when we do not fanctify the enjoyment of the creature by the Word of God and prayer.

As the people of God will not bow down to this threefold image, they are "accufed, threatened and ridiculed. Their duty, under fuch circumstances, is to bear their teftimony againft this idolatrous worfhip of the god of this world, to poffefs their fouls in patience, to believe in the Lord's will and power to fave them, not to comply by halves, or compromife the matter with the world; but to be ready to offer er up their lives, and leave the event to God, in a fteady purpofe not to offend him.

All came to the dedication, even from afar---but how many fiay from the houfe of God, though at the door! All bowed down but three---how many are now going to turn their backs on the Lord's table!

men.

From the dedication of our church, from days fet apart to be kept holy, Satan takes occafion to enforce the worship of his threefold image. Now remember the duty of God's people, and quit yourfelves like Some petty Nebuchadnezzars have fent to gather together, not princes, but drunken men; and have fet up, not a golden image, no nor a golden calf, but a living bust. O ye, that fear God, be not afraid of their terror, be not allured by their mufic; confefs the God of Shadrach, Mefhach and Abednego; and pray that thefe offenders may, with Nebuchadnezzar of old, refolve, not only to do nothing against, but not even to speak amiss of the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.

To you, my brethren, who worship the image, what fhall I fay? Shall Nebuchadnezzar rife up in judgment against you? He bleffed the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego; will you curfe him? for in-. afmuch as you do it to one of his followers, you do it unto him. Nebuchadnezzar made a decree, that whoever fhould fpeak against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, fhould be cut in pieces and their houses made a dunghill; and will you cut in pieces, with your tougues, or turn into a dunghill, by

riot and mobbing, the houses of those who fear and love the God of Shadrach, Mefhach and Abednego? No other God can deliver after this fort, faid the heathen and give me leave to add, no other God can punish after this fort.

The King of kings hath anointed Jefus! he is lifted up on the cross----upon a throne of glory. The decree is gone forth, At the name of Jesus every knee must bow. All tongues, nations, languages, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, martyrs, confeffors, angels, archangels and faints, above and below, all must fall down. In heaven, trumpets, thunders, lightning, voices---on earth, the terrors of Sinai, all fay, Kifs the Son. He is not a dead image, but the living God.---He comes---the trump of God may found to day. The burning furnace of his indignation is heated, and eternity is the duration of their torments, whose smoke afcendeth for ever and ever. O let him bless you now, in turning every one of you from his iniquities, and you fhall keep the feast in heaven.

SEVENTH FRAGMENT

Being in an agony, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was, as it were, great drops of blood, falling down to the ground. Luke xxii. 44.

MANY defire to know what paffes in the heart of great men, when under afflicting circumftances, or engaged in fome great undertaking. Behold the most fublime scene of fuffering held out to us in the word of God here are laid open the laft, the dying thoughts and cruel fufferings of the Saviour of mankind: here is a fcene, in which we are all moft deeply interested. Let us look into,

E c

I, The agony of our Saviour. II. What he did in his agony. III. The amazing confequences of that agony.

The agony of our Lord was a conflict-a violent ftruggle a grappling and wrestling with the deepest horror the agitation of a breast penetrated with the greatest fenfe of fear and amazement. He was heard in that he feared.

2.

The caufe of his agony was, 1. The powers of darkness, legions of devils, who poured on his devoted head their utmoft rage and malice. Every wound which fin had given, and the devil had power to inflict, the pure and naked bofom of Jefus opened itself to receive. The prince of darknefs, whofe chain was let loofe for the purpose, now ruled his hour, and, to appearance, triumphed over the Prince of life. The feeling of the weight of the wrath of God (and who knoweth the power of his wrath?) as kindled against fin-the terrors of the Lord the cup of trembling the withdrawing of God's comfortable prefence.-3. The fear of his farther fufferings-a violent, dreadful, and approaching death. 4. The atoning for our coldnefs, and the painful forefight with how much truth, those words of the prophet might be applied to many, Is it nothing to you, all ye that pafs by?

During his agony he prayed more earnestly. He prayed earnestly before, but now more earnestly; before, he kneeled, but now, he threw himself proftrate on the earth. He prayed aloud with ftrong cries and tears.* He was in an agony, every power of foul and body being ftretched to the utmoft- -Thofe, who never, or feldom pray, are ftrangers to fpiritual

conflicts.

The greatnefs of his agony, and intenfenefs of his prayer caufed that amazing circumftance of his fweat being, as it were, great drops of blood. Amazing! Because, it was a cold damp night-he lay on the dewy ground-it was fo profufe as to run down in • Heb. v. 7%

great drops to the ground-the fweat was mixed with blood, bursting out of the capillary veffels through the open pores.

Obferve, Adam finned in a garden; in a garden Chrift expiates fin. Before death, In the sweat of thy brow, &c.t before death Chrift fweat, and with ali his body laboured. In sorrow shalt thou bring forth; Chrift fweat blood, ftrong fign of pain. Curfed is the ground, &c. Chrift, when made fin and a curfe, lies proftrate on the ground, and bedews it with blood.

Brethren, we must all be brought to an agony; yea, we must be crucified with Chrift, if we would reign with him. Beware then of vilifying the fpiritual agonies of the children of God, by calling them mad fits.

You who, in agony, have brought forth children, or ftruggled under the load of exceffive drinking, or laboured for life when in danger, ftruggle and agonize now for your fouls.

Learn to pray moft, when most troubled-when weakeft when moft tempted. Still look to the Lord Jefus adore him-love him. Be not dry, like Gideon's fleece, in the midft of this facred dew. come for the answer of his prayer; 'tis thy balm of Gilead, the precious ointment, which runs down to the skirts of his clothing. Wash away thy fin: bathe in his bloody fweat; it is the former and the latter rain, bedewing prophets and apostles.

Let every believer remember, (and rejoice in the remembrance) that fweat, pain, the earth, the grave are fanctified and let every stubborn unbeliever beware of the cry of his blood. It now cries better things, by and by, it will cry bitterer things, than the blood of Abel.

• Gen. iti

EIGHTH FRAGMENT.

The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. Mat.

THE grand device of Satan is to prevent us from feeing the neceffity of this holy violence, or from put, ting it in execution. To prevent the effect of this ftratagem, our bleffed Lord gives us the plaineft directions in these words, Strive to enter in at the strait gate-Labour for the meat which endureth to eternal life, &c.Fc. But in no fcripture is the direction more plain, than that of the text, The kingdom, &c. Let us confider, I. The nature of this kingdom. II. How the violent take it by force. III. Anfwer an objection to the doctrine of the text.

This kingdom is that of grace, which brings down a heavenly nature and felicity into the believing foul. The kingdom within us is righteoufnefs and peace, and joy--it is Jefus apprehended by faith, as given for us, and felt by love, as living in us. In a word, it is the image of God loft in Adam and restored by Christ---pardon, holiness, and happiness, iffuing in eternal glory.

This kingdom fuffereth violence, which is offered, 1. To thofe lords, who reign over us---the world, the devil, the flesh. Thefe rebels must be turned out; our own wills must be overcome, and ourfelves furrendered up to God, as to our lawful and chofen Sovereign. 2. An humble, holy, facred violence muft be ufed in prayer :----with Jefus, that he would open, in our hearts, the power of faith, apply the efficacy of his blood, and bestow upon us the fpirit of prayer, or in other words the prayer of faith with the Father, that he would look through the pillar of fire, and difcomfit all our enemies:----with the Holy Ghost, that he would take up his abode with us.