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more fed us with the finest of the wheat. have tasted of his pleasant fruit; we have eaten angels' food; yea, as if there were nothing on earth or in heaven good enough for us, he has given us his own flesh to eat. But, surely, with such entertainment, should we not be inexcusable if we did not make our profiting appear unto all men? If, after all our professions and enjoyments to-day, we are to-morrow as carnal and covetous, as peevish and discontented, as fearful and unbelieving as ever, who will believe that He hath filled us with good things? Will it not look as if we loved the things of the world better; and that, notwithstanding all our boast of the privileges and pleasures of christianity, we cannot be satisfied with them ourselves? Let me beseech you therefore, christians, for the credit of religion, for the honour of your Master, which is greatly interested in it; let me beseech you not to be conformed to the world either in its practice or diet. You have partaken of the "cup of the Lord," do not partake of the " cup of devils;" but let all the world see, that you have meat to eat which they know not of; that to live by faith on the Son of God is not an enthusiastical and vain attempt; and that your souls need no other food; and that you are most healthy and vigorous, when you feed on nothing else but the Bread of life.

MEDITATION XXIV.

[December 1, 1754.]

HEBREWS XII. 28, 29.

WHEREFORE WE RECEIVING A KINGDOM WHICH CANNOT BE MOVED, LET US HAVE GRACE, WHEREBY WE MAY SERVE GOD ACCEPTABLY WITH REVERENCE AND GODLY FEAR: FOR OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE.

A KINGDOM -a kingdom which cannot be moved. What words are these! And is this a language for subjects, beggars, rebels? And is this after the manner of men, O Lord God? Is it thus that it shall be done to the men whom thou delightest to honour? We are almost afraid to speak the words which thou hast put into our mouths, and to accept the blessings which thou hast put into our hands. Shall we receive a kingdom; that deserved, that expected a dungeon? Shall we be advanced to royal dignity; who, for our treachery and rebellion, could expect nothing but immediate and everlasting destruction? It is a mercy almost too great for belief. When we consider this kingdom; the extent and riches, the pleasures and the honour of it, and what glorious things are spoken of the city of the living God, the

residence of the Lord of glory, we look down upon ourselves with astonishment. We look and won

der, and say, "Can such things be designed for us? Were all those mighty preparations made for the entertainment and felicity of fallen man? Surely no; we must be mistaken; it must be an ill-grounded presumption in us to suppose it. Such a world and state is fit for none but angels: the service of it, and even the pleasures of it, are too high for such feeble dying creatures as we to attempt." But then, when we consider that he took not on him the nature of angels, but the seed of Abraham; when we recollect, that the proclamation was," Peace on earth, good-will towards men;" when we find that it is a part of his prerogative to raise the poor out of the dust, and the beggar out of the dunghill, and set him upon a throne, and make him to dwell among princes; and especially when we look over our charter, and find our own characters to answer to the description of those persons for whom this kingdom is designed; when the King of heaven has the throne in our hearts; when the laws of heaven are impressed upon our minds, and copied out in our lives; and when the glories of heaven are the chief objects of our esteem and desire, we begin to think ourselves heaven-born; we rise high in our expectations, even to "a kingdom," and think nothing too much for God to give, or for us to receive.

By the kingdom here, is meant the government of God under the gospel, or the state of subjection to the Lord the Redeemer, settled according to the law, which comes from Zion, with all those privileges and encouragements wherewith christian loyalty is promoted. We find it frequently called the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God; and the laws of it are called the gospel of the kingdom. In this kingdom the Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Lawgiver; the Lord is our King, and he will save us. God now takes

He is now the

us peculiarly under his own wing.
Governor and God of Jews and Gentiles.

And

oh! how fatherly is his affection to us all! How grateful is our felicity to him. How does he, as it were, study our interest. How liberal and suitable are all rewards to those who are dutiful and loyal! And as to his backsliding subjects, he is so far from exacting the rigour of the law upon them, that he judges it a matter of joy and praise to him to pardon them when they are truly penitent, and return to their obedience. He makes our welfare his glory, and our happiness his delight. He knows our frailties, circumstances, and concerns; and frames his laws and his expectations accordingly.

In this kingdom Jesus Christ resides as God's Vicegerent, to whom he hath committed all power and authority; and hath given him a name above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee

should bow. The subjects of this kingdom are willing subjects, self-resigning and submissive servants. Indeed, Christ has a right to govern us, and to punish our disobedience, whether we consent or not. God hath set his King upon his holy hill of Zion. He hath put the crown upon his head, and the sceptre in his hand, and given him to be Head over all things to the church. But yet he requires a voluntary submission. He has appointed a solemn sacramental entrance into his service, and sacramental avouchments of it; and when in this way we yield ourselves to Christ to be governed by him, then we receive a kingdom. Christ addresses us as Joshua did the children of Israel, "Choose you this day whom you will serve. If you will yield yourselves to me, and present bodies and spirits a living sacrifice, I will accept it. If ye will subscribe with your own hand unto me, and take my vows upon you; if you will wear my yoke, and bind my laws about your neck, delighting to do my will, I will own, receive, protect, and bless you; if ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land." What a happy society is this, where the Sovereign has the hands and hearts of all his subjects; where there is not so much as a thought, but what is brought into subjection to Jesus Christ; where it is a part of their daily prayer, Thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven;" and where, with one heart and

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