mediation we meditate on what he was, what he became, what he did, what he endured, for us men and our falvation: we follow him to the heavenly places; contem

plate his glory, his power, his grace, at the right hand of GoD: we remember his exceeding great and precious promises, and that bleffed promife which refpects this place and this hour, "I am in the midst "of you." The fire burns within us! "It "is good for us to be here!" We feel exultation, chaftened with reverence. Hope takes full poffeffion of our fouls,—for his refurrection enfures our bodies of humiliation being raifed like unto his glorious body: his exaltation enfures our fitting in the heavenly places: "because he lives we fhall live alfo.' Now, let me ask you, with what state of mind ought Chriftians to regard the enemies of the LORD JESUS CHRIST? Is it poffible that they who are thus affected and exercised, who enter into the spirit of the service of this day, and feel the happiness of the worshippers of the LORD, can regard the enemies of CHRIST, but as objects of abhorrence and deteftation?

BUT,

BUT, I have faid, it is never improper to cherish and justify the fentiments of Chriftians. I fear it is more than poffible, and a matter of fuppofition, that fome Chriftians. may feel this horror of infidelity feebler than it ought to be: it is poffible that fome may fuffer it to diminish; or be placed in circumstances in which there is danger of its being diminished, and, with it, attachment to revelation, and reverence for it being diminished alfo. Therefore, let me turn your attenton to their guilt towards GoD and his CHRIST; to their influence among men; by attending to the hiftory of providence; and to the profpects of futurity, you will perceive the deteftableness of enmity and oppofition to the Gospel: let it be Anathema Maranatha.

1. You cannot but abhor enmity to the Gofpel, when you confider the enormity of its guilt, in relation to the Creator and Governor, and Judge of the world.

YOUR feelings and exercifes, and joys as Christians, and as Chriftian worshippers, are demonstrations to you of that enormity. How have you regarded, formerly, and what

are

are the affections you now feel and cherish towards, the fource of being, the standard of perfection, the author of all enjoyment?" does not the review of the past, the experience of the prefent, and the boundlets and ravishing profpect of immortality, fill you with peace and joy," a joy unfpeakable and "full of glory?" And, are there men who defpife the LORD, pour contempt on his work, treat the refult of his councils as foolishness, the demonftrations of his prefence and power, and grace, as impofture, or beneath their notice? are there men who tread on the body of the LORD, Count "the blood of "the covenant" an useless effufion; and turn your theme of exultation, the subject of the anthems and adoration of angels, the brightest display of the divine glory, into ridicule? I know your fentiments of fuch men are those of the apoftle. They are an Anathema. Let them be an Anathema.

WHEN in the hours of felf-converfe and felf-correction, our hearts reproach us, for the defects we perceive in our best regards towards our GOD and Saviour; when we lament and condemn the coldness, infre

quency

quency and interruptions of admiration, of gratitude, of devotedness: fuch reproofs and humiliations are equal to many arguments, and fupercede all others, for abominating the total want of them, especially their very reverse, in the enemies of the Gospel of JESUS. Let them be an Anathema.

SEARCH with diligence for whatever is perfect, is estimable, is beloved; for what imparts and fecures delight. What is all this but an emanation from GOD, a ray of his glory? Imagine every thing that attaches you to any character: recollect the highest excellence you ever admired, and the most endearing circumftances of your respect and affection; as intimate relation, unwearied goodness, confummate wisdom, the favours of the liberal, the intereft of the friend, the tender affections and offices of a parent: the warmth you feel of admiration, intereft and affection, preaches to you, if I may use the expreffion, what you owe to your God and Saviour, and the enormity and deteftablenefs of enmity to the Gospel of JESUS.

2. FOR exciting your abhorrence against B b

the

the essays and attacks of infidel and irreligious writers, and all who wish to undermine and deftroy our faith; let me turn your attention to their influence in the world, the tendency and effects of their enmity and oppofition on fociety.

THE rejection of the Gospel is their aim and object.

LET us fuppofe them fuccessful. Muft we go to them for our religious and moral fyftem? to them, who pull down systems, and believe in unbelief! to them, who are Atheists; are Deifts, mortal and immortal; are advocates for virtue and for vice, if hypocrify, and adultery, and fuicide, are called vice! they "call good evil, and evil good!" Formed by fuch teachers, and upon fuch models, what are men? No virtue or virtuous course, that is unpleafant, will be purfued: no vice, that can be fafe from human punishment, will be reftrained. Where are the fupports of excellence of character; where are the confolations of diftrefs?

Most unhappily, in our days, it is not neceffary