them one seventh part of the time with special and exclusive reference to this end: That then they may gain, as otherwise they might not, a preparation at once for earthly conflicts and heavenly crowns: That then they may have an opportunity to gird themselves anew with the whole armor of God, so as to be able to stand in the evil day: That then in retired devout meditations on heavenly things, or in public solemn and engrossed attention to the ordinances of God's earthly temple, they may imbibe increased measures of the temper which reigns in his temple above. For the same great end, he has instituted the ordinance of the supper. Nothing is more directly suited than this to yield them the necessary support and encouragement in their christian course. He in this ordinance, invites them by believing views of his person and offices, his sacrifice and mediation, to nurture their spiritual man up to the measure of his own holy stature. He here assists their faith and love, and various graces, by presenting to the senses an emblematical representation of what he has felt, and undergone, and accomplished for them. He helps them here to perceive, through the medium of the senses, what, through the feebleness of their faith they might otherwise but dimly see, the greatness of his love, and the greatness of his suffering, and the greatness of the salvation, he has procured for them. Enough must be presented to them here, if not to prevent their ever doubting his love and power to save, yet certainly to lead them to say with one of his earliest followers-I believe, Lord, help thou mine unbelief. Finally, it is an affecting token of our Lord's friendship for his true disciples, that he continues his unceasing intercession for them in heaven. He has not only given his life for them on earth, visits them here occasionally, listens to their complaints, bears with their sins, and makes provisions for their earthly pilgrimage; but he ever appears in the presence of God for them, attending to all their interests there, advocating their cause before the eternal throne, procuring for them those divine communications they need in their upward course, providing a place for them in the eternal mansions of his Father's love, and ever standing ready to receive them at the gate of death, to wash away their every remaining taint of sin in his blood, to array them in the white and clean robes of his perfect righteousness, and to present them faultless before the presence of the excellent glory with exceeding and everlasting joy. What marks of friendship can be named, if these are not such? What evidence can prove any fact, if here is not proof, that Christ is the friend of his people? But is our Lord the friend in the sense considered, of all his nominal disciples? Certainly not. I am your friend, and you are mine, IF YOU DO WHATSOEVER I COMMAND. This is the meaning of the text. He is the friend of those, and those only who are his obedient servants. They can have no interest in his friendship, whose aim and solicitude are not to yield a universal obedience to his commands. There can be no occasion to specify all of his commandments. We may learn their nature and import in the beautiful summary he has given of them in the context. One is this. Abide in me. Feel your dependance upon me. Maintain an habitual communion with me. Manifest conM stantly your adherence and attachment to me. Derive your strength and your consolations from me. Another of his commands is this. Continue ye in my love. Cease not to cherish an ardent affection for me, and in all possible ways to manifest that affection. Be careful that nothing may tempt you to withhold your love from me and thus provoke me to withdraw mine from you. You are exposed to innumerable troubles and reverses; preserve your love to me, and your troubles will prove light, your duties easy, and nothing shall greatly embarrass you. Again. This is my commandment-that ye love one another, as I have loved you. Love each other in the manner I have loved you. Love each other, because I have loved you, and this is the best return you can make. This is my commandment-the great and distinguishing one of my gospel. These things I command you, that ye love one another. Many things are included in this single requirement. If you obey this, you will in substance and spirit obey all my commandments. If you do not this, you will do nothing that I command you, according to the spirit of my holy requisitions. In what has been said we are presented with a brief view of the benefits, and the evidence of discipleship. These benefits must be perceived to be ineffably great and desirable. No one has lived without a personal experience of his need of these benefits. The whole history of a man up to the hour in which he becomes reconciled to Christ, is a connected and varied testimony to his absolute poverty without the Saviour's friendship. The instinctive promptings of his heart after alliances with other intelligent beings, perpetually disappointed and defeated, strongly suggest the necessity and value of an alliance with the permanent and perfect friend of sinners. And what tongue can utter the raptures of delight and glory that thrill the bosom of that sorrowing, desolate, bruised, and beaten child of earth, when he first gains an undoubting assurance, that the Lord Jesus Christ is his friend? The immortal tongues of those who have gone to share his perfect and everlasting friendship, can speak those raptures; but ours cannot. Brethren in the Lord, are our bosoms no strangers to such raptures? Then do we know that he is our friend, not because we bear his name, not because we receive his truth, not because we defend his faith, not because we outwardly comply with his last request, and come to the sacramental table; but because we approve of all his commands, and seek to do them. And especially because we depend on him for all things, and delight to evince that dependance-because we love him supremely, and show that love by abounding in his works because we love his own chosen saints, and make them our own chosen friends. If such is the ground of our persuasion that he is our friend, and we are his, we may hear him now saying to us, as we approach the communion table,-Eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved. Come and feast your souls on the provisions of my love. But are you the Saviour's friends, who never think to obey his commands? Can he be the friend of you, who desire not and seek not his friendship? Remember, that you are his friends or his enemies. Remember that he is your almighty friend, or almighty enemy. Will you disobey him and perish? Or will you do his commands and live? SERMON X. Subjection to Christ, and Instruction from Him. MATTHEW XI. 29. TAKE MY YOKE UPON YOU, AND LEARN OF ME; FOR I AM MEEK AND LOWLY IN HEART: AND YE SHALL FIND REST UNTO YOUR SOULS. PERHAPS nothing has so directly contributed to hinder the progress of the gospel in the world, as the imperfect exhibition of its spirit by its professed adherents. Judging, either from the character of man and the structure of human society, or from the express intimations of scripture, we should be alike led to conclude, that no means are to have so immediate and powerful efficiency in bringing the whole world to its destined subjection to the Saviour, as the character and conduct of such as obey and learn of him. When his disciples are seen cheerfully bearing his yoke, and constantly inculcating by their life and conversation the great lessons they have learned of him, then it is that his dominion extends. But hitherto much the largest portion of his nominal disciples, have evinced that another master reigned over them, and that they were practising lessons never taught in the school of Christ. And grateful, indeed, would it be to be able to add, that no traces of a practical christianity thus defective can be found, where doctrines according to godliness are em |