ftrength, to enable them to perform the most difficult duties, to overcome the most powerful temptations, and to fupport them under all their afflictions. "My

grace," fays he, "is fufficient for thee; for my "trength is made perfect in weaknefs." Fear not, then, ye who fincerely believe in him; for though your ftrength be small, and the difficulties you may have to encounter, many and great, your refuge is on high, the mighty God is your ftrength: He who fpoiled principalities and powers, and made a fhew of them openly on his crofs, will ftill maintain the conqueft he has gained. You are ready, perhaps, to faint in the performance of duty, or at the profpect of danger; fo that you walk in the paths of holiness with a trembling and a feeble heart. But, hear in what encouraging words he addreffes you!" Fear "not, thou worm, Jacob; I will help thee, faith the "Lord, thy Redeemer (a)." Wait, therefore, on the Lord, and be of good courage; for they that wait on him fhall renew their ftrength; they fhall walk, and not weary; they fhall run, and not faint.

9. I fhall only add, that, in Chrift Jefus, there is a fulness of confolation and joy. In fcripture, he is ftyled the Confolation of Ifrael. "If," fays the apostle," there be any confolation in Chrift:" the queftion amounts to a strong affirmation,-as certainly as there is abundant confolation in him. Whence do the comforts of the Holy Ghoft proceed? Is it not from Chrift, who is the only Fountain of true joy? In him is pure and unmixed confolation; con. folation which fatisfies and gladdens the foul; fills it with joy unspeakable, and enables the Christian to glory in tribulation, and even triumph amidst the flames. Why, then, believer, art thou fad and dejected? Why do thy hands hang down, and thy knees grow feeble? "Here is beauty for afhes, and "the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of "praife for the fpirit of heavinefs. Be glad in the

"Lord,

(a) Ifa. xli. 14.

"Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous. Let the children " of Zion be joyful in their king.".

II. But I now come, fecondly, To mention, and briefly illuftrate, a few endearing characters of this mediatory fulness which, it hath pleased the Father, fhould be in Christ.

1. It appears evident, from the obfervations we have already made, that this fulness is to be communicated to all those who fincerely believe in his name, who are the true members of his church or mystical body. Hence, it is reprefented as an open fountain: "In that day," fays the prophet, " there fhall be a "fountain opened to the house of David, and to the "inhabitants of Jerufalem (a);" that is, to all fincere believers, without exception, who, as the fpiritual feed of Chrift, are of the houfe of David, and, as living members of the church, are inhabitants of Jerufalem. Nay, we are not only allowed, but kindly invited to come to it for pardoning mercy, for life, ftrength, and confolation. "Ho, every one," fays he, that thirfteth, come to the waters; and ye that "have no money; come, buy wine and milk, with "out money, and without price."--" In that last "day," fays the evangelift," the great day of the "feaft, Jefus ftood and cried, If any man thirft, let "him come to me and drink (b).”,

2. It is an abundant and inexhauftible fulness. This is the fulnefs, of which all the faints, that ever lived, both under the Old and New Teftament difpenfations, have been receiving, and of which all the redeemed and glorified around the throne of God fhall receive to eternity. It is fo connected with the infinite perfections, and everlafting ftrength of Almighty God, that it flows with an undiminished and uncealing ftream of happiness and comfort to all those who are purified by the blood of Christ. From the influences that flow from this fulnefs, their happiness is even every moment increafed. This,

(*) Zech. xiii. £.

(b) John vii. 37.

in

in a word, is that pure river of the waters of life, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, the ftreams whereof continually make glad the city of God.

3. It is an unchangeable fulness. For Chrift, in whom it dwells, is the fame Almighty Redeemer today, yesterday, and for ever. Of this fulness, he can neither be deprived by the powers of earth nor hell: "I give to my fheep," fays he, "eternal life; " and they shall never perifh, neither fhall any pluck "them out of my hand." At his death, indeed, the powers of darkness endeavoured, by every exertion of malice and ftrength, to prevent him from poffeffing it; but he triumphed over them in his crof3, and he ftill triumphs over them in the grace which he communicates to his fervants. Let not the Christian, then, be afraid, as if any thing could hinder the communication of this fulness for the fupport of his fpiritual life. As the union between Chrift and believers can never be diffolved; fo, there will be constant communications from Him, their exalted Head, to fecure their continuance in his love. This was the ground of the apostle's triumph, when he exclaims, "Who fhall feparate us from the love of Christ? "Shall tribulation, or diftrefs, or perfecution, or "nakedness, or peril, or fword? Nay, in all these "things, we are more than conquerors, through him "that loved us (a)."

