from iniquity. He is not aiming at a name to live, but at real improvement in the spiritual life. He attends to the great things exhibited in this ordinance, fuch as the evil and danger of fin, the ruined condition of the human race, the mercy of God in providing for them a Savior, and the love of Chrift in giving himself a facrifice to God for the fins of men. By the contemplation of these things he ftrengthens his purpose of obedience, his faith in the Redeemer, his gratitude to God, and his love to all men.

We may obferve farther, that the Apostle confiders love as a main branch of holinefs. "God hath chofen us to be holy and without blame be fore him in love."

When the word love, in the facred writings is used indefinitely, and without limitation to a particu lar object, love to men, and especially to the breth. ren, is usually intended. So the word is to be understood here, as appears from the 15th verfe of this chapter, and from the parallel place in the epiftle to the Coloffians, where the Apoftle gives thanks for their faith in Chrift and love to the faints.

Love is, every where in fcripture, considered as a moft effential part of the character of the faint. Charity out of a pure heart, is the end of the commandment. Chriftians are above all things to put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. Believers have purified their fouls in obeying the truth unto unfeigned love of the brethren. Brotherly kindness and charity are the graces, which complete the Chriftian character.

Let us remember then, that without charity, all our pretenfions to gofpel holinefs are vain. We may talk with the tongue of men and angels; we may difcover a fervent zeal in matters which bear fome relation to religion; we may have much knowledge of the myfteries of revelation; we may

profefs a ftrong faith; we may be liberal of our fubftance in promoting fome favorite defigns, which we call pious ones; but if we have no charity, all is nothing-or nothing but glare and noife. That charity which belongs to the Chriftian temper, is kind and longfuffering, oppofite to pride, oftentation and envy. It is humble and peaceable, meek and condefcending-not eafily provoked, not apt to cenfure. It rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth. It beareth, hopeth and believeth all things.

SERMON IV.

EPHESIANS i. 4, 5, 6.

According as he hath chofen us in him, before the foundation of the world, that we fhould be holy and without blame before him in love, having predeftinated us to the adoption of children by Jefus Chrift to himfelf, according to the good pleafure of his will, to the praife of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

THE nature of that election or predeftination, of which thefe Ephefians were the fubjects; and that holiness and love, to which they were chofen, we illuftrated in our preceding difcourfe. We

are now,

III. To confider the adoption to which believers are predeftinated.

Adoption is a word feveral times ufed by this Apoftle, to exprefs the high privileges and exalted hopes of Chriflians in this world, and the fuperior dignity and happiness referved for them in anoth

er.

The word ufed by him, which we render adoption, properly fignifics, putting one in the place of a fon.

The word fuggefts to us this idea, that we have no natural right to the privileges of children; for though we are by our creation the children of God,

yet we are become disobedient and rebellious chil. dren, and as fuch are excluded from all title to the inheritance originally promifed to obedience. Our fonfhip is not our native right, but the effect of God's gracious adoption.

In this adoption are included several important privileges.

1. It implies a ftate of freedom, in oppofition to bondage. The Apostle fays, We have not received the fpirit of bondage again to fear, but the Spirit of adop

tion.

Believers are free, as being delivered from the bondage of fin.

This freedom they obtain in the renovation of their minds after the image of God. "As many as receive Chrift, to them is given power to become the children of God, for they are born of him."They are his children by a heavenly and spiritual birth. They are born from above-born of the Spirit; "and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." They are no more the fervants of fin to obey it in the lufts thereof; but, being made free from fin, they are become the fervants of God, and they have their fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

They are free, as having near accefs to God and intimate communion with him.

"Through Chrift they have access by the Spirit unto the Father. Because they are fons, God hath fent forth the Spirit of his Son into their hearts, and given them the fpirit of adoption, whereby they cry, Abba, Father."

Children are ufually admitted to that familiar intercourse, which is denied to fervants: So they, whom God has called to the adoption of children, may come boldly to his throne. They know where to find him, and may approach even to his feat.They have liberty to enter into the most holy place by the blood of Chrift. And God makes to them

fome peculiar communications of his grace,to help their infirmities, ftrengthen their good refolutions, comfort them in afflictions, defend them against temptations, and lead them in the way everlafting. "The fecret of the Lord is with them who fear him, and he will fhew them his covenant. The meek he will guide in judgment, and teach them his way." Chrift fays to his difciples, "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I have commanded you. I call you not fervants, for a fervant knoweth not what his Lord doth; but I have called you friends, for all things, which I have heard of my Father, I have made known unto you."

2. Adoption brings us under the peculiar care of God's providence.

"God is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works." The juft and the unjust partake of his common bounties. But he is especially good to them who are of a clean heart. "His eyes are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry. No good thing will be withheld from them who walk uprightly. Chrift is made head over all things for the church."

Good and bad are subject to the common adver fities of life; but the afflictions, which befal the juft, are ordered in a more immediate fubfervience to their spiritual intereft. "Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth; he fcourgeth every fon whom he receiveth. If we endure chaftening, God dealeth with us as with fons; for what fon is he, whom the father chafteneth not? And God chafteneth us for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holinefs. And though no affliction for the prefent, is joyous, but grievous, yet afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruits of righteousness."

Needful and feasonable correction is one of the benefits of adoption-one of the privileges of God's children. The gracious intention of it is to recover them from their backflidings-to wean them