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siastic wish in behalf of you and of myself, that we may be of the number of those "godly persons," who, as our church justly expresses it, feel in themselves the working of the Spirit of Christ, mortifying the works of the flesh, and drawing up their minds to high and heavenly things (a)." Indeed, the great business of God's Spirit is, to draw up and to bring down. To draw up our affections to Christ, and to bring down the unsearchable riches of grace into our hearts. The knowledge of which, and earnest desire for it, are all the feelings I plead for. And, for these feelings, I wish ever to plead. Satisfied as I am, that, without some experience and enjoyments of them, we cannot be happy, living or dying.

Let me ask you, as it were, one by one; has the holy Spirit began to reveal these deep things of God in your soul? If so, give him the glory of it. And, as you prize communion with him; as you value the comforts of the Holy Ghost; endeavour to be found in God's way, even the high way of humble faith and obedient love: sitting at the feet of Christ, and desirous to imbibe those sweet, ravishing, sanctifying, communications of grace, which are at once an earnest of, and a preparation for, complete heaven when you come to die. God forbid, that we should ever think lightly of religious feelings! for, if we do not in some degree feel ourselves sinners, and feel that Christ is precious; I doubt, the Spirit of God has never been savingly at work upon our souls.

Nay, so far from being at a stand in this, our desires after the feeling of God's presence within, ought to enlarge continually, the nearer we draw to the end of our earthly pilgrimage: and resemble the pro

sensible perception. The apostle wished his Philippians, not only to love God, but to know that they loved him, and that he loved them ; and to know it feelingly.

(a) Article 17th.

gressive expansion of a river, which, however narrow and straightened when it first begins to flow, never fails to widen and increase, in proportion as it approaches the ocean into which it falls.

God give us a gracious spring-tide of his Spirit, to replenish our thirsty channels, to swell our scanty stream, and to quicken our languid course! If this is not our cry, it is a sign, either that the work of grace is not yet begun in us; or that it is indeed at low water, and discoloured with those dregs, which tend to dishonour God, to eclipse the glory of the gospel, and to spread clouds and darkness upon our souls.

Some Christians are like decayed mile stones; which stand, it is true, in the right road, and bear some traces of the proper impression: but so wretchedly mutilated and defaced, that they who go by, can hardly read or know what to make of them. May the blessed Spirit of God cause all our hearts, this morning, to undergo a fresh impression; and indulge us with a new edition of our evidences for heaven! O may showers of blessing descend upon you from above! May you see that Christ, and the grace of God in him, are all in all! Whilst you are upon earth, may you ever ascribe the whole glory to him! And sure I am, that, when you come to heaven, you will never ascribe it to any other.

SERMON VII.

GOOD NEWS FROM HEAVEN:

OR,

THE GOSPEL A JOYFUL SOUND.

THE SUBSTANCE OF A

DISCOURSE

PREACHED

IN THE LOCK CHAPEL, NEAR HYDE PARK CORNER.

ON SUNDAY, JUNE 19th, 1774.

How excellent is thy loving-kindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.-Psalm xxxvi. 6.