the distracted violence of tumultuous crowds. Much more delightfully is it exhibited in the more rational and affectionate meetings of friends; and far more delightfully still in the intercommunion of Christians, the best of all friends. Here, the noblest subjects engage the attention; and the most interesting of all concerns engross the heart; concerns, approved by the conscience, and approved by God. In their nature they are fraught with peace: in their progress they are sources of unceasing and immortal good. To every person in such an assembly, the Wisdom, which is from above, is the supreme object of pursuit; that godliness, which has the promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to come. In the pursuit of this glorious object, full of comfort, hope, and joy, the best emotions, which can be felt by the human heart, are awakened, and reciprocated. The flame, which glows in one breast, is caught, and kindled, in another. The light, which illumines one mind, sheds its lustre overall the minds, by which it is encircled. The soul, raised above itself by this happy communion, feels, that it has passed from death unto life, because it loves the brethren. On such an assembly the spirit of grace fails not to shower his balmy influence, and to awaken in the minds, of which it is composed, delightful anticipations of future glory. Peace, and hope, and joy, descending from above, scatter here their richest blessings; and with a divine enchantment raise up a transient, but beautiful, image of Heaven, on this side of the grave.

REMARKS

1. These observations teach us the invaluable blessing of being born in a Christian Land.

In such a land, all these advantages are primarily obtained. There, Christians live. There, religion is manifested in the life and conversation. There, its reality, dignity, solemnity, and loveliness, are seen by the eye, and declared to the ear. There, the words of the wise are as goads. They counsel, exhort, reprove, and alarm, with evangelical power. The minds of sinners are there awakened, in this manner, to a sense of their guilt; and urged by motives of singular import, to listen to the alarming denunciations of offended Justice, and to the delightful invitations of boundless Mercy. There, the worth of the soul, its immortal being, and its amazing destinies, are explained, and understood. There, the charms of religious example are displayed, and felt. There, of course, man is taught, allured, and compelled, to provide for his eternal welfare.

In other lands how dreadfully reversed is the scene! What a bleak and barren wilderness, what a dreary solitude, does their moral state present to the compassionate eye! Stretch the wings of your contemplation, and pass over them with a momentary, but painful survey. From climate to climate, not a house of God is presented to your eyes: not a pious family; not a religious ex

ample. Listen: No voice of prayer rises on the winds. No notes of praise are wafted to the Heavens. Look: No Sabbath smiles with peace and mercy on the desolate waste. No dews of divine grace, no showers of life-giving rain, descend on the sterile soil. The heaven over their heads is brass: the earth under their

feet is iron.

2. The same observations teach us the peculiar blessing of being born in a religious Family.

In such a family religion lives and prospers, is visible and powerful, in a still more emphatical manner. It is seen always: it is seen in the most beautiful attitudes, and the fairest colours. It is seen with an influence, peculiarly persuasive and heavenly.

In their morning and evening devotions piety begins, and closes, the day; prepares the heart to go patiently, serenely, faithfully, and gratefully, through its active concerns; and the eyes to close in peace, and to enjoy the sleep of such as are beloved by God. The interval between these solemn seasons is filled up with successive acts of Justice, truth, and kindness to others, and to the happy circle where they originate; and with a watchful, assiduous, and faithful superintendence of themselves. In the blessings of their intercourse with others, all around them successively share : while their friends and neighbours are delighted, strangers are welcomed, and their enemies are not excluded. The poor and suffering not only make peculiar claims, but find those claims cheerfully admitted.

With each other, life is only a sweet interchange of lovely affections, and evangelical offices; and assumes an aspect, on which Angels would smile with complacency, and heaven descend in a shower of blessings. Every day, which passes over their heads, calls forth from them all, new displays of Evangelical love, new efforts to make each other happy. Every place furnishes them new opportunities of showing how much more blessed it is to give, than to receive. But the Sabbath, of all days, surrounds them with peculiar lustre and loveliness. Of all places, the sanctuary most unfolds their excellence, sublimes their virtues, and prepares them to meet the assembly of the first-born.

How can those who are young grow up in such a family, in the midst of such conversation, by the side of such examples, and in the sight of such excellence hourly displayed, and fail of becoming wise? The example is that of parents; the most venerable, and the most impressive, which, in this world, was ever presented before the eyes. The excellence is that of brothers and sisters; the most lovely, the most alluring, which is found below the sun. Must not the Angels of the Lord encamp round about such a family? Will not God behold them with uninterrupted and unclouded smiles? Who can be a witness of the piety, the benevolence, of such a family, and not exclaim,

"Thus on the Heavenly hills

The saints are bless'd above;

Where joy like morning dew distils,

And all the air is love?"

3. These observations teach us the wisdom and goodness of Christ in establishing a Church in the world.

The Church is one great family; in which all Christians are united, and enabled to walk together, and derive wisdom from each other. Here, their correspondence is intimate; and their advantages are all concentrated. Their instructions, their reproofs, their prayers, their example, are here mutually exhibited, and mutually enjoyed. Here, also, these blessings are perpetuated. Religion, here, is visible from day to day, and from age to age; and piety and beneficence shine, like the sun, with perennial beams. The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of thee, O City of God. The Lord hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell. I will abundantly bless her provision. I will satisfy her poor with bread. I will clothe her priests with salvation; and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.

