hands: without him we can do nothing in grace or nature. As our being is from him, so is our working. Again, we deserve nothing. We are unprofitable servants. Our demerit is great, our merit nothing. We deserve hell indeed, but deserve not the least mercy. Yea, we are worse than nothing, as being sinful creatures, even as a cup full of poison is worse than an empty cup.

USE 1. Of information.

1. How foolish are men, then, who are very busy and diligent to get other things, but who neglect to get an interest in Christ. Like Martha, they are careful and troubled about many things, while they neglect the one thing needful, the better part. With what carefulness do men manage their business for their bodies, who are careless of their souls. Surely this interest is the great project we should be driving in the world, and not be seeking after that which is lost, to the neglecting of the great gain.

2. They have made but a poor purchase, have what they will, that have not an interest in Christ. Can they be happy, though they were monarchs of the world? They cannot, for their all is but a heap of loss and dung, they have nothing substantial and durable. Have what you will, what will all these things avail you, if you have not Christ.

The

3. The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour. poorest saint on earth is richer than the greatest man on earth that is a Christless man. He hath that which is of more worth than all the world. O! but fretting and discontentment ill becomes a Christian for want of any worldly thing. Does not Jesus say, Am I not better to thee than ten sons. Surely it is because they see

not their stock.

4. Men are no losers, lose what they will for Christ. We have no reason to grudge to suffer the loss of all for him.

USE 2. Of exhortation. I exhort you then to seek and secure an interest in Christ for yourselves. Make this your great business. I have often called you to this, and it has been the great scope of all my preaching among you to lead you to Christ. And now when the Lord is threatening to draw our table, and separate ministers from their flocks, I desire once more to call and invite you to au interest in Christ. And if I could prevail, though I should never more have access to serve you in the gospel, I would think I had got my errand.

MOTIVE 1. Christ is willing to receive you. There is a match proposed betwixt the King of Glory and the daughter of Zion, Christ and sinners. And I declare there is nothing to hinder it on Heaven's part. "For the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let

him that heareth say, Come.

And let him that is athirst come.

And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely." Young sinners, that are setting out in the world, he is content to be yours. "I love them that love me," says he, "and they that seek me early shall find me." Old sinners, he is content to be yours, though you have refused many calls. He excludes none of you, do not, I beseech you, exclude yourselves. "Ho! every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and he that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat; yea come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." And to evidence his willingness to be yours, consider,

Why did he come the long journey from heaven to earth, but to relieve the captive daughter of Zion. Are you the lost, Luke xix. 10. Why did he leave the Father's bosom, but to bring these back to it, whom sin had shaken out. Why suffered he, but that they might be saved? Why was he bruised, but that he might become bread to the hungry soul? Why shed he his blood, but to remove the lawful impediments of this match?

In vain did he shed his blood, if sinners amongst men be not partakers of it. Whom had he in his eye for reconciliation? Not angels, not devils, Heb. ii. 6. It was men, "Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of men." Not to the righteous, there were none such; and if there had been, they had not needed him. Answer to your name then, O sinners! for such Christ came to call; he really offers himself to you in his word preached by his ambassadors. How then can you doubt his willingness. Our offer is really, though ministerial, Christ's own offer, for we have his commission to bear us out in it. Our commission and office we had not from the magistrate, therefore it is not in their power to deprive us of it, as they may deprive men of offices civil and military, which come from them. But our commission is from Christ. We teach not but what Christ has commanded us, and therefore he will be with us in it; which these have no ground to pretend to, that teach for doctrines the commandments of men, whom this Church is in hazard of having thrust in upon her; 2 Cor. v. 20. We are proxies for the Lord of Glory, come to you with his own word, by his orders. Would you have himself leave his glory a second time, to offer himself to you? Or would you have him come in his glory. You know not what you ask. It would become you better to do, as 1 Sam. xxv. 40, 41.

Our offer of him in his own name, is so really his, that you will be eternally ruined, if you refuse it, Mark xvi. 15, 16; John xvii.

20.

Consider, also, how long he has waited upon you, and after many refusals has still, and is courting your consent, Rev. iii. 20. Why did he not go away at your first or second refusal? No, but you have still line upon line. Finally, he knows very well what is in you and about you; yet hath he declared, that nothing shall hinder the match, if you be willing. Though you be poor and miserable, he is willing to take you, to enrich you, to clothe you, and nourish you for ever; and is he not then willing to be yours.

MOTIVE 2. Consider what you are without him. Wretched and miserable is the state of every Christless soul. If you saw your case by the light of the Spirit, you would be much affected. Let us glance at a few parts of your picture, as it is presented in the glass of the word. Sinner, thou art God's enemy. "The carnal mind is enmity against God." Thou camest into the world in a state of enmity against God. The reconciliation is not yet made up, for there is no peace with God, but through Christ. Hast thou no interest in Christ, then what hast thou to do with peace, who hast nothing to do with the great peacemaker. There is wrath in God's heart, in his word, and in his hand against thee.

