is written, If any man be in Chrift Jefus, he is

a new creature*.

He comes to individuals by the power of his Spirit. This makes the word of his gofpel effectual. For the kingdom of God is not in word only, but in power. When he thus vifits the hearts of finners, his word is like fire and fope; quick and powerful, Sharper than a two-edged fword.

Then they feel and tremble, and cry out with the prophet, Wo is me, I am undone. But in this way their drofs is confumed, their defilement removed. When he thus wounds, he likewife heals. He gives them faith; by faith they look unto him, and are enlightened and faved.

We furely expect that he will come again. Not as he once came, in a state of humiliation. The Babe of Bethlehem, the Man of Sorrows, who hung, and bled, and died upon the cross for our fins, will return in glory. Behold he cometh in the clouds, and every eye Shall fee him. Concerning this day, emphatically called the day of the Lord, we may well fay, Who may abide it? To those who have not been the subjects of his refining + Rev. i. 7.

2 Cor. v. 17.

VOL. I.

+ Heb. iv. 12.
G

opera

operations here, he will then be a confuming fire. That great day (for which all other days were made) when the Lord fhall defcend with the voice of the archangel and the trump of God, will burn like an oven, and all the proud, and all that do wickedly shall be as ftubble, and the day that cometh fhall burn them up*. Where then shall the impeninent ungodly finner appear? But it will be a joyful day to them that love his appearing. He will arife upon them, as the Sun of Righteousness, with healing on his wings; he will wipe away their tears, vindicate their characters, acknowledge them before the affembled world, and fay unto them, Come, ye bleffed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you †.

IV. It is particularly faid, He will purify the fons of Levi, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteoufnefs. The fons of Levi, the priests, the officiating ministers of God were gone out of the way, and had corrupted the covenant of the Lord, and thereby had caufed many to fumble; they difhonoured their office, and became themselves vile and contemptible. Thus they went on from bad to worse, till the men of that generation + Matt. xxv. 34. + Mal. ii. 8, 9.

* Mal. iv. I.

He

filled up the measure of the iniquity of their forefathers, by the rejection of MESSIAH. also rejected them. The blafted barren figtree*, which withered to the very root at his word, was an emblem of their condition. In a little time, wrath came upon them to the uttermoft; they saw the temple in which they had trusted, and which they had profaned, destroyed by fire, and the greater part of them perished. But a remnant of them was purified. We read, that after his afcenfion, a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. And his apostles and disciples were sent forth with a new spirit, and in a new character, to offer and to serve in righteousness. The purport of this paffage has been repeatedly exemplified under the Chriftian difpenfation. A declenfion from the fimplicity and purity of worship, principles, and morals, was visible very early in the church. The progrefs of it was rapid, especially from the time of Conftantine. When perfecution ceased, and a tide of wealth and worldly honours flowed in upon thofe who by their profeffion, were bound to be patterns of humility and felf-denial to others; + Acts vi. 7.

.

Matt. xxi. 19.

from that period, till the reformation, ecclefiaftical history affords us little more than a detail of fuch inftances of pride, intrigue, oppreffion, and cruelty, under the pretext of religion, as had not been known among the heathens. And the nations which were relieved from the chains and darkness of popery, at the reformation, did not long preferve much more than a name and a form to diftinguish them. In most countries the state became the idol of the church, and the church the creature of the ftate. How it is with us. in this nation, I need not fay. Facts fpeak for themselves. It is a mournful fact that the miniftry is become contemptible; nor is it difficult to affign the cause. But we are favoured with the gofpel, and are eye-witneffes of its purifying power. It ftill produces the effects, which marked its progrefs when it was preached by the apoftles. It enlightens the dark mind, foftens the hard heart, heals the wounded fpirit; and many perfons who before were burdenfome to fociety, are rendered by it ornamental and useful. When every other argument and motive has failed of fuccefs, the confideration of the mercies of God in Chrift, revealed by the

gospel, constrains the believing finner to prefent himself a living, willing, holy facrifice unto God. Thus being purified by the blood of Jefus, he offers to the Lord a facrifice in righteousness. Such principles and aims are effential to a Chriftian minifter. He knows the terrors of the Lord, and has tafted of his goodness. He is conftrained by love, the love of Chrift and the love of fouls. He preaches as the apostle did, Jesus Christ and him crucified; a subject which, though despised and reproached by the formal Jew, and the sceptical Greek, is evidenced by its efficacy to be the wisdom and power of God. Such ministers may be, and frequently are, depreciated and difregarded; but they cannot be contemptible, until integrity, benevolence, and usefulness are the proper objects of contempt.