went in and out from gate to gate, throughout the camp, and slew every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor."

This whole transaction is recorded for our admonition, on whom the ends of the world are come. The unbelief and depravity which excited the children of Israel to idolatry, are not extinct. They exist, they operate, they reign in the minds of all natural men. They prompt persons to an idolatry more secret and refined, but not less criminal than the worship of the golden calf. Now, as well as formerly, to this assembly as well as to that of Israel, the Lord is saying, "Who is on the Lord's side?" He is not indeed calling his servants to be instruments of his vengeance on them who are his enemies, though they may be even gross idolaters and transgressors of his law, and rebels against his government. But he is calling them to distinguish themselves from others, and to show that they are on the Lord's side.

In the prosecution of this subject, we shall

I. Consider what is intended by the "Lord's side;"

II. What it is to be on his side; and

III. The seasons, when in a particular manner the Lord is calling on us to appear on his side.

I. We shall consider what is intended by the "Lord's side;" and it includes the following things:

1. The Lord has an interest in the world.

This is very important and diversified. He has indeed an universal interest. The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. He is the Creator, and Preserver, and Governor of all things. His kingdom ruleth over all. But the interest of which we are speaking is confined to the church, his visible kingdom.

It is his word, including all the truths which it contains. These are very precious in his eyes. His glory is intimately concerned in their reception, preservation, and influence among

men.

It is his worship, the religious homage to which he is entitled from all, and especially from his professed people, to whom the call is, "For he is thy Lord, and worship thou him." And the ordinances in which he is to be worshipped,-these we are required to receive, observe, keep pure and entire. The honor of his name is much concerned in the purity of his worship. A high offence is offered to him, when men either neglect his worship, or worship him in any way not appointed in his word.

It is his law. This comprehends all the precepts and rules

which are found in the word of God, and which are summarily comprehended in the ten commandments, which bear an impress of his authority, wisdom and holiness. They are holy, just and good, and the observance of them is universally required. God is glorified by obcdience to his law, and dishonored by the violation of its precepts, either in heart, lips, or life.

It is his people, who are represented as his portion and inheritance. "The Lord's portion is his people, and Jacob is the rod of his inheritance," his treasure, his jewels, a crown of glory and a royal diadem in his hand. They are called his chosen people, the redeemed and ransomed of the Lord, his children, and above all, his spouse, in whom he takes great delight. "Thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah; for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married."

It is his work. The Lord has a work going on in the church on earth. With respect to this Habbakuk prays, "O Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the years." This work is two-fold, visible and invisible; commenced and carried on in the heart, and thence extending its influence into the actions of the life. "He that hath begun the good work, will carry it on unto the day of Jesus Christ." And as he has a private personal work, so he has a public ecclesiastical work. This work has for its object a pure and spiritual administration of the ordinances and laws of the house of God. It is subject to vicissitudes. Sometimes it has been low, at other times it has been eminently prosperous.

2. There is opposition made to the Lord's interest, which renders it his cause. A cause is the subject of litigation. He has had a cause ever since he has had an interest in the world; for his interest has always been opposed, resisted, and disputed. "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, between thy seed and her seed." (Gen. iii. 15.) In allusion to a court of judicature, where causes are considered and issued between man and man, the Lord is represented as producing witnesses in his behalf, against those who opposed his divine claims and prerogatives. "Fear ye not, neither be afraid; have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? Ye are even my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? Yea, there is no God; I know not any." (Isa. xliv. 8.) "Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord; and my servant whom I have chosen." (Isa. xliii. 10.) "Who will contend with me?" says Christ; "let us stand together; Who is mine adversary? Let him come near to me." (Isa. 1. 8.). The opposi

tion which is made to the Lord's interest in the world springs from various sources. There are diabolical enemies. The fallen spirits who kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, began to oppose the authority of God in Eden, in the seduction of our first parents from their allegiance to God. They have been unwearied ever since, in the most malignant and hostile attacks, to counteract the divine will and government. They have succeeded in drawing men into the practice of every kind of sin. The works of the devil are most extensive, complicated and mischievous. He has brought desolation and ruin into the world. There are human enemies of the government and glory of God. Under the influence of their father, the devil, the sons of men have erected the standard of rebellion. "Ye are of your father, the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do." Multitudes of them worship and serve the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. "Becoming vain in their imagination and their foolish heart being darkened, they have changed the glory of God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts and creeping things." Of those who profess to be the worshippers of the true God, how many have corrupted his worship and his word? They have sought out inventions, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. How much error, and superstition, and willworship prevail in churches called Christian, and even Reformed! How much opposition is made to the work of the Lord, both of sanctification and reformation! How is the holy and righteous law of God trampled under foot! Iniquity abounds; it comes in like a flood. How great the enmity which the men of the world discover against the humble followers of Christ. They are reproached, despised, and persecuted.

