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Lord, thou art my Lord. He has closed in with Christ, and he will cleave to him with full purpose of heart. All true believers may say with the apostle, we are not of them who draw back to perdition, but of them who believe to the saving of the soul. Declensions and decays there may be; but a total apostasy there shall not be. The heart has surrendered itself to God, and he will watch over and fortify it, till every difficulty is surmounted, and final blessedness enjoyed.

III. We must notice the origin of this blessing: "I will give them one heart," saith the Lord.

The promise is absolute and free, not suspended on any condition to be performed by us. But I will give I will do it when I please, to whom I please, and in what manner I please. I am under no obligation, but what I have laid myself under by a voluntary promise. I will do it for my name's sake: the work is mine, and none else can perform it.

1. This blessing is every where ascribed to God in the scriptures, not only incidentally and by implication, but in plain and direct terms. David acknowledges this when he prays, Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me! Also, in his last prayer: Give unto Solomon, my son, a perfect heart to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes. The Lord also claims it as his own prerogative: A new heart will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a hear of flesh. Various means are used to impress the sin ner's heart; but God only can renew and sanctify, and make it his own.-1 Chron. xxix. 19. Psal. li. 10. Ezek. xxxvi. 26.

2. It appears from the nature of the change itself It is called a creation, a resurrection; and requires an ortion of the same almighty power as was manifested

in the former of these events, and such as will be displayed in the latter. The excellency and universality of the change bespeak its divine original. The lion is turned into a lamb; the persecutor becomes a preacher of the faith which once he destroyed; the extortioner restores his unjust gains; the maniac, who ran among the tombs, crying and cutting himself with stones, now sits at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind. Old things are passed away, and all things become new. Surely, then, this cometh forth from the Lord of hosts, who is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working. Nothing short of omnipotence can make the dead sinner become a living saint.

3. The former state and character of those on whom the blessing is bestowed. They were careless and inattentive; they neither saw their need of it, nor were inclined to seek after it. They were weak and impotent; sin had robbed them of their innocence, and also of their strength. They were stubborn and obstinate; so far from being co-workers with God, they resisted his operations, and were utterly averse to his gracious designs. They were not only estranged, but alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance that was in them, by reason of the hardness of their hearts. What was the most eminent christian by nature? His will as perverse, affections as carnal, and his inclination to evil as strong as those of other sinners. For we ourselves, not only we believers, but we apostles, were sometime foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, hateful and hating one another. And such were some of you; but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. Till grace makes a difference, nature makes none. Those hearts which are now enflamed with love to God, were once full of enmity against him. Those feet which now tread the narrow path of eternal life, were once wandering in the broad road that leadeth to destruction; and

would still have wandered from the way, had not Almighty grace prevented. But God in his infinite mercy said, hitherto have ye gone, but you shall go no farther. If we consider the state of the heathen world, how prejudiced, how riveted and confirmed in their prejudices! Or if the christian world, better instructed, yet equally polluted; enjoying the most excellent means, yet equally averse to the life and power of religion, and absolutely destitute of previous dispositions and qualifications for divine grace; nothing co-operating, every thing opposing. If we consider also the case of persons in the same neighbourhoods, in the same families, sitting under the same ministry, and enjoying the same external advantages; some receive instruction, others reject it; some are hardened, others melted under the word; some are taken, and others left. The means are the same, but they have not the same effect. These things considered, we must surely acknowledge, that every good and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights; and especially, that of his own will begat he us with the word of truth.

Let us seek this gift from God; seek it by prayer and supplication, in all the appointed means. Here God must do every thing; we can destroy ourselves, but he alone can help us. We can fit ourselves for hell; but he must meeten us for heaven. Let ministers preach, and people hear, in dependence upon him. The ope rations of the Holy Spirit upon the mind are compared to the blowing of the wind; and though we cannot command the wind which God holds in his fists, and brings out of his treasures, yet we can pray for it, and wait for it; and they shall not be ashamed that wait for him.

Let those who possess in any degree that heart which God hath promised to his people, thankfully acknowledge the heavenly gift. Let them say, as Hezekiah did: The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do

day. It is not enough to sing forth, we must also

shew forth his praises, who hath called us out of darkness into his marvellous light. Let us not sacrifice to our own net, nor burn incense to our own drag; but let -him who hath done the work have all the glory.

It becomes us also carefully to avoid every thing that is contrary to that unity of spirit which God has so graciously promised to his people, and all those causes of strife and contention which would interrupt the harmony among christians. The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water; therefore leave off contention before it be meddled with. Be moderate in your censures, refrain from opprobrious language, and evil surmisings. Beware of confining your regard, or appropriating religion to a party; endeavour always to maintain the unity of spirit in the bond of peace.Phil. ii. 1-11.

Let party names no more

The christian world o'erspread;
Gentile and Jew, and bond and free,
Are one in Christ their head.

Among the saints on earth,
Let mutual love be found;
Heirs of the same inheritance,

With mutual blessings crown'd.

Let envy, child of hell,

Be banished far away;

Those should in strictest friendship dwell,

Who the same Lord obey.

Thus shall the church below

Resemble that above,

Where streams of pleasure ever flow,

And every heart is love.

1 THESSALONIANS V. 16.

Rejoice evermore.

No less than seven distinct and important duties are clustered together in so many verses in this connection, and each expressed with a kind of studious brevity. That under immediate consideration, is one which is often inculcated, and but seldom practised. Real christians are very rare, and joyful ones are still more so. Most of them hang their harps upon the willows, and weep when they remember Zion. They have abundant cause for joy however, though they may often want a suitable frame for it. The privi leges which such possess, and the prospects they have before them, are sufficient to excite the most lively emotions of gratitude and praise.

The duty and the privilege to which believers are here invited, require to be explained-the necessary dispositions pointed out-and the sources of their plea sure ascertained and distinguished. Let us attend to a few remarks on each of these in their order.

I. Explain the exhortation.

It is evident that it cannot be understood universally, or without restriction. The present life is not a state of unmixed joy, nor is it any kind of joy that is here intended.

1. It must be carefully distinguished from levity, or sinful mirth; nothing of this kind must enter into its composition. Our joy must always be tempered with

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