the heaven you desire, a state wherein you shall see God, and be like him; enjoy his presence, and perfect conformity to him alone? For this, it is worth while to abandon earth, and to make it our chief concern in life to travel thither. It is worth dying for. "They who say such things declare that they seek a city."

SECONDLY: Describe the character and qualifications of God's witnesses.

They are chosen, called, and faithful witnesses. Rev. xvii. 14. Is. xli. 8, 9. Acts xxii. 14, 15. How great then, is the honor put upon you, if you are among the number of these witnesses.

True believers are impartial witnesses for God, owning the evil of sin; not offering to justify themselves. Siding with the gospel against themselves, as to the power of sin; i. e. they acknowledge that if in many things we all offend, it is our own fault, and not the gospel's. Though we have a disposition to be perfectly holy, that disposition is not perfect; hence, we cannot do as we would: for this we mourn, and blame ourselves.

They are experimental and practical witnesses. They know what they say, and whereof they affirm. Real Christians do more than others, though they dare not depend on their doings. And though they do not all they would, they hate every false way, follow after holiness, and mortify sin.

They are tried witnesses. Many of them have testified the excellence of the gospel, even when they have had but little hope of interest in its blessings. Many have cleaved to Christ against their temporal interests. They have had trial of cruel mockings, if not actual sufferings. Is God better than the world, than father or mother, or than children? Is his favor better than life? Can it make up all losses, support under all trials? Can thy God, in whom thou trustest, deliver?

I might say, They are sworn witnesses. Willing to swear to the divine truth. xlv. 29. You durst to take You durst to take your oath

of all these things.

They are many witnesses, and continued witnesses. God has always had some, and will have a succession.

They are living and dying witnesses. Would they always hold to it, if their testimony were false? and would that testimony be never more full and firm than in view of eternity, even when slain for their testimony?

Not many rich,

Surely they are competent witnesses. mighty, or learned, indeed; nor need they be such. They have souls and feelings; reason; conscience; integrity; and commonly somewhat of earthly possessions to lose.

They are credible witnesses; nay, unanswerable; ver 9. What can you object to their testimony?

At the last day, they will be convincing witnesses, or else condemning witnesses.

Sinner, hearest thou not what they testify against thee? If they are right, you are wrong. They witness for God, and God will witness for them.

O, believers, bear witness. A faithful witness will not lie. Be consistent witnesses. Do not say God is wise, but his dealings wrong. The gospel holy, but I like sin. Lament that you are such defective witnesses. Speak out. Of whom are you afraid? You speak for the judge; for the king-against prisoners, and Satan, and sin. Learn what will be the best evidence of the truth of religion, even to yourselves. Be religious yourselves; walk with God, deal with God. Learn the necessity of regeneration. You must be born of God, or you will never Learn the advantage of

make thorough witnesses.

trials. Be reconciled to afflictions. God tries you that you may be witnesses. Trials give weight to your testimony. And thus you may account for many mysteries of providence. In whatsoever situation you are at present, whether it be agreeable or not, be not so anxious for a change, as to know how you may glorify God, under the existing circumstances. Ask what testimony does God now call for. There is probably some point which you could not attest with equal advantage in any other situation of your affairs. Suppose it should be that he is the God of patience, that he can enable you to deny yourself, bear the cross, or forgive injuries, or endure hardness like a good soldier of Christ, or overcome the world!

XL.

CHARACTERISTICS OF DIVINE REVELATION.

ISA. xlv. 19.

I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain. I the Lord speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.

IN the former part of this chapter, we have a surprising prophecy of the conquests of Babylon, by Cyrus. That prince was foretold by name, as victor over the Chaldeans, and as the deliverer of the Jews, about two hundred years before the event. The exactness with which the prediction was fulfilled, is very remarkable. Isaiah mentions, drying up the river; (xliv. 27.) gates not shut; (xlv. 1.) great treasures; (xlv. 3.) Sardis and Babylon, the two richest cities in the world. Pliny reckons the wealth taken by Cyrus, £.126,224,000. the Persian notion of two darkness, or good and evil. no powers or agents, good or bad, but what are under the absolute control of the one living God, whose word is stedfast for ever. Thus the Lord confirms the faith of his people in him, and then encourages them to consider their return from Babylon, as a type and pledge of a greater salvation; (17.) without which the earth would seem to have been made in vain. (18.) In the text, the revelation God has made of himself in his word is contrasted with the dark, lying, useless oracles of the heathen.

