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ciling the world unto himself, conquering the enmity of our hearts, and causing the most obstinate rebels to cry, "My Lord and my God!" We have hitherto been without love to thee, through thy grace we will be so no longer.' Despair of being safe or happy without love to God; despair of enkindling this love by your own power: but do not despair of his power and willingness to inspire the heavenly flame. You have to do with that God whose nature and whose name is love, and with that Jesus who is incarnate love; open then your souls to him; cry to him, Lord. enter with the power of thy love; soften this hard, dissolve this stony heart, and let it melt into love. Let the Spirit of love be shed abroad in my heart. that I may dwell in him who is love, and he in me.

Act thus be importunate and frequent in these petitions; be sincere in feeling your want of love; penitent in lamenting your disaffection; urgent in beseeching divine love: and the prayer-hearing God will confer upon you this heavenly grace.

A few words to those of you, my brethren, whose consciences testify that you truly love God, but who lament that this love is not more vigorous. Frequently chide your souls for their sluggishness; remind them that to love God was the end of their creation; that to inspire this affection, and show the loveliness of God, the Redeemer died; that the regenerating Spirit has been given thee to extinguish baser fires, and kindle the flame of heavenly love. Meditate often on the perfections and mercies of God; think not of the Lord, as at a distance from thee, but realize that he is as near thee as thine own soul, and that in his present love and goodness thou dost subsist; have a proper sense of the guilt

of want of love to God, and regard it as the heart of the old man, and the life of all particular sins; strive to keep fresh upon thy heart lively conceptions of the goodness and excellence of God; and trace him in his appearances to man in nature, grace, and glory; often look by faith to the joys of heaven, and foresee what God will be there to his saints for ever. In meditating upon these and other incentives to love, preach them earnestly to thy heart, and expostulate and plead with it till thou feel the fire begin to burn. Be earnest in prayer for the increase of this grace; associate most with those who have most love from them you may catch warmth and animation. Be ready to speak for God.. Endeavour to inflame others; and while you are warming them, your own heart will burn.

SERMON CIV.

PARTICULAR PROVIDENCE OF GOD.

MAT. X. 29, 30.

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall to the ground without your Father: but the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

THE Creator of all things is our Father: he has not only formed us what we are, but through his power and goodness we are upheld in being. In the constitution of the world he has established general laws for the continuance of every species of plant and animal; he has appointed numberless means for our preservation and support; he has wisely connected all parts of the universe together; and, the Infinite Monarch, his dominion extends over all the worlds which are known or unknown to us.

The conviction of these important truths is precious to the children of men; but the belief of them alone, is not sufficient for our felicity. I would also desire to know, whether this exalted Creator attends to the works of his hand; whether he observes and directs all changes in the material and spiritual world; whether his providence extends, not only over the great whole, but also over every particular

part of his creation, however minute; whether he wisely regulates the lot of all his unintelligent and intelligent creatures; whether I myself, so inconsiderable an atom in the universe, may yet confidently believe that the least events and changes in my life are under the directing providence of my God; and that, consequently, nothing can occur which he hath not ordained or permitted for good. Much, very much of my happiness, depends upon the answer to these questions: more than half my consolation and my hopes must be crushed, if I have a God, who, because he is so great, will not regard me, nor attend to my wants; if, of consequence, my happiness is entirely dependent upon my own wisdom or imprudence, upon the passions of other men, upon a blind chance, or an unintelligent necessity, and not upon the paternal providence and direction of the Lord. Does he not, or will he not, know where my habitation is appointed? what is my character and conduct; whether I am surrounded by the enjoyments of earth, or pining in poverty, and weighed down by affliction; whether I have friends who love and cherish me, or enemies who hate and persecute me? Is he ignorant or indifferent, whether I become the victim of slander or of fraud; whether the object of my tenderest affections be torn from my embraces and sunk into the tomb; whether that child, whose opening virtues I have watched with transport, become the prey of death; whether disease or pestilence shall cut me off in the midst of my days? Ah! if all such circumstances are not under the government of God, and wisely directed by his providence, what ground of consolation have I in my afflictions; what motive for the effusions of gratitude to God in my joy; what se

curity for future happiness in this world, or the next? I should then be forsaken, like a child who, though he had a father, was early abandoned to strangers for his instruction or support; or like a poor orphan, early deprived of his parents, and left without guide or friend! Nay, I am worse than this orphan child ; for he may find among strangers some benevolent heart that will exercise to him the love of a father, the tenderness of a mother; but I! where can I find another God who will direct my steps, regulate my lot, listen to my prayers, over-rule my afflictions for my greatest good; if my Creator and my Lord is regardless of the work of his hands, and is satisfied, when according to his established laws I have been born a man, with leaving me to be carried forward with the current of mortal things without his inspection, superintendence, and care? Where, where can I find another father, who will be what God is to me, if there be a Providence; who will watch over me amidst the thousand dangers which daily encompass me; who will reach forth his hand to sustain me when I totter, and raise me when I fall; who can guard my temporal happiness, and conduct me to the high felicity enjoyed by the redeemed?

It is then of unspeakable consequence to be convinced of the particular providence of God; to be able to look up to him, and rejoice in him, in every moment and in every circumstance of our lives, as our Father and our friend, constantly present with us. And, blessed be his name, he has not left himself without witness, but has given us the fullest proofs of this precious truth!

It would be useless formally to prove to you that God has a right to exercise this particular providence over his own works; and that he is qualified to exercise

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