upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not: Beloved, Now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know, that when he shall appear we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is: and every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself even as he is pure.' 0 what a dignity is this: what upon earth is to be compared for one moment to it-Sons of God-Sons of Adam, who have borne the image of the earthly, advanced to bear the image of the heavenly. This is a glory which surpasseth all understanding. It did not yet appear as it is to the beloved John; he knew as much of it, as perhaps ever man did, but it was far greater than his knowledge. He knew it but in part: he was indeed sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession. But the earnest is not the inheritance itself. It is only a pledge and a security, that at the appearing of Jesus Christ, the great God and our Saviour, we shall be put into full possession. At present we have it in the promise of the God of truth: and faith in its promise begets a hope, that will never make us ashamed: because it will keep us patiently waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God, when we shall come to the eternal enjoyment of all the riches, and pleasures, and honours of our sonship with Christ our glorified Head.

The apostle would lead us also to consider the fountain from whence all this blessedness springs, from the Father-what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us. The love expressed by this name, Father, has no parallel. It had no beginning, and it will have no ending. It is from everlasting to everlastingbringing with it out of its infinite ocean all the streams of grace, which make glad the city of God, and never stopping till it return with all the happy objects of his love to the same great ocean again. The apostle would have us to behold, and to admire the miracles of the

Father's love, which he purposed and wrought out, and bestowed upon us, who are sinners even as others, and yet to the everlasting praise and glory of his grace— chosen-called-effectually brought into the family and household of faith by the Spirit of adoption, and ennobled-sons of God-what an exaltation-what a blessedness! Made the children of God, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ-with him who is Lord of alladmitted to share with him in his kingdom, his crown, his glories: according to his own prayer, "Father, I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me, where I am, that they may behold my glory, may be with me, may be like me.' O what an animating view is here for the highest rejoicing of faith and hope! Christ by taking our nature into union with himself has advanced it into the greatest dignity of which it is capable: for it is heaven to be with him, where he is in his glory; like him, conformed to that standard of all perfection in body and soul, perfectly and eternally: what a hope should this beget and cherish? even a hope full of glory and immortality! Especially as all this honour is according to the Father's covenant purposes: for whom he did foreknow, them he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first-born among many brethren: Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called, and whom he called, them he also justified, and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we say to these things? Can there be greater grace shewn from the God of all grace? Can there be higher honour conferred, than to be so exalted from the depth of sin and misery, as to be raised to the honours of sonship, even to a conformity to the Son of God. O what sentiments had that blessed man of it, when he said, "As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness, I shall be satisfied when I awake after thy likeness; for thou wilt shew me the path of life; in thy presence is the fulness of joy, and at thy right hand

sus brings with it this fulness of joy; and the hope of it is an active and a lively grace: for every one that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as Christ is pure. This is the mark at which the believer aims, he wishes to be like Christ, and to be more like him : he would feel more of the power of the cross of Christ to crucify in him the body of sin, and more of the power of the risen Jesus, that there may be a real growth in him; and that in all things; thus he purifies his heart and life by that faith in Jesus, of which the apostle thus speaks," Brethren, I have not yet attained what I am striving for; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

These are some of the scripture authorities, from which this conclusion may be fairly drawn, that a believer, whatever view he may take of himself, either from what he was, when dead in trespasses and sins, or from what he now is, quickened by the Spirit of Christ, and living by faith, yet crying out under a sense of his corruptions, O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me; yet he may thank God through Jesus Christ his Lord: for he is warranted, he is commanded to rejoice in the Lord always, and to triumph in the God of his salvation. And he has enough given him in hand to exercise that strọng faith, which will administer strong consolation, even great, very great joy and peace in believing: for the word of God cannot be broken, his promises cannot fail, his covenant engagements are immutable, given as infallible security to the believer, that his faith may not stagger at any difficulty, but looking to a faithful God he may go on his way rejoicing in hope of the glory of God.

These are some of the blessed effects of looking to Jesus, and living by faith upon him and his fulness. In this way there is continual matter of triumph. Let the believer look back on what he was by nature, or on

what he is now in his renewed state by grace, or looking forward to the glory that is to be revealed at the appearing of his Saviour, when he shall be with him in the kingdom which cannot be moved, and shall be like him, all his members conformed to their most glorious Head, and partaking of his divine riches, and honours, and pleasures, what upon earth can exceed such a prospect! What can administer greater happiness, than to have the evidence of it kept clear and open! What can make life more comfortable, and the end of our faith more desirable, than such great and blessed things! promised and given most freely in time, yea, in the fullest manner that almighty love can bestow them in eternity.

For such mercies bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy Name."

O thou beginning and ending, the first and the last, the author and the finisher of the faith, Jehovah Jesus, I have been looking up to thee for thy divine teaching, and I am still looking up to thee for thy divine blessing on this my offering. It is a poor mite, which I would cast into thy treasury, as my dying testimony for the truth and for the power of thy gospel. Be pleased to accept it out of thine infinite condescension. Thou knowest the heart of thy servant: whatever is right in it is thine own, the work of thine own grace. Failings there are, and they are mine: of thy mercy pardon them. And make use of this little treatise, as it shall seem best to thy godly wisdom, for the increase of faith in thy church, and for the advancement of thine own fame and glory; that more honour may be put upon thy word, more dependence exercised upon thy faithfulness, and there may be a growing conformity to it in the hearts and lives of thy people. Be pleased, merciful Saviour, to accompany the reading of it with thy Spirit for these purposes, and I shall be amply rewarded. May thy grace, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of