This is a powerful and most dangerous enemy; still in the soul, and therefore, has great advantages over it, to annoy and assualt it; to obstruct and distract its exercises; and to mar its peace. Paul found a law in his members warring against the law of his mind, causing him to exclaim, "O wretched man that I am." Its dominion, however, is broken, and it is condemned to destruction.-Believers have a war in their hearts with the world. It solicits their affections and promises great things, honours, riches, pleasures; but they are already, through Christ, crucified to the world, and the world to them; and in due time the victory will, through faith, be complete. "Whosover is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." This victory over the world is a part of the end of their faith.-They have to conflict with Satan in their souls, who leaves no means untried to molest them, to fill them with fears, and, by throwing his fiery darts, to wound their souls. By the aid and direction of the Holy Spirit they maintain a constant conflict with this enemy, and shall finally prevail against him, because "greater is he (the Spirit of Christ) that is in them, than he that is in the world."-Death too, the last enemy shall be destroyed. Whatever pow er these enemies have over the sinner is owing to his being under the law; but Christ having fulfilled the law for his people, they are freed from it, and assured these enemies shall all be destroyed by him in due time. This security makes him anticipate the conquest in a song, "Nay in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us."

6. HE will put them into actual possession of that glory which awaits them, and to which the Father will have them brought. He has already procured

glory for them. This was the end of his mission: hence, he tells them, "I appoint unto you a kingdom even as my Father hath appointed unto me a kingdom." That glory which is laid up for the saints is called, "eternal life;" "a kingdom;" "a crown," "a crown of righteousness, of life, of glory," &c. Jesus, the Captain of salvation, has it at his disposal, by the appointment of his Father. He hath made Christ heir of all things; and he will have all his children to be joint heirs with him. The promises of this are particularly directed to those who are faithful and who overcome in the spiritual warfare, as the conclusion of each epistle to the seven Asiatic churches bears. "To

him that overcometh, will I grant to sit with me on my throne, even as I also overcame, and am sit down with my Father in his throne." Rev. iii. 21. Paul states this connection in his own case. "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but to all them also that love his appearing." It is hid with Christ in God, and will be brought forth and bestowed on all the sons of glory at last. "Your life is hid with Christ in God. our life shall appear, then shall him in glory." Col. iii. 3, 4. word assuring them that, as " he is gone to prepare a place for them, he will come again and receive them unto himself; that they may be with him and behold his glory."

When Christ, who is ye also appear with They have his own

I SHALL now shut up this subject with a few infer

ences.

1. THE sufferings of believers in the world are vast

ly different in their nature from Christ's. They deserved to have suffered as he did, on account of their sin; but as he has expiated that, he has altered the nature of their sufferings, and made them subservient to a very different end from that to which they naturally tend. He was consecrated by his sufferings for bringing many sons to glory, and every thing that is made a means of promoting that design is also consecrated. Had he not been thus consecrated no son had ever been saved, and if the way of suffering had not been consecrated to believers, it would have been the sure path to eternal ruin. They must not entertain hopes that they shall escape suffering in the world, for it is through many tribulations they must enter into the kingdom of God; yet they are to assure themselves that they are necessary, and will contribute much to their advantage in the way to glory. God, in subjecting Christ to suffering, acted in terms of the law; but in the sufferings of his people, he proceeds on the footing of the gospel. He mitigates them, supports his people under them, and makes them instrumental in taking away sin, and increasing holiness. What fears, what horrors, what despair, must have laid hold of the soul under suffering, had not Jesus died? How bitter must these waters have been? Now they are sweetened with that mercy, and that sense of the divine love, which accompany them. This being the case, we ought to see the propriety and necessity of our sufferings, and should study perfect resignation under them. It ill befits us to become impatient, to fear, to despond, or to use improper means to avoid trials. They are wisely ordered, they are of great advantage to us, and are part of our necessary conformity to Christ. Sufferings may sometimes inter

rupt our peace, and try our faith and patience; we must, however, beware of unbelief, and dejection, as nothing can be more groundless and unreasonable. As they are part of our conformity to Christ, we ought to account them honourable. "Rejoice," says an Apostle," in as much as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings, that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” Let us, then, most cordially, when called to it, take up his cross and follow him, and account his reproach greater riches than the most valuable treasures the world can afford.

2. THE work of bringing sons to glory is too great to be claimed by the sinner. It is the height of presumption in him to arrogate any part of it to himself, as it is in direct opposition to the designs of God, and what he himself can never accomplish. If any

sinner will open his own way to glory, he must first be made perfect through sufferings. This is undeniable, since without this the Son of God could not bring one son to glory. If he, possessing all divine perfections, and human nature free of all sin, and full of the Holy Ghost, fitting him for communicating all instruction, and for obeying the law perfectly, could not save one sinner without dying, how shall any sinner, destitute of these qualifications, ever save himself? If

any will presume to be the Captain, the author of his own salvation let him consider, that he must first be "made perfect through sufferings." But if he enter upon suffering for the expiation of his own sin, het never could become perfect because its duration would be endless. Jesus, in consequence of being made perfect, became the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him. If ever Gcd had intended that any sinner

should effect his own salvation, we certainly would either find him naturally in a condition to do it, or we would be told how he could be qualified for it. We are told of Christ's being made perfect or fitted for that work, but not a single word about the fitness of any sinner, though he stood much more in need of it than the Son of God. But there is not another name given under heaven among men by which we might be saved but the name Jesus. God has laid help only upon one, therefore salvation can be attained by no other. The sinner must be redeemed by price; but the redemption of the soul is precious and no man can render to God a ransom for it. No animal, having a blemish, was allowed to be offered in sacrifice. Whether did this typify, the atoning sacrifice of Jesus, "who was holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners;" or the offering of the sinner who is, morally, the blind and the lame? Let the sinner offer what he will for his redemption; it cannot be sustained. If he offer to bear his punishment, it will prove too weighty and sink him into the abyss of eternal misery; if he pretend to repentance and reformation, the implacable enmity of his heart against God will render it impossible; besides these are no satisfaction for offences done. Redemption is never ascribed to the sinner but universally to Christ. He obtained eternal redemption for us; and by one offering of himself he perfected for ever them that are sanctified. The redemption by Christ is perfect and eternal, nothing being left for the sinner to do. Bringing them to glory is also his work, not theirs. "He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are. all of one." He is the agent who performs the work, they the subjects in whom it is wrought. Does the

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