New York, January 20, 1792. THIS day our worthy pastor preached from Revelation xiv. 4: "These are they who follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth; these are redeemed from among men, being the first-fruits unto God, and to the Lamb, and in their mouth was found no guile, for they are without fault before God." The one hundred and forty-four thousand on mount Zion around the Lamb, having their Father's name written on their foreheads-a goodly number: the people of God redeemed from among men, and distinguished from the world by the image of God stampt upon their souls, by the Spirit of God dwelling in, and operating on, their hearts, and this distinguishable by the effects it produces on their lives and conversation. "They follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth." The Lamb is their leader, and they keep him ever in their view: the world, the men of the world, live to and for the world. 'Some walk in honour's gaudy show, Some dig for golden ore; They toil for heirs, they know not who, These are the chief objects, which they hunt through life, unmindful of the Gospel call, of the offered salvation, of the remonstrances of God in his word, providences, and by his servants, till they drop, oh where! into the pit of the beast, the prince of this world, whose mark is in their foreheads, and whose image is impressed deeply on their souls. The followers of the Lamb shall share with him in his glory; the followers of the beast shall share with him in the wine of God's wrath, poured E out without mixture into the cup of his indignation, and be tormented day and night with fire, in the presence of the Lamb and his holy angels; and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up day and night, who worship the beast, and receive the mark of his name. Why do I start, why do I stagger, at the divine declaration? The Judge of all the earth, yea, of heaven and hell, and all worlds, shall do right: yet shall he do this. Mercy, as well as judgment, is, was, and ever shall be, around his throne, yet shall he do this. Goodness and mercy are his darling attributes. He is "the Lord, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin." Yet will he do this, for he will "by no means clear the guilty." Vengeance shall be taken on every sin, not one shall pass unpunished; yet these hundred and forty-four thousand were sinners of Adam's race, with corrupt hearts, breaking out into guilty words and deeds, like mine, every one, the least guilty of them, justly condemning the sinner to these dreadful torments. Yet are they all around the Lamb, rejoicing in his presence, and beautified with his likeness. Blessed Lamb of God! thou art worthy; thou hast loosed the seals; and unravelled the mystery, how vengeance can be taken on sin, and mercy embrace the sinner. Thou wast "caught in the thicket!" The Father, the Judge called, "Spare, I have found a ransom!" the Son called, Spare, lo, I come 66 to lay down mine own life for the sheep!" The blessed Spirit called, Spare, "I will create a new heart, and renew a right spirit within them!" Through the mysterious incarnation, life, and death of our glorious Redeemer, Son of God, and Son of man, he hath redeemed, sanctified, perfected all around the throne; and there are now a goodly number, who are on the way, bearing the cross after him. : "well They have embraced his offered mercy; they have taken hold of God's covenant just as it stands, ordered in all things, and sure." Christ himself the sum and substance of it: he is their Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption. Justifying righteousness he wrought out for them by his perfect personal obedience their sanctification is going on by means of his appointing, even by his word, by his servants, by the operations of his Spirit in their hearts, and by his external providences, whereby he brings about such a train of circumstances in their lot, as breaks the force of corruption, mortifies pride, loosens their attachment to the world, endears himself to them, and by degrees wins their entire confidence, and consent to let him do all for them, and all in them; and then, and not till then, he is all to them. O! what is this world and its empty baubles! Lord, "lift on me the light of thy countenance!" Let me never lose sight of thee: set me as a seal upon thine arm, and let me lean upon thy bosom. What a mystery am I to myself! I know all these delights what it is to be in the banqueting-house of my Beloved, and " to sit under his banner with delight," to be satisfied, to be more than satisfied, to be almost "sick of love," so as to look down on all created enjoyments with contempt: yea, I have wished to die, to be delivered from them: and yet, when engaged in the necessary business of the world, daily and hourly become a prey to its anxieties. I am elated, disappointed, fretted like those who have no other portion, and neglect, shame fully neglect, the means by which God conveys to my heart those dear cordials and tastes of his love, which, when I enjoy, I would never wish to part with, but which I lose through indolence, unwatchfulness, or I know not what; and, when gone, neglect the means to recover. 0, what a strange, inconsistent, contradictory being, is a half-sanctified Christian. New York, 1793. BLESSED Lord, thou hast, to the praise of thy grace, given me the heritage of them that fear thy name; thou hast prepared my heart to pray, and inclined thine ear to hear: thou hast drawn me into thy fold, and hast fed me in thy green pastures. I rejoice in Israel's Shepherd, not one of his flock can be lost. Often have I wandered from his presence, and sought pasture among the swine; but my Shepherd has ever drawn or driven me back. He has a rod, and I have felt it; but I bless the hand, and kiss the rod. O how wonderful, to look back and see "all the way by which he has led me to prove me, to try me, to show me what way is in my heart, that he might do me good at my latter end.” Amen, my God, I leave myself in thy hands. I should lose myself; but thou wilt keep me from foes without and foes within. What then have I to care for? My Shepherd cares for all: "He slumbers not, nor concerns me; of this I sleeps," and he will perfect what am as sure as that I now write it. take my orphans also? But, O my God, wilt thou not Lord, care not only for me, but mine: bring them also within this door. Compel them to come in." 66 Let me see them hungering after these green pastures. Let me see them brought off from husks, and brought back to their Father's house. The means are thine, the work thine, the glory be thine. I leave my fatherless children on thee; save them alive as thou hast said. Amen. "The law of thy mouth is better unto me than gold and silver. O how I love thy law! It is my meditation all the day. Thou, through thy commandments, (or the whole of thy truth,) hast made me wiser than my teachers. The law of God makes the simple wise. How sweet are thy words unto my taste; yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through thy precepts I get understanding, therefore I hate every false way. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." happy are they who are taught by the How safe, how word of God. "Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona; for flesh and blood have not taught thee this, but my Father who is in heaven." O my children! enrich your minds with a full acquaintance with the word of God; lay it up in your memories, when you can do nothing more; be assured, if ever you are made wise unto salvation, it must be by this word; if ever you are taught of God, he will teach you by the words contained in the Bible. "Search the Scriptures, for they are they which testify of me;" search the Scriptures, for in them are contained the words of eternal life. followers of them, who through faith and patience now inherit the promises." Holy David went forward, heavenward, improving in the knowledge of God, of himself, and of God's plan of salvation for ruined sinners, by studying the word, the works, and the providences of God, but chiefly the word of God; praying for, watching for the influences of God's Spirit on his judgment and thinking "Be |