Brethren, we shall never properly taste the comforts of religion till we "follow the Lord fully." To have a heart, and no heart in the ways of God, will always be attended with uncomfortable sensations. "To follow the Lord fully," will sweeten every earthly comfort.

3. Our Lord hath in some respects intrusted us with his glory. The more fully we follow the Lord, the more glory will redound to him, the eyes of the world are on us; therefore, for the honour of our master, we ought "to follow him fully."

4. The love of our neighbour is another motive. What mischief do hypocrites do to the ways of God.

5. And, lastly, Those who "follow the Lord fully," shall possess the good land of promise, of which Canaan was only a type. "To them who by patient continuanceblessed are they who do his commands."

They shall there see Isaac and Jacob, Caleb and Joseph, &c. above all, Jesus the Mediator, and shall not this pros pect stimulate us to be followers of those? Do any of the saints around the throne repent that they "followed the Lord fully ?" Let us plead" with the Lord for another spirit."

THE WALL AND GLORY OF JERUSALEM.

For I, saith the Lord, &c.-Zech. ii. 5.

IN the former chapter the prophet had two gracious visions, one of a man riding among the myrtle trees, in the bottom, Christ and the despised church at Babylonthe other of four carpenters, sent to fray and cast out the horns which had scattered the church by both giving as surance that he would disappoint the enemny of his af flicted people.

In this chapter we have another vision of a man with a measuring line in his hand to show that the Lord was now in readiness to build and restore the city and temple, the former we find accordingly done, (Neh. iii. and vi. 15;) the latter by Josh. and Zerub. Ezra vi. 14, 15.

They were now called to build the city and temple: two great discouragements they met with-danger and scorn. (Neh. iv. 8; 1. 3. 7-9; vi. 1. 10; Ezra iv. 4, 5.) The Lord here, by a gracious promise, fortifieth them against the fear of both; against the fear of danger, by promising to be their protection, and against the fear of scorn, by pro mising to be their glory. When they are without walls, he will be their wall; when they are without gates, he will be their gate; his salvation shall be a bulwark to them; they shall call their "walls salvation and their gates praise." Isa. xxvi. 1; ix. 18.

The words of the text set forth the Lord opposing all the enemies, and removing all the fear of his people, by a double promise of protection against all powerful opposi tion, and honour against all reproachful insults; For I, saith the Lord."

A weak people, met together about a hated and invidious enterprise, opposed by strong, subtile, active, and malicious enemies, certainly need divine aid; well, "I, saith the Lord, will be a wall unto them." But potent enemies can batter walls and scale them. (Ezek. xxi. 22 ; Prov. xxi. 22.) But the Lord to prevent fear will be a wall of fire, which the enemy will not dare to approach. But a wall may have breaches, (Neh. i. 3,) and admit the enemy? (Isa. xxii. 9 ;) but every work of the Lord is perfect: " a wall round about." But if the wall be fire, what will become of the houses of the city? I will be a wall unto her, not a wall against her. beneficial fire to the city; a consuming fire to the enemy, that dare to assault her. A fire in the bush to Moses, a fire in brimstone to Sodom. But a wall may shut men and their mystery together, as the wall of a prison. As the Lord is a wall of fire to keep out the enemy, so he is the glory in the midst, to comfort his people.

The Lord is to his people whatever good they want. In widowhood he is a husband, (Isa. liv. 5;) in orphanship a father, (Fs. Ixviii. 5;) in darkness a sun, in danger a shield. (Ps. lxxxiv. 11.) A refuge in trouble, and a river in drought. (Ps. xlvi. 1-4.) A city where there is no wall, a praise where there is no gate, a light where there is no sun. (Isa. lx. 18, 19.) A God of salvation in whom his servants can triumph, where all other comforts are wantVOL. II. H

ing (lieb, u 17, 1%.) Let us hold fast our God, and we need fear no enemy, (Rom. viii. 31.) If he justify, who can condemn? if he love, who can separate? Many may be against us to hate, but none can be against us to hurt. Our enemies may say with Pharaoh, "1 will pursue," The name of the city is Jehovah Shammah, the Lord is there; and if there be any comfort or help against danger, in heaven or in earth, he can command it; if there be none, he can create it. "I will be a wall,"

1. A wall of partition to separate the church from the world, as the land of Canaan was divided by the Mediterranean westward, by the island seas, and the river Jordan castward, and at each end, north and south, with mountains; so the church of God is separated from the world. "Israel dwelt alone. (Num. xxiii. 9.) They are chosen out of the world. (John xv. 156.) They are not tu conform to the world. (Kom. xii. 2.) Nor to walk acr cording to the course of this world, (Eph. ii. 2.) The world knows them not, (1 John in 1) Looks on them as men to be wondered at," Zech. iii. 8.

2. A wall of conjunction uniting the parts together in one common interest, as the brain is walled by the skull, and the vital parts by the ribs and breast. Though the inemas of the church are called out from the world, aud are separated from, yet they are to be united with them. selves, (P's, cxxii. 3,) to be " one heart and of one suu1,9 (Arts iv, 32, Epb iv, 1 6, 11--16) A kingdom di vided against itself cannot stand; therefore, as Christ is not divided, (1 Co. i 15,) would not have his bones broken, nor his garment parten; su mother should his eburch.

