ASSISTED BY SENSIBLE OBJECTS. 285 if it can make men burn their books, sell their lands, bring in the price, and lay it down at the preacher's feet ; if it can convert thousands, and turn the world upside down ; if its doctrine, from the prisoner at the bar, can make the judge on the bench tremble; ,if Christ and his saints have this power and honour in the day of their abasement, and in the time appointed for their suffering and disgrace; what then will they have in their absolute dominion, and full advancement in their kingdom of glory ! 10. Compare the glorious change thou shalt have at last, with the gracious change which the Spirit hath here wrought on thy heart. There is not the smallest sincere grace in thee, but is of greater worth than the riches of the Indies ; not a hearty desire and groan after Christ, but is more to be valued than the kingdom of the world. A renewed nature is the very image of God; Christ dwelling in 'us, and the Spirit of God abiding in us; it is a beam from the face of God, the seed of God remaining in us, the only inherent beauty ofthe rational soul. It ennobles man above all nobility ;. fits hirn to understand his Maker's pleasure, do his will, and receive his glory. If this grain of mustard -seed be so precious, what is the tree of life in the midst of the paradise of God ! If a spark of life, which will but strive against corruptions, and flame out a few desires and groans, be of so much worth ; how glorious then is the fountain of this life ! If we are said to he like God, when we are pressed down with a body of sin; sure we shall be much more like God, when we have no such thing as sin within us. Is the desire after, and love of heaven, so excellent ; what then is the thing itself! Is our joy in foreseeing and believing so sweet; what will be the joy of full possesion ! How glad is a Christian when he feels his heart begin to melt, and be dissolved with the thoughts of sinful unkindness ! Even this sorrow yields him joy. O what then will it be when we shall know, and love, and rejoice, and praise in the highest perfection ! Think with thyself, "What a change was it, to be taken from that state wherein
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