We have seen, that he emptied himself of his eternal glories; that "he bowed the heavens, and came down in the form of a servant;" that he submitted to all imaginable sufferings; all that the malice of men, all that the avenging justice of God, could inflict: and having by this means opened the kingdom of heaven, and taken possession there, in behalf of all believers, he has caused the glad tidings of salvation to be published through the world, declaring, that whosoever cometh to him (without one exception), he will in no wise cast out," John vi. Are not these proofs of unspeakable, unexampled love? We have seen, that he fully performed the work he undertook; "that he has made an end of sin," Dan.ix.; "brought in an everlasting righteousness, spoiled principalities and powers," Eph. ii.; "triumphed over all our enemies, broke down the partition wall, and brought life and immortality to light by his Gospel," 1 Tim. i. We read, that he is exalted highly; that "God has given him a name that is above every name," Phil. ii.; that he is "far above all principality, and might, and dominion:" and what more can be said of his power? Read his own declaration, "All power is given to me in heaven and in earth," Matt. xxviii. Were these two points, the power and the love of Christ, rightly understood, and fully believed, earth would be full of heaven. But, alas! we are fools, and slow of heart, to receive all that Moses and the prophets, Luke xxiv. the evangelists and apostles, have wrote for our instruction. From hence proceeds our indifference, and that we need so much to be pressed to search the Scriptures, though we readily acknowledge that in them we have the words of eternal life.

IV. It remains therefore, in the fourth and
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last place, that I add a few words to recommend and enforce the command in the text, "search the Scriptures," from the argument there subjoined, "for in them ye think ye have éternal life;" and we think right; for it "is eternal life to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom he hath sent," John xvii. and every article of this knowledge is contained in the Old and New Testament; nor can any part of it be met with any where else. Yet let conscience judge this day, as in the presence of " the living God, the searcher of hearts," before whom our private judgements must shortly come under a review has any book a smaller share of the time, the memory, or the affections of many of us than this book of God? Do not the successive returns of business and amusement so far engross our time and our thoughts, that we have either no leisure or ho disposition to attend to the things which pertain to our peace? Consider, "in them we think we have eternal life." We know we are posting to eternity as fast as the wings of time can carry us; we know, that the consequences of our behaviour in this span of life will attend us into an invisible unalterable state; and we confess, that the necessary directions for our conduct in these most important and precarious circumstances, are to be found only in the Bible: what words then can describe our fatal insensibility, if, all this acknowledged, we have no heart to consult, or to value, this inestimable treasure put into our hands?

Many inquiries, more curious than useful, have been started concerning the divine procedure with the Heathen nations, and those who never heard of the Gospel of peace. "The Judge of all the earth will (undoubtedly) do right," Gen. xviii, and will be justified at the

great day, when every man shall receive according to his works. Till then we must wait for the knowledge of what he has not seen fit to reveal. But thus much he has already told us, that, however it may go with those who know not the Gospel, dreadful will be the doom of those who, having it published among them, refuse to obey it. "The servant who knew not his master's will shall be beaten with few stripes," Luke xii. But this will not be our case; at least our ignorance will be rather an aggravation than an excuse; a wilful, obstinate, infatuated ignorance. We have the words of eternal life in our hands: "line upon line, precept upon precept:" but how do we imitate those (whom perhaps we have been ready to blame) spoken of in the parable, who, when they received a kind and gracious invitation to a royal feast, made light of it, and "all with one consent began to make excuse!" Luke xiv. It is easy to apply this to the Jews of old: so David could clearly judge in the case of the rich man who killed his poor neighbour's lamb, 2 Sam. xii.; but had not the prophet helped him, he would not have collected that he himself was the person intended. But to bring the general truths of Scripture home to the heart is the work of God; and perhaps, while I am speaking at random, he may rouse the consciences of some to say in particular, Thou art the man. Then they will soon see how much it behoves them to search the Scriptures, when they understand the weighty meaning of the words, eternal life.

Some of us, I hope, do already make conscience of frequent reading the Scriptures; but let us remember the force of the word search. It is not a careless superficial reading, or dispatching such a number of chapters in a day, as

a task, that will answer the end. I have already reminded you that it is a business will need your best application; a serious, impartial, humble, persevering inquiry, accompanied with earnest prayer for the light and assistance of God's Holy Spirit. When we set about it in this method, we shall soon find happy effects; pleasure and instruction will go hand in hand; and our knowledge advance as the growing light. The precepts shall inspire us with true wisdom; teach us how to order all our affairs, respecting both worlds, to fill up our several stations in life with propriety, usefulness, and comfort; and to avoid the numerous evils and distresses which those who live by no rule, or by any other rule than God's word, are perpetually running into. The promises shall be a support in every trouble, a medicine in every sickness, a supply in every need. Above all, the Scriptures will repay our trouble, as they testify of Christ. The more we read of his person, offices, power, love, doctrine, life, and death, the more our hearts will cleave to him: we shall, by insensible degrees, be transformed into his spirit. We shall, with the apostle, say "I know in whom I have helieved," 2 Tim. i. Every thing we see shall be at once a memorial to remind us of our Redeemer, and a motive to animate-us in his service.. And at length we shall be removed to see him as he is, without a cloud, and without a vail: to be for ever with him; to behold and to share the glories of that heavenly kingdom "which (Matth. xxv.) he has prepared (for his followers) from before the foundation of the world." Amen.

SERMONS,

Preached in the Parish Church of Olney, in Buckinghamshire.

On the following Subjects:

Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. Psal. lxxxix. 15, 16.