5. The promises of God are absolutely unfailing. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but one jot or tittle of the promises shall never fail. They are sealed by the blood of Christ and recorded in the presence of heaven. God can as soon deny himself as he can deny his children their promised inheritance or a single good stipulated for them here. Not one of his promises has ever been known to fail since the earth was. The patriarchs lived long in this benighted wilderness before they possessed their promised reward. During their whole lives they waited patiently for the promises of Canaan and a future Saviour. And long since have all these promises been fulfilled, and the blessed men have gone home to possess the eternal rewards of their faith and patience. With equal certainty will God fulfil his promises to all his children. He will infallibly bestow upon them every needed blessing here; at the best time he will unfailingly bring them home to the promised rest.

Men and brethren, if these things are so what shall we say of ourselves? And dare any who have the Bible in their hands deny their truth? Let us then,

I. Reprove ourselves for our worldly attachments, and for not feeling more like strangers and pilgrims on the earth. How prone are we to feel ourselves undone when the world frowns. How inconsolable when any thing breaks in upon our temporal prosperity. If wealth or honor or pleasure or friends have fled, our hearts are all unstrung saving the mourning strings. We are ready to say

with Micah, "Ye have taken away my gods,-and what have I more?" What more could we do if earth was our eternal home? Do we not know that this life is but a breath, a point, a nothing in comparison with eternity? Do we know that we are born from heaven, and hope soon to return to abide there forever? Christian, you are almost there. Why then do you come back to earth? What can you find by your return but disappointment and chagrin ? Do you find the climate more congenial, or are you so soon tired of what you find above? How then can you bear to dwell above forever? Can you not endure to live a stranger to the earth a few days? How then can you be willing to be an eternal stranger to it? How will you endure to see your idol consumed in the general conflagration? Can you survive its loss and be happy when Why then can you not now be hap

it is no more?

py without it?

Come, put away your idol, (it is only a vexation,) and learn to be a pilgrim. Come out from the world, flee from Sodom, and escape to heaven.

II. Let us reprove our impatience and despondency at a distant view or disbelief of the promises. How often, even while we hold fast the idea of our adoption, do we despond at the many difficulties which lie in our way to heaven, and grow impatient that the promises are yet seen afar off. How often do we doubt the fulfilment of those which relate to the present life. How apt are we, in view of danger or trouble, to say, "I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul." I shall not be supported.

The evil will certainly come, and it will be a real evil. O that I could direct all matters myself.Such secret workings of unbelief, though they do not come out to public view, may often be traced by an attentive observer of himself. Alas that we should thus give the lie to all the sacred promises of God. Christian, it is "impossible for God to lie." It is as impossible for him to cease to love and protect you, as it is for him to cease to love and defend himself. Talk not of your unworthiness. If you had a righteousness of your own, what need of the righteousness of Christ? If your unworthiness was a bar to your receiving favor, you would long since have been in hell. Trust then in God and fear not. Though heavy afflictions are sent, your Father means you no harm. They shall subserve your interest. Say then with the patient Job, "Though he slay me yet will I trust in him." Wait a little longer and you shall see a fulfilment of all the promises. Heaven shall soon open its gates for your admission. The resurrection morning is hastening on. The books shall be opened. The divine dispensations shall all be explained.— And when they are understood, you shall find there never was a failure of a single promise which your Father made you. You will then rejoice in every thing that ever befell you in your lives. You will wonder at your former unbelief and bless God for all his faithfulness. Strange, you will say, that I should so often doubt whether the God of all truth would fulfil his word. How could I doubt? How could I fear, when God was taking the readiest way

to bring me to the possession of all this glory?— Christian, you have nothing to do but to disconnect your affections from the world, place your hopes and desires in heaven, devote your lives to God, leave all your cares with him, and "rejoice evermore." Praise and joy and trust are the best returns you can make to God for all his love. Fulfil your duty to him, and he will fulfil his promise to you. Give him no cause to distrust

you, and you need never distrust him. Take him for your all, and he will be all to you. He will be your Father, your Friend, your Protector, your support while here, and your everlasting portion beyond the grave. Amen.

SERMON XXII.

WHOM HAVE I IN HEAVEN BUT THEE?

Ps. LXXIII. 25.

Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee.

This Psalm was composed by Asaph, one of the three chief singers whom David had appointed in the house of God. The good man had experienced a severe trial from the infirmities of his own heart; which trial, together with the manner in which he was relieved, is described in this beautiful Psalm. He had been "envious at the foolish when" he "saw the prosperity of the wicked," and had indulged in unworthy complaints against divine providence. "They are not in trouble as other men, neither are they plagued like other men. Their eyes stand out with fatness; they have more than heart could wish.-Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain and washed my hands in innocency; for all the day long have I been plagued and chastened