that God has promised to afford us. Now nothing is more natural than that those who have grace should exercise it; those that are possessed of life should put forth vital actions; and those that are strengthened by God should be strong for him.

4. Other children resemble their parents, and so should God's. Adam begat a son in his own likeness, both in his natural and sinful likeness. The children of the devil copy after his example; and as they partake of his nature, so they do his works; and should not God's children show that they are "partakers of the divine nature," by their conformity to him in the various particulars before mentioned? Surely they should act up to their privilege, and not dishonour their character.

Do we thus follow God as obedient children? if not, we shall either be rejected by him as spurious, or chastened by him as undutiful ones. The nearer the relation, the more aggravated our transgressions; and if we are not punished for them in the other world, we shall certainly smart for them in this. "Are ye not," says God, to the stiff-necked. and rebellious Israelites, " as the children of Ethiopia unto me?" and then adds, "The eyes of the Lord God are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth."

IN VETERd to call God song domain. Authority,

both of reverence and Here a seems to be vers on firt ough he is stem . he also commite and bumble spirit,

to rove the heart s an infinite stoop in eaver, yet he is not mes upon earth should res. expressed as to morous as well as the whether weak or strong.

They may be ready to perish in their own apprehension, and in the view of others, but they shall not perish; they may be cast down, but they shall not be cast off; they may be distressed, but they shall not be destroyed: "Even so, it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish." Here it may be proper, first to take notice of the persons spoken of, and then of God's good will towards them.

I. We may consider the phrase, "little ones," as expressive of the character of all true believers, and that in three respects.

1. They are little in the eyes of the world; and that because their imperfections are visible, and their excellencies concealed. Their inward glory is as much hid from others. as their future happiness is from themselves. "Therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not." Hence, like their great Lord and Master, of whom the apostle here speaks, they are despised and rejected of men, though chosen of God, and precious. What poor contemptible creatures are real experienced Christians in the eyes of carnal men! Their actions misrepresented, and their characters ridiculed: "We are made the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things to this day."

2. They are little in their own eyes. Not like that selfadmiring hypocrite, who said, "God, I thank thee I am not as other men are;" but rather depreciating than magnifying their excellencies, and assuming the language of the broken-hearted publican, "God be merciful to me, a sinner!" An Old Testament saint speaks of himself as "less than the least of all God's mercies." Another puts this question, "Who am I, and what is my Father's house?" But in none did this grace of humility shine more brightly than in the great apostle of the Gentiles. In many places he speaks of his own meanness, vileness, and unworthiness; that he was the chief of sinners, not deserving the name of a saint or apostle; and, in one

SERMON XXII.

ON THE SECURITY OF THE HUMBLE.

MATTHEW XVIII. 14.

Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

ALL true believers stand in the same filial relation to the Most High God as Christ himself, though not upon the same grounds, and in the same manner. He is a son, by participating in the same nature, and the same infinite and adorable perfections; they, by adopting love and regenerating grace. "Tell my brethren," says Christ to Mary, “I ascend unto my Father and their Father, unto my God and their God;" and thus the saints are warranted to call God their Father. This is a title denoting dominion, authority, and glory; and should be productive both of reverence and trust, fear and confidence in him. Here it seems to be expressive of his amazing condescension; for though he is "the High and Lofty One, that inhabiteth eternity," he also dwells with him who "is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." Though it is an infinite stoop in him to behold the things done in heaven, yet he is not willing that even one of his little ones upon earth should perish. The words of my text are so expressed as to afford strong consolation to the timorous as well as the courageous; to all real saints, whether weak or strong.

They may be ready to perish in their own apprehension, and in the view of others, but they shall not perish; they may be cast down, but they shall not be cast off; they may be distressed, but they shall not be destroyed: "Even so, it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish." Here it may be proper, first to take notice of the persons spoken of, and then of God's good will towards them.

I. We may consider the phrase, "little ones," as expressive of the character of all true believers, and that in three respects.

1. They are little in the eyes of the world; and that because their imperfections are visible, and their excellencies concealed. Their inward glory is as much hid from others as their future happiness is from themselves. "Therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not." Hence, like their great Lord and Master, of whom the apostle here speaks, they are despised and rejected of men, though chosen of God, and precious. What poor contemptible creatures are real experienced Christians in the eyes of carnal men! Their actions misrepresented, and their characters ridiculed: "We are made the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things to this day."

2. They are little in their own eyes. Not like that selfadmiring hypocrite, who said, "God, I thank thee I am not as other men are;" but rather depreciating than magnifying their excellencies, and assuming the language of the broken-hearted publican, "God be merciful to me, a sinner!" An Old Testament saint speaks of himself as "less than the least of all God's mercies." Another puts this question, "Who am I, and what is my Father's house?" But in none did this grace of humility shine more brightly than in the great apostle of the Gentiles. In many places he speaks of his own meanness, vileness, and unworthiness; that he was the chief of sinners, not deserving the name of a saint or apostle; and, in one