kingdom. They, with the believing Gentiles, were made heirs of God, not only to the privileges of his church on earth, but to an inheritance also in the heavens. In both these respects believers have obtained an inheritance.

They enjoy the privileges of God's children on earth, such as his word, worship and ordinances, the presence of his Spirit, the protection of his providence, access to him in prayer, and an interest in his promises. And they are made meet for, are sealed unto, and become heirs of a glorious inheritance in heaven. This is so clearly made over, and so firmly secured to them by God's gracious promise, that they are said to have already obtained it. They are by faith united to Jesus, and are made joint heirs with him, who, as their forerunner, has gone to heaven and taken possession of the inheritance for them. Their life is hidden with Christ in God; the glory is laid up, and the inheritance is reserved for them; they are risen with Christ, and made to sit together with him in heavenly places.

The Apostle instructs them, that, as they had first obtained an inheritance, and first trusted in Christ, so they should first be to the praise of God's glory.

All Christians are bound to glorify God, and show forth the praises of him who has called them out of darkness into his marvellous light. They are to abound in all the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ to the praise and glory of God. But there are some peculiar obligations on those, who first trusted in Christ. They, who enjoy superior religious advantages, who through grace have been made partakers of the blessings of the gospel, who have felt the power and tasted the pleasures of religion, who have taken on them the Christian profession and character, who have advanced in age and made proficiency in knowledge, they should remember, that, of all men

they are bound to live to the praise of God's glorious grace. They should use their influence for the conversion of sinners, for the confirmation of weak believers, for the advancement of religion, and for the promotion of Christ's kingdom. If they walk according to the course of the world, they dishonour the name by which they are called, embolden the wicked, and cause the way of truth to be evil spoken of. If they, who profess to have believed in Christ, and to have obtained an inheritance with him, still live, as if their only inheritance and only hope were in this world, they expose the gospel to contempt.

Let us then, as many as call ourselves Christians, walk worthy of our name and character. Let us be blameless and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke. Let us have our conversation as becomes the gospel, that none may speak against us as evil doers, but by our good works, which they behold, may glorify God in the day of visitation.

Let us admire and adore that all-wise and almighty Being, who works all things after the counsel of his will, and makes them all subservient to the praise of his glory.

God brings forth good out of evil, and overrules to the honour of his great name those things which in themselves have a contrary aspect. The apostacy of man, though in its nature it tended to God's dishonour, has been the occasion of displaying his glory in the brightest lustre. The grace and mercy of God in the salvation of penitent believing souls, appear more glorious, than they would have appeared, in any way at present known to us, if there had been no such worthless objects in his creation. The holiness and justice of God are more strangely represented in Christ's sufferings for our sins, than in any other way with which we are acquainted. The angels, who dwell in God's presence, know more of his manifold wisdom and

unbounded love, by means of redemption, than they had ever before learned from his other works. The evil of sin is in this dispensation more awfully manifested, than in all the prohibitions and threatenings of the law. Though the sins of men tend to disturb the harmony of God's government, and mar the beauty of his creation, yet he can overrule them to a different purpose, and make them subservient to his glory, and to the eventual happiness of his obedient subjects.

Shall we then say, sin is not an evil; or the evil of it is small? No but we will say, God's wisdom is great and his ways unsearchable. Shall we make light of sin, because God can turn it to his own praise? No: but we will admire his goodness, wisdom and power, who does great things, which we know not and cannot comprehend. Shall we say, that sin is a necessary part of God's plan, because some happy events have followed from particular transgressions? No: but we will remember, that the same infinite wisdom, which could make good to follow from such unpromising and untoward means, can never be at a loss for means to accomplish the purposes of unbounded benevolence. When we see the mischief and confusion, which wicked men make in the world, we will rejoice that God reigns, and that he turns to good the things, which they intend for evil. We will not be anxious and distrustful in any circumstances, for he who has done so great things for the redemption of fallen men, will never forsake the souls, who love and serve him, but will cause all things to work together for their good.

SERMON VII.

EPHESIANS I. 13, 14.-In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

In the days of the Apostles, there were Jews scattered through most of the provinces of the Roman Empire. Numbers of them were in Ephesus, where they had a synagogue. When Paul preached the gospel in this city, many of the Jews, as well as Greeks, received it, and both united in one church. One design of this epistle is, to guard them against any disunion, which might arise between them, on account of former differences of nation and religion. The Apostle tells them, that one purpose for which God had made known the mystery of his will was, that, in the dispensation of the fulness of times, he might gather all things together in one body in Christ. In the 11th verse, speaking to the Jews, he says, we have obtained an inheritance in Christ, that we should be to the praise of God's glory, who first trusted in Christ. In our text, speaking to the Gentile believers, he says, " in him ye also trusted after ye heard the word of truth." The Jews first trusted in Christ, for to them the gospel was first sent. But the Greeks in Ephesus discovered a disposition no less honest and commendable; for, when they heard the word of salvation, they also believed; and, having be

lieved, they were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.

There are three things observable in these words.

I. The object of the faith of these Ephesians. The word of truth and the gospel of salvation.

II. The forwardness, and yet the reasonableness of their faith. They trusted in Christ after they heard the word.

III. The happy consequence of their faith. After they believed, they were sealed with the Holy Spirit, &c.

I. The gospel, which the Ephesians believed, is called, the word of truth, and the gospel of salvation.

It is the word of truth. It contains all that truth which concerns our present duty and our future glory. It declares the whole counsel of God, relating to the recovery of our fallen race. Christ himself came to bear witness to the truth, that all men by him might believe; and the Apostles were sent forth to make a more full discovery of all things, which Jesus began to do and to teach.

The gospel comes attended with demonstrations of its own divinity in this sense it is the word of truth. When Paul taught in Ephesus, "he persuaded the things concerning the kingdom of God." And by his hands God wrought special miracles for the confirmation of the doctrine which he preached. The spiritual nature, benevolent design and holy tendency of the gospel; the miracles. which attended its first publication; its support and propagation in the world against all the attempts made to destroy it; the accomplishment, which in every age has been made, and still is making, of the prophecies contained in it, are undeniable evidences of its heavenly original.

It is called the gospel of our salvation. it is to bring salvation to our guilty race.

The design of

It discovers to