find all that we sought,-pardon and peace, righteousness and strength, joy and comfort, grace and glory; so that we may now say in a good sense what the rich worldling said in a bad one, "Soul, take thine ease." Those that are in Christ are so well secured, that nothing can hurt them; so well provided for, that nothing can be wanting to them. Duties will be performed, ordinances attended to, and church privileges esteemed by the real Christian; but either of these, nay, all of them, will not give him satisfaction without Christ. "I sat under his shadow," says the church," with great delight." A shadow may be very refreshing; sure I am that the shadow of Christ is so; but there is substance as well as shadow, for she adds, "His fruit was sweet unto my taste."

II. I am to show in what respects this rest is glorious; and it is so in its origin, nature, duration, and effects; but more particularly,

1. It is glorious to God the Father, who hath appointed it, and fixed it in his eternal purpose upon the happy persons who shall be possessed of it. The whole work of salvation by Christ, and all the blessings connected with it, this among the rest, are to the praise of the glory of his grace. God's glory is his supreme end in all he does; there is no other end worthy of him; this he invariably pursues, nor will he fall short of it. The riches of his glory are made known on the vessels of mercy, not increased, but manifested and declared.

2. It brings great glory to the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom we are indebted for it. Thus it is said, "Upon him they," that is, God, angels, and men, "shall hang all the glory of his Father's house." There is a glory upon the person, and a glory in the work of Christ. All that glory which he brings to the Father is reflected upon him again, and the nations of them that are saved bring all their glory and honour to the Lamb. He builds the temple, and it is fit he should bear the glory.

3. It is glorious to the gospel in the revelation of it. We

read of the glorious gospel of the ever-blessed God, and it is called a ministration of glory; and why so, but because it brings tidings of peace and joy to souls trembling under a sense of guilt, and tottering upon the verge of eternal misery. It opens the way both to spiritual and eternal rest. The substance of it is contained in these few words: "This is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and that life is in his Son."

4. It is glorious to the Spirit in the effectual application of it. Whilst the Lord the Spirit, agreeably to his peculiar engagements, glorifies Christ by taking of his things and showing them to us, he acquires glory to himself. As he is equally concerned with the Father and the Son in the work of salvation, so he has an equal right to the praises of the redeemed. He is expressly called "the Spirit of glory," not only on account of the glory which he inherently possesses, but on account of that which accrues to him from his various gifts and gracious operations. As Christ is justified by the Spirit, so the Spirit is glorified in and by Christ.

5. It puts a glory upon all them that are possessed of it. "Since thou wast precious in my sight," says God, "thou hast been honourable." This rest is inward and spiritual, and such is the glory that it conveys! "The King's daughter is all glorious within." This rest is permanent, and such is the glory arising from it: "Christ will present the church to himself, a glorious church." Some rest in their sins, others in their duties; these are inglorious rests: but this rest is every way glorious; so in its contrivance; and it will be still more so in its consummation. To conclude, observe,

1. Let those who are possessed of this rest do all they can to recommend it-speak of it under the character which is here given to it-tell of the glory they have seen in it; and, by an amiable life and conversation, cast an addition of

thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee."

2. Let those who have not experienced this rest labour to enter into it. Labour with your own hearts, my friends, that you may be more sensible of your need of it. Labour with God in prayer that he would lead you into it; and wait in the use of all appointed means till you become possessed of it. Find a resting-place for God in your hearts, and he will find a present resting-place for you in his Son, and a final resting-place in heaven.

Jesus my Saviour, bind me fast

In cords of heavenly love;
Then sweetly draw me' to thy breast,
Nor let me thence remove.

'Draw me' from all created good,
Myself, the world, and sin;
To the dear fountain of thy blood,
And make me pure within.

O lead me to thy mercy-seat,
Attract me nearer still;

'Draw me,' like Mary, to thy feet,
To sit and learn thy will.

Oh draw me' by thy providence,
Thy Spirit and thy word,

From all the things of time and sense,
To thee my gracious Lord.

SERMON XLI.

THE EVIL OF DEPARTING FROM GOD.

JEREMIAH L. 6.

They have forgotten their resting-place.

It is not of so much consequence to know to whom these words were originally addressed, as to whom they may now be applied. With a view to this, therefore, let us inquire what we are to understand by the resting-place here spoken of, and when persons may be said to forget it.

By the resting-place, then, we may understand——

1. The everlasting covenant of grace, with all its promises and provisions; this hath been a resting-place to God's people in all generations. David found it so: "Although my house," says he, "be not so with God as it ought to be, so as I could wish it to be; though some of my children have been cut off in their sins, and others persist in them; yet hath he made with me an everlasting covenant, and here I find my soul secured." When calamities beset him on every side, under the shadow of this covenant he could repose himself with the greatest safety and the fullest satisfaction. Every blessing in the covenant, and every peculiarity of it, is calculated to afford strong consolation to distressed souls, and is both an argument of condescension in God, and a strong motive to confidence. It is a free covenant, founded upon grace, and full of grace; a rich

thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee."

2. Let those who have not experienced this rest labour to enter into it. Labour with your own hearts, my friends, that you may be more sensible of your need of it. Labour with God in prayer that he would lead you into it; and wait in the use of all appointed means till you become possessed of it. Find a resting-place for God in your hearts, and he will find a present resting-place for you in his Son, and a final resting-place in heaven.