of the word of God derives life and efficacy from the cross. Let us therefore remember its influence and value, and never lofe view of it. Let us defpife the ignorant reproaches of those who flander it as unfavorable to moral virtue. I dare not fay indeed, that it is very favorable to an oftentatious parade of human merit; but I am fure it is the only way of producing felf-denied obedience to the will of God.

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2. From what hath been faid, you may fee the guilt and danger of the enemies of the crofs, and at the fame time may learn who they are who deferve this character. They may be divided into two diftin&t claffes: 1. Thofe who are enemies in principle to the crofs, who have no fenfe of their own unworthinefs, of the evil of fin, or the neceffity of an atonement. Such may fometimes retain the name of Chriftians, and contend that they ought to retain it, while they oppofe, with the utmoft virulence and malice, its moft important and fundamental truth. I cannot think, without horror, on the guilt and ingratitude of all fuch perfons, and the fearful punishment which they fhall meet with at laft, when this defpifed Saviour "fhall "come in the clouds, and every eye fhall fee him." They are alfo enemies to this truth who are governed in temper and practice by a spirit directly oppofite to that of the crofs. The fhame and reproach which the cross implied are not fufficiently attended to, nor the humility and felf-denial neceffary to all those who would be the followers of a crucified mafter. Are there not many who will have no religion but what will be pliable, and accommodate itfelf to the maxims of the world? Loaded with prudence, they are unwilling to break measures, either with the good or the bad. Dazzled with human pomp, they defpife every thing in religion, but what, either in fubftance or circumftances, is grateful to human pride. Fafhionable practices, however dangerous or vicious, they have not courage to oppofe. It were well, if they would confider the ancient form of confeffion at baptism. Do you renounce the devil, and all his works? I do. Do you renounce the world, its pomps, its pleafures, and its vanities? I do. And this vas not merely Heathenish

idolatry, and ceremonies of falfe worship, but that in dulgence of vanity, and that gratification of appetite, in which worldly men, in every age, place their fupreme delight.

3. What hath been faid may serve for the fupport and confolation of real believers, under the trials to which they are expofed in the prefent state. It is melancholy to think, how frequently, and how eafily, we are unhinged by distress; what discontent and impatience we are apt to discover under fuffering. Alas! my brethren, are you not ashamed of impatience, when you confider the unparalleled fufferings of your Redeemer in your room? A believing view of the Saviour's crofs, one would think, might stop every mouth, and compofe every murmuring thought. Has he fuffered fo much for us? and fhall we refufe to fuffer from him, and for him? His fufferings fhould make us patient, as they fhew us the evil of fin, and what we have deferved. Did we really deferve avenging wrath? and fhall we dare to complain of fatherly correction? Did he fuffer with patience who did no fin? and fhall we complain who are punished lefs than our iniquities deferve? His fufferings fhould teach us patience, because they take away the bitterness and malignity of our fufferings, and turn them from a poifon to a medicine: he hath exhaufted, if I may speak fo, the whole wrath of God, and left nothing for us but what is highly falutary. And as he hath changed the nature of all the fufferings of life, he hath taken away the fting of death, which is the end of all our fuffering. That blood which speaks peace to the wounded fpirit, fhould be a healing balm to the wounded body.

But of all the different kinds of fuffering, if we pretend to glory in the crofs, we ought to be leaft afraid of the reproach thrown upon us for adherence to our duty. To glory in the cross, is indeed to glory in fhame. The form of expreffion ufed with regard to Peter and John, Acts v. 41. is very remarkable. They departed from the prefence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to fuffer fhame for his name. It would greatly tend to fortify us againft this trial, if we would lay up in our

hearts what hath been faid on the doctrine of the crofs. If it is impoffible to avoid it, we muft needs fit down compofedly under it. And if our attachment to our great master is what it ought to be, we will chearfully follow him even without the camp, bearing his reproach.

You cannot do manner, unless Have you feen

4. In the last place, By what hath been faid, you may try your title to fit down at the Lord's table, and learn your employment there. This ordinance is a fenfible memorial of our Redeemer's crofs and paffion. It was on the cross that his body was broken, and his blood fhed, for you. Are you then to commemorate it? fo, either in an acceptable or profitable you can join the apostle in glorying in it. any thing of the excellence and amiableness of this despifed object? Nothing fo tastelefs and infipid to the proud and felf-righteous; nothing fo delightful and refreshing to the broken in heart. Have you feen any thing of the glory of the true God, in the fufferings of Chrift? and can you fay with the apoftle Paul, Heb. ii. 10. " It became "him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all "things, in bringing many fons unto glory, to make the

Captain of their falvation perfect through fufferings." Do you fee the glory of infinite mercy in the cross? and are your hearts drawn with the cords of love to him who "loved you, and gave himself for you?" Have you experienced the fanctifying influence of the crofs? are your corruptions weakened and mortified by looking upon it? Is it your unfeigned defire, that they may be finally deftroyed by it?

To draw to a conclufion of the fubject: I cannot point out your duty to you in a manner more fuited to this day's employment, or more proper for your after fecurity and comfort, than to turn the three reasons for glorying in the crofs into the form of exhortations.1 befeech you, my beloved hearers, contemplate the glory of God in the cross of Chrift. See him, infinite in power, infinite in wisdom, infinite in holiness. You may fee a faint emblem of his glory in the book of nature; but you can only fee his tranfcendent majefty in the book of God. And may he who at first commanded the light to fhine out of dark

"ness, shine in your hearts, to give you the light of the "knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jefus "Chrift!"-Adore and apply the riches of divine grace. Let the convinced, fearful, trembling finner, fly to this atoning blood, reft his hope upon it, and be fecure.-And neglect not to use the cross of Chrift for mortifying your corruptions. Let your views of it now be lively and ftrong, and carry the fame impreffion away, to be your great preservative from daily temptation. Make no image of the crofs in your houses; but let the remembrance of it be ever on your hearts. One lively view of this great object will cool the flames of unclean luft: one lively view of this great object will make the unjust man quit his hold: one lively view of this tremendous object will make the angry man drop his weapon: nay, one look of mercy from a dying Saviour will make even the covetous man open his heart. In one word, believing views of the cross of Chrift will unite the Christian more and more to a reconciled God, will make his prefence comfortable, his worship delightful, and excite a humble longing for that time when we shall fee him no more through the help of these elements, but as he is in himself, exalted on his throne, where his worship and fervice are everlasting.

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