DISCOURSE VII. 603 has heights, and lengths, andbreadths, and depths in it, that pass all oar knowledge ; Eph. iii. 18, i0. and demand our devoutest praises. Trace him then from the cross to the tomb, follow him through the regions of the dead, behold him in the power and glory of his resurrection ; see him ascendingon a bright cloud to heaven, attendedwith the chariots of God, which are twenty thou- sand, even unnumbered thousands ofangels; Ps. lxviii.' 18. view him sitting on the right handof God, making intercession there for sinners, rebels, enemies, that they may be divinely transform- ed into saints, children, friends. Survey him at the head of all principalities and powers, ruling all things according to his Fa- ther's decrees, for the glory of his Father and for his own glory, as well as for the eternal welfareof his church. What bright and vigorous contemplations, what entertaining ideas, what efforts of pious passion may be raised by a sanctified mind travelling such a spacious round of divine wonders. Enter into yourselves, think what once you were, corrupt, abominable, unclear, unholy Remember the distinguishing grace of God, whereby you were awakened to a sense of your sin and danger, and were taught to fly for refuge to Jesus, your all-sufficient hope: Think on your iniquities all pardoned; think of your garments and soul washed white in the blood of the Lamb ; think on the powerful influences of the Spirit, that hath changed your vile nature, únd made it holy, that has guarded you from a thousand temptations, and is training you up to ever- lasting blessedness. Which of thepassions is there, that would lie cold and silent, under the lively sentiments of such a various and important scene of things ? But I proceed to the second part of this fifth direction ; and that is, "we may have our devout passions quickened by con- verse with those ,parts of the holy bible, which contain the most affectingsubjects, and express them in the most patheticmanner." Read some of the wonders of mercy and love, in the transactions of God with his ancient people, how he rescued them from the midst of barbarous nations and hostile armies ; how he brought them out of bondage and brick -kilns, by a mighty and miraculous effort of power and grace ; how he led through seas dry-shod, and commanded rivers to cleave asunder, and leave a path for their march; how he visited them after by missionary angels, and sometimes in his own royal person; for they saw the God of Israel ; Exod. xxiv. 10. Read and meditate the vengeance, and the terrible destruction executed on the old world that was drowned in the flood ; the deluge of wrath that fell on Sodom and Gomorrah, which perished by divine lightening ; for the Lord rained down fire and brimstonefrom the Lordout of heaven . upon them Gen. xix. 24. Read the ten plagues of Egypt, and and the desolations that wete sometimes spread over rebell- a.,
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