said of us, that we are different in our principles and practice from what we once were; that we have come out of the world and are separate; that we join the society of the saints, and love the fellowship of the followers of the Lamb?

3. They are the most honourable characters on the face of the earth.-Honourable in reality, not in appearance; in the sight of angels and of God, not perhaps in the judgment of men. Who are most truly respectable? Not always the rich, the mighty, the noble; not they who live in luxury and ease, and are distinguished by exalted titles, and splendid shew; such appendages are too frequently the ensign of pride and impiety. We point to the followers of the Lamb, and say, These are they! Do you wish to be acquainted with the excellent of the earth? Here you find them: their hearts are humble, their spirits are meek and gentle, their dwellings are consecrated to God: "in his name they rejoice all the day, and in his righteousness they are exalted." Would you cast in your lot with them who shall stand with acceptance and confidence at the last day? These are they you may know them by this infallible signThey "follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth."

4. They are the most happy persons in times of difficulty and trial.-Who are happy? Not the careless and the wicked: when their resources from the world fail, they are bereaved and wretched indeed! Not the mere professor of religion: his form of godliness, without the power of it, yields him no solid satisfaction. Even the follower of Jesus is not happy if he follow him at a distance, if he attend him carelessly, and in a cowardly manner. But mark the men who follow him fully and faithfully! These enter into the spirit and life of religion: they taste its comfort, they

prove its real enjoyment. Whatever trial awaits them, whatever perplexity befals them, they feel their footing firm as on a rock. They are conscious, in no small degree, of consolations which the world cannot give, nor its changing circumstances destroy. Do you ask, then, who are happy? Seek them not in the haunts of vice; look not for them in/the giddy circle of dissipated pleasure; take notice of the followers of the Lamb, for-these are they! On some accounts they mourn, but they are comforted; they sorrow, but they rejoice, and their joy no man taketh from them. Emulate their character, and you shall share in their unrivalled enjoyment.

5. They are the instruments of the Redeemer's glory. He is not glorified in those that forsake him, nor indeed in them that follow him unless they do it with fixed and persevering resolution. What said Jesus to his heavenly Father? "All mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them;" glorified in their faith, their patience, their hope, but especially in their holy and active obedience.

These are they and none are so deserving of notice as the people who reflect the Redeemer's praise; his disciples, whom he hath ransomed by his blood, whom he sanctifies by his Spirit, comforts by his word, and preserves by his power and grace. May you and I be of the number, and then in us the great end of life will be served! Let us ever remember, that we are bound to live not unto ourselves, but unto Him who loved us, and gave himself for us: we are constrained, by every principle of gratitude, to shew forth his praise, who forms us for himself.

6. They will be the inhabitants of a better world, the companions of Christ in his kingdom.-Mark what he says: "If any man serve me, let him follow

me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be"-" In my Father's house are many mansions; I go to prepare a place for you, and I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am you may be also." The followers of Jesus-how shall we express it? they follow him into heaven; and there shall they live and reign with him in endless felicity! It was asked, "Who are these? And whence came they?" The answer is explicit, "These are they who came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb"-These are they who surround "the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple"-These are they who sing salvation "unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever." In that In that upper world they still follow him, but without the least reluctance, without the most distant feeling of languor: "He shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters;" and they are satisfied. They feel in all its energy the sweet attractions of his love: they find that" in his presence is fulness of joy, and at his right hand are pleasures for evermore."

We close the subject with two or three REFLEC

TIONS.

1. Are we the followers of Jesus?

Multitudes, it is feared, are no such thing. They have not begun to follow him, or so much as seriously considered what it means. They follow the devices of " their own hearts;" they follow "divers lusts and pleasures;" they follow the "multitude to do evil." Is it thus with any of you? Are you of the unhappy number who reject the counsel of Heaven, who slight the Saviour, and madly rush on their own destruction? Pause and reflect! "It is high time

to awake out of sleep." Your present condition is most dangerous, your future doom is dreadful and inevitable. Allow yourselves to think of this plain truth, that unless you follow Jesus now, where he is you cannot come. A course that is contrary to him, that leads from him, must terminate in awful distance, and leave you in wretchedness and despair. But you are not yet in despair! Though distant from the Saviour, you are not excluded, you are not forbid to return. On the contrary, he calls you near; he invites and entreats you to approach; he gives you this inestimable promise-" Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out."

2. What cause have we all to lament our carelessness and cowardice in religious concerns!

None of us follow the Lamb as we ought: we are not so decided, so cheerful, so constant by far as we should be. Shame and confusion of face belong to us, and our peace and comfort are unspeakably injured by our own folly. May this conviction rest on our minds, and may we improve it to the wisest purpose! It matters little our acknowledging and lamenting our folly, unless we become wiser; we may thus dream away the invaluable period of life, and, instead of enjoyment, have nothing but doubts and darkness.-Then finally,

3. Let us rise to greater vigour in the ways of the Lord, and be unreservedly devoted to Him.

Are we the followers of Jesus Christ? Have we indeed begun to believe, to obey, and to resemble Him? Let us not be always beginning! They that follow another should make progress. May our holy ambition to do this be much increased; and may our holy energy be confirmed! We are richly favoured with the means of grace, and why are we thus fa voured? That the languid may be revived, that the

weak may be strengthened, that the feeble-minded may be encouraged, that all may be engaged to follow the Lamb more fully and more faithfully, "whithersoever he goeth." It is certain, the closer we follow Him the more credit we shall bring to his holy religion, the more peace we shall enjoy in our own breasts, the more useful, by many degrees, we shall be to others, and in the whole of our temper and conversation God will be unspeakably more glorified.

What, then, is your desire? What is your purpose? The heart of each is known to the great Searcher of hearts; he only is acquainted with your inward feeling, your secret resolve. Surely none are disposed to delay the business: it may easily be deferred till it is too late. But every consideration which bears on the subject, is an argument for immediate attention to it. May the Holy Spirit decide, and settle you! You cannot be decided in a cause more worthy, or which more directly involves your present and eternal happiness. Let the worldly man follow the world; the avaricious grasp at gain; the gay and sensual thirst for pleasure; on the attainment of each is inscribed, "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity!" Be determined, therefore, to become the disciples of Jesus. In the name, and in the strength of the Lord resolve, without one exception, to rise, and "follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth." You shall not be disappointed. Vanity" shall never be your recompense. The promise shall be fulfilled in its largest import-" I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment; that I may cause them that love me to inherit substance, and I will fill their treasures."

* Prov. viii, 20, 21.