the work of God, which was committed to him, was a pattern went about doing good." O what a great and glorious work did Chrift finish in a little time! A work to be celebrated to all eternity by the praises of the redeemed. Six things were very remarkable in the diligence of Christ about his Father's work. First, That his heart was intently fet upon it, Pfal. iv. 8. "Thy law is in the midst of my heart," or bowels. Secondly, That he never fainted under the many great discouragements he frequently met withal in that work, Ifa, xliii He fhall not fail, nor be difcouraged. Thirdly, That the fhortness of his time provoked him to the greateft diligence, Johu ix. 4. "I must work the work of him that fent me, while it is day, for the night cometh when no man “can work." Fourthly, That he improveded all opportunities, companies, and occurrences to further the great work, which was under his hand, John iv. 6, 10. Fifthly, Nothing more difpleafed him than when he met with diffuafions and difcouragements in his work; upon that account it was that he gave Peter fo fharp a check, Mat. viii. 33. "thee behind me, Satan." "Get Sixthly, Nothing rejoiced his foul more, than the profperity and fuccefs of his work, Luke x. 20, 21. When the difciples made the report of fuccefs of their miniftry, 'tis faid, "lo that "hour Jefus rejoiced in Spirit." And O what a triumphant fhout was that upon the crofs at the accomplishment of his work, John xix. 30. It is finished! Now, Chriftians, eye your pattern, look unto Jefus; trifle not away your lives in vanity. Chrift was diligent, be not you flothful. And to encourage you in your imitation of Chrift in labour and diligence, confider, First, How great an honour God puts upon you, in employing you for his fervice: every veffel of fervice is a veffel of honour, 2 Tim. ii. 21. The apoftle was very ambitious † of that honour, Rom. xv. 20. It was the glory of Eliakim to be fastned as a nail in a fure place, and to have many people hang upon him, Ifa. xxii. 33. Secondly, Your diligence in the work of God will be your great fecurity in the hour of temptation; for "the Lord is "with you while you are with him," 2 Chron. xv. 2. The fchoolmen put the queftion, How the faints in heaven became impeccable and refolve it thus, that they are therefore freed from † Diλoriμiopni, ambio, dictum verbum ab amore honoris, Zanch. fin, because they are continually imployed and fwallowed up in the bleffed vifions of God. Thirdly, Diligence in the work of God is an excellent help to the improvement of grace. For, tho' gracious habits are not acquired, yet they are greatly improved by frequent acts ; "To him that hath fhall be given," Mat. xxv. 29. 'Tis a good note of Luther, Fides pinguefcit operibus, Faith improves by obedience. Fourthly, Diligence in the work of God is the direct way to the affurance of the love of God, 2 Pet. XV. 10. This path leads you into heaven upon earth. Fifthly, Diligence in bedience is a great fecurity against backfliding: fmall remiffions in duty, and little neglects, increase by degrees unto great apoftafies, you may fee how that difeafe is bred, by the method prescribed for its cure, Rev. ii. 5. Do thy first works. Sixthly, In a word, laborious diligence, in the day of life, will be your fingular comfort when the night of death overtakes you, 2 Pet. i. 11. 2 Kings xx. 3. Pattern 5. Delight in God, and in his fervice, was eminently confpicuous in the life of Christ, and is a rare pattern for believers imitation, John iv. 32, 34. " But he faid unto them, I have meat "to eat that ye know not of, my meat is to do the will of "himthat sent me, and to finish his work." The delights of Christ were all in heaven. The Son of man was in heaven, in refpect of delight in God, while he converfed here among men. And if you be Chrift's, heavenly things will be the delight of your fouls alfo. Now fpiritual delight is nothing else but the complacency and well-pleafednefs of a renewed heart, in converfing with God, and the things of God; refulting from the agreeableness of them to the fpiritual temper of his mind. Four things are confiderable about fpiritual delight. First, The nature of it, which confifteth in the complacency, reft, and fatisfaction of the mind in God, and spiritual things. The heart of a Christian is centred, it is where it would be; it is gratified, in the higheft, in the actings forth of faith, and love upon God; as the tafte is gratified with a fuitable delicious relish, Pfal. lxiii. 5, 6, Pfal. cxix. 14. 24. Pfal. xvii. 18. - Secondly, The object of fpiritual delight, which is God himfelf, and the things which relate to him. He is the bleffed o cean into which all the streams of fpiritual delight do pour themfelves, Pfal. Ixxiii. 25. "Whom have I in heaven but thee, and on earth there is none that I defire in comparison of thee." Thirdly, The fubject of fpiritual delight, which is a renewed SERM. XXIX. heart, and that only fo far as it is renewed, Rom. vii. 22. “I delight in the law of God after the inward man." Fourthly, The principle and fpring of this delight, which is the agreeablenefs of fpiritual things to the temper and frame of a renewed mind. A fenfitive pleasure arifes from the fuitablenefs of the faculty and object. So it is here, no delicious fweetnefs can be fo pleasant to the tafte, or beautiful colours to the eye, or melodious founds to the ear, as fpiritual things to the renewed fouls, because fpiritual fenfes are delicate, and the ob jects more excellent. But my business here, is not fo much to open its natnre, as prefs you to the practice thereof in conformity to your great pattern, whofe life was a life of delight in God, and whofe work was performed with the greatest delight for God. "I delight "to do thy will, O my God." O Christians, strive to imitate your pattern in this. And to encourage you, I will briefly hint a few things. First, Scarce any thing can be more evidential. of fincerity, than a heart delighting in God, and the will of God. Hypocrites go as far as others in the material parts of duties, but here they are defective; they have no delight in God and things fpiritual; but do whatsoever they do in religion, from the compulfions of confcience, or accommodations of felf-ends. Secondly, An heart delighting in God will be a choice help and means to perfeverance. The reafon why many fo eafily part with religion is, because their fouls never tafted the fweetnefs of it; they never delighted in it; but the Christian who delights in the law of God, will be meditating on it day and night, and fhall be like a tree planted by a river of water, whose leaf fadeth not, Pfal, i. 2, 3. Thirdly, This will reprefent religion very beautifully, to fuch as are yet ftrangers to it; you will then be able to invite them to Chrift by your example, the language whereof will be like that, Pfal. xxxiv. 