heavenly feed, that living fpark of spiritual Life and Light, which the Holy Spirit conveys into the Soul, when we are born again. Grace is that heavenly spark which meets with many things to damp and check it, in this world of fin and darknefs; but it is a spark of life and immortality, which the powers of Earth and Hell combined, fhall never be able wholly to extinguifh: This facred Coal of thine, Chriftian, they fhall never quench; tho' it be buried much in the afhes of frailty and imperfection now, ere long it will revive, revive and brighten into a clear, a fhining an unextinguishable flame of Love, Devotion, and moft extatic Joy; a Joy unfpeakable and full of Glory. Once more, Thirdly, The character of Perfect and Upright belongs to every real Chriftian alfo, in refpect to the tenor of his external active life and deportment in the world. This is, indeed, that which falls properly under human notice and obfervation : We make but miferable work in judging of one another's hearts; that's the prerogative of God alone: But a man's prevailing Spirit, temper, and conduct, come more within our reach; if the Tree be good, fuch will the fruit be alfo. Hence the fafe and general rule of judging, "He that doeth "righteousness is righteous, every one that doeth righteousness is born of God*, but whosoever doeth "not righteousness is not of God." Where a man's heart is right with God, the general stream of his difpofitions and actions will fufficiently fhew it: Religion is not a profeffion, but a life; 'tis not a talking of goodnefs, fincerity, uprightnefs, and other virtues, but a putting them in practice, in a Gofpel Spirit, and to a Gofpel. End. Neither is it the warmly abetting this or the other principle, or party, however good; but C 2 † Chap. ii. 29. * 1 John iii. 7, 10. a confcientious walking and acting in the faith and fear of the Lord: A man may have great Light, abilities and gifts, and yet have little goodness; for if his opinions and knowledge do not fuitably influence his temper and actions, the whole Bible is against him, "Such a man's reli"gion and profpects are vain."-The Chriftian indeed is one, that is taught of grace, not to live to himself, but to Chrift Jefus the Lord; having believed in God, he knows it is his will, he bould carefully maintain good works*. The just, indeed, fball live by his faith ; but it is a faith which is lively and operative; a faith which worketh by Love, and which hath its fruit unto holiness; a faith which lives upon Chrift, and lives to him; faith without works is dead, and a dead faith will never be faying; without faith it is impoffible to pleafe God; and without holiness. none fhall fee bim. A due impreffion of thefe facred truths on the heart and confcience, powerfully teaches to deny all ungodliness and worldly lufts, and to live righteously, foberly, and godly in this prefent world §; which is the genuine ambition and aim of the Saint indeed. These things feem to answer to the principal fcope and spirit of the text; which is defign'd to hold forth to us the bleffednefs of all the righteous in their latter End, and the peaceful beatific fcene, which fhall open to their view, when time, tỏ them, fhall be no more. But there is a farther Idea in the Words, which I am not willing entirely to neglect. (2.) The Words, in a more limited application of them, ferve to exprefs the special and diftinguishing measure of Spiritual endowments, with which Tit. ii. 8. Hab. ii. 4. Heb. xi. 6. Heb. xii. 14. S.Tit. ii. 12. which fome of the Children of God are favoured. The Church of God is ftiled the body of Christ, and all believers are members in particular*. Now, as it is in the natural, fo it is in the myftical body of which we are speaking; all the members are not of equal fize, or of equal office, and ufe; fome are raised to an eminency of station, or of office in their day, above many others: And of those who are called to a fameness of office or ftation, how greatly do they differ in their refpective abilities, difpofitions, activity, and fuccefs. The Trees of righteoufnefs are all the planting of the Lord, and he is glorified in them ; but all are not of equal fruitfulness or equal growth. There are diverfities of gifts, all from the fame Spirit, who divideth to every man feverally as he will. Thus in point of office, at the beginning of Chriftianity we read, God fet forth in the Church first Apoftles, fecondarily Prophets, thirdly Teachers, with Helps, Governments, &c. And ever fince in a more ordinary way, the Churches of Chrift have been fupplied with Officers and Inftruments, for their inftruction and good; and these supplied with Spiritual gifts, fuited to the work allotted them in their generation. But while to every of God's faithful fervants is grace given according to the measure of the gift of Chrift §; how great, how confpicuous the difference which is feen among them! Some have excelled in point of talents and abilities; a richness of furniture, both natural and acquired. Others have been bleffed with a more than ordinary fhare of minifterial gifts, which have rendered them remarkably acceptable and useful in their day: Some again, have been diftinguifhed by the folidity of their judgments, + Ifa. Ixi. 3. I Cor. xii. 27. ‡ 1 Cor. xii. 4-IY. 1 a judgments, the steadiness of their principles, the integrity and uprightnefs of their conduct and their aims: While others have rendered themfelves dear to all around them, by the sweetness of their temper and difpofition; their candour, their prudence, their humility and love, connected with a well-tempered zeal, activity, and influence, in promoting the interefts of real Religion: And others have fhone with a greater luftre ftill, in eminent Piety, exalted devotion, and an unaffected fervor and fpirituality of mind, mix'd with the tendereft compaffion and concern for the everlafting interefts of immortal Souls: These are all ufually honour'd in their day, with fome happy measure of usefulness and fuccefs.But when these excellent qualities have in a good measure met and united in the fame perfon; more perfect and finifh'd character ftill, hath been prefented to view. Such as thefe become more bright exemplifications of the character in the text, and serve to adorn the religion they profess, and to edify the Church of God, at a more than common rate. A few fuch pillars and illuftrious enfamples to the Flock, hath Chrift raised up, in the feveral ages of the world, to be as Lights upon an Eminence, for thofe that follow after to look upon, and take affiftance and direction, from them; as far as they obtained mercy to be faithful. The Patriarchs Noah, Abraham, Job, David, and the reft, were ftiled perfect and upright perfons ; not merely because they were Saints and faithful in their generations, but also to express the Eminency of their attainments, and the Luftre of their lives; the eminency of their Faith, their Patience, their Obedience and Zeal for God, which fhone illuftriously in the general Courfe of their Lives and Actions. The word [Perfect] 5 hath hath much the fame caft, when ufed by the Apostle 1 Cor. ii. 6. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect. And let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded*. Perfons of fuch exalted measures of Grace, Abilities, and Gifts, move in a larger fphere, and are of more extensive influence and ufe; when therefore they are removed by Death, they are a public Lofs to the Church, and to the World; they cannot be removed, without being fenfibly miffed; nor their lofs fuftained, without a general groan: All real Christians are a common good, as they contribute in fome degree to the benefit and advantage of mankind; but when ftars of the firft magnitude are extinguifhed, it may well draw a tear from every eye.—— Here then it may be justly enquired, why these Stars, thefe Pillars, these Patterns and Guides to others, even the Excellent of the Earth, who can be fo ill spared, are yet fo foon removed? or if their Lives are lengthened out to a little longer date, fo foon out-live themselves? out-live their faculties and powers for farther fervice? The Anfwer is at hand; Because to every one of his "fervants Chrift hath allotted both his work and "his reward." David, when he had ferved his generation by the will of God fell on fleept. The Fathers, where are they? and the Prophets, do they live for ever? No! They are but earthen veffels, into which God puts even the most of his heavenly treasure; and earthen veffels are easily broken, and fo unfitted for farther use. "Mi "nifters under the Gospel, are no more capable "to continue, by reafon of Death, than Aaron " and his fons were, under the Law;" they must die as well as others; and it is no fmall mercy when Phil. iii. 15. + Acts xiii. 36. |