of God, and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom. For this end, they must converse with the Holy Scriptures; attend on the instituted ministrations of the word; compare spiritual things with spiritual, and compare themselves with the spiritual things, which they have learned; guard against prejudices, especially against spiritual pride and self-confidence; keep their minds open to conviction, and apply all their knowledge to practical uses.

V. We will consider the several things, which the Apostle prayed that the Ephesians might understand. These are "the hope of the calling, the glory of the inheritance, and the power of God toward them who believe."

1. He prays, that they might know, "what is the hope of the divine calling; or the hope to which God had called them.

and grace." purpose

He says, elsewhere, "God hath called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his And he exhorts us to "walk worthy of him, who hath called us to his kingdom and glory." The gospel calls us to holiness, as a necessary preparative for glory; and to newness of heart and life, as an indispensable qualification for admission into the kingdom of God. They in whom this call is by divine. grace made effectual, "put off the old man with his deeds, and put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." Being thus renewed in the temper of their minds, "they walk in newness of life." To "walk worthy of God unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work," is to "walk worthy of him, who hath called us to his kingdom."

This calling is accompanied with hope. The external call of the gospel is attended with a general hope of the

Where the call

heavenly kingdom, as what is attainable. becomes effectual to the renovation of the heart and life, there is a special hope of the kingdom, as what is already attained. When we find the power of the gospel operating in our souls to real holiness, we may then apply to ourselves its great and precious promises.

It is of great importance that we know the hope of this calling; that we understand the way in which we are called to God's kingdom, the terms on which we may enter into it, and the evidence by which we may ascertain our title to it. We should be watchful, that we do not misconceive of the conditions of salvation, or mistake our own character, and so imagine ourselves to be heirs of the kingdom of glory, while we remain in the kingdom. of darkness. We should always bear in mind, that God has called us with an holy calling; has chosen us to be holy and without blame; has appointed us to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit, and that none are entitled to the heavenly inheritance, but those who, by the renewing of their minds, are made meet to be partakers of it. We are, therefore, to hope for it only in a way of holiness; and the proper influence of this hope, is to purify our souls as Christ is pure.

2. The Apostle prays, that they may know "what is the riches of the glory of God's inheritance in the saints;" or, what a rich and glorious inheritance God has prepared for, and promised to them.

This is what none can fully comprehend. We may, however, by revelation know so much of it, as to be well assured, that it is rich and glorious. It is "an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, fading not away, reserved in heaven for the faithful."

It is God's inheritance; that which he has provided and reserved for his own children; and he gives liberally;

it is a purchased possession; and the purchase was not made with corruptible things, such as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Jesus the Son of God: it is an inheritance for the saints; for them whom God hath chosen to be holy, and predestinated to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ, and whom he hath sanctified by his Spirit, and sealed unto the day of redemption: it is an inheritance bestowed by God's abundant love; and as it comes from the riches of the glory of his grace, the gift itself must be rich and glorious. Though we cannot comprehend its dimensions, nor compute its value, yet when we consider the grace of the Being who conveys it, the riches of the price which bought it, and the divine preparation by which the heirs are formed to enjoy it, we must conceive it to be unspeakably glorious. Many important properties of this inheritance the Scripture enumerates; and finally sums up all in these comprehensive words, "He that overcometh shall inherit ALL THINGS."

Lastly: The Apostle desires, that Christians may know, "what is the exceeding greatness of God's power toward them that believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead."

When the Christian contemplates the glorious inheritance, which awaits him in the heavenly world, the joy, which begins to kindle in his soul, is sometimes damped by the thought of that gloomy valley which lies in the way. Death and the grave are before him; the body must be dissolved, must moulder away under the clods of the earth, and be reduced to its primitive dust; and this soul, this conscious, thinking mind, which has never yet existed without a body; where, and what will it be? It can have little conception of a separate, unbodied state; for this is wholly unexperienced. How dark the prospect'

but this gloomy scene the gospel has enlightened; it reveals to us a resurrection of the body, and a happy reunion of it to the soul; in which new state we shall exist for ever. To strengthen our faith it refers us to the work of God's mighty power in raising Christ from the dead; and, from this glorious instance leads us to conceive the exceeding greatness of his power in raising from the dead them who believe in Jesus, and in transforming these vile bodies to such a spiritual and immortal state, that they shall be for ever capable of enjoying the heavenly inheritance. Of this power the believer has already had some experience in the quickening of his soul, once dead in trespasses and in sins, to a holy and divine life.

If we have been quickened with Christ to a spiritual life, we shall also be raised with him to eternal life, and be made to sit with him in heavenly places. If we are dead to this world, our life is hidden in another; hidden with Christ in God; and when Christ shall appear we also shall appear with him in glory. with him in glory. "If the Spirit of him, who raised up Jesus from the dead, dwell in us, he that raised up Jesus, shall also quicken our mortal bodies by his Spirit which dwelleth in us." Therefore "let us not walk after the flesh, but through the Spirit mortify the deeds of the body, that we may live." If we expect to rise with Christ, "let us now seek the things which are above, where Christ is." "Let us have our conversation in heaven, from whence we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body, and fashion it like unto his own glorious body, according to that mighty working, whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself."

SERMON IX.

EPHESIANS I. 19-23.-According to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

In the preceding words, Saint Paul prays for the Ephesian believers, that, in the acknowledgment of the gospel of Christ, they might have the spirit of wisdom to understand the revelation given them of the preaching of the Apostles; and that their intellectual eyes might be enlightened to know the ground and the terms of that hope to which they were called, the glorious riches of that inheritance which was provided for them, and the exceeding greatness of that power, which, by raising them from the dead, should put them in possession of the heavenly inheritance. To strengthen their faith in God's power and promise, and to aid their conceptions of the glory of this inheritance, the Apostle refers them to the resurrection and exaltation of Jesus Christ, and to that dominion and dignity which he now enjoys, as the reward of his sufferings in the flesh.

The several important steps of Christ's exaltation are