faneness, have talked of binding God; but he has been pleased, in his infinite condescension, to bind himself. His heart could have been trusted; but he knew our frame, and our weakness; and to remove all our fearful misgivings, arising from our meanness and guilt, he has brought himself under a covenant engagement. And if it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth it. And he has confirmed his engagement, by an oath-and because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself; and also by sacrifice and the victim was no less than his only begotten Son, and whose blood, therefore, is called the blood of the everlasting covenant. Thus he is bound to be the God of his people; bound to save them; to pardon; to sanctify to help them. Bound to make all things work together for their good. Bound to give them grace and glory, and to withhold no good thing from them.

It also binds them-Not to atone for their sin-this is already expiated; nor to produce a righteousness to justify them before God-this is already brought in, and on this their hope only relies-but they are bound to obey, and serve, and glorify Him who has done such great things for them. Surely evidence, consistency, gratitude, justice require it. They feel the obligation, and acknowledge it, and wish all to know that they are not their own, but bought with a price. They feel the obligation; and it is not irksome; for though they are bound, it is with the cords of a man, and the bands of love. It is the obligation of a mother to press to her bosom her sucking child; it is the obligation of a hungry man to eat his pleasant meat-My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me. It is a yoke; but it is like the yoke of marriage to the happy pair who daily bless the bonds. It is a burden; but it is like the burden of wings to the bird, which, instead of 2 z

VOL. I.

confining him, gives him the freedom of the skiesMy yoke, says the Saviour, is easy, and my burden is light.

Blessed are the people that are in such a case— Their humble confidence can authorise them, in every trouble, to say, "Yet hath he made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure; for this is all my salvation and all my desire"-and their affectionate zeal, in every temptation, will constrain them to sing,

MAY 16." And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem." Luke ix. 51.

WHITHER he was to be received up, is not mentioned: but it is easily understood, especially if we compare the words with other passages. Accordingly the margin refers us to two places: in the first of which, Luke says, "Until the day in which he was taken up ;" and in the second, Mark says, "So, then, after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God." The event, therefore, was his ascending to his Father and our Father; to his God and our God. There was the home where he originally dwelt. He speaks of a glory which he had with the Father before the world was.

Thus

he was rich; but for our sakes he became poor, and made himself of no reputation. He resided on earth for three-and-thirty years in a kind of exile: a prince, higher than the kings of the earth, in disguise; and the world knew him not. But having accomplished the work that was given him to do, he entered into his glory.

And if nothing is left to chance in our minutest affairs, surely there was nothing unarranged with regard to his leaving this world to go unto the Father. Accordingly we here read of the time for his being received up. And if they have chronicles above, and days, as we have-what a memorable day would that have been in which, after such an absence, and after such astonishing exploits, and completely vanquishing all the powers of darkness, the everlasting doors were opened, for the King of Glory to enter in !

On this, therefore, the Saviour fixed his eye; and this emboldened him to set his face stedfastly to go to Jerusalem. For, what zeal, what courage did the determination require! He knew the perilous nature of the journey. He apprehended all that awaited him when he should arrive-That there he should be forsaken-and betrayed-and apprehended—and mocked-and scourged-and crucified. Yet his resolution does not fail him. Lo! I come, says he, to do thy will, O God!. I have a baptism to be baptised with, and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! For he lookedbeyond-and regarded the blessed result. And this was the glorification of his human nature; the acquirement of his mediatorial reward; the dispensation of the Holy Spirit; the government of the world; the salvation of the Church; the enjoyment of the praises of the redeemed for ever! This was the joy set before him in covenant engagement; and for this he endured the Cross, and despised the shame. For though his soul was to

be made a sacrifice for sin, yet he knew that he should rise from the dead, and see of the travail of his soul, and be satisfied. Therefore, as the

season drew near, he looked to the issue, and triumphed in the prospect. Now, says he, is the hour that the Son of man shall be-not abased, but-glorified. Now is the judgment of this world; now is the Prince of this world cast out; and I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men

unto me.

So, Christian, should it be with you. There is a time appointed when you also shall be removed from this vale of tears, and be for ever with the Lord. Think of it; and set your face boldly and firmly to go, wherever duty calls. The man who has an amputation to suffer, must not dwell on the operation-but must pass beyond, to the restoration of health, and the continuance of life. This, Christian, is the way to endure, and to be more than a conqueror. It is to reckon, that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed-You may sow in tears, but you shall reap in joy. The road may be rough, but it will soon bring you home.

"Yet a season, and you know

"Happy entrance will be given; "All your sorrows left below,

"And earth exchang'd for heaven."

MAY 17.-"If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we

will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.' Dan. iii. 17, 18.

CONDUCT SO tried, and so triumphant in the trial, must have had some principle to produce it. He who acts without principle, is the slave of impulse, humour, accident, custom; and you can no more rely upon him, than upon a wave of the sea, driven with the wind and tossed. But when a man is governed by principle, he will be consistent in his practice he may have infirmities, but a sameness pervades his character; he may err, but he is conscientious and his excellencies will appear even in his mistakes and failings. Can we find a principle adequate to this heroism? The Apostle tells us it was faith. But faith must have something to lay hold of and the faith of these young men seizes three things.

The first is, the power of God. Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace. They knew nothing was too hard for the Lord. And we believe in the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth. We, indeed, are not to look for miracles; but the power of God is the same as formerly: and there are cases in which the view of it can alone inspire relief. When difficulties multiply, and means fail, and creatures say, help is not in me-then we must lay hold of his strength, and remember that he is able to do for us exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think.

The second is, his disposition. And he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. This they deemed probable-perhaps they had a persuasion of it, derived from a Divine impression; or deduced from the character of God, and the records of his Word. They had read in the Scriptures, along with the experience of his people, the assurance, "Call upon me in the day of trouble, and