happiness, and they derive it all from him. The knowledge he gives them "rejoiceth the heart." He fills them " with all with all joy and peace in believing." His ways are ways of pleasantnefs, and all" his "paths are peace. He lifts up "the light of his coun"tenance upon" them, and this puts "gladnefs into "their hearts, more than" the wicked experience "when their corn and wine increafe." If they have feafons which may be called their night, or their winter; they are occafioned by his abfence; "He hides *his face, and they are troubled ;" then they cry, "O "when wilt thou come unto me?" Cold, languishing, dead before; when He returns he brings profperity; "he works in us to will and to do;" he enlivens every duty, and actuates every grace; quickened by his influences, our religion buds forth; we "bloffom as "the rofe," we are "filled with all the fruits of righ"teousness, which are by Jefus Christ unto the glory "and praise of God." "The beauty of the Lord "our God is upon us." Even here the change which divine grace accomplishes is truly marvellous; but we fhall "fee greater things than thefe;" that foul will foon be "presented faultlefs before the presence of his "glory with exceeding joy ;" that body too fhall partake of the renovation, "it is fown in corruption, it is "raised in incorruption; it is fown in difhonour, it is "raised in glory; it is fown in weakness, it is raised "in power; it is fown a natural body, it is raised a "spiritual body." "He will beautify the meek with "falvation." Behold the fublimeft image which even the imagination of David could feize; but even this falls infinitely below the fubject to which it is applied.

After confidering the magnitude of its body, the rapidity of its light, the force of its influence, and all the wonderful things which philofophers have told us; hear our Saviour faying, "He maketh HIS fun to rise "on the evil and on the good ;" and remember it is only one of his creatures, which he made by "the "breath of his mouth;" which he upholds "by the "word of his power;" whofe inextinguishable fires he feeds; and which he commands with infinitely more eafe, than you can manage the fmallest lamp; it is only one ray of his glory. The infufficiency of all metaphor requires a variety of comparison, and hence David adds,

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"The Lord God is a SHIELD." This piece of defenfive armour has been made of different materials. There have been fhields of leather, of wood, of iron, of brass, and fome even of filver and gold. fhield, O chriftian, is DIVINE. He, to whom “belong the fhields of the earth," who lends the strongest all their strength, with whom "nothing is impoffi"ble;" He is your Shield, a Shield always at hand; impenetrable by any weapon; capacious, encompaffing, adequate; for what part of the christian lies uncovered, unprotected? His fubstance? "Has He not made "an hedge about him; and about his house, and about "all that he hath on every fide?" His reputation? "He shall hide them in the fecret of his presence from "the pride of man; he fhall keep them fecretly in a ' pavilion from the ftrife of tongues." His body? "He keepeth all his bones, not one of them is bro"ken." His foul? "The Lord fhall preferve thee "from all evil, he shall preserve thy foul." The de

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fence of our health and of our estate is conditional ; and is decided in fubferviency to our fpiritual and everlafting welfare; but for the fafety of the foul, God has abfolutely engaged; this "fhall never perish." Although the enemies that confpire to destroy it, are formidable and numerous, they shall all rage in vain. In the perfections, the word, the providence, the grace of God, we find ample refuge and fecurity. O chriftian, while an apprehenfion of expofure, and a confcioufnefs of weakness, is every day preffing upon your mind, and urging you to draw very gloomy conclufions, remember the affurance of effectual affistance and defence; by faith fee God placing himself between you and danger; fee Jehovah spreading himself all around for your protection; and fulfilling the promise, "as the mountains are round about Jerufalem, fo the "Lord is round about his people, from henceforth " even for ever." "For I, faith the Lord, will be un"to her a wall of fire round about, and I will be the "glory in the midft of her." Ah! well may wisdom fay, "whofo hearkeneth unto me fhall dwell fafely, "and fhall be quiet from the fear of evil." And well may you say, and "boldly" too, "the Lord is my

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Helper; I will not fear what man fhall do unto me." "The Lord is my Light and my Salvation, whom "fhall I fear? The Lord is the Strength of my life, of "whom shall I be afraid? Though an host should en66 camp against me, my heart fhall not fear; though. "war fhould rise against me, in this will I be confident."

II. Such God is; and what does He GIVE? "GRACE AND GLORY." The meaning, the impor

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tance, the dependence, the union of thefe bleffings, deferve our attention.

And what is grace? It is the favourite word of infpiration; and here, as in many other parts of Scripture, it intends divine affiftance, and influence springing from the free favour of God. It is often expreffed plurally; we hear of the graces of the Holy Spirit; and some speak of them, as if they were fo many little, feparate, confcious agents, refpectively stationed in the foul; whereas it is one grand agency, reftoring man to the image and fervice of God, and operating various ways according to the nature of the object; when it regards truth, we call it faith; a future good, hope; trouble, patience; and fo of the reft. And what is glory? It denotes fplendour, fame, excellency displayed; and the facred writers apply it by way of diftinction to the tranfcendent dignity, and fublime happiness referved in heaven for the righteous. "Thou fhalt "guide me by thy counfel, and afterward receive me "to glory." "I reckon that the fufferings of this "present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which fhall be revealed in us." "When he who is our life fhall appear, then fhall we alfo apσε pear with Him in glory."

These bleffings are abfolutely effential to our welfare; this the christian acknowledges. From the beginning of his religious course, he has been convinced of the neceffity of divine grace, and his conviction grows with his days. He feels himself wholly unequal to the work he has to do, the race he has to run, the warfare he has to accomplish. Nor can he live upon the grace which he has received; "his ftrength"

must be " renewed ;" he must receive "the continual "fupply of the Spirit of Jefus Chrift." From the nature of his difpofition he defires more grace; from

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the nature of his condition he needs more. He wants grace to sustain him in his troubles. He wants grace to fubdue his corruptions, and to fanctify his tempers. He wants grace to preserve him "in the hour of temp"tation." He wants grace to quicken his languid affections, "for his foul cleaveth to the duft. wants grace to enlarge his experience, to render him useful to others, to qualify him for the various offices and relations of life, to "hold on his way," to "en"dure to the end;" and, Oh! what grace does he want, to enable him to fay when he looks forward, yea, though I walk through the valley of the fhad66 ow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me, thy rod and thy ftaff they comfort me!" Rejoice, O chriftian; from yonder throne you shall "ob"tain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." The "God of all grace" invites you near; "afk, and 66 ye fhall receive, that your joy may be full"—" My grace is fufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness," "The Lord will give grace;" and thus the promise provides for the believer while in this world. But he is not to live here always; this is only the beginning of his existence; before him lies an opening eternity. And here the promise meets him with "everlasting confolation," and affures him of "glory." He knows that when his wanderings are ended, "he fhall fit down with Abraham, and Ifaac, "and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven;" that after a few more painful struggles, he shall wear "the crown

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