bis fellow. Therefore am I red in mine apparel, and my garments like one that treadeth out the winepress. Canst thou spy any flaw, any the smallest deformity in the lily of the vallies? No more in the obedience of the Son of God. Though he, by divine imputation, was made sin for us, and even by human reputation, was an egregious transgressor, yet was he, holy, harmless, and undefiled. Undefiled in his nature, by inherent corruption, and undefiled in his life, by actual transgression.-View him in his mediation, as he is the representative of God unto sinners. In the clemency of his government, he is like the gentle lily; in the severity of his administration, like the inflamed prickly rose. In the threatenings of his holy law, he is fiery as the rose in the promise of the gospel, he wears the lily's winning aspect. If we are not attracted by his smiles, we shall be appalled by his frown, when he arms his angry countenance with terror.

How reviving, how exhilirating, the fragrance that is exhaled from this plant of renown, which restoreth the soul again! When we obtain a smell of this heaven-planted flower, the heart is glad, the tongue rejoices, the sun puts on a brighter beam, and every thing which we behold assumes a brighter aspect.

*

No roses could equal those of Sharon; no lilies like the lilies of the vallies. What grows in an irriguous soil, such as the low grounds usually prove, by reason of the numerous rills which descend from the neighboring mountains, must be of more exquisite kind, than the produce of the high and parched lands. In all things blessed Jesus, thou must have the preeminence. If thou art a rose, thou art the rose of Sharon. If thou art a lily, thou art the lily of the Tallies

ON WALKING IN THE SPIRIT.

THE walker in the Spirit, is a person whose goodness and devotion come not by fits and starts, and on some rare occasions; but are habitually preva lent in the tenor of his life. It is true, like the whole spiritual creation, he groans under the bondage of corruption; yea, the more spiritual he is, the more carnal he sees himself to be; like that most holy apostle, whose mourning complaints are yet sounding in our ears : "The law is spiritual; and the commandment holy, just, and good but I am carnal and sold under sin." But a spiritual frame is his element; & with careful assiduity, he cherishes those good impres sions that may be made upon his heart by the Holy Ghost; of which he judges by their conformity to the divine law. To the guidance and impulse of that holy invisible Agent, he endeavors to surrender himself in every action of his life. That he may not quench this holy fire, he crushes in the bud the rising thought of sin; dashes against the stones the infant temptations; avoids the snares of evil company; the practi sing of known sin; the indulging of unlawful pleasures; and anxious cankering cares about the things of the earth. He is ever studying to picture cut in his life some spiritual grace.-Spiritual truths are the most savory of all others unto his taste; for the blessed Comforter, according to the promise of Christ, takes the things of Christ; shews them unto him; and leads him into all truth. These are the light of his eyes; the joy of his heart; more tasteful and deli cious than honey from the comb.--Spiritual blessings he esteems the most superlative and excellent. He judges not after the flesh, setting an high estimate on those things that make the fairest shew in the eyes of natural men, who cannot receive things of the Spirit of God; but spiritual riches, honors, pleasures, spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus; these are the better

things for which he pants, and wherein he greatly res joices. Spiritual thoughts are the native produce of his mind, arising from his heart as water from a living spring. As it is natural for a mother, to think of her sucking child; for the merchant, to think of his merchandise; for the scholar, to think of that particular science he is best acquainted with; for them that are after the flesh, to mind the things of the flesh: so it is natural for the spiritual walker, to mind the things of the Spirit; when he buys and sells, when he plows and sows; when he sits in the house, or travels on a journey; as well as when he prays in his closet, or repairs unto the place of the holy. In every object he is disposed to see God; in every sound to hear him; to taste him in all that is sweet; to admire him in all that is great; to love him in all that is lovely; to reverence him in all that is dreadful. He perceives with David, the voice of God in the voice of a railing Shimei; and discerns, with Job, the hand of God in the hand of a plundering Chaldean. Every creature is unto him a Jacob's ladder, by which he ascends into heaven. Spiritual intentions reign in all his enterprises and actions, both civil and religious. Hence the most ordinary occurrences of life are sanctified, whether he eats or drinks; while the very sacrifices of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord.-Spiritual motives induce him to the hatred of sin, to the prac tice of duty, to the pursuit of good. He abhors that which is evil, as well because it defiles, as because it destroys. He performs what is commanded, because it is commanded; and not that he may be seen of menHe asks temporal and spiritual blessings from above; not that he may consume them on his lusts, but that God may be glorified in all.-Spiritual duties are his delightful recreation; he thinks not of them with reluctance; but anticipates, in a joyful expectation, the stated opportunities of intercourse with heaven. It is not his body that leads the mind, so much as the mind that leads the body, to any holy exercise. When he falls upon his knees in prayer to God, he goes not from

the devil, or from the world, to God; but from God to Go; because he is in the fear of the Lord all day

long.

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ON A GODLY MAN.

THOUGH he esteems it idolatry to make images of God; yet, he himself is a picture of God, walking up and down in the earth; and he reckons it his greatest duty and honor to be so. The glory of God is the end of all his actions, civil and religious; and a tax which he pays unto him with the same conscience, that he renders unto Cæsar the things that are Ca sar's. The displeasure of all the world, when laid in the balance with the smallest frown of his Father in heaven, is lighter than a feather poised against a talent of gold. But if he lift upon him the light of his countenance, it is as impossible for him to be miserable, as it would be for one to shiver with cold, who in the warmest months of summer, should bask in the meridian sun. The sovereign authority of God stirs him up to all his duties; without which they would not be proper obedience. The same high will of God reconciles him to every adverse dispensation; saying, with the most honorable of all sufferers, "the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it ?"-By all the streams of created goodness, he is led unto God, as the fountain, from whence they arise. He sees God in every object; he regards him as his awful witness; so that he can never be alone, either in the solitary field, or secret chamber. Prayer is not his drudgery but his element. He not only addresses the throne of grace, when he has some petition to lodge there; or some interest to prosecute; but when he has no errand, if it is not to tell God, how much he loves him; how desirous he is of fellowship with him and to see his power and glory in the sanctuary.

There is a mystery in the whole of his deportment, when acting like himself, which even the un godly are forced to reverence. In vain shall they think to burst their bands, and cast away their cords; for, in his hand is a sharp two edged sword. He binds even princes with cords, and nobles with fetters of iron. He that sits in the chair of the scorner, shall be greatly confounded; they shall be turned back that say, aha, aha.

He greatly triumphs over the little insults of his adversaries. Reproaches shall rebound as burs from the polished surface of a looking-glass; shall melt as snowballs tossed against the sun; and shall pass away as the morning cloud, or as the early dew,→→ He would not, exchange his joy in the Holy Ghost, for the raptures of the scholar, the triumphs of the soldier, and the gratifications of the most sensual epicure. How wide the field wherein he forages for joy, even in tribulation!

Though withered is his vine, his harp unstrung, he is the richest of all merchants; for, godliness, with contentment, is great gain. Lay not wait, O wicked man, against his dwelling; spoil not his resting place; "for know the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself; the Lord will hear him when he calls unto him." Though he were laid in the lowest pits; in the darkness and deeps of hell; yet he could not be truly wretched, any more than a wicked man could be truly happy, were he admitted gions of life and immortality.

into the pure re

DELIGHT IN GOD,

IS a sweet frame of soul whereby the real christian finds all his afflictions to be lightened, all his Comforts to be sweetened, all his sins to be embittered, and all his duties easy and delightful. It is the marrow of all his sacrifices, whilst those that want it,