In this assembly of the faithful, the word, and worship, of God, the means of eternal life, and the religion of the Gospel, have all been preserved. By the example, the labours, the prayers, and the piety, of the Church in one land, and in one age, have piety and salvation been extended, and perpetuated, through other lands, and other ages. This is the stem, from which have sprung all the blossoms, and fruits, of righteousness, which have gladdened this desolate world. Here, sinners, in millions, have seen, felt, and acknowledged, the reality and power of religion; and under its divine influence have turned from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God. Of Zion it shall be said, "this and that man was born in her." The Lord shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there.

4. We hence learn, also, how important it is, that Christians should adorn their profession with a holy life and conversation.

Considerations, very numerous and highly interesting, urge the performance of this duty. On this occasion I shall, however, omit them all, except those which have been insisted on in this discourse. These ought to be more than sufficient for a design, so strongly commended by its own inherent importance, and so necessary to peace of mind, and the final approbation of God.

If religion be not fervent in the heart, it will not be conspicuous in the life. If it be not conspicuous in the life, saints will not be edified, and sinners will not be saved.

A dull, cold, stupid heart, and its necessary consequence, a dull, cold, and stupid life, a life resembling more that of a Heathen moralist, than that of a disciple of Christ, robs a Christian of his proper usefulness; prevents the comfort which he might enjoy; VOL. IV

22

and overcasts his brightest hopes of future acceptance. I speak of this man as a Christian: for such Christians there are. Such there were in the Church of Sadis; on whom Christ calls to strengthen the things which remained, which were ready to die. Nay, there are Churches of this character. At Sardis there was such a church. But all persons of this character, whether churches, or individuals, are mere burdens upon the kingdom of Christ; heavy weights, under which Christianity struggles, and languishes, and faints. Their profession is so extensively contradicted by their life, as to wound every good man, and to provoke the censure, scorn, and ridicule, of every bad one. Not only is their own profession esteemed insincere, and themselves regarded as hypocrites; but Christians, universally, are scandalized for their sakes; and their religion pronounced to be a farce, a pretence, a cheat. The injury done in this manner, is incalculable. Instead of improving at their side, in the enjoyment of their communion, and by means of their example; Christians learn from them only to be dull, and slothful, as they are; to languish in all their duty; and, although they have a name to live, to become the subjects of such a benumbing torpor, as is scarcely distinguishable from the chill of Death.

In the mean time, unrenewed men, discerning the mighty difference between the religion, described and required in the Gospel, and that which is displayed in the lives of such professors, not unnaturally, though very unhappily, conclude, that practical religion is no where to be found. To induce this conclusion, such examples need not be very numerous; but, whenever they become frequent, it is drawn of course. Thus by a lukewarm life, and a profession violated by stupidity and negligence, the hearts of Christians are broken, and the salvation of sinners prevented. Vice and infidelity, in the mean time, rear their heads in triumph. The ways of Zion mourn, because few come to her solemn feasts; and the path to Heaven is trodden only by here and there a solitary traveller. He, who would not be chargeable with the guilt of effectuating these deplorable evils, must awake to righteousness; must watch, and strive, and pray, alway; must resolve to do whatever his hand findeth to do with his might; and must remember, that the day is approaching, when every man's work shall be made manifest: for that day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire.

SERMON CXLVI.

THE ORDINARY MEANS OF GRACE.-RELIGIOUS MEDITATION.

PROVERBS iv. 26.-Ponder the path of thy feet; and let all thy ways be established.

OUR next subject of consideration, in the order formerly proposed, is Religious Meditation.

This duty is enjoined in the text. Ponder, says David to Solomon, the path of thy feet; and let all thy ways be established. By the path, here mentioned, is undoubtedly intended the course of life; including all the thoughts, affections, and conduct, of the man, The latter clause is rendered in the margin, And all thy ways shall be ordered aright. The consequence, therefore, of pondering our course of life is here declared to be, that all our ways be ordered aright. Of course, the text obviously contains this

doctrine:

shall

That habitual Religious Meditation is a direct mean of our present and eternal well-being.

This subject I shall discuss under two heads:

I. Religious Meditation, generally considered;
II. Self-Examination.

Of the former of these I observe,

1. That it alone enables us to make religious Truths a part of our own system of thought.

Knowledge is never of very serious use to man, until it has beThis is accomcome a part of his customary course of thinking. plished, when by familiar acquaintance we are enabled to call it up to view at pleasure; to arrange the parts so, as easily to comprehend the whole; to perceive readily their mutual connexion and dependence; to discern the evidence, by which each is supported; to refer each to its proper place; and to judge concerning the whole with correctness, and expedition. In this manner every man of common sense thinks concerning every subject, with which he is well acquainted: and the power of thinking in this manner, he gains only by meditation. Whatever information we may possess, it is of no serious use to us, until it is thus made our own. The knowledge, which barely passes through the mind, resembles that which is gained of a country by a traveller, who is whirled through it in a stage; or by a bird, flitting over it in his passage to another.

No interesting subject is examined by the mind in this cursory way. Every such subject it instinctively turns over and over; and never desists, until it has gained a familiar, and comprehen