of weakness and indifference-nothing like a giving way to iniquity and falsehood, or an unconcern respecting error and transgression. On the contrary, He set His face, like a flint, against every description of ungodliness and wrong. His lively abhorrence of perverse ways was too manifest to be doubted, or overlooked, although tempered, as to His expression and exercise of it, by unwearied love, and forbearance, and longsuffering. In fact, He determined to be crucified and slain by the hands of wicked men, rather than consent to, or cease from testifying against their wickedness.-Take notice, my brethren, of these few chief particulars (the remainder being entirely consistent) in the habitual demeanour of " the Lord Jesus Christ." So holy, harmless, merciful, and undefiled, so purely and resolutely devoted to His heavenly Father's glory, and the common salvation, did He approve Himself, in the midst of a people serving divers lusts and passions, and thereby. alienated equally from God, and from one another.

Such, accordingly, are the disciples of Jesus Christ required to be, putting Him on. In the above, and in all other particulars, they are called to approve themselves, like their Master," sons of God without rebuke, blameless, " and harmless;" "full of mercy, and good

"fruits;" and clear of " the corruption that is "in the world through lust." True indeed, the larger number of Christians have not a ministry, resembling that of Christ, to accomplish: also, none have the power, which He had, to do good. Hence it follows, that, in certain respects, you ought not, and in others, you cannot exactly imitate His deeds: you ought not (for instance) to undertake, without a lawful appointment, any sacred office; you cannot, by a word or a touch, heal sickness and disease amongst your neighbours. Still, however, in points of this sort, you may let the mind which prompted Christ, be prompting you to an answerable (though not a precisely similar) line of behaviour. Although neither apostles, nor public teachers, nor workers of miracles, nevertheless, in your inferior stations, you may be habitually actuated by the godly zeal and compassion which were in Christ, while He preached the gospel, and healed the sick. You may bring up children in the nurture and admo"nition of the Lord, and to the praise of His

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holy name:" you may edify one another, not a little, by devout and charitable conversation; and may kindly tend, and help, and sympathise with the afflicted, watching if He will condescend to make them whole. To this extent, the lowest and weakest may put on Christ, in cases

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where none can be fully qualified or able. And more perfectly, or entirely is He to be put on, in cases of a less extraordinary character. Every man, on finding himself made at all like, in his outward circumstances and condition, to his Master, and only Saviour Jesus Christ, should certainly therein try, and behave like Him throughout, especially when experiencing injuries and provocations. Regarding these, the author of my text explicitly admonishes" Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humble"ness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one an"other, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye." (Coloss. iii. 12,13.) No one, probably, will think fit to call this a hard admonition, or a precept beyond his range. The most reluctant must needs confess that the habit which it enjoins is truly apposite, or suitable generally to mankind, and that, in proportion to the number who will heartily adopt it, peace and consolation may be expected to ensue.

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Having so far set before you the Apostle's precept selected for my text, I will next, my brethren, declare the strong reasons which should induce you to observe it.

As you love, and would secure, your own

welfare and happiness, "put ye on the Lord "Jesus Christ." Consider, a moment, how

great is the bodily refreshment, when a man, heavy laden, or fatigued with labour, disencumbers, and shakes himself from the dust, and changes his old and stained garments for clean ones. Immediately he becomes in a great measure at ease from his late toil, and in a manner revived to enter (if need be) on another course: he is prepared to " run anew, and not be weary, "to walk, and not faint." Equally great is the refreshment to a man's spirit, when he hath cast off the burden of his iniquity, and hath exchanged his old-accustomed sinful habits, his long-worn prejudices, and natural covering of unrighteousness, wherein he hath been labouring many days and years, for the "fine linen, "clean and white," the purity, and holy and charitable conversation, which adorned his Redeemer in the world. From being heated by intemperance, or vain exertions, and agitated by violent passions, and vexed and harrassed by tormenting anxieties and disappointments, the man who hath put on Christ, is rendered comparatively calm and moderate, and of a sound mind. Still, indeed, He may be sometimes troubled, and perplexed, and afraid, but not overcome, or greatly confounded, or in despair. The life of Jesus, made manifest in

his flesh, imparts to him an enduring composure and strength. He is thence enabled to possess his soul in hope and patience, during the hardest imaginable trials, and evermore to experience the truth of that gracious invitation and promise, which Jesus himself delivered, persuading men to seek the relief which He would dispense to them-" Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I " will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, " and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in "heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." (Matthew xi. 28, 29.) According to this, it will evidently behove us, to come unto the Lord Jesus Christ, and to put Him on, for the attainment of spiritual consolation and repose.

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However, men will not always do what they ought, even for their own benefit, without being in a manner constrained and compelled to it. Some are of such a slothful and perverse temper, that they will rather remain unadorned, and in their unseemly habits of a corrupt life and conversation, even until death and judgment, than set about properly to order, and refresh themselves, and put on the new and goodly raiment provided for them. Let me, therefore, further prove it a duty, to perform the injunction which has been explained.

Now, a duty surely it is, and a most indis