"branches: He that abideth in me, and I in "him, the fame bringeth forth much fruit: "for without me ye can do nothing t." Indeed, it is evident, from the fentiments which he who believeth in Jefus doth embrace, the religious principles with which his mind is enriched, and from the ordinary operation of truth and principle upon the human heart, forming the temper and character to a refemblance of itself: it is evident, I fay, to every impartial obferver, and judge of human nature, that a true believer in Christ will be more powerfully urged to the love and practice of that holinefs which the gofpel enjoins, than the man who admires the morality of the gofpel, and is folicitous to obey the precepts of it, while he pays little or no regard to its peculiar and diftinguishing doârines. "A "good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, nei"ther can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit." In like manner, a good man, out of the good "treasure of the heart, bringeth forth good "things; and an evil man, out of the evil trea"fure, bringeth forth evil things." They who' put their truft in the Lord Jefus Christ as their Saviour, and who look for the mercy and acceptance of God by him alone, are convinced and perfuaded

+ John, xv. 5.

perfuaded in their own minds, that they can derive no benefit from the infinite merit of his atonement for fin as their great High Priest, unless they listen to his inftructions as their unerring prophet, and fubmit without referve to his divine care and government, as their, fupreme Lord and King. To them who thus believe, Christ will be precious; and the happy effects of their faith will be felt in their hearts, and will appear, and be made manifeft in their lives. A profound admiration of the virtues of the Redeemer's character, and an unfeigned defire to imitate them; a sense of duty, and a regard to their own welfare; the fear of his displeasure, and the hope of his approbation, as their great and final Judge_will concur with the nobler motives of gratitude and love, to render them "fervent in fpirit, ferving the Lord," and to make them zealous, active, and unwearied in the practice of every duty they owe to God, their neighbour and themselves. Thus a true and faving faith in the hearts of Christians, will communicate its falutary influence to all the springs and principles of their actions; and the " light of their daily converfation will

"fo fhine before men, that they may see their

good works, and glorify their Father which "is in Heaven,"

As it is a wife and juft appointment of the moft high God, that all perfons of this excellent character should be truly blessed; so it deferves our particular attention, that none but perfons of this excellent character, are qualified to enjoy the life and happiness here promised by our Lord, to all thofe who believe in his name, What pleasure could the ignorant enjoy in a state of perfect light and knowledge? What delight could it give to one who is an enemy to God, in his mind, by wicked works, to be admitted into the company of the friends of God? Could the envious, the malicious, the revengeful, live in the ferene manfions of charity and peace? Can folly dwell with wifdom? or falfehood with truth? or fin with holinefs? No. The wife, the holy, the just, and the good alone, are fit to be admitted into the immediate prefence of the living God, and to abide there for evermore. "Happy is that people that is in such a case;

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yea, happy is that people whofe God is the "Lord."

IV. We

IV. We come now to confider the full and effectual Security given to thofe who believe in the Lord Jefus Chrift, as their Saviour, that the great happiness set before them in the text, fhall be their final and everlasting portion. The heart of man cannot wish for greater and more effectual Security, than what the bleffed Jefus hath here given to us; his Promife is furely the best foundation for our faith and hope to reft on; we may rely upon it with unfuspecting confidence, for the enjoyment of all the eternal life and happiness, which he hath folemnly declared fhall be the final portion of his faithful and obedient people. Jefus faid unto her, I am the refurrection, and the life; he that be"lieveth in me, though he were dead, yet fhall "be live.." Our Lord is not a man, that he "fhould lie, neither the fon of man, that he "fhould repent; hath he said, and fhall he not "do it? or hath he fpoken, and shali he not "make it good?" Is he not poffeffed of every poffible and conceivable perfection? And is he not thereby fully qualified to accomplish this exceeding great and precious promife? His infinite wisdom fhall devife the best and most proper means for this purpofe, his almighty power

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"fhall

fhall carry them into effect; and as he is faithfulness, and truth, and love itself, we may reft fatisfied, that whatever he hath spoken fhall be fulfilled in its feafon. How many striking and endearing proofs did he give of his infinite wif dom, power, faithfulness, and love to his people, in the course of his perfonal miniftry! And as if all these evidences of his friendship to them, had been of small account in his fight, he at laft offered himself a facrifice to the justice of God in their stead, and ratified the promise contained in the text, and every other promise of the new and everlasting covenant, with his own blood. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a

man lay down his life for his friends." Great, however, and glorious as this proof is of the love of Jefus to his friends, yet, if his love had ceafed here, in vain would be our faith and hope in him. Bleffed be his name; it did not terminate here, his gofpel declares, and affures you, to your unspeakable comfort and joy, that as "he was delivered for our offences, fo he "was raised again for our juftification;" and

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by his own blood hath entered in once into "the holy place, having obtained eternal re"demption