from a clear sky, so grace from a reconciled God.

This, O my foul, is the language of every comfort I receive, every mercy I enjoy; which, God bestows to assure thee of his good-will, and draw thee to himself: He deals not with thee as an angry judge, but as a gracious benefactor, to encourage thee to return unto him. But spiritual and eternal blessings more abundantly proclaim and evidence this. " I will give grace and

glory, holiness and heaven," is the voice not of an unappeased Majesty, but of a God in Christ, reconciling the world to himself.

2. Will God give grace and glory to loft and perishing sinners? how valuable a blessing is the gospel, whereby life and immortality is brought to light, 2. Tim. i. 10. How diftinguishing a privilege do they enjoy who live under the clear revelation of the good-will of God towards men : whilst others are ready to perish for want of vifion? We have more in this one line of the Bible, the Lord will give grace and glory, than the dim light of nature could ever discover.

That we may be recovered from our lapsed state, and attain that glory we had forfeited by fin; on what terms 'twill be conferred, and to whom we are to go for strength to the performance; that God is reconciled and ready to receive returning sinners; hath provided for them an e verlasting kingdom, an incorruptible inheritance, and is willing to communicate his grace to fit them for it, &c. What ravishing discoveries are these! What better news could God send to man! Whatever Whatever conjectures the rest of the world may make of his favourable propenfions towards men, in that he spares, sustains, and feeds them, causes his fun to shine, and his rain to fall, giving them fruitful seasons, and filling their hearts with food and gladness; 'Tis only his special declaration that can make known his abundant mercy, as reconciled through Christ. Well may the Pfalmift cry out, Bleffed is the People that hear the joyful found, Pfalm lxxxix. 15.

O my foul, doth not so peculiar a blessing deferve and call for thy special praife? Does it not become me to be highly sensible of, and thankfully own, the divine goodness in difpofing my abode? How pleasantly are the lines fallen to me in a land of Bibles, where the grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation, and I can read or hear from his own mouth, the Lord will give grace and glory. Doth not my heart sometimes pity, and feem to melt over, them who are born or caft in the remote corners of the earth, where they are in darkness as to their misery and remedy, whilft mine eyes behold the light of life, and the joyful found is oft repeated in my ear? And shall I not praise my God, by whom the difference is made, and earnestly beg of him, that I may not only have a revelation, but a real interest in the things that concern my peace.

Then is the Gospel a blesfing indeed, and matter of everlasting praise, when it becomes, " the power of God," the instrument of that power, to the falvation of those to whom it is 3. Will God give grace and glory? hence learn the infinite value of the blood of Chrift, and our inconceivable obligations to bim.

The blood of his cross is not only the foundation of our peace, but the price of our happiness; of powerful efficacy to reconcile, and of extensive merit to procure salvation, with eternal glory.

This, O my foul, is the grace of the Lord Jefus Chrift, who, tho' he was rich, yet for our fakes became poor, that we through his poverty might be rich, 2 Cor. vii. 9. He emptied himself of his glory that I might be filled; poured out his blood that the fountain of life and grace might flow forth to me; underwent the preffures of his father's wrath, that I might be restored to the embraces of his love, and all the fruits and effects of it.

What love and praise do I owe him! What eternal obligations am I under to him! What joy will it be to be with him, in the glory he hath purchased; when I shall be more fenfible of his love as leading to, the love of the father, and perfect happiness in it, and shall be swallowed up in love and praise for ever !

4. Will the Lord give grace and glory ? then his mere good-pleasure is the spring and fource of his peoples happiness and hope: the reason of our falvation, both as begun and perfected.

Whilst in a natural unrenewed state, we can do nothing to deserve his grace; might justly be left by him unholy and miferable, as fallen angels are. By wilful tranfgression we are liable to his wrath, and have no merit or motive to oblige or allure him to save us from it. But he will VOL. III. have

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have mercy on whom he will have mercy. Rom. ix. 18. "Not by works of righteousness which

we have done, but according to his mercy he " saveth us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;" and tho' this be our meetness for the inheritance of the faints in light, yet even that, too, is freely bestowed. The wages of fin is death, but eternal life is the gift of God. Rom. vi. 23.

5. Will the Lord give grace and glory? This shews that his immense goodness is the measure of what he bestows. There is no proportion between what we can do for God, and what we receive from him. He is a Being every way perfect, and loves to act like himself: If he builds, he will make a world; if he saves he will divide the sea; if he threatens, 'tis an everlasting hell: and when he promises, 'tis eternal life in heaven, with whatever is necessary in the way to it. The Lord will give grace and glory. He hath already displayed his love in giving his Son, and will now make known his abundant mercy in fupplying the wants, fatisfying the defires, providing for the complete happiness, of his people according to his riches in glory by Jesus Christ. They shall certainly be most blessed whom God undertakes to make so.

6. Will God give grace and glory? Learn hence that regeneration is above the power of nature: nor does falvation depend on the variable inconstant will of man.

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Could we recover ourselves, when fallen; or create a new heart; what need had God to have taken the work into his own hand? And feeing

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he has fo, how sure is it that he will accomplish his design, perfect what he has begun, and fulfil all his pleasure? His people shall be willing in

the day of his power;" fweetly, tho' efficaciously and infallibly, brought over to him ; called according to his purpose; habitually fanctified; and feparated from the world; and at last received to the prepared kingdom.

7. Will God give grace and glory? Hence I infer that the fouls of men are of great excellency and worth.

What does grace import, but the image of God; the participation of the divine nature; a being filled with his fulness here, Eph. iii. 19. and glory, but the dwelling with him in the heaven of heavens, the cœleftial temple, the prefence-chamber of the Deity, the manfion of bliss and joy: and how valuable is that being which the Most High will fo highly honour in time, and provide for to eternity?

8. Will God give grace and glory to certain of the loft and finful race of mankind? Hence learn that despair is very unreasonable. Be humble, O my foul, in a fenfe of thy weakness and unworthiness, but do not despond, or fink. Caft the anchor of hope in the ocean of divine love. Look up with trust and dependance to the Father of lights from whom every good and perfect gift descends. Every thing comes from him by way of gift, and those gifts are, like himself, perfect. I am indeed, less than the leaft of bis mercies; yet am encouraged to hope for the greatest upon his own offer, and he takes pleasure in those that do so. Pfalm cxlvii. 11.