not merely with the voice of God rejoicing over each, "This my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost and is found:" but in such communications of love, such supplies of spiritual strength, such an inpouring of spiritual peace and joy to their hearts, as serve to convince them, beyond the gainsaying of the infidel, that God is among them of a truth?

The Canaanites saw not the Lord when He appeared unto Abram. And if the man of God spake to them of his mercies in such a revelation, they would have probably denied his word, and scorned him for an enthusiast. But was the visit of the Eternal Word of God less real to him, because of the unbelief of Canaan? Abraham's experience and happiness testified to the contrary. Ye, to whom such high, and honourable, and gracious fellowship is a stranger, may hold it to be the mere dreaminess of the mind,; its misjudged wanderings into speculation; the unreal inhabitancy of its own creation; the fitfulness of imagination uncontrolled by the sobriety of a chastened judgment. But this is not the case. I appeal from you, as incompetent judges, to those who have gone

1 Luke xv. 32.

forth from their idolatry at God's bidding, and as the love of Christ constrained them, when they felt its power in their heart of hearts. They will tell you, that they have thus a witness within themselves of that mysterious union. with the Lord, which is the root of all holiness within them. They will testify, that from the communion which their Lord makes with them, in the infinite condescension of his grace, they are raised above temptation, and strengthened for hours of trial, and gifted with patience quietly to wait upon God, in the discharge of duties, and amidst all discouragements. They are thus in the world, as the bush in Horeb, burning with fire, but not consumed. They thus know the good-will of Him who dwelt in the bush. And when they have risen from prayer, or gone forth from the chambers of holy meditation, in which these visits of love have been vouchsafed to them, and wherein God hath lifted up the light of his countenance upon them to give them peace, their arms have been strengthened to grapple with Satan, and to wrestle with sin; their loins have been girded about with truth; their feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, to run the way of all relative and social duties, in

a heavenly mind; and to live above the world. In fact, these tender communications of Himself, and his love, made by the Redeemer to his disciples, while yet in the earthly land of promise, where his undertakings in their behalf have only a beginning, though a most happy one, are the food and fuel, if I may so speak, of all experimental religion. If we would enter into its rest, Christ must be revealed unto us, in the glory of his person, and the infinite fulness and suitableness of his Almighty deliverance. Then only shall we enter into the divine freedom of the Gospel, and be willing to live supremely unto God. Come forth then, as the word of life calls, and the Holy Ghost enables you, from the land of your idolatries. And then, from the time when you once set your feet within the limits of the kingdom of God, in the full purpose of your hearts, shall you have visits of his presence, tokens of his goodness, and deep persuasions of his faithful promises in Christ Jesus, whereby you shall be led in bonds of love. You will have the dearest and the mightiest of all impulses, by which man's heart can be solicited towards that kingdom of the saints, wherein the sceptre of Immanuel shall govern a realm untroubled by a single rebel

lious thought, and his subjects themselves, kings and priests unto God, shall enjoy their Saviour's presence without a cloud, and in that glorious union obtain the fulness of joy that is at God's right hand for evermore.

SERMON XI.

THE TENT AND THE ALTAR.

GENESIS XII. 7, 8.

THERE BUILDED HE AN ALTAR UNTO THE LORD, WHO APPEARED
UNTO HIM. AND HE REMOVED FROM THENCE UNTO A MOUN-
TAIN ON THE EAST SIDE OF BETHEL, AND PITCHED HIS TENT,
HAVING BETHEL ON THE WEST, AND HAI ON THE EAST:
AND THERE BUILDED HE AN ALTAR UNTO THE LORD, AND
CALLED UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD.

THE gracious and happy correspondence with heaven, enjoyed by Abram, as the friend of God, was commenced very early in his pilgrimage of faith; and continued with increasing closeness and endearment unto the end. He had no sooner entered within the land of Canaan, and seen the character of those among whom he was called to sojourn, than the Lord appeared unto him, gave him welcome thither, and promised to bestow the country upon his seed, both as a real and typical possession. That act of condescending love was immediately acknowledged by a most decided exhibition of