in commendation of the churches for their love unto all the saints, Eph. i. 15. Col i. 4. 11. As to the nature of this grace of love It is wrought in regeneration, and is an evidence of their regeneration, 1 John iii. 14. 2. This grace is very largely described, 1 Cor. xiii. for though our translators have rendered the word charity throughout, for what reason it does ́not appear, it should be love. It should be universal, fervent, active, and laborious, the exemplar according to which, it is to be exercised is, as Christ has loved his people: after the apostle had exhorted, to covet earnestly the best gifts, he adds, yet shew I unto you a more excellent way, 1 Cor. xii. 31. meaning the graceof love. This is an evidence of a man's being born again. Every one that loveth is born of God, 1 John iv. 7. and this is the grand criterion of a true disciple of Christ. In Tertullian's time the heathens knew the christians by their loving carriage to one another in public, and would point unto them and say, "See how they love one another!" such times are now to be wished for. It is called the bond of perfectness, Col. iii. 14. Without which a profession of religion is an empty and useless thing. It is the exercise of this grace which makes the com munion with one another delightful; Behold how good, and how pleasant it is, for brethren to dwell together in unity! Charity, or love edifieth; i maketh increase of the body, unto the edifying of itself in love, 1 Cor. viii. 1. It is one part of the saints spiritual armour; The breast plate of faith and love is a good defence. The bundle of sticks in the fable, whilst bound together, could not be broken, but when separated, were easily snapt asunder. 111. This grace of love to one ancther manifests itself, by praying with and for one another, Eph. vi. 18. by bearing one another's burdens, Gal. vi. 2. by forbearing and forgiving one another, Col. iii. 13. by re buking and admonishing one another in love, Prov. xxvii. 5, 6. by endeavouring to establish one another in the doctrines of the gospel; and by exhorting and stirring up one another to the several duties of religion, both public and private. zv. There are various arguments which may be made use of

1. It is Christ's new

to excite to the exercise of this grace. commandment; a new motive is added by Christ himself; As I have loved you, that ye also love one onother, John xiii. 34. and xv. 12. 2. The love of God and Christ should engage unto it, 1 John iv. 11. 3. The relation the saints stand in to one another, is a reason why they should love one another, Acts vii. 26. 4. The comfort and joy of ministers, should be an argument with the saints to mutual love. Ephe sus was threatened with a removal of the candlestick, or church-state, unless they repented, because they had left their first love.

OF SPIRITUAL JOY.

Joy is a fruit of the Spirit, which follows love; The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, Gal. v. 22. We consider,

I. The objects of it are not a creature, nor creature enjoy. ment, nor outward privilege, nor duty; but Jehovah himself, called by David, God, his exceeding joy, Hab. iii. 17, 18. his people rejoice, 1. In his attributes, Psal. xcvii. 22. In his everlasting love; that their names are written in heaven, Luke x. 20. and that the covenant of grace is everlasting, absolute, and sure. 11. Christ, and things relating to him, are the objects of the spiritual joy of the saints; true Christians are described as such who rejoice in Christ Jesus, Phil. iii. 3. The things relating to the greatness, the fitness, the fulness, and the beauty of his person, fill with joy unspeakable and full of glory; this, says the church after she had described him at large with air of joy and pleasure, this amiable lovely person, is my beloved and my friend, Cant. v. 10-16.

I take no notice of the offices of Christ, of prophet, and priest, and king; nor of the relations he stands in to his people of father, husband, brother, friend, though they are a fund of joy to true believers. There are other things which relate to the work of Christ, which are matter of joy to gracious souls; We will rejoice in thy salvation, says David, Psal. xx. 7. and great reason there is for the exercise of spiritual joy

1

on this account, since it is a salvation of the souls of men; it is for sinners, for the chief of sinners; it is a salvation of them from sin; it is entirely free; It is plenteous, complete, and eternal; suitable to the case and circumstances of sinners; if the angels rejoiced at the good will of God to men in it, and sung glory to God on account of it, how much more rea son have men to do so, who have hope of interest in it. Christ, who has wrought out righteousness, and so secures from all condemnation, is highly exalted above every name, is appearing in the presence of God for his people, and will come a second time without sin unto salvation; the fore-views of which, cause them in their present state, To look up, and lift up their heads, since their redemption draweth nigh, Luke xxi 28. The ministration of the gospel; this is matter of joy to all sensible and awakened sinners; it is a joyful sound of love and mercy; it is food to hungry souls. The administra tion of ordinances, baptism and the Lord's supper yield delight to believing souls; these are the galleries in which he is beheld. The prosperity of the interest of Christ; whether it be through the numerous conversions of men, Acts xv. 3. or through peace and unity, prevailing and subsisting among saints, give pleasure to all the well wishers to Zion's prosperity, Psalm cxxii. 6-9. The heavenly glory and happiness of a future state to all eternity, is an object of the saints present joy; when they shall actually possess it, they will then en. ter into the joy of their Lord; even now they can hope.

