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which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." He endeavours daily "to apprehend that for which also he is apprehended of Christ Jesus; and accounts not himself to have apprehended or to be already perfect, but forgetting the things which are behind, and reaching forth to those which are before, he presses towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." He loves holiness, he follows holiness, and "endeavours to perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord," and thus manifests himself to be actually and truly reconciled to God.

Now, observe how forcibly, and convincingly, and satisfactorily to the experienced Christian, the conclusion is, which the Apostle draws in the text"much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by Christ's life. What hath been already wrought in the heart of the believer, is an earnest and a pledge of what God will continue to do, and delight in doing. Hath he changed rebellion into loyalty, he will never fail to reward with the smiles of his approval the acts of loyalty cheerfully and submissively rendered. Hath he changed enmity into affection, he will never cease to draw forth renewed and more ardent expressions of this heaven-born love. Hath hostility been converted into friendship, he will continue to prove himself the friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Hath he changed hatred into love, he will never fail to cheer him onward in the way, when walking in love. Hath the hard and stony heart been melted into the heart of flesh, he will delight in communicating those heavenly

impressions which this new heart hath been rendered susceptible of receiving, of cherishing and delighting in. Hath loathsomeness been changed into beauty by the comeliness of Christ put upon him, the heavenly bridegroom will rest in his love, and rejoice over his Church with singing. Have the filthy rags been exchanged for the fine linen, opportunities of walking in white will never be awanting. In short, if our heavenly Father came graciously near when we were repulsive, he will never leave us now that he hath rendered us attractive. If he visited in compassion when we were fighting against him, he will never leave us desolate when faithfully serving and cleaving to him with purpose of heart. If he lifted us up when lying among the pots of corruption, and beautified us with holiness, he will never fail to set us, as it were, with princes-"to raise us up together with Christ, and cause us to sit together with him." The same reasoning is applicable here as that by the Apostle to the Hebrews, "the spiritual pilgrims, desiring a better country, that is, an heavenly. Wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he hath prepared for them a city." "He that spared not his own Son, but freely gave him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" "He that hath begun the good work will carry it on till the day of Christ," and "will not leave us till he hath done that which he hath spoken to us of." "All things are yours; whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; and ye are Christ's; and Christ

is God's." "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril or sword? (As it is written, for thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.) Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors, through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." At present there may be much darkness, many disquietudes, much dread of making shipwreck of faith and of a good conscience; many fears lest a promise being left us of entering into the heavenly rest, we should seem to come short of it. But to end with the comparison with which we began, so was it in the vessel which had drifted from her moorings. Among that interesting crew, there was much anxiety of heart, many a downcast look, many fearful forebodings, when by the violence of the storm obliged to weigh anchor, and betake themselves again to the trackless deep. Many an agitated breast also was lining the shore, and becoming more troubled as the spray and darkness bedimmed the objects of their eager gaze. Many a beacon lighted up to guard from shipwreck, and many an earnest prayer ejaculated to Him who rules the raging of the sea. And did they

cry and plead in vain? No, verily

the morning

dawned, the storm subsided, the tide flowed, and with

prosperous breeze, and tumultuous joy, they entered the haven of safety, of love, and rest.

And so shall it be with the voyagers heavenwards. In reference to them, there may be many tumults within, and tossings without many misgivings on earth, and anxieties in heaven. But "the Lord sitteth upon the floods, he sitteth king, and ever shall." "The Lord will bless his people with peace." "The ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion, with songs, and everlasting joy upon their heads-they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." "The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord, that hath mercy on thee." "Once have I sworn by my holiness, that I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me. It shall be established for ever as the moon; and as a faithful witness in heaven, Selah!" Comfort yourselves with these blessed truths; and may the Lord establish you in the faith and hope of the Gospel of peace.

SERMON XVIIL

A RELIGIOUS EXAMPLE A RICH INHERI

TANCE.

BY THE

REV. THOMAS IRVINE,

MINISTER OF LUNDIE AND FOWLES.

PROV. xiii. 22.

"A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children."

The motives presented to us by the Word of God, for our devoting ourselves to the service of the Lord our Maker, Preserver, and Redeemer, are many and various. They have reference to ourselves-to our children-to our country-to the whole human race

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