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A man in a ftate of nature savoureth not the things which are above; but he that in scripture is denominated a new creature, is poffeffed of a new heart. He is born of God, and actuated by a noble and evangelical principle, by which he is difpofed to make a wife and happy choice. The holy angels in heaven, and the fpirits of juft men made perfect, look with indifference on all that which is most coveted and defired by the men of this world. They take little notice of earthly treasures, mitres, fceptres, crowns or kingdoms. One fmile of God's face is of more value, in their eftimation, than all the poffeffions and honours which the world can afford. The difpofition of a true faint bears fome faint resemblance to the elevation of celeftial beings, fo far as to enable him to esteem the divine favour his life, and to look for all his felicity from it. They who are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, 'but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit." That is to say, those who are under the guidance, influence, and dominion of the Holy Ghoft, and of the gracious principles which he produced in them, in their regeneration, mind fpiritual things; they chufe, they pursue, and they delight in those objects which are of a divine and heavenly nature, as being agreeable to their renewed and fanctified inclinations, and ac

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cording

cording to the dictates of the Spirit of God. Reader, you are happy if you are confcious that this is your cafe, and your daily experience.

The true chriftian hath known fomething of the bitterness of fin, and of God's displeasure against it, and hath found the impoffibility of obtaining reft to his foul any where but in a reconciled God, through Jefus Chrift. * A malefactor at the bar may make many efforts to put off his grief; but nothing will give full relief to his mind but his prince's favour, manifested in a fealed pardon. Thus it is with a converted finner, who has felt the terrors of a broken law, and been alarmed with apprehensions of the divine displeasure. Nothing can compose his mind, and quiet his anxious bosom, but the favour and friendship of that almighty Being whom he has grievously offended. To talk to him of the honours, riches and pleasures of this world, is like finging fongs to one who is of a heavy heart. They relieve him not, but rather add weight to his burden, and increase his fadnefs. The language of the gracious man is, My foul thirfteth for God, the liv.

In vain the trembling confcience feeks
Some folid ground to rest upon;
With long despair the spirit breaks,
Till we apply to Christ alone.

living God. As the hart panteth for the waterbrooks, so panteth my foul after thee, O God."*

Finally, the true chriftian is enabled to view things by an eye of faith, and as fuch, is directed and determined what to chufe, and to purfue." We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not feen: for, the things which are feen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." Thus, "by faith, Mofes, when he was come to years, refused to be called the fon of Pharaoh's daughter; choofing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of fin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Chrift greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he had refpect to the recompence of the reward." The eye of faith overlooks all the glory of this world, and lays its honour in the duft. It draws a veil over the world's deceitful charms, and contemplates heavenly objects in their native luftre and beauty.

*Other refuge have I none;

Hangs my helpless foul on thee;
Leave, ah! leave me not alone,
Lord, fupport and comfort me!

All my truft on theo is ftay'd,
All my help from thee I bring;
Cover my defenceless head

With the shadow of thy wing.

beauty. Faith realizes the things of the kingdom. of God, and as fuch, is the victory which overcometh the world. It looks within the veil, takes the dimensions of the heavenly inheritance, furveys the celeftial country, and forms a proper estimate both of things below, and things above, and engages and directs the foul to make a proper valuation of the one and of the other. A chriftian's life is a life of faith. He walks by faith, and not by fight and fenfe. Faith quickly difcerns how little the objects of sense can contribute to folid happiness, and that the favour of God alone is the life of the foul. In

kis favour is life.

Vain earthly delights

No more I defire,

To infinite heights

My wishes afpire;

Lord, thou art my treasure,

My portion and choice;

And in thy good pleasure,
My foul fhall rejoice.

The world I refign,
And all it can give;
Lord, if I am thine,
Securely I live.

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Having gone through the doctrinal part of our fubject, we shall next endeavour to apply what has been advanced.

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