There are things, which are opposed to the interest of God in the world. Sin and the world are opposed to the glory, honor, and Government of God. Sin makes a malignant opposition to all the prerogatives and perfections of God. It tends to the subversion of the divine throne. It obscures the glory of his attributes, as displayed in the moral government of the world. It strikes against the existence of all of them. It is opposite to the unspotted holiness of God, which is the distinguishing glory of the Deity. It vilifies the wisdom of God, which prescribed the law to men, as the rule of their duty. It bids defiance to the power of God, which will be exercised in punishing sin. It is a high contempt and abuse of the divine goodness, which should constrain man to keep the law of God. It is an implicit denial of the omnis

cience of God. This enemy to God not only exists in wicked men, prompting them to resist his authority and will, but in the hearts of them who have appeared on the Lord's side. Hence it should be guarded against by them, as an insidious and dangerous enemy.

The world is also opposed to the interest and cause of God. Hence the Apostle John says, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."

3. The Lord has adherents, who espouse his cause in opposition to all his enemies. This is intimated in the phrase, "The Lord's side." There have been two classes of men in the world since the days of Cain and Abel, the righteous and the wicked; the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent. This leads us to inquire,

And,

II. What it is to be on the "Lords' side." 1. They who are on the Lord's side are united to him in heart. Their adherence to him is cordial. With their heart they believe in him. (Rom. x. 10.) An unbelieving heart inclines persons to depart from the living God; a believing heart to close with him and cleave to him. Faith is an untiring grace. It draws the soul which is far from God, nigh to him. And as faith works by love, they who are on the Lord's side are devoted to him in the affection of their hearts. They love the Lord; they love the things of God, and the people of God. Their desire is to his name and the remembrance of him. They thirst for God, the living God. Their soul followeth hard after him. They indeed feel some disposition to turn away from the Lord, and side with his enemies, but this is not a predominant inclination. They mourn over and resist it.

2. They who are on the Lord's side, are not ashamed to make a confession of their faith and love. While with the heart they believe unto righteousness, with their tongue they make confession unto salvation. This is a necessary result. "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." They speak of him-of his names, titles, attributes, words, works, and ways. They celebrate and commend these to one another. "They that feared the Lord spake often one to another." And to others to conciliate their esteem and love and homage for him, whom their souls love. "This is my friend, and this is my beloved, O ye daughters of Jerusalem." They confess their faith in his word, their subjection

to his laws, and their devotion to his service and glory. "One shall say, I am the Lord's; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord, and shall surname himself by the name of Israel." They speak for the Lord. They justify the ways of God to men, who are sometimes not afraid to impeach and reproach them, as unequal and unjust. And the Lord gives them a mouth and wisdom, which all their adversaries are unable to gainsay or resist. They bear testimony to his truths and ways. They witness a good confession. They are full, pointed, and explicit in their testimony.

3. They who are on the Lord's side act for him. Their adherence is practical. They live to him. By their fruits,/ as well as their words, you will know them to be on the Lord's side. They do the work of the Lord, keep his law, and observe his statutes and ordinances. They endeavor to advance his kingdom and glory in the world. It is their aim to glorify him in soul, in body, and in spirit.

4. They who are on the Lord's side, are willing to suffer for his cause and interest. All who espouse the cause of God and truth, may expect to suffer in some way or other. "If any man will be my disciple," says Christ, "let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me." "All that will live godly in Christ Jesus," says Paul," shall suffer persecution." "Let none of you suffer," says Peter," as an evil doer; yet if any man suffer as a christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf." They, like Moses, count the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of this world. They are willing to be set at nought, to be despised, and to suffer shame for his name's sake. They are enabled to take joyfully the spoiling of their goods, knowing that they have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. They have often endured bonds, imprisonments and death, for their adherence to the Lord's side." And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover, of bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword," &c. (Heb. xi. 36, 37.) They who are on the Lord's side have common friends and enemies with him.

His friends are their friends. Their delight is in the saints, the excellent of the earth. As they love him that begat, so they love every one that is begotten of him. Fellowship with the saints, they esteem a comfort, a privilege, and an honor. His enemies are their enemies. "Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with them that