In verse 7, Isaiah contradicts supreme principles of light and He insists that there are

I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth. I am Jehovah, who speak truth, who give direct answers. Thus we are led to meditate on the essential and excellent characteristics of the gospel revelation.

FIRST Divine revelation encourages, and will endure free examination.

It never shuns the light. Men are charged to search the scriptures. The facts were not things done in a corner, but before numerous enemies. Doctrines not industriously concealed. Heathen oracles were given from some deep,

How

obscure cavern. So at Delphos, there was a great chasm or cleft in the earth, in which was situated the adytum, or hidden part of the temple, whence answers were given. differently was the law given on Mount Sinai. All Israel must know the truth of such histories, and so must heathen nations around. Their history was connected with that of the most famous nations of antiquity. So as to Christ's cru

cifixion and resurrection. Jews and Romans were concerned to contradict it; yet the belief of these facts spread on the spot, and in the most enlightened parts of the Roman empire; and still prevails in the most learned nations, though opposed in the keenest and subtlest manner. So as to doctrines: They are delivered clearly and expressly; and a standing ministry is appointed, not to conceal, but to explain them. Men are not required to lay aside their reason, though they are required to lay aside prejudice. 1 Pet. ii. 12. "As new-born babes." The nature of the case makes it requisite that they should beware of self-flattery, and the influence of their own lusts and sinful passions. Papists, indeed, would withhold the sacred scriptures from the common people; but we utterly condemn this practice, and so does the Bible itself.

SECONDLY: The gospel revelation is express and determinate, not ambiguous and doubtful.

The heathen oracles were famous for uncertain answers. So Croesus who was conquered by Cyrus, had been told by the oracle,

"If you across the river Hylas go,

You shall a mighty nation overthrow."

Another prince, on a like occasion, received this ambiguous answer to his inquiry,

Go and return again never you shall be slain.” But, saith the Lord, "I am Jehovah, who speak truth, who give direct answers.' Not that all parts of scripture are equally plain. A collection of small books, written in one country, by several writers, at different periods, but all of them many ages ago, must be obscure in some parts, to people of another country, who live at so great a distance of time, especially in the historical part, through allusions to

local customs.

But how clear are the main doctrines of both law and gospel, respecting the moral government of God; the rule of duty; the evil of sin; the lost estate of man; the way of his recovery; the mediator and the sanctifier; the future judgment; the eternal world.

THIRDLY: The subjects of this revelation are important and interesting, not trivial and unsatisfying.

Some objects of knowledge may be attained with precision, and yet be of little use, especially to many individuals, no way essential to their happiness, nor certainly conducive to it. Not so the truths of scripture revelation. No man can be happy without acquaintance with them; none can be happy who reject or deny them; none can perish who cordially embrace them. They promote and insure happiness here and hereafter. How can a man be happy without the knowledge of God, or of himself? without being able to resolve such questions as these :-Who gave me my being? For what end did my Maker call me into existence? What is my duty? What will be my destiny? What does God require of me now? and how will he dispose of me at last? Am I already in a state of friendship with him? How may I be reconciled to him? Whence can I derive support and consolation amidst the troubles of life, and the terrors of death? These interesting inquiries can be answered only by a revelation from God. But the sacred scriptures give a full and satisfactory solution.

FOURTHLY: The gospel revelation is true and faithful,

not false and delusive.

The decla

are faithful And the most

If it were open and determinate, and had relation to the most important concerns; yet if it were not sure and certain also, we were never the nearer our end. But, "I never said to the seed of Jacob, seek ye me in vain." rations, invitations, and promises of the gospel sayings, and worthy of all acceptation. solid and certain advantages are connected with the practice of true religion. Though the Christian acts, not on sordid, mercenary principles, yet it is a fact, but not in the sense that Satan would have suggested, that “He doth not serve God for nought." Especially the Lord is a God,