bove. And what consolation can equal that which must result from such a source? To know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge," is a blessing which the Apostle considered as immedi ately connected with being "filled with all the fulness of God ;" and the bestowment of which was a proof that he is" able to do exceeding abun dantly above all that we ask or think." Unless we could conceive the full extent of the happiness produced by the redemption of Christ throughout the whole empire of God; unless we could comprehend the length of eternity, in which the felieity of the saved shall be forever increasing, as fast as God shall increase their capacity of enjoy. ment; unless we could measure the lowest depths of hell, from whence our Saviour has ransomed us, with the invaluable price of his blood; and the height of glory, to which we shall be raised as the reward of Immanuel's obedience; it will be im possible fully to conceive the greatness of his love. However, enough may be known to convince us that his favour is better than life, and to fill us, even in the present state, amidst all our outward trials, and even our inward conflicts, with joy un speakable and full of glory.

Reflect, that if Christ should come unto you, ac cording to this gracious promise, he will communi cate unto you, more largely, the supply of his Spir it. And shall not this fit you for every duty, support you under every pressure, and ensure you the victory over every spiritual enemy? Yes, my beloved, if you enjoy much of the presence of Jesus, it will make you active for God, and excite you to every good work. You will not be slothful in business, but fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. You will aim at the divine glory in every thing even in all your civil employments. You will gladly consecrate the gain of your merchandize to the Lord, and honour him with your substance.

It will rejoice your soul to think that you are "not your own," but "bought with price," and you will feel yourselves bound to glorify God, with your bodies, and your spirits, which are God's" nor can you forbear to admit his claim to all which you possess; for "the silver is mine and the gold is mine," saith the Lord of Hosts, and your thankful hearts must say, Amen. You will wish to inscribe on all your property, and on all your utensils that blessed motto, Holiness to the Lord. The presence of Christ will inspire you with ardour, resolution and zeal, to promote his kingdom among men. You will not let your Lord's day-Schools decline; nor will your contribution to the MISSION, in which you stood foremost so early, now he suffered to fall off, because that dear man is gone to glory, who first excited your attention to these good works; but you will remember that Christ himself is with you, who walks among his golden candlesticks, to notice how their light shineth before men, to the honour of their heavenly Father. If you should meet with farther trials, the presence of Jesus will suffice to support you under the cross, as it did the Apostles, and primitive Christians. O brethren! I pray you may live as seeing Him who is invisible. Remember that Christ, when upon earth, could not do more for his first disciples, than he can now perform for you, by his divine presence. Ah!..... if he were here, in his glorified body,.. or even in the lowly form in which he appeared in the days of his humiliation, .... if he often called upon you,. . . or you could, at any time, resort to him. . or if he lodged at your house, . . or came thither as often as he visited the house of Lazarus, at Bethany ;.. would you not then consult him in every thing. and always follow his good advice? and fear no consequences, when you compl'ed with his directions? And do you believe the Divinity of Christ

Ce

and act otherwise now? O shameful inconsistency! Look unto Jesus. Look off, my brethren, from all other objects; from all false confidences, from all discouragements, from all the foaming billows, which threaten to swallow you up, unto

sus. He is above, looking down upon you. He is at hand, ready to assist you. See, how he stretches forth his arm to support you, and keep you from sinking in the deep waters. Separate from him, you can do nothing; but the weakest can do all things, can bear all burdens, can conquer all the hosts of hell, through Christ strengthening him.

If you are thus authorised to expect the presence of Christ, will he not take you under the care of his providence. How sweet is the idea of an omnipresent God! Not a local Deity, as the gods of the heathen were supposed to be, even by their own worshippers. But a God afar off, as well as at hand. Present with his captive servants, to check the violence of the fire, and stop the mouths of lions, in favor of his exiles in Babylon, as surely as as ever he had been ready to hear prayer in his temple at Jerusalem. A God in India, as wel! as in England. Who shewed himself to be present with his servant Pearce in Birmingham, tê make all his bed in his sickness and was at the same time present, though we knew not where, with his servant Ward and his companions whether they are still traversing the mighty ocean or whether the Criterion has reached his desired haven. Perhaps they have already met with Cas rey, and Thomas, and Fountain, and Jesus is in the midst of them, while they are praying for us in Bengal. Yes, Asia was long ago reminded, that "the eyes of JeHoVaH run to and fro throughout the whole earth, that he may shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose hearts are perfect tords him." And how comfortable is it to reflect,

that this attribute of Deity, and every other, belongs to God the Son, as well as to God the Father. The husband of the church is the God of the whole earth. Jesus has all power on earth as well as in heaven. They, therefore, "who seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness,' shall find all things added unto them." "My God," (said Paul to the Philippians) "shall supply all your need, according to his riches in glory, by Christ Jesus." Cast on him, therefore, alt your care he careth for all his churches; and though you know not which way to look, he can find another pastor for his church, to repair the breach that death has made. He can raise up friends for the widow and the children of his de parted servant; yea, he himself will be their guardian and defence. A father to the fatherless, and the patron of the widow, is God in his holy habitation; he will never fail them, nor forsake them.

FINALLY, The presence of Christ, with his people on earth, shall prepare them for the uninterrupted enjoyment of his presence in the celestial world. He himself will be with you walking in the way, and the foolish shall not err therein. He will guide you by his counsel, and afterwards receive you into glory. One of you after another shall follow your dear Pastor, perhaps before the end of this year, and four or five next year, and so on, till you all meet again in that heavenly city, where the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb, are the temple of it; The glory of God doth enlighten it, and the Lamb isthe light thereof; and the in habitants drink of the pure river of the water of life, proceeding out of the throne of God and the Lamb; and there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it: and his servants shall serve him, and they shall see his face, and his name shall be in their foreheads; fer

they shall be completely like him, when they shall But let me once more beseech

see him as he is.

you to notice

3. The consequent obligations, under which you are laid.

Your Lord has said, "I will come unto you.' Believe him. Take him at his word. Plead it before his throne of grace. Prove that you value his presence above every thing. Live under an a biding conviction, that without it, you must be comfortless, notwithstanding the presence of eve ry temporal enjoyment; but with it, you must be happy, even under the pressure of every earthly calamity.

Let then the expectation that this promise will be accomplished, moderate your sorrows, on the present occasion, and on all others, and direct them into a proper channel. It is the presence of Christ which constitutes the perfected felicity of our dear departed friend: But Christ is really present with his church upon earth also: pray for more faith to realize that truth, and your heaven shall be begun below. He has said, "If any one love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." And what is the loss, which the enjoyment of the presence of Christ, and of his Father, cannot compensate? or what is the affliction, under which fellowship with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ, will not console yon?

Let this promise enhance your gratitude for past mercies, and your solicitude to improve those which remain. It was from him, who ascended on high, after descending into the lowest parts of the earth, and who received gifts for men,* that

* See an excellent Sermon of brother Pearce's on Ephes. iv. II. On the duty of Churches to regard Ministers as the gift of Christ, at Mr. Belsher's Ordination, 1796.