8. "O taste and fee that God is "good." Fourthly, This will make all your services to God very pleafing, and acceptable through Chrift; you will now begin to do the will of God on earth, as it is done in heaven; your duties are fo far angelical as they are performed in the ftrength of delight in God. Object. But may not a fincere Chriftian act in duty without delight? Yea, may he not feel fome kind of wearinefs in du ties? Solut. Yes doubtlefs he may; but then we muft diftinguish betwixt the temper, and diftemper, of a renewed heart; the best hearts are not always in their right frame. Pattern 6. The inoffenfiveness of the life of Chrilt upon earth, is an excellent pattern to all his people; he injured none, offendéd none, but was holy, and harmless, as the apostle speaks, Heb. vii. 26. He denied his own liberty to avoid occafion of of fence; as in the cafe of the tribute-money, Mat. xix 27. "The "children are free, notwithstanding left we should offend them, go," &c. So circumfpect was Chrift, and inoffenfive among all men, that the' his enemies fought occafion against him, yet could they find none, Luke vi. 7. Look unto Jefus, O ye pro feffors of religion; imitate him in this gracious excellency of his life, according to his command, Phil. ii. 15. "That ye may be harmless and blameless, the fons of God, without rebuke, " in the midst of a crooked and perverfe nation." You are indeed, allowed the exercile of your prudence, but not a jot farther than will confift with your innocence. "Be ye wife as ferpents, and harmless as doves." 'Tis the rule of Chrift, that you offend none, 1 Cor. x. 32. 2 Cor. vi. 3. And to engage you to the imitation of Chrift in this, I must briefly prefs It with a few encouragements, which methinks should prevail with any heart that's truly gracious. Firft, For the honour of Jesus Christ, be you inoffensive, his name is called upon you, his honour is concerned in your deportment; if your carriage in the world give juft matter of offence, Chrift's worthy name will be blafphemed thereby, Jam. ii. 7. Your inoffen five carriage is the only means to stop the months. of detractors, i Pet. ii. 15. Secondly, For the fake of fouls, the precious and immortal fouls of others, be wary that you give no offence: "Wo to the "world, (faith Chrift), because of offence," Matth. xiii. 7. Nothing was more commonly objected against Christ, and religion, by the Heathen in Cyprian's time, than the toofe and fcandalous lives of profeffors: Behold, fay they, thefe are the men, who "boaft themfelves to be redeemed from the tyranny of Satan, "to be dead to the world; nevertheless, fee how they are o"vercome by their own lufts." And much after the fame rate Salvian brings in the wicked of his time, ftumbling at the looferess of profeffors, and faying, Where is that catholic law which * Ecce qui jactant se redemptis a tyrannide Satana, qui prædi tant fe mortavus effe mundo, nihilominous vincuntur cupiditatibu fuis. Cyprian. VOL. UL they believe? Where are the examples of piety, and chastity, which they have learned? &c. O Christians, draw not the guilt of other men's eternal ruin upon your fouls. Thirdly, In a word, anfwer the ends of God in your fancti. fication, and providential difpofe in the world, this way; by the holiness and harmlefness of your lives, many may be won to Christ, Pet iii. 1. What the Heathens faid of moral virtue, (which they called verticordia, turn-heart) that if it were but visible to mortal eyes, all men would be enamoured with it, will be much more true of religion, when you shall represent the beauty of it in your converfation. Pattern 7. The humility, and lowlinefs of Chrift is propounded by himself, as a pattern for his people's imitation. Matth. xi. 29. "Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly." He could abafe, and empty himself of all his glory, Phil ii. 5, 6, 7. He could stoop to the meaneft office, even to wash the difciples feet. We read but of one triumph in all the life of Chrift upon carth, when he rode to Jerufalem, the people ftrewing branches in the way, and the very children in the streets of Jerufalem, crying, "Hofanna to the fon of David, Hofanna in the higheft;" and yet with what lowlinefs and humility was it performed by Chrift, Matth. xxi. 5. "Behold thy King commeth unto thee "meek and lowly." The humility of Chrift appeared in every thing he fpake, or did. Humility difcovered itfelf in his language, Pfal. xxii. 6. "I am a worm, and no man.” In his actions, not refufing the meaneft office, John iii. 14. In his condefcenfions to the worst of men, upon which ground they called him "a friend to publicans and finners," Matth. xi. 19, But especially, and above all, in ftooping down from all his glory to a state of the deepest contempt, for the glory of God, and our falvation. Chriftians! here is your pattern; look to your meek, and humble Saviour, and tread in his fteps; be youcloathed with humility," 1 Pet. v. 5. Whoever are ambitious to be the world's great ones, let it be enough for you to be Chrift's little ones. Convince the world, that fince you knew God, and yourfelves, your pride hath been dying from that day. Shew your humility in your habits, 1 Pet. iii. 3. 1 Tim. ii. 9, 10. In your company, not contemning the meaneft, and pooreft that fear the Lord, Pfal. xv. 4. Rom. xii. 16. In your language; that dialect befits your lips, Eph. iii. 8. "Lefs than "the least of all faints;" but especially in the low value, and humble thoughts you have of yourselves, 1 Tim. i. 15. And to prefs this, I beseech you to confider, I First, -From how vile a root pride fprings. Ignorance of |