throne, and to the Lamb for ever." Their robes are as white as the light, being washed clean in the blood of the Lamb, and through him they have conquered, as the palms in their hands denote; yea, are more than conquerors, having crowns of righteousness upon their heads, which can never fade away. For grace reigns through righteoufnefs unto eternal life by Jefus Christ our Lord. O what matter

of triumph is here! A righteoufnefs abfolutely perfect, and everlafting! This greatly enhances all our high joys in Chrift, that there is full fecurity for their continuance. It depends on the faithfulnefs of God to his word and promife, fixed in his eternal counfels, and established upon immutable things. "Their righteoufnefs is of me, faith the Lord, and

mine is an everlasting righteoufnefs: Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath For the heavens fhall vanish away like fmoke, and the earth fhall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner, but my falvation fhall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished." The state of a believer is always one and the fame on God's part. He in his appremay vary henfions of his ftate, but with God there is no variablenefs, or fhadow of turning. He may be a believer walking in darknefstempted to doubt, he may pay too much attention to fenfe and feeling-may get into a legal spirithis evidences may be clouded— when outward things and providences feem to make against him, D 4

his

his faith may be fore tried, and he may ftagger at the promises of God through fome fit of unbelief-the man changeth, but God changeth not. His mercies are fure mercies. They cannot fail: For they fpring from the ocean of grace, and are ftreams which no created power can cut off: But they fhall infallibly return to it again, and fhall bring with them all the happy objects of his love. The Father chofe them, and gave them to his Son, who has all their names written in the Lamb's book of life: For them he lived and died: And when he presents them at the laft day to the Father-" Behold I, and the children whom thou haft given me," not one of them fhall be wanting: For the Holy Spirit is by his office the Lord and giver of life to them, and in the

day

day of his power he enables them to receive Jefus, and to live by faith upon him, as members united to, and in fellowship with their glorified Head. This covenant of the bleffed Trinity is unalterable, being ordered in all things and fure. All the fubjects of its grace fhall infallibly be faved, according to our Lord's promife, and according to our Lord's prayer, viz. My fheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither fhall any pluck them out of my hand." Trusting to these immutable fecurities the heirs of promise are commanded to draw ftrong confolation, even to rejoice in Jefus with a fulness of joy; in darknefs as well as walking in lightin winter as well as in fummer

66

in adverfity as well as in profperity -in death as well as in life; because he has all power in heaven and earth to make good to them every covenant engagement. And he will do it; for the ranfomed of the Lord fhall return, and shall come to Sion with fongs, and everlafting joy upon their heads; they fhall obtain joy and gladnefs, and forrow and fighing shall flee

for ever.

away

O thou most bleffed God and Saviour, thou art the Lord our righteousness and our ftrength. I believe that the whole Ifrael of God fhall be juftified ONLY by thee, and in thee ONLY fhall they glory. O let thy Spirit abide with me to increase in me this faith, that by fresh supplies of his grace I may be kept from going. about to establish my own righte

oufnefs,