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you relinquished every other master, surrendering yourselves entirely to him? If you "continue in his word," then are you his disciples indeed; then, by the power of his obedience and intercession, rendering all other sacrifices than his own unnecessary, you become adopted into his communion, and are permitted to "sit with him in heavenly places," to live with him, to inhabit another world; this is the spirit of adoption. Let none despair on account of past unworthiness. Jesus Christ did not come to make up deficiencies in our obedience, but to lay a foundation for our hope; and, with those who repent of their sins, "old things are passed away, and, behold, all things are become new." Let none expect salvation who have not come to God through Jesus Christ; for if we choose to disregard this sacrifice, we forfeit the benefit of his death; he has died with respect to us in vain, and we are yet in our sins. Make him, then, your hope and joy, and crown of glory.

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It is usual, in this country, to devote this day to the celebration of Christ's incarnation: would to God it were attended with that joy which this subject and this text are calculated to inspire! would to God it were more devoted to psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs!" The name of God and Christ is often never more dishonoured than by the sensuality of this period; so that a stranger to the custom might imagine it was the general intention to celebrate the incarnation of Bacchus rather than the incarnation of our Saviour. This is a season of recess from worldly care; devote

it to God. Let the Scriptures be more read, with anxiety to secure an interest in the blessings of salvation. Let us manifest, in our lives, that deadness to the world, that benevolence, humility, and usefulness, which will evince a fulness of "the fruits of righteousness," that our "end" may be "everlasting life."

III.

A NEW YEAR'S SERMON TO YOUNG PEOPLE.

1 CHRON. XXVIII. 9.—And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father; and serve him with a perfect heart and a willing mind.

[PREACHED AT CAMBRIDGE, JANUARY 2, 1802.]

THIS was the exhortation of king David, a little before his death, addressed to his son Solomon; and the advice upon which he most emphatically insists is, to adhere closely to God, and so make it his first and chief care to serve and please him. As there never was but one acceptable way of serving, and pleasing him, this exhortation is as applicable to every individual as it was to Solomon, and is recorded for our instruction, "upon whom the ends of the world are come." Each of us, therefore,

should consider himself as deeply interested in the words-" Know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and a willing mind."

David means to include in the knowledge of God, the dispositions which should influence us in our approaches to him: "He that cometh unto God must believe that he is." It is a belief in the perfections of God, including all his natural and moral perfections - his goodness, his mercy, his truth, his justice, his immutability, and his faithfulness;-in short, an acquaintance with Him, as the moral governor of the world. For it is to no purpose to be acquainted with the abstract perfections of God, unless we seek him as the ruler and controller of all his creatures, and feel such a subjection of the will to him as implies our weakness; a deep conviction that God rules, and that every other being is but an instrument in his hands. David intimates that he would have Solomon know God as "the God of his father;" that is, know him in those ordinances of his worship that had been made so delightful to himself, and have supported the pious in all ages. For there never was but one religion; it was taught to our first parents after the fall, and was the religion of Abraham, of Isaac, of Jacob, and of David. In the New Testament, we are farther instructed that in Jesus Christ is to be found that knowledge which will influence the heart, and lead us to imitate him, and to make him our portion. The veil which hangs over us in nature and in providence is removed by Jesus Christ;

that vague and scientific sense of God, which philosophy taught, is taken away; and he has given us that true knowledge of God which replenishes the heart, and draws us to seek after him as the ultimate good. "I have manifested thy name to the men which thou gavest me out of the world; thine they were, and thou gavest them me, and they have kept thy word." The apostle says, " We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness; and we know that the Son of God is come, and has given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true; and we are in him that is true, even in his Son, Jesus Christ." To true Christians, God does not impart truth merely to the understanding, but to the heart; in consequence of which, that otherwise mysterious promise of our Lord is made known to them: If a man will love me, he will keep my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." In this important sense we are to know God, the God of our father; and the design of it is, that we may serve him with a perfect heart and a willing mind." One of the great peculiarities of the truth of Christianity is, that it is altogether practical; and no knowledge of God can be of any use to us but what is so. He has revealed his majesty to us, in order to be loved and obeyed. All high and sublime speculations that do not partake of the doctrines of christianity do not sanctify; they may enlarge the understanding, but do not influence the heart. The service of God stands opposed to three things:

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First, To a profane contempt of God.

David was exceedingly intent upon being a restorer of the worship of God, and the builder of a temple for him; as appears in the following words :--" Hear me, my brethren, and my people: as for me, I had in my heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building: but God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood.... And he said unto me, Solomon, thy son, he shall build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his Father." There are those who set their tongues against the heavens, who speak bold and impious things, who say that it is a vain thing to serve God, and what profit is there in his ordinances? In opposition to such a spirit, we are commanded to fear his name, to reverence his worship, to keep the holy solemnity of the sabbath which he has appointed, and thus to distinguish ourselves from the world.

Secondly, The service of God is opposed to a temporal morality.

It is true, that religion prescribes all the parts of morality; but here is the difference, it prescribes the same duties, but upon higher principles. It enlists all morality into its service, and places it upon a superior foundation. Are we, for instance, commanded to be chaste, temperate, and sober: the intention is not merely to preserve us from the diseases which those vices might bring with

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