hereby giving the most authentic evidence, that he had finished his great undertaking, and was accepted by the Father in all that he taught, and acted, and suffered upon earth; "that be ascended up on high," as a trium

a phant conqueror, “ leading captivity captive;" where, being constituted “ head over all things for the church," he now sits enthroned at the right band of God; from

; whence he shall once more descend to this earth, not in the form of a servant, but clothed with Majesty, and attended by all the holy angels, to gather together his elect, in whom he shall be glorified; while at the same time, as an awful and righteous Judge, he shall “ take vengeance on them that know not God, and obey not his gospel; who shall be punished with everlasting de. struction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.'

All who are acquainted with the Scriptures must be sensible, that in delivering this summary of Christian doctrine, I have done little more than repeated the words of the New Testament writers as they are translated into our own language ; and therefore I may take

; it for granted, that those capital articles, to which many others might have been added, will readily be admitted to belong to the gospel of Christ.

Ir remains, then, to be inquired, What influence the faith of these interesting truths ought in reason to have upon our temper and practice? or, in other words, what manner of conversation is suited to such belief?

That we may be qualified to judge with greater impartiality, let us at present endeavour to forget, if possible, our personal concern in the question ? and having supposed that we had received information of other creatures in a state of apostacy from God, who were favoured with a revelation of the same important truths which

we have found to be contained in the gospel of Christ, let each of us inquire at his own heart, what effects the firm belief of these truths might be expected to produce in their temper and practice ?

Would we not conclude, without hesitation, that a discovery of the awful forfeiture they had incurred would afflict their souls in the most sensible manner; and so possess them with grief, and shame, and the fearful apprehensions of deserved punishment, that all the enjoy. ments of a short precarious life would lose their relish, till they certainly knew that there was a possibility at least of obtaining the pardon of their sips, and of regain. ing the friendship of their offended Sovereign? Would it not occur to os as a probable, or rather a necessary, consequence, of this inward distress, that, upon hearing the remotest intimation of a scheme for their recovery, they would anxiously inquire into the foundation of such report; and when they discovered the truth of it, that they would welcome the offered mercy with humble gratitude, and throw themselves at the feet of that generous friend who had interposed for their relief; resigning themselves, without reserve, to his disposal and government, in that very manner which is described and enjoined by the gospel of Christ?

Again, let me ask, What do you think would be the natural effects of pardon obtained, and peace restored to their troubled minds, upon that cordial acceptance of the remedy provided for them which I have just now supposed? Could any of us doubt that their hearts would be filled with the sincerest joy, and that out of the abundance of their hearts their lips would show forth the praises of their Deliverer, and utter the voice of gratitude and love in such language as this: “ Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless his

holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits; who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases, who hath redeemed thy life from destruction, and crowned thee with loving kind. ness, and with tender mercies." " Return unto thy rest, O my soul, for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee."

But here likewise I must ask, Do you not think that this joy of theirs would be of a nature so pure and deli. cate, as to disdain any alliance with carnal mirth and levity ? Would it not be that kind of joy which a condemned criminal may be supposed to feel upon receiv- . ing the gracious pardon of his sovereign; who, while he tastes all the sweetness of his prince's clemency, and exults in the assurance of present safety, yet cannot help shuddering when he looks back to the dungeon where he lay imprisoned, and recollects the danger he hath happily escaped ?

Surely all who have obtained mercy will perceive and acknowledge the propriety of that advice, “Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.” None indeed have such rational grounds of joy; and they give an unfair representation of the privileges that belong to the sons of God, who walk in heaviness, and wear a dejected, melancholy aspect. But still the cheerfulness of those who bave passed from death to life, will, and ought to have an air of composure and solemnity, that will easily distinguish it from the loose, intemperate mirth of the sensualist, which springs from no higher source than the gratification of those appetites he hath in common with the beasts that perislı, or the increase of his corn, and wine, and oil. Besides, the prospect of a future judgment, which I mentioned as one of the great objects of belief, could not fail to overawe their minds, and to

keep them in a sober and serious frame, rendering them no less attentive to their thoughts than to their words and actions; and constantly disposing them to “walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise;" to shun the doubtful as well as the forbidden ground, “ abstaining even from the appearance of evil.” While, at the same time, the animating hope of a glorious immortality would render them cool and indifferent to all the enjoyments of a present world; support them under every thing that is painful and afflicting; and powerfully incite them to run with patience the race set before them, till in due time they should obtain the end of their faith, even the complete and everlasting salvation of their souls.

Such, we might well conclude, would be the influence of Christian faith upon the habitual frame and temper of their hearts.

But as my text speaks of a conversation becoming the gospel of Christ, let us inquire more particularly into those visible effects which the truths I formerly mentioned might naturally be supposed to produce in the conduct of those who sincerely believed them; first, with respect to God; and, secondly, with regard to their fellow-men.

First, With respect to God. We should hardly be able to doubt, that creatures redeemed from misery, dig. nified with such honours, and enriched with such privi. leges, would be fond of expressing their gratitude in the most public and significant manner, and embrace every opportunity of celebrating the praises of their great Deliverer. We should certainly take it for granted, that if any day was set apart for bis more immediate worship and service, they would long for the return of that precious season, and “wait for it more than they that watch for the morning." We should not be able to suppose,

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that they would reckon it a burdensome institution, and say, What a weariness is it?" or, 6 when will the Sabbath be over?” far less that they would waste it in idleness, profane it by gaming, intemperance, and lewdness; or even debase it by those employments which are lawful on other days. Such presumptuous ingratitude would appear so shocking, that we should not dare to suspect, and least of all should we believe, without ocular proof, that creatures endued with reason would be guilty of it.

Again, if any ordinance was appointed for the express purpose of commemorating redeeming love, and showing forth the death of that compassionate Saviour, who was “ wounded for their transgressions, and bruised for their sins, that by his stripes they might be healed,” could we doubt, that they would regard it as a distinguishing privilege, and attend upon it with reverence, love, and joy? especially if one great end of its institution was to confirm their faith of the divine friendship, by putting into their hands an authentic seal of that well-ordered covenant, which conveys to every sincere believer an irrevocable title to all the unsearchable riches of Christ? This appears so becoming, and withal so conducive to their personal comfort and interest, that one should think a bare permission to attend upon such an ordinance might suffice, and that there scarcely needed the authority of a dying command to enforce the observation of it.

Once more; might it not be hoped, that creatures who believed and confessed that they were redeemed from death by an act of pure grace, would junge it their indispensable duty to live unto him by whose mercy it was that they lived at all? that they would feel in their hearts, and practically acknowledge the constraining force of such exhortations as these: “ Ye are not your

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