Again thou art debtor to justice. Sin is thy debt, which thon art not, and never will be able to pay. Thou art in the hand of an inexorable creditor. Thou hast no cautioner to be surety for thy debt. Thou wilt not get thy debt denied. Conscience will be instead of a thousand witnesses against thee. Thou wilt be pursued for principal and interest, and the debt will be pursued at thy own expense. Thou art also the law's criminal. God hath a law, and by that law thou must die. "For the wages of sin is death." The law condemns thee, takes away thy life as a traitor to God, an enemy to heaven. Thou livest but as a malefactor, by the benefit of a reprieve, and thou knowest not how soon it may expire.

Thou art, moreover, Satan's slave, captive, and prisoner. Thou art under "the power of Satan, and taken captive by him at his will." In this case Christ finds all those to whom he comes. Behold thy drudgery work, the sign of thy slavery, thy chains, thy captivity, thy prison garments that are on thee.

Thou, O sinner! in thy Christless state, art to every good work reprobate. Thou canst do nothing good or acceptable in the sight of God. Thy prayers are but howling, thy sacrifice an abomination, thy throat an open sepulchre.

Besides, in thy Christless state, sinner, thou art a stranger to the covenant of grace, and all the benefits of it, Eph. ii. 12. Thou hast not married the heir, and, therefore, what hast thou to do with the benefits of the contract. Thou canst have no pardon nor peace in your present state.

Thou art a burden to the earth, Rom. viii. 22. Every creature is thine enemy. The very meat which thou eatest, waits a command to dispatch thee. Thou art an abomination to heaven, that will have nothing to do with thee. "For there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie." Thou art a prey to the pit's devouring mouth that waiteth for thee.

MOTIVE 3. An interest in Christ is the best interest which you can have in the world. Consider that it is an interest for soul and body both. A man's purchase in the world, may furnish him something in the world for his body, food and raiment, and the like; but nothing for the soul. This will furnish you peace, pardon, and all the benefits of the everlasting covenant. Yea, and for the body, it makes it a member of Christ, a temple for the Spirit, and ensures a glorious resurrection. It is an interest both for heaven and earth. It makes them to inherit the earth, Matth. v. 5, by their right to it in Christ, and their contentment with what they have of it, as if they had it all, and this interest entitles them to glory. It is then both for time and eternity. "It is profitable unto all things, having the promise of the life that now is, and that which is to come." It is the best security for a through-bearing here, and will be an interest of which you will reap the fruits for ever.

MOTIVE 4. Consider the case of the day in which we live, calls loudly for us to secure our own interest in Christ. And we can make no good use of the reelings of the times, if they do not lead us to this. Have we not need of something which men cannot take from us? And what is that, but an interest in Christ, with the benefits depending thereon? We are threatened with persecution and with the sword, in which the Church and land were once involved, what in such a case have men they can call their own? Have we not need of something that may be comfortable to us, under the loss of all things? Indeed, the man that hath an interest in Christ may say, I have a refuge, a portion.

If you be called to suffering, what a sad thing is it to suffer for one in whom you have no interest. You will be ready to turn your back upon him; and yet, shunning suffering for a good cause, you may be brought to suffer dishonourably, whether you will or not, so as sinning will not keep you from suffering.

When snares are abroad, and a course of defection, how can you think to escape that have no interest in Christ? And when the Lord is threatening to remove the gospel from you, it calls you at length to answer his call.

MOTIVE 5, and last. Let the consideration of eternity stir you up.

What will you do without an interest in Christ, when death arrests you? The soul and body must part. Who will keep you from the second death? When time is gone, thou must pass to eternity.

What will you do when the resurrection comes? What hill or mountain will cover the sinner from the face of the Lamb?

When, O sinner! thou must stand before the tribunal, and that very Saviour whom thou now slightest will be thy Judge, who will then plead thy cause?

DIRECTIONS. View your sinfulness. Get a deep sight of your misery without Christ, your utter inability to help yourselves, and the helplessness of all creatures. Give away yourselves solemnly to Christ, and all that is yours, taking him for, and instead of all. Amen.

[Same subject continued.]

SERMON XIV.

PHILIPPIANS iii. 8,

My Lord.

HERE the apostle asserts his interest in Christ, calling him his Lord; not only as Christ had an interest in him and lordship over him, but in so far as he had an interest in Christ. "My beloved is mine, and I am his."

DOCTRINE. Saints may, and ought to plead an interest in Christ as their Lord. The Lord's people sometimes fall into the hands of strange lords, who are hard lords to them. But in the worst of times a child of God may tell a fivefold tale of Christ, which their graceless enemies cannot. Every saint may say of Christ,

1. He is my Lord God. For as low as his work and cause are, the believer's Lord is God, and his God, John xx. 28. The fulness of the Godhead dwells in him." "He is God manifested in the flesh." Now an interest in God as our God, is an interest above expression. His infinite wisdom is theirs to direct, his power to protect them. Happy is that people that is in such a case; yea happy is that people whose God is the Lord." Why then should they be afraid of men, however severe masters they be?

2. My Lord, proprietor, master and owner. We and all ours are the Lord's, therefore he may dispose of us as he will, and we are to