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And the charming consequences, which arise out of those gracious acts of the Godhead, on the minds of the Lord's people, are no less deserving your notice, and regard. They, which are thus admitted into reconciliation, and favor, are admitted at the same time, into the privileges of it. The faith of justification, in which they stand, qualifies them no less, to rejoice in hope of the glory of God. He that gives grace, will also give glory. The whole indeed, is the sole result of divine favor. And therefore, the gift of grace now, is the sure pledge of glory hereafter.

And lest any one should be led to suspect, from the well-known trials, which the godly in Christ Jesus, are sure to encounter in life, that these points, become questionable: the Apostle goes on, to point out, an accession of happiness, even from what the world would think evil. Not only so (says he) but we glory in tribulations also. As if he had said, by this precious property of grace, which like a chemical process possesseth the happy art of converting bitter qualities into sweet; we glory in tribulations also. Not that God's people are insensible to afflictions, more than others. And certain it is that all afflictions, are for the present, not joyous but grievous. But, by their operations, they ultimately prove blessings in disguise. Like medicated waters, which in themselves, are

nauseous

nauseous to the taste, yet by their passing over some mineral property, imbibe a virtue, which proves salutary in their application; so afflictions. however painful in their operation, become sanctified to the soul, from the grace accompanying them.

-Hence tribulation worketh patience, among the people of God, which in the world at large, produceth the reverse. And patience long exercised, begetteth experience; because the longer is is used, the greater evidences it brings with it, of God's faithfulness to his promises. And as repeated proofs of God's faithfulness, in a Covenant-way, giveth strength to his promises, the more we try God, the more our hope in him must be enlarged. And thus in a truly justified soul, there will be an hope that maketh not ashamed, because it leaveth nothing to a peradventure, to be ashamed of.

The Believer goeth not to a mercy seat, and a throne of grace, with a presumption, his God may hear, or may answer, for he knoweth that he will answer. There is one there, whom the Father heareth alway, and through whom, he is accepted, and justified. Such an hope maketh not ashamed therefore, because, the love of God is shed abroad in the heart, by the Holy Ghost given unto us.

What

What I propose, from this sweet portion of scripture, as God the Spirit shall be pleased to enable, is, to demonstrate, the invaluable properties of the mercy itself, in the love of God shed abroad in the heart: and the blessd effects resulting from it, in the hope which maketh not ashamed.

It is possible, a gracious God, may commission, a subject of this nature, to the refreshment of some souls of his people present; and lead them to see, that a communion with their Covenant-God in Christ Jesus, by the Spirit's. shedding abroad this love in the heart, is not a privilege, to be called into exercise only now, and then; but becomes one, uniform, steady, and unceasing principle of action, by which, like saints of old, they walk with God, through all their pilgrimage.

And I will no less hope also, that a gracious God, while peculiarly refreshing the awakened soul, by a meditation of this kind, may make it useful to those, who are as yet unconscious of his love. We certainly take the most effectual method under his grace, to excite the careless to a greater concern for his salvation, when we bring before him, a view of the privileges of the faithful.

In

In the pleasing prospect, of ministering to this important purpose, I shall invert the order of the text, and first, endeavour to shew you, in what way, this love of God shed abroad in the heart manifests itself to the believer's experience so as to lead the soul into this constant frame of enjoyment. And then secondly describe the blessed effect, arising out of such a cause, in that hope which (the Apostle saith) maketh not ashamed. And my prayers are, that He, to whose gracious operations in the soul, we owe such unspeakable mercies, may at this time, give you convincing evidence, of the whole in your own experience, by directing your hearts into this love of God and into the patient waiting for Christ.

First, I am to shew, in what way, this love of God, manifests itself to the believer's experience, so as to lead the soul, into this constant frame of enjoyment.

And this may be exemplified by a train of evidences, taken from the very frame of mind, of a truly regenerated soul, in his daily acts of faith, more, or less, which he is enabled to exercise, according to the measure of grace imparted, on each of the persons of the Godhead. For there certainly is, and must be, these distinct

acts,

acts of communion, both with the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; agreeably to the respective offices, which they are described in scripture, as having taken, in the redemption of the Lord's people.

Perhaps, I cannot adopt a more effectual method, of explaining this very sweet, and interesting doctrine, than by an illustration of it, under each of these particulars. May the Lord the Spirit, graciously grant you, experimental testimonies of the truth itself, by his divine teachings as we go along.

And first, in respect to the personal interest, which God the Father hath taken, in the salvation of his people, and which the love of God, shed abroad in the heart, by the Holy Ghost, enables the believer to discover.

Tracing up from slender beginnings, effects to their causes, in the covenant love of God the Father, the believer in Jesus, is able to discern, the grand source of all his happiness. And as he is led to see, that this gracious act, did not originate in the merit of man, so he as plainly discovers, that the continuance of it, can need no better security, than the unchangeable purpose of God in Christ.