the

rejoice in

II. The author and cause of this spiritual joy. 1. The efficient cause is God; it is therefore called, The joy of the Lord, Nehem. viii. 10. 2. The instruments or means of it are the ministers of the gospel. 11. Spiritual peace is a deliverance and freedom from this distress, which in general is wrought out by the Spirit of God, being the comforter of convinced sinners, by leading them to the blood of Christ, Isai. liii. 6. to his righteousness, Rom. v. 1. and into the truth of

the gospel, John xvi. 13. such as covenant grace, the love of God, &c

II. I go on to enquire, who are the subjects of this peace: 1. Not sinful men, or unregenerate sinners; There is no peace saith my God, to the wicked, Isai. Ivii. 21. 2. Nor self righteous persons, who trust in themselves that they are righteous, and fetch their peace from thence; but their trust is a spider's web, and such webs shall not become garments: nor shall they cover themselves with their works; and so shall not have peace and comfort: and of them it is said, the way of peace they know not, Isai. lix. 6, 8. 3. Only justified and pardoned sinners have true, solid peace in themselves; such whose hearts are fixed, trusting in the Lord, are not afraid of evil tidings: To be spiritually minded is life and peace, Rom. viii. 6. Great peace have they which love his law, Psalm cxiv. 165. They are the people and children of God; And the Lord will bless his people with peace, Psal. xxix. 11. and, Great shall be the peace of his children, Isai. liv. 13. The seat of this grace in these subjects, is the heart and mind, Col. iii. 15. Phil. iv. 7.

1. The efficient

III. The author and causes of this peace : cause is God; hence called the peace of God. 2. The moving cause of it is his grace and good-will. 3. The instru ments of it are the word, and the ministers of it.

IV. The nature and properties of it. It is a gift of God, 2 Thess. iii. 16. 2. It is a blessing; the Jews, when they wished happiness to any, it was usually in this form, Peace be to you; when the Lord blesses his people, it is with peace, Psal. xxix. 11. 3. This is called great peace, Psal. cxix. 165. 4. It is said to be perfect, Isai. xxvi. 3. 5. It passeth all understanding, Phil. iv. 7. 6. It is what cannot be taken away; When God giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? Job

χχχίν. 27.

OF CONTENTMENT OF MIND.

CONTENTMENT is a branch of true godliness, or rather a super.addition to it. It will be proper to enquire,

I. What it is; and it is no other than an entire acquiescence of a man's mind in his lot and portion. 1. As contraries serve to illustrate each other, this may be known by what is contrary to it. 1. Contentment and envy are contrary to one another where the sin of envy is predominant, a man can have no true contentment; envy is rottenness of the bones, it slayeth the silly one. 2. Contentment is opposite to avarice, and avarice to that; and therefore the one must be quitted in order to possess the other; Let your conversation be without covetousness, and be content with such things as ye have, Heb. xiii. 5. 3. Contentment is opposite to pride and ambition: the proud man enlarges his desires as hell, or the grave, and like that, cannot be satisfied, which, how full soever, never says, It is enough, Prov. xxx. 16. 4. Anxiety of mind, or a distressing care about worldly things; as about food, drink, and raiment, is contrary to true contentment of mind, Matt. vi. 25-34. Take no thought for your life, &c. 5. Murmurings and repinings under adverse dispensations of providence, are the reverse of contentment of mind; for murmurs and complaints there is no reason with the people of God; for their afflictions are fatherly chastisements; nor with wicked men: for wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? since it is less than he deserves, Lam. iii. 39. 11. What contentment of mind is, may be learned from several phrases by which it is expressed in scripture. As,

First, By being contented with what a man has; Be content with such things as ye have, Heb. xiii, 5. Whether a man has a larger or a lesser share of the things of this world, whether riches or poverty, a man should be content, Prov. xxx. 8. Men should be content with present losses, which