3. A wall of protection and dcfcore. He is a rock, a tower, a shield, a chamber, a sanctuary; and here a wall to preserve and protect his people. The Lord Cota as a wall protect his church

1. 1 way of promise: "I saith the Lord ;” his ... ing it is doing 1. His word is operative and Nescious; the promis of the Lord are wails about his people, lis upholdeth all things by the word of his power; uis - r vants consider themselves safe under his promise," they trust in his word," Ps. exix. 1.

2. In a way of power, making beat his arm in this cause, and when all seems to fail, nothing but d. nget uppeure, he will say, "Stand still," 1.x. xiv. 13.

3. In a way of providence.-i. By his creatures, with whom he maketh a covenant in behalf of his people. (Job v. 23; Hos. ii. 18; Ezek. xxxiv. 25.) 2. By enemies, (Isa. xvi. 4,) as dead thorns are a fence about a garden. 3. By casualties, ordering contingent events to the protection of his people. 2 Sam. v. 24; 2 Kings iii. 22; 1 Sam. xxiii. 27, 28.

4. In a way of grace; causing such rays of spiritual majesty to appear in them, as to constrain their adversaries to reverence them; as Herod did John, and Felix Paul.

His protection is like that of a wall. 1. He is near, the wall joins and is near the city.. (Ps. xliv. 1; lxxxv. 9, Jer. xxiii. 23.) 2. An adequate defence; a wall defends on every side, as the enemies compass, (Ps. xxii. 12—16; xviii. 10 -12,) so doth the Lord compass with mercy. (Ps. xxii. 10.) 3. An impregnable defence: a wall of fire," which cannot be scaled or broken. He once defended his church with a wall of water, (Ex. xiv. 22,) and still defends it as a wall of fire. By himself, who is a consuming fire; by bis angels, who are a flaming fire. (Ps. xxxiv. 7.)-4. A perpetual defence. Isa. iv. 5.

We have taken a view of the wall; consider the city walled, the subject of his defence; will be unto her, unto Jerusalem, the city of the great God. Where his dwelling is, there is defence; the more a people have of God s presence, the more of his protection. When we go to appear before the Lord, the enemy shall not desire our land; (Ex. xxxiv. 24;) but if we have our back on Jerusalem, we are out of his protection. Luke x. 30.

The church is his property, his rest, (Ps. cxxxii. 14;) his peculiar treasure. (Mal. iii. 16.) His eyes and his heart are on them, (1 Kings ix. 3;) graven on the palms of his bands. (Isa. xlix. 16; Zech. ii. 8; Matt. xvi. 18.) "I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round, and will be the glory in the midst." The church in the wilderness marched in a four-square body, with the tabernaele of the congregation in the midst of them, and their standards on every side, (Num. ii.) the standards were the wall, and the tabernacle the glory in the midst. All is well about the church, all is well within; the Lord is the glory in the midst of his people.

1. By his spiritual residence and gracious presence

with them. Moses prays, Ex. xxxiii. 18, and the Lord answers, "I will make my goodness ;” when he proclaims his goodness he shows his glory. (Ps. 1, 2; lxxxvii. 35 Rom. ix, 4.) The church is the throne, the world but his footstool, Jer. xvi. 12.

2. By his holy ordinances, (1 Tim. i. 11; Rom. ix. 23; Eph. iii. 8, Col. i. 27.) Therein all divine excellences are most resplendent. (Ps, exxii. 22.) There divine wis dom is conspicuous, (Eph. iii. 10.) Free and glorious grace, (Eph. i. 6, Hơm, v. 20, 21.) His power. (2 Cor. x. 4. 95 Eph. i, 19, 20.) His holiness, transforming ue, bur, (2 Cor. i. 19.) His eternal blessedness Col, i, 27 ; iii. 8, 4. 3. In glorious privil ges and immunities belonging to every citizen of Jerusalem Liberty from the tyranny of sin, communion in the affection and prayers of all saints, (1 John i. 7 ;) boldness of access to a throne of grace, (Eph. iii, 12; Heb. iv. 16;) victory over our energies and temptations (Rom. v. 3; Acts v. 41.) As the cloud in the temple is called the glory of God, (1 Kings vili. 10, 11,) so the Lord is the glory of his people when filled with the clouds of affliction The lily is as beautiful in the midst of thorns, as in a bed of spices, The Lord is the defence and glory of his people. To conclude,

1. What folly, as well as wickedness, to oppose the church of God; briers to contend with flames. Zech. xii. 6; Iss xxvii. 45 xlv. 9.

2. We need not make use of carnal wisdom and sinful means for protection, Pa. Izii. 10, 11; 1 Sam. xxvi. 8. 11.

3. Envy not the glory of the world, these are but dross and dung. Abraham gave portions to his other children, but the inheritance to lease. (ien. xxv. 5.

4. Above all things, hold fast God and his presence. God will be with you while you are with him.

5. If God be thus your glory, let your glorying be in him alone. Jer. ix. 23, 24; Isn. xlv. 25.