nation *. His glory filled the temple when he was an infant, so that Simeon and Anna then acknowledged his character, and fpake of him to those who were waiting for the confolation of Ifrael +. Efpecially his glory was manifested when he proclaimed himself the fountain of life, and invited every thirsty weary finner to come to him, to drink and live for ever ‡.

The temple of Jerufalem has been long fince deftroyed. But he has ftill a house, a boufe not made with hands. This is his church, comprizing all the members of his myftical body. He dwells in each of them individually; he dwells in and among them collectively. Where two or three are met in his name, where his ordinances are administered and prized, where his gospel is faithfully preached and cordially received, there he is present in the midft of them. There his glory is feen, his voice heard, his power felt, his goodnefs tafted, and the favour of his name is diffufed as a precious ointment, which refreshes the hearts of his people, renews their ftrength, and comforts them under all their forrows and cares. The glory and * Matt. xxiii. 37. + Luke ii. 25, 38. John vii. 37magni

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magnificence of the temple worship, even in the days of Solomon, was faint, compared with the glory displayed to the hearts of believers, who worship him in spirit and truth, under the New Testament difpenfation. But it can only be perceived by an enlightened and spiritual mind. To outward appearance all may be low and humiliating. The malice of their enemies has often conftrained his people to affemble in woods and on mountains,in places under ground; or, in the dead of the night, to fecrete themselves from informers. But vaulted roofs, and coftly garments, the folemn parade of proceffions, mufic and chorifters, and the presence of nobles and dignitaries, are not necessary to constitute the glory of gofpel worship. It is enough that he, in whose name they meet, condescends to vifit them with the power and influence of his Spirit, to animate and hear their prayers, to feed them with the good word of his grace, and to fill them with joy and peace in believing. If they have these bleffings they defire no more, they are compenfated for all their difficulties and hardships; and however unnoticed and despised by the world, they can fay, This is none other than the house of God,

this is the gate of heaven. For they approach by faith to the city of the living God, the Jerufalem which is above, to the worship which is carried on day without right, by the innumerable company of angels, and the fpirits of just men made perfect †.

But every member of this mystical temple, being by nature afar off from God, experiences a previous change which may be not unfitly defcribed by the terms of my text. Before the Lord takes poffeffion of his people, and in order to it, He shakes the heavens and the earth. Their former views of God and of themselves, are altered by a light which penetrates the foul. All that they have been building in religion, till then, is fhaken and overturned. Their vain hopes are fake.. the foundation. This concuffion mai for the perception of his glory as a d In this day of his power they are in ling to throw open the gates of th that the king of glory may enter.

But as I do not ftand here to with a declamation on a fubject are not immediately intereft office as a preacher both war

* Gen. xxviii. 17.

me to addrefs myself not only to your understandings, but likewise to your consciences, I must be allowed, before I conclude, to propose this question to your confideration. IS MESSIAH, the defire of all nations, the object of your chief defire? How much depends upon the answer? Do you wish to know your prefent ftate in the fight of God? If you are faithful to yourselves you may be fatisfied, provided you will abide by the decision of the fcripture. God is well-pleased in his Son; if you are well pleased with him, if he is precious to you, and the defire of your foul is fupremely directed to him, then you affuredly poffefs the beginning, the fore-taste and the earnest of eternal life. If you fo enter into the descriptions given in the Bible, of his perfon, love, office and glory, as to place your whole dependence upon him, to devote yourfelves fimply to him, and to place your happiness in his favour, then you are happy indeed! Happy, even at prefent, though not exempted from a fhare in the afflictions incident to this mortal state. For your fins are pardoned, your perfons are accepted in the Beloved; to you belong the promises of guidance, protection and fupply through

life, victory over death, and then a crown of glory which fadeth not away. To say all, in a few words, God is your Father, and heaven is your home.

But on the other hand, If you truft in yourself that you are righteous and good, at leaft comparatively fo; if your attachment to the business or the pleasure of the world engroffes your thoughts and application, so that you have no leifure to attend to the record which God has given of his Son, or no relish for the fubject, you have been hitherto guilty of treating the most glorious display of the wisdom and goodness of God with contempt. Many perfons thus employed and thus difpofed, bear refpectable characters in civil life, from which I do not wish to detract. But however amiable you may be in the judgment of your fellow-creatures, you are a finner in the fight of God, and will be treated by him as an enemy to his government and glory, if you finally perfift in a rejection of his gofpel. The great point which will determine your state for eternity, will be this, What think you of Chrift? For it is written, If any man love not the Lord Jefus Chrift, let

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