"left their own habitation, being referved in << everlasting chains under darkness, unto the

judgment of the great day." Adam created after the image of God, and furnished with every advantage fuited to his rank, feduced by an apoftate fpirit, forfeited at once both his innocence and happiness, in confequence whereof all his pofterity come into the world involved in the forfeiture he incurred, equally deftitute of righteousness and ftrength, according to that faying of the Apostle Paul, Romans, v. 6. "When we were without ftrength, in due time Chrift died for the un'godly.' And though this weakness is in part removed by the renewing influences of the Spirit of God, yet there will always be need for that caution, "Be not high minded, "but fear.' Who can fay "My mountain ftandeth ftrong, I fhall never be moved ?" The most eminent faints have not only failed, but failed in thofe very graces for which they were moft eminent, and that too by means of temptations far inferior to others which they were enabled to refift. The faith of Abraham, the patience of Job, the meeknefs of Mofes, and the courage of Peter, were all found unequal VOL. IV.

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to the conflict, when left alone in the hour of trial. These examples are recorded for our admonition; and on each of them we may read the folemn warning, "Let him that "thinketh he ftandeth, take head leaft he fall.” Remember who it was that faid, "Without

me ye can do nothing. As the branch can"not bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the "vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in the "me." Bleffed be God for the affurance we have that help is laid for us upon one that is mighty; upon him let us lean in our journey through the wilderness; to his hand let us look for the help we need, and he will make his grace fufficient for us. Animated by this hope, the fame Apoftle who faid in one place, "I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, "dwelleth no good thing;" in another place, fetting his foot upon the neck of his enemies, utters the fhout of victory, in those triumphant words, "I can do all things through "Chrift which strengtheneth me." Let us go and do likewife. To the prayer for upholding grace, David adds,

2dly, A defire for quickening grace; for this I take to be the true import of the re

queft,

queft, "Let my foul live." Sometimes, indeed, we find him praying for the life of the body, as when he fays, "O fpare me, that I

may recover ftrength, before I go hence, "and be no more :" But here the expreffion is too ftrong to be limited to a fenfe comparatively fo low.

Life, or confcious exiftence, though a valuable gift in itself, is a gift we poffefs in common with the worst of our own kind, and with the meaneft and moft noxious of the inferior creatures. Nay, devils partake of it in a higher degree than man. Befides, the life of man, fince the apoftacy, is become short and precarious; and though it holds true in general, that "fkin for fkin, all that a man "hath will he give for his life;" yet the bitternefs of affliction hath caufed many to grow weary of it, infomuch that their fouls have chofen ftrangling and death rather than life. But in all these respects, the life of the foul is entirely the reverfe. It is not a privilege common to all, but the gift of fpecial diftinguishing love. It was purchased for condemned finners by the blood of Chrift; and is produced in dead finners by his renewing

Spirit: So far is it from being short and precarious, that its duration is eternal. It is a

life hid with Chrift in God; and becaufe "he lives, all who believe in him shall live al"fo." The longer it is enjoyed, alfo the more it is efteemed. Who was ever heard to fay of fpiritual life, "I loathe it-I would not live always?" Nay it is the life of the foul alone that gives a relifh to the life of the body, and enables the believer, under the heaviest presfure of affliction, either to poffefs it with thankfulness, or to refign it with joy.

This was the life for which David prayed; a confirmed sense of pardoning mercy, larger measures of fanctifying grace, communion with his God in a prefent world, and the full and everlasting enjoyment of him in heaven. The life for which he prays is no other than the falvation for which he longed. He had tafted of its fweetnefs, and he thirsted for more. "Let my foul live," faith he; to which he fubjoins, "and it fhall praise thee." From which words we learn, for our farther direction,

3dly, The ultimate end for which David was fo earneft in his requests for help and

life, and the improvement he proposed to make of both. They were no doubt bleffings that would greatly contribute to his own honour and comfort; but every private and personal intereft was in him fubordinated to the glory of God. He prayed for upholding and quickening grace, that he might be better qualified for the service of his God, to whom he had devoted himself and his all. Thus he prays, Pfalm li. "Reftore unto me the joy "of thy falvation, and uphold me by thy "free Spirit: Then will I teach tranfgreffors thy way, and finners fhall be converted un

to thee. Lord open thou my lips, and my "mouth fhall show forth thy praise." And the principal reafon for which he was defirous to obtain divine confolation appears from the use he intended to make of it, (verse 32d of this pfalm), "I will run the way of thy "commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.

I fhall therefore make this my concluding exhortation to you: By your folemn profeffion at the table of the Lord, you have publicly acknowledged that you are not your own, but bought with a price, in confequence