of this life, that is, of eternal life and salvation, as obtainable by poor sinners through Jesus Christ; and from thence to carry the glad tidings farther.

The waters issued from the temple: and as they are faid to come down from under the right fide of the house, at the fouthside of the altar. Some think reference is here had to Chrift, who purchased the gospel, and all the blessings that accompany it, by offering up himself to die a sacrifice, and through whom they flow to us. From God, as the fountain, in and by Christ as the channel, they are conveyed to us.

2. We may observe their progress and increase. The waters went forth eastward; and Ezekiel, and his guide, followed them, and found them grown deeper and deeper as they

went.

Having measured a thousand cubits, they went thorough the waters, and they were to the ancles, verse 3. A thousand cubits farther, wading through again, they were to the knees. Then walking a thousand cubits more, and croffing a third time, they were to the loins. After this, they walked a thousand cubits farther, and attempting to go over, the stream was found too deep to be forded for the waters were risen, waters to fwim in, a river that could not be passed over, verse 5.

This notes that the waters of the sanctuary, the gospel, and the grace wrought by it, are progreffive and increasing. The gospel church was very small in its beginning, like a little purling brook; but by degrees it improved, as

the

the waters here did, many being added to it daily. The grace of the Spirit, where it is true, is growing.

And, from the prophet's following the stream, and frequently fording it, we may learn in like manner, that it is good for us to keep close to the waters of the sanctuary, to attend the gofpel, and observe its progress and success; to be often searching into the things of God, and not take up with the surface, but endeavour, as far as we can, to go to the bottom.

Some things are plain and easy to be understood, as the waters that were but to the ancles: others require a deeper search, more pains and study to be intimately acquainted with them: as the waters to the knees or loins: but there are some quite beyond our reach, not to be fathomed or comprehended; which therefore we are to believe and humbly adore. In the scriptures, like as in these waters, there are some places such as a lamb may wade through; thơ there are others so deep that an elephant may fwim in them.

3. We may observe, that these waters not only grew deep, but ran and spread far, verse 8. These waters issue out towards the east country, and go down into the defart, and go into the fea. This was in part accomplished when the gospel was preached with fuccess, throughout all the regions of Judea and Samaria, Acts viii. 1. and more fully fince the joyful founds going forth through all the earth, and reaching the ends of the world.

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4. We may observe the different effect of these waters, as they are duly received, and have a free course, or are otherwise received.

1. Where they come, and are duly received, they heal, verses 8, 9. which being brought forth into the fea, i. e. the dead sea of Sodom, the waters shall be healed, become sweet, useful and wholfome; and every thing shall live, whitherfoever the rivers shall come.

There is what answers to these waters in the gofpel, and the grace that goes along with it. Such as are dead in trespasses and sins, are made alive by it, and of children of wrath, become the children of God. This is the great and happy change produced, where the gospel comes in its power, and obtains its end: dead finners are quickened, and living fouls made more lively, fruitful and flourishing.

2. But the places, or perfons, that will not rightly receive, and so be healed by the waters of the sanctuary, but remain unchanged, are left under the most awful doom. This we have set before us in the words of the text, But the miry places thereof, and the marishes thereof, shall not be healed, they shall be given to falt.

By the miry places and marishes, understand finners remaining unchanged under the gospel, refusing to be healed by the waters of the fanctuary; the means fent to that end; those that are so settled in the mire of fin, that they will not be healed, and think they have no need of healing.

That which makes a miry place, is the stop

the water meets with, its not having a free

paffage,

passage, and mixing with the earth on which it lies: Upon which accounts, obstinate finners under the gospel, are fitly compared to fuch places, as the truths they hear are stopt and not fuffered to have a free course; as notwithstanding these, they retain their corruption, and under all their calls and helps to holiness, continue workers of iniquity. Where it is thus, the more plentiful the means of grace are that are vouchsafed, and yet abused, the more vile they grow; like as miry places, that have much water poured upon them, become only the more fo. And this being their cafe, it is faid, they shall not be healed. The waters of the fanctuary that prove healing to others, shall not be so to them: They shall not be washed and cleanfed, quickned and cured : But shall be given to falt, that is, bear no fruit, no more than ground fown with falt, which is the fame with being doomed to perpetual barrenness, (Deut. xxix. 23.) and to be set up as a monument to season and instruct others.

In the words we may take notice,

1. Of the finners spoken of, such as continue unchanged and barren under the gospel, as miry places and marishes, however washed, remain fuch ftill.

2. The doom they are liable to, viz. to have it faid concerning them, They shall not be healed, but be given to falt, i. e. to remain unfruitful for ever.

Doct. Such as continue in fin, and obstinate and

unfruitful under the gospel, may provoke God

to

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to give them up to the fearful judgment, not to be healed, but to remain unfruitful for ever. He may say, Let him that is filthy, be filthy still: They are barren, notwithstanding all the methods and means used to work a cure; henceforth, never fruit grow on them more. Here the things I shall confider are, I. That the gospel has not the same healing savsaving effect on all where it comes.

II. The great fin of those who continue unchanged and fruitless under it.

III. The dreadfulness of the judgment for God to say of any, They shall not be healed, but be left to perpetual barrenness.

IV. The steps by which he usually proceeds to this.

V. The Ufe to be made of these.

I. The gospel has not the fame healing effect on all where it comes.

The waters of the sanctuary, upon some grounds spread the face of paradise, making them fruitful and flourishing: Others remain miry and marshy, barren and fruitless still, as unpleafant and unprofitable as ever. Under the ministration of the fame word, some are saved, others perish. To fome, through the power of divine grace, it proves the favour of life unto life: To others, from the prevalency of their own corruption, the favour of death unto death, 2 Cor. ii. 16. Some, like the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, bring forth herbs meet for him by whom they are dressed, and so receive blessing from him: Others bear nothing

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