good for nothing; but when observed, according to his mind and will, as acts of trust in his promise, and of dependence upon his faithfulness; then they answer the end for which they were instituted, and become the means of spiritual communion with him. And thus legal duties become Christian privileges. One of these means is attendance upon public worship; the ground and reason for which, is Christ's promise-" Where two or three are gathered together, in my name, there am I in the midst of them."-Two or three believers make a church, when they are gathered together in the name of Christ's divinity. By faith they expect the fulfilling of his promise, and his presence in the midst of them; and they are then most spiritual worshippers, when they are looking most unto Jesus, and enjoying communion with him. What are their prayers, but acts of faith and dependance?"Whatever ye shall ask, says Christ, in my name, believing, ye shall receive." Which words show us, that prayer is nothing worth, unless it be presented in Christ's name; and in faith relying on

Christ's promise to hear and answer. The object of prayer, is the Godhead in three persons. The address to each, is in their covenant-offices; and the petitions to each should be according as they stand related to sinners in those offices; and the communion with the divine persons is thus expressed

Through Christ Jesus we have an access by one Spirit unto the Father;" and whatever we ask, believing, we receive. What is believers' hearing the word? Is it not a continual dependance upon their divine Teacher, to make his word, spirit, and life, unto their souls? They expect his presence to enable them to mix faith with what they hear; and then they grow thereby. What is their keeping the Lord's day? Is it not to express their belief of his being risen, and entered into his rest; and of their having, by believing, entered into rest also? And, therefore, they wait upon Christ in the ordinances, to keep them, until he bring them to his eternal sabbath; to that rest which remaineth for the people of God. What is their attendance upon the Lord's supper?

Is it not the communion of the blood of Christ, and the communion of the body of Christ; a real partaking by faith of his broken body, and of his precious blood-shedding, and of all the benefits of his passion? In these, and all other ways of God's appointment, they expect Christ's presence, and therefore they go to them with gladness of heart to meet him. He is the dear Object of their love, and he grows more lovely by every day's experience. They taste and see more how gracious he is; and, therefore, to converse with him in prayer, and to be in his company in the ordinances, becomes more sweet and delightful to them. Oh! what happy moments do they therein spend ! All the great, rich, and pleasant things in the world, are less than nothing, compared to this joy. Communion with Christ is heaven begun; and by faith they enjoy it; and nothing can rob them of it, but sin; which makes them careful in their life and conversation, to please their gracious Lord. They depend upon him to teach them his will, and to give them strength to perform it; that

they may walk before him, in all well-pleasing. Whatever is opposite to his will, they dread; because it would deprive them of their greatest blessing, even communion with their best and bosom friend. Sin, viewed in this light, is blacker and viler than all the devils in hell. The love of Christ shows sin in its exceeding sinfulness; and faith, working by love to Christ, gains daily victory over it. He who has the love of Christ in his heart, will be thereby sweetly constrained to fight against, and powerfully enabled to conquer sin; so that it cannot separate him from his beloved Saviour; nay, it shall make him live in closer and nearer connexion. The motions of sin within, and temptations without, to which he is continually liable, will show him the necessity of living in a settled dependance upon the grace and strength of the Captain of his salvation; who will lead him on, conquering and to conquer, until he make him at last more than conqueror.

The same faith, working by love, has gained the hearts and affections of believers

over to the interest of holiness, and the commandments now cease to be grievous. Love to Christ, who is perfect righteousness and holiness, cannot consist with the hatred of either; nay, they are renewed after his image in both; and renewed in knowledge, that they might know his precious image; and renewed in heart, that they might love it; therefore, being thus created anew in Christ Jesus, they will certainly, in the inner man, delight in righteousness and true holiness. He has shed his love abroad in their hearts, has won them to himself, and now nothing is dearer to them than that everlasting righteousness by which he justifies them, and that true holiness, of which they are become partakers in him, which they evidence by a holy walk, and in which he will present them holy, and unblameable, and unrebukeable, before the Father. Thus he has perfectly secured the interest of holiness and the glory of the most holy God; for they are his workmanship, created unto good works, to love them, to do them, to walk in them, as the way to R