they are rooted as branches in the vine, built up as lively stones upon a living foundation. Great is the nearness of the husband and wife, when they are no more twain but one flesh; but still more close is this connection; for, "he that is joined to the Lord, is one spirit."

Does any one of these similitudes convey but an imperfect idea of this mysterious unity, let the remaining ones contribute their help to aid your apprehensions. But, after all, they fall infinitely short of the thing they are intended to adumbrate. And therefore the wisdom of God compares it to an union, by which indeed it is infinitely transcended. In behalf of his beloved people, he prays the Father, that they may be one, saith he, in us, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee; John. xvii. 21.-It is true, they are not joined unto the Redeemer by such an essential conjunction as is betwixt the sacred persons of the Godhead; nor by such a personal union as is between the eternal Son and his temporal humanity. It is not an unition of persons in one nature, like the former; nor of natures in one person, like the latter; but an union of a multitude of persons, not merely unto the doctrine of Christ, not merely unto the grace of Christ, but the person of Christ, considered not as God only, not as man only, but as God-man.

They are indeed linked together by the bonds of government and subjection, and by the ties of strongest friendship; that, is of a political, and this, of a moral kind., But shall we say the mysterious expressions we mentioned above, denote no more but this? Believers are joined to Christ by the bands of government and friendship. Does the Spirit of God then wrap up the plainest things in the darkest phraseologies? Is this to the honor of the scriptures? No :that be far from the Spirit of wisdom and revelation; the perfection of the sacred oracles. It is not the dark phrases, but the sublime and heavenly thing, of which the apostle of the Gentiles is discoursing, when he says, this is a great mystery; I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Christ Jesus and believers are the parties; the Spirit and faith are the bonds; the law and the gospel are the instruments; the sacraments of divine institution are the seals, in this mysterious coalition. Mys terious indeed, which shall not be thoroughly appre hended, but in the light of glory. For thus the promise runs: "In that day shall ye know that I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and I in you, and you in me."

A mystery this, worthy to be contemplated of angels and arch-angels. Angels see, but saints experience it. It is one of the deep things of God, which the natural man receiveth not; and even the spiritual man is unable to comprehend it. But shall it therefore be rejected as incredible, when it is only incomprehensible? Christians believe greater mysteries than this; and without all peradventure, the less is confirmed by the greater. And philosophers acknowledge the reality of unions, for which they cannot account.

But, O thrice happy they who are thus joined unto the Lord, and found in Christ, not having their own righteousness! They are called by his name, they are partakers of his fulness, and in all their afflictions he is afflicted. Though he resides in heavenly places, and they are sojourners on the earth; yet are they blessed in him with all spiritual blessings. You trample upon the toe, the head cries out, why persecutest thou me ? But when you clothe his naked, and feed his hungry members, he deems you did it to himself. I was hungry, and ye gave me meat; naked, and ye clothed me.

Let supercilious, puny mortals, regard with contempt, or cold indifference, the saints of the Most High; but, O! let my delights be with you, ye excellent of the earth. Christ is not ashamed to call you brethren; God is not ashamed to call himself your God. A more exalted honor this, than to wear an imperial crown, and fill the throne of the whole earth! To you there is no condemnation, hor falling total

ly away; you are the members of Christ, therefore he knows your wants; you are the body of Christ, therefore he will supply them. Christ is your head, he will cleanse your defilements; Christ is your head, he will cure your diseases. What though you be in poverty?-you are in Christ. What though you be in reproach ?-you are in Christ. Let death divide your souls and bodies; let the grave calcine your bones; let the four winds war for your dust; your vital union with Christ shall still remain. When you shall render up the ghost, you die in the Lord; and when you descend into the peaceful grave, your dust shall sleep in Jesus. Can any force, can any fraud, find means to enter into the heaven of heavens; and pluck an eye, or tear a limb from the glorified humanity of the ex-alted Redeemer? And even in the days of his humiliation, the soldiers could not break his bones, because they saw he was already dead. For so it was foretold, in ancient prophecy, a bone of him shall not be broken. But ye are kept as the apple of his eye; and are the members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

ON TRUSTING IN GOD.

HE that trusts in the Lord with all his heart; does not indeed expect, that God will do that for him which he has never promised; far less that he will be favorable unto him, in what is contrary to his revea led will. But, first, he sees that bis matters are good and right; and then he commits the keeping of his soul unto the faithful Creator; who is a buckler to them alone that walk uprightly.

If he is called of God to any difficult duty, for which he finds himself unequal, he persuades himself that God will command his strength, and work in him both to will and to do of his good pleasure and out of weakness he is made strong.

He will not indeed presume on the divine protec tion, when rushing headlong into dangers, evidently foreseen, without necessity; as though the Almighty were obliged to suspend for him the laws of nature, and be prodigal of his miraculous operations. For even the Son of God himself would not tempt his loving Father, by casting himself down from the pinnacle; though, as the bold impostor told him, the angels. had in charge to keep him in all his ways. But let him hear the voice of God and conscience; this is the

way, walk ye in it; though he should pass through fire and water, he laughs at fear; and is not greatly moved by the most ghastly appearances of danger.Though war should rise against him; and death, with sable wings, should hover round his head; yet will he fear no evil. For thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, O God! whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee."

The perfections of the Godhead are the chambers of safety wherein he hides himself. That everlasting strength, for which nothing is too difficult; that matchless goodness that extends itself even to the birds of the air, and lilies of the field;-that perfect immutability that excludes all variableness and shadow of turning that inviolable veracity by which it is impossible for God to lie ;-that exact omniscience from which no want can be hid ;-that incomprehensible wisdom which can make all things work together for his own glory, and our good ;-the promises of the word, and all the experiences of the saints; these are his sure foundations on which he builds his trust.

If he himself has found the eternal God his refuge, experience worketh hope. As he hath delivered, and doth deliver, he trusts in God, that he will yet deliver. If he has recourse to his own experiences, and finds no light from that quarter, he searches out of the book of the Lord, and finds, that never were the righteous forsaken. If friends proved faithless, or unable to afford him any relief in the day of calamity, enemies shall befriend. Even Philistines and Chal

deans shall intreat him well in the evil day. Did all human relief fail, and vain was the help of man; then God has made a friendly covenant for him with the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fishes of the sea. Ravens shall feed him, bears shall avenge his quarrel, and monsters of the deep afford a safe retreat. Fishes have supplied his wants; and dogs have proved physicians to his sores.-If the animal creation failed, the dead and lifeless creatures have come into his interests. The roaring divide to give him passage; and for his sake the fierce element of fire forgets his burning power. If neither men, nor beasts, nor elements appeared to his aid; numbers of mighty angels encamp around, and deliver him. But chiefly God has been a never-failing refuge, when neither friends,-nor foes,-nor beasts, nor elements,-nor angels,-nor any other creature have interposed for their safety. "Thou

waves

hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress; a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of terrible ones was a storm against the wall."

Whilst he, by this believing confidence, gives glory to God, a full reward is given by the God of Israel, under whose wings he trusts. No anxious cares about this world's good things; no dispiriting fears about its evil things, shall be able to disturb his repose. He is careful for nothing that can befal his mortal body, his civil reputation, or his worldly accommodations. Having devolved all his cares upon the great JEHOVAH, Commended to him his present and his future interests, he lies down, and his sleep is sweet unto him. His flesh shall rest in hope, even in the claycold bed of the grave. His righteousness is brought forth as the light. Surely the Lord will make perfect what concerneth him. "O Lord God of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee!"