ON TRUSTING IN CHRIST.

NOR is it less our duty to trust in thee, O almighty Savior of sinners, who savest us not by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, nor by horses, nor by horsemen, nor by might and power; but by thy blood which thou shed, and by the Spirit which thou pourest down. "Surely shall one say, in the Lord have I righteousness and strength." For he shall be enabled to discern all other grounds of trust to be but arms of flesh; but lies and vanities ;-but spider's webs ;but perishing gourds ;-but foundations that shall be overthrown with a flood; whilst he that puts his trust in the Lord shall be safe, and shall inherit his holy mountain.

Though his distinguished privileges should be like those of Capernaum, that was exalted up into heaven, he confides not in the temple of the Lord, but in the Lord of the temple.-Though he could boast an illustrious descent from the venerable Abraham; or claim kindred, according to the flesh, with Jesus Christ himself; he would not on that account think himself entitled to the divine regard.-Though he should find much worldly substance; he "will not say to gold, thou art my hope; nor to fine gold, thou art my confidence;" as though the Almighty would esteem his riches, or as though they could be profitable in the day of his wrath.-Though he should equal Heman in the deepness of his exercise, and Paul in the abundance of revelation; he would not reckon it expedient for him to glory. Though, for the cause of Christ, he should even pour his blood; yet by the blood of the Lamb would he overcome; yet in the blood of the Lamb, (and not his own) would he wash his robes, and make them white.-Though his gifts should be eminent, his knowledge clear and extensive though in the sweetness of his natural temper he should be like a Moses; and a Paul in the blamelessness of his life, touching

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the righteousness of the law; though his profession were ever so strict, and his reputation ever so fair :in a word, though he should shed many tears, pour many prayers, endure many hardships, make many vows, form many resolutions, and exert the most vigorous endeavors in working out his own salvation: yet all these things he counts but loss and dung, that he may win Christ, and be found in him. Though the saving grace of God should be implanted in his heart, he is not strong in the grace, that is in himself, but in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. His justifying merit is the alone ground of his confidence for the pardon of his guilt; his sanctifying Spirit, for the vanquishing the power of his inbred corruption. All other confidences he rejects, because the Lord hath rejected them. No tempest shall be able to batter down his walls; his foundation never shall be razed; his confidence shall never be rooted out of his tabernacle, but shall have a great recompence of reward, O" blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh; but her leaf shall be green, and shall not wither in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit."

ON IMITATING CHRIST.

THE imitator of Jesus Christ is one, who, being interested in him as his propitiation, cannot but choose to follow him as his pattern: for he knows, that though it be not the only or principal end why the Son of God was manifested; it is, however, a very conside rable part of his errand, in visiting these regions of mortality, to give us a fair transcript, and a living copy of all those graces and duties that are pleasing unto God, and that are commanded in the law. He re

verences, indeed, the footsteps of the flock; and bles ses God for the holy examples of living and dead saints; which are noble incentives to piety, and a devout conversation. But still he regards the holiest examples of living and dead saints, as but imperfect models of duty; some of their actions being evidently sinful, and others of them doubtful and suspicious. Jesus Christ he considers as the only finished pattern of obedience; in whose presence Moses is not meek, Solomon is not wise, Job is not patient, David is not upright, Abraham is not strong in faith, Elijah is not zealous, and Paul, the laboring apostle, is not diligent. His fellow-saints, and those who have gone before him, may indeed surpass him in what he actually attains unto, but not in what he aims at. He knows, that the finer the copy is, the fairer will be the learner's hand; therefore he sets the Lord alway before him.-To follow the steps of Christ alone, is far more eligible, in his esteem, than to go in the way of the world, or follow the multitude to do evil. And how can it be otherwise, when he considers, that the example of Christ is the example of his best friend, his glorious head, his great Lord and master, his leader and commander, the shepherd and bishop of his soul, the captain of his salvation, and the author of his high and heavenly calling?

He reckons it a far more glorious and honorable attainment to resemble his blessed Savior in holiness, and obedience to the will of God, than though he could be like him in the power of working miracles; a power which has been, in some measure, imparted to the workers of iniquity.

These most invaluable books, the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, that contain the sacred memoirs of the life of Jesus, he prefers before all other biography. These venerable histories he peruses night and day; not merely with the eye of a critic, that he may understand their sense and discover their beauties; but, with the eye of a painter, who gazes at a fine picture, that he may imitate the artist's delicate designs, that he may go and do likewise.

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In all places, companies, duties, and emergencies, he labors to consider with himself, how would my Lord and Savior, were he in my place, acquit himself on this occasion? Would he do this or that?

he allow it to be done?

Would

There are many actions of the man Christ Jesus which were performed by him, as a human creature, in conformity to the moral law, which are to be imitated in the letter of them. If he obeyed his parents, prayed to his God, forgave his enemies, paid tribute to Cæsar, despised no man for his poverty, esteemed no man for his wealth; if he pleased not himself, nor sought his own glory; if he was heavenly in his discourse, cheerful in his obedience, unwearied in his application to his work, and mortified to the world in the whole tenor of his conversation: these are branches of his behavior, in which the servant of Christ follows him in the most literal sense, though at a humble distance; not as Asahel followed Abner, but as Peter followed his Master, afar off. These duties are not only incumbent upon him by the authority of the precept, but are sanctified unto him, are rendered sweet and easy, by the example of the Lord.

But there are other actions of Christ, in which he acted as God: he fasted forty days, he judged the hearts of the Pharisees, he took the ass of another man to ride upon, as if it had been his own; he scourged the buyers and sellers out of the temple; he foretold future events, and performed a great number of miracles. To imitate these in the letter of them, the christian knows very well, is utterly impossible and to attempt it absolutely unlawful. But, though the matter of them is only proposed to his faith, the spirit of them or the mind with which he did them, is also proposed to his imitation. His taking upon him the form of a servant, when he was in the form of God, and his giving himself a sacrifice unto God of a sweet-smelling savour; though for the matter of them, they are actions utterly incapable of imitation yet,

even these high acts, in the true spirit of them, the christian will endeavor to transcribe, by a humble and condescending behavior, and by walking in love, as Christ also loved him.-As John the baptist did go before the Messiah in the spirit and power of Elias; though there was a great difference betwixt the individual actions of these two great men so he goes in the power and spirit of Christ, notwithstanding the huge distance that must always be between the Savior and the saint.

He may, as his Lord and Master, be exposed to calumnies of every kind: but at last his righteousness is brought forth as the light; and even when he gains not the applause of the tongue, he wins the approbation of the heart. If any human thing could reclaim an ungodly sinner, it would be the conversation of him who imitates the life of Christ. Here even the carnal man beholds the reality of religion brought home to his very senses, and the power of his lusts is assaulted with holy violence. As Christ is the visible image of the invisible God; so is this man the visible image of Christ, whom the world seeth no more, because "the heavens must contain him until the time of the restitution of all things."

ON FAITH.

HAPPY the man who lives in mortal flesh a life of faith upon the Son of God; though he dwells not in the gilded palace, he has the Most High for his habitation. Though his food be homely, he fares deliciously every day upon the hidden manna. For, O that noble gift of God! he in whose heart she dwells, is at once possessed of riches, and honors, and pleasures. Let others curiously dispute where she resides, in what faculty, in the understanding or the will; be it my exalted privilege to have her formed in my soul. The mountains may depart; the hills may be remo