you entered. The way is open and fafe; and the more you converse by faith with your expected bleffedness in being with Christ, with the greater readiness and fatisfaction you may go hence, when called to enter upon it.

From the third general, Chrift being able to bless his disciples by commanding a bleffing, as well as praying for it. Learn,

1. That all true believers are happy perfons, are bleffed of Chrift; and they whom the fon of God bleffes, are bleffed indeed.

2. The only way to true bleffedness is to fecure an interest in Christ...

3. How little need they regard the reproaches or curfes of men, who are bleffed of Christ. Men have it not in their power to make curfed those whom they may wish to be fo: but Jefus Chrift conveys the bleffing where he pronounces

it.

4. Miferable is the state of fuch as reject the only Saviour; for in doing fo they reject the greatest bleffing: and continuing to do fo, are without hope, and have all that is dreadful to expect and fear.

From the manner of Chrift's parting with his difciples, his going away from them bleffing them. Learn,

1. Of how forgiving a temper the bleffed Jefus is.

His difciples had discovered a great deal of unbelief in him. They forfook him when apprehended, and dealt very difingenuously with him. But he mentions nothing of all this at

2

parting,

parting, buries all in filence, as having freely forgiven them, and goes away with goodwill in his heart and looks, and a bleffing in his mouth.

2. What reafon have believers to love Chrift's appearance, as he will fo come in like manner from heaven, as he was carried thither? and in regard of the grace that shall be brought unto them when he shall be revealed. It doth not yet appear what we shall be; but this we know, that when he shall appear we shall be like him. Your Lord is coming, coming with a bleffing; lift up your heads,, for your redemption draws nigh.

SER

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SERMON VI.

TH

MATTHEW XIV. 27.

Be of good chear, it is I.

1

HESE are the words of our bleffed Lord to his now affrighted and troubled disciples; the occafion of which we find fet down in the foregoing verfes.

After the famous miracle of feeding five thoufand men with five loaves and two fishes, verses 20, 21. our Lord constrained his disciples to get into a fhip, that they might pafs over to the other fide of the fea of Galilee before him, which gave occafion for his working another miracle. And being now left behind his disciples, he fent away the multitude who had formed a defign to take him by force, and make him a king, as you read, John vi. 15. and then went up into a mountain apart to pray. And tho' the evening was come, he was not weary of his folitude from men, being converfant with his Father; for when it was come, he was there alone, and abode fo for a confiderable time. In the mean while, the fhip that carried his difciples was got into the midst of the sea, where feveral things concurred

for

for the trial of their faith: a contrary wind arofe, by which the fea was enraged, and their veffel forely toffed upon the waves; it was dark and their Lord was abfent; the ftorm was lasting, and they afraid, and knew not that their Lord would come to their relief, John vi. 17, 18.

Chrift would accuftom them to hardship by degrees. They had before this been in danger at fea, but then their Lord was present with them; and tho' he was afleep, they had free recourse to him to awake him, and did so, with their cries, Mat. viii. 24, 25, &c. But now they were without his company, and did not know and believe he was concerned for their preservation. In this fad cafe they were for the greatest part of the night, even till the fourth watch; when Jefus, who is never unmindful of his fervants, came towards them, walking upon the fea.

But, tho' their fears and troubles were great while Christ was abfent, they were increased at his coming to them in fo wonderful a way, walking on the fea to give them help: for tho' it was their Lord that drew nigh to them, for whose coming they wished, and that most earneftly, they knew him not when he was come, but were troubled at the fight of him, faying, that he whom they faw was a spirit, and crying out for fear of it. What faith do we often need till we receive the answer of our own prayers? And how ready are our hearts to fink, even when God and and Chrift are about accomplishing our deliverance?

ye

This is the promise given to the faithful, concerning the appearance of the Meffiah in the days of his flesh, Mal. iii. 1. The Lord whom feek, fhall fuddenly come to his temple; even the meflenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold he shall come, faith the Lord of hofts. : But then 'tis asked, who may abide the day of his coming? verfe 2. And how aptly may the fame queftion be put, as to fome of his fignal appearances for his people in his providence, especially when at death, and at the laft judgment he hall come to gather his faints unto him? with reference to that day, how neceffary is his own advice, Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. Tho' righteoufnefs and judgment are the habitation of his throne, the clouds and darkness that are round about him, are apt to overwhelm the minds of his fervants: and how foon would their hearts fail them, did he not after the most awful difplays of his Majesty, speak to them with a ftill and merciful voice, faying, Be of good cheer, it is 1.

In this verfe are confiderable,

1. The perfon that pake, the Lord Jefus Chrift: He that made the world, and by whom it confifts; who has all power in heaven and earth, and is head over all things to his church, which is his body, peculiarly dear to him, and of which

no member shall ever be loft.

2. Thofe to whom he spake, viz. bis difciples in their prefent diftrefs; and by them to all true chriftians, into whatever trouble they may fall.

The