.

4. To mention no more, the most endearing confideration of all is, that it is a fuitable fulness. The Christian can labour under no neceflity or want, in which this fulness will not afford affiftance and confolation. Though it be of ineftimable value, yet, the poor, as well as the rich, the weak, as well as the ftrong, the meaneft, as well as the greateft, will find it adapted to their particular cafe and circumftances. Is the Chriftian in profperity or adverfity, in health or in ficknefs, dejected or elated? The fulness of Chrift is exactly adapted to his fituation. A fovereign

(a) Rom. viii. 35.

reign and univerfal remedy for the difcafes of the body, has been earnestly defired, and anxiously foughtafter by mankind in every age. This remedy has hitherto baffled every attempt to procure it: But I am warranted to declare, with confidence, that there is, in Chrift's mediatorial fuinefs, a remedy for all the diseases and wants of the foul; nay, further, a remedy which affords the best support and confolation under all the pains and diftempers of the body. What fhall we then think of this fulness? It infinitely transcends what we can either exprefs or conceive. It becomes us, therefore, to contemplate it with the highest admiration. It is the wonder of angels, and will be the subject of praise to the faints, through the ages of eternity.

Thus, I have endeavoured to give you fome account, from the word of God, of the fulness which, it hath pleased the Father, fhould dwell in Chrift. I come now to make fome practical improvement of this fubject.

1. Let us celebrate the praises of God, and admire his wifdom in the fcheme of man's redemption. The covenant is indeed well ordered in all things, and fure. In the first covenant, the happiness of man was, as it were, placed in his own hand. He had a power to fulfil the condition, which, if he had employed aright, he, doubtlefs, would have obtained the life that was promifed. But having forfeited all right to the bleffing, and loft his power, both he and his pofterity would have perifhed for ever, if this wonderful expedient had not exifted in the counfels of God! It pleafed the Father, that in Chrift fhould all fulnefs dwell. When we confider the covenant of grace in this light, how wonderful does it appear! how wifely ordered for fecuring the glory of God, and the comfort and happinefs of his people! This fulness of Chrift gives us an affurance of hope and ftability, which Adam, in a state of innocence, never enjoyed. He stood upon uncertain ground, his own free will,

which

which might be, and was actually, fhaken. But here is a foundation laid in Zion, that fhall never be moved. The faithful in Chrift will be happy through eternity; for they will be happy, as long as there is fulnefs in their glorious Redeemer. "O, the depth "of the riches, both of the wisdom and love of "God!"

2. Let us blefs the Lord that ever he was pleased to reveal this fulness to us. There are many nations on the face of the earth, yet strangers to the covenant of promife, and without Chrift in the world. What reafon have we, then, to adore the diftinguishing goodness of God, when, instead of fitting in darknefs, and under the fhadow of death, this Day-fpring from on high hath vifited us, and the Sun of righteoufnefs hath arifen with healing in his wings? Do not thofe glad tidings of great joy deferve returns of the warmest gratitude? Without this revelation, it had been the fame to us, as if no fuch fulness had ever exifted. Have we not reafon, then, to fay with the Pfalmift, "The lines are fallen to us in pleasant

places, and we have a goodly heritage?" Have we not reafon to fhew forth the praises of him, who hath called us out of darkness into this marvellous light?

3. Let it be your firft and principal concern to know this fulness in a faving and a practical manner. The theory of it is of little importance, unless you can fay, from your own experience, that you are affured of the bleffing, and have tasted that the Lord is gracious; an effect which can only be produced, in confequence of a fpiritual union between Chrift and your fouls. This union to Chrift, is the foundation and bond of communion with him. You must be living members of his mystical body, before you can derive influences of grace from the bleffed Head. Be perfuaded, therefore, you who are yet unbelievers, and, of confequence, have no intereft in the fulness of Chrift, be perfuaded, I intreat you, as you love your

own