds, "the Lord will

give grace and glory." And surely this will suffice. No, my brethren; there is something still behind, the condition of "the life which we now live in the flesh." This frequently presses upon the mind, and perplexes and distresses the people of God; they have bodies; they have families; they are commanded to " provide "things honeft in the sight of all men." Where is the man who never thought within himself, "if I make "religion my chief concern, and sacrifice whatever it "requires; fhall I not injure my temporal circumftan

"ces?" Where is the man, whose liberality was never checked, and whose confidence was never weakened by slender means of subsistence? Where is the man, who with increasing demands from a numerous offspring never with anxiety asked, "what shall they eat, "and what shall they drink, and wherewithal shall "they be clothed?" "He knoweth our frame, and "remembereth that we are dust:" He stoops to our weaknesses; and saves us the pain and shame of telling him our unworthy fears, by giving us promises which effectually provide against them. "Your heavenly "Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things." "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and "his righteousness, and all these things shall be added "unto you." "No good thing will he withhold "from them that walk uprightly." Let us take three views of this extensive promise.

First, Behold in it the grandeur of his possessions. He who engages to withhold no good thing, must have all good things at his disposal. And, lo! "He is able "to do for us exceeding abundantly, above all that we "ask or think." "Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, " and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and "the majesty; for all that is in the heaven and in the "earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and "thou art exalted as Head above all. Both riches " and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; “and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give "strength unto all." "The silver and the gold are "thine." "Every beast of the forest is mine, and the "cattle upon a thousand hills." "The earth is the "Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world, and they

"that dwell therein." And what is this lower world? An inconsiderable province of his empire" Lift up

your eyes on high, and behold, who hath created "these things; that bringeth out their hoft by num"ber: he calleth them all by names, by the greatness "of his might, for that he is strong in power, not one "failing." His dominion is universal; his resources boundless; his possessions infinite. Can he be poor, whose Father is so rich?

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Secondly, Behold in this promise the wonders of his liberality. All earthly benefactors fhrink from a comparison with him. He acts by no ordinary rule of bounty, by no human standard of benificence; "the heavens are higher than the earth, so are his ways higher than your ways, and his thoughts than your thoughts." "O how GREAT is the goodness, "which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee, "which thou hast wrought for them that truft in thee "before the sons of men !" "The same Lord over all "is RICH unto all that call upon him." "My God "shall supply ALL your need, according to his riches "in glory by Christ Jesus"-" No good thing will he "withhold."

Thirdly, Behold in this promise the wisdom of His dispensations. He has qualified his engagement, and regulated our hope, by the GOODNESS of the things proposed. Instead of regretting this condition,' the christian rejoices in it; it secures his happiness. Had God engaged to indulge him in all these things, whether they were good for him or evil, it would have been a threatening, not a promise. He now sees the providence of God choosing his inheritance for him, man