merely sketching it; who then shall paint it? It is the home of angels-the throne of God!

3. His companions. To pass over the patriarchs, prophets, and apostles; angels are his companions, the cherub and seraph his familiar friends. Above all, he has fellowship with the Son, and communion with the source of wisdom, the ever-blessed God!

66

4. His outward marks of honour. The Bible glances at many. The fairest insignia of earthly glory are referred to as shadowy emblems of them. "Heirs," "jewels," sons," "kings," "priests," will there be no empty titles. The honours belonging to them will be inseparable from their possession. "Robes," "harps," "crowns," "thrones," are the insignia of saints. They are all-enduring! All of happiness and glory which heaven knows will be ours. Shall we recognise ourselves when clothed with such an “exceeding, eternal weight of glory?”

Is this glory prepared for us all? Who are now its heirs? Who will refuse to seek it? Who will regard toil to obtain it? Come now and join this victorious army, and when the last battle shall have been fought, you shall, in the triumphal procession, enter the everlasting gates, and be rewarded by the King of glory.

XV.

CAST NOT AWAY THEREFORE YOUR CONFIDENCE, WHICH HATH GREAT RECOMPENSE OF REWARD.-Heb. x, 35.

A BELIEVER'S confidence has respect merely to present and eternal salvation. The ground of it is the atonement of Christ. By nature he is destitute of all good, of all excuse for his sins, of all claim to heaven; and is an heir

of hell. Christ died for his sins, purchased for him grace and strength, will release him from the curse of the law, and make him an heir of glory. God appropriates to the believer these blessings on condition of his faith. To rely on any thing else is presumption. Christ died for me, is the only source of my joy-the only ground of my confidence. Our text teaches that Christians are liable to cast away their confidence, and hence the exhortation. Let us then consider,

I. When Christians are prone to cast away their confidence

in God.

1. When they compare themselves with other Christians. We are too apt to measure ourselves by ourselves and others, rather than by the Bible. We see so great a difference between our experience and that of others, and especially that of eminent saints, that we conclude we have not been converted. Thus, instead of being provoked by them to love and good works, we despond and despair.

2. When in a low state of religious enjoyment. In such a state, which is always the consequence of unfaithfulness, our feelings are so unlike what they once were, that we feel as if we had lost all our religion. We take so little comfort in holy things that we conclude we do not love them, or their Author. This state of mind should create anxiety, but not distrust; our only help is in Christ.

3. When under great trials. In such situations we are often placed by the permission of God. We may be afflicted by the loss of property and reputation; in our persons by disease, in our families by sickness and death. In these situations we are too often absorbed in the suffering, and forget God. Hence we lose sight of his mercy and love, and feel to murmur that he has forgotten us. If he loved us, we say, he would not thus have smitten

us. We give up our confidence in his providence and grace, instead of remembering the design and utility of afflictions.

4. In times of temptation. Innumerable are the ways in which Christians are tempted. God permits earth and hell to assail them, and has merciful designs therein. But instead of counting it all joy when we fall into divers temptations, (James i, 2,) we often despair. "No one was ever tempted as I am." "I cannot be a Christian, or I should not be so tempted."

"I cannot hold out, can

not resist." How many thus speak and act!

5. When overcome by sin. Our temptations are some times so strong that we yield-the attack so bold that we surrender. We have at such times cause for grief and humility, not for despair. If we have injured the cause of Christ, let us not injure it more by renouncing it. But some give up all, forgetting that "if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous"that "if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"--and forgetting all the promises.

II. Let us enforce the exhortation of the apostle, “Cast not away," &c.

We should regard the effects of confidence,

1. Upon others. Would you make your fellow Christians bold and strong, be confident yourself. They are looking to you for an example. The fearful saint is to the world also a poor sample of the influence of religion. They know the character and promises of God, and the feelings which these should create in us. How low do both we and our religion sink in their view, when we are afraid to trust in God. The confidence of Christians, in times of danger, has led many to admire true religion; the confidence of martyrs has dismayed their enemies, and emboldened their friends. Would you show to your

children, friends, and the world, the worth of religion, be confident in God.

2. Upon ourselves. Confidence in God is our only safeguard in temptation; trust in any other being will ruin us. He only can succour, defend, and deliver us. Why not, then, trust in him? It is our only support under trials and afflictions. If our property has gone, we may be happy if we trust in Providence, and look to heaven, our enduring substance. If friends have been taken away, we may be happy if resigned to the will of our heavenly Father. If health has left us, we may be joyful in the thought of our speedy release from earth. Confidence in God will support us in the hour of death. I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me," is its exulting language. No terror reigns there.

66

Yea, though

It will render us calm and peaceful under all circumstances, and in all situations. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee." Hence the Bible often represents those as blessed who trust in the Lord. Psalms xxxiv, xxxvii, cxxv. Hence also the exhortation in the text.

3. Confidence in God will secure our eternal felicity. If we cast it away, we cast away our all. There is no other way of salvation, no other condition than reliance. If we adhere to it, we are of Christ's family, (Heb. iii, 6,) and heirs to all the glories of heaven. How vast the reward in so doing! Weigh all glory, and you will just compute it! How vast and powerful the motive to obey the divine exhortation! God help us so to do!

XVI.

WO TO THAT MAN BY WHOM THE SON OF MAN IS BETRAYED! GOOD WERE IT FOR THAT MAN IF HE HAD NEVER BEEN BORN.-Mark xiv, 21.

THERE is something very melancholy in the circumstances of the Saviour's death. When we think of his life of humiliation and suffering, when we reflect that all his love was disinterested, and that he should die in such a way, we cannot but be affected. And when we consider that the traitor had been an intimate of the Saviour, that he had witnessed his conversation and acts of benevolence, that he betrayed him for so small a sum, and in such a manner, there is a feeling of abhorrence which rises in our bosoms. But let us not vent all our indignation upon Judas; thousands since have betrayed Christ, yea, crucified him. Heb. vi, 6. We may do it, if we have not already, though he is not now incarnate. We may, to all intents, sell him for money, and deliver him to his foes. Let us consider then the different ways in which we are in danger of betraying Christ.

I. By avarice, or for the sake of wealth.

Thus Judas did. Those professors of religion, who are more eager to attain wealth than piety, are guilty. Why? They profess to have the spirit of Christ, and say by their profession that he approves their course; they thus bring contempt upon the church, and what is done to the church is done to Him. "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." They who deviate from the rule of right for the sake of a good bargain, however small the deviation, are guilty. "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called