disciples, whom he hath ransomed by his blood, whom he sanctifies by his Spirit, comforts by his word, and preserves by his power and grace. May you and I be of the number, and then in us the great end of life will be served! Let us ever remember, that we are bound to live not unto ourselves, but unto Him who loved us, and gave himself for us: we are constrained, by every principle of gratitude, to shew forth his praise, who forms us for himself.

6. They will be the inhabitants of a better world, the companions of Christ in his kingdom.-Mark what he says: "If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be"" In my Father's house are many mansions; I go to prepare a place for you, and I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am you may be also*." The followers of Jesus-how shall we express it? they follow him into heaven; and there shall they live and reign with Him in endless felicity! It was asked, "Who are these? and whence came they?" The answer is explicit, " These are they who came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb"-These are they who surround" the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple"-These are they who sing salvation" unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb for ever and evert." In that upper world they still follow Him, but without the least reluctance, without the most distant feeling of languor; "He shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters," and they are satisfied. They feel in all its energy the sweet attractions of his love: they find that "in his presence is fuluess of joy, and at his right hand are pleasures for evermore."

* John xii. 26; xiv. 2, 3.

+ Rev. vii. 18-15.

We close the subject with two or thrée REFLEC

TIONS.

1. Are we the followers of Jesus?

Multitudes, it is feared, are no such thing. They have not begun to follow Him, or so much as seriously considered what it means. They follow the devices of their own hearts;" they follow" divers lusts and pleasures;" they follow the "multitude to do evil." Is it thus with any of you? Are you of the unhappy number who reject the counsel of Heaven, who slight the Saviour, and madly rush on their own destruction? Pause, and reflect! "It is high time to awake out of sleep." Your present condition is most dangerous, your future doom is dreadful and inevitable. Allow yourselves to think of this plain truth, that unless you follow Jesus now, where he is you cannot come. A course that is contrary to him, that leads from him, must terminate in awful distance, and leave you in wretchedness and despair. But you are not yet in despair! Though distant from the Saviour, you are not excluded, you are not forbid to return. On the contrary, he calls you near; he invites and entreats you to approach; he gives you this inestimable promise-" Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out.'

2. What cause have we all to lament our carelessness and cowardice in religious concerns!!!

None of us follow the Lamb as we ought: we are not so decided, so cheerful, so constant by far as we should be. Shame and confusion of face belong to us, and our peace and comfort are unspeakably injured by our own folly. May this conviction rest on our minds, and may we improve it to the wisest purpose! It matters little our acknowledging and lamenting our folly, unless we become wiser; we may thus dream away the invaluable period of life, and instead of enjoyment, have nothing but doubts and darkness. Then finally, s

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3. Let us rise to greater vigour in the ways of the Lord, and be unreservedly devoted to Him.

Are we the followers of Jesus Christ? Have we indeed begun to believe, to obey, and to resemble Him? Let us not be always beginning! They that follow another should make progress. May our holy ambition to do this be much increased! and may our holy energy be confirmed! We are richly favoured with the means of grace, and why are we thus favoured? That the languid may be revived, that the weak may be strengthened, that the feebleminded may be encouraged, that all may be engaged to follow the Lamb more fully and more faithfully, "whithersoever he goeth." It is certain, the closer we follow Him the more credit we shall bring to his holy religion, the more peace we shall enjoy in our own breasts, the more useful, by many degrees, we shall be to others, and in the whole of our temper and conversation God will be unspeakably more glorified.

What, then, is your desire? What is your purpose? The heart of each is known to the great Searcher of hearts; he only is acquainted with your inward feeling, your secret resolve. Surely none are disposed to delay the business: it may easily be deferred till it is too late. But every consideration which bears on the subject, is an argument for immediate attention to it. May the Holy Spirit decide, and settle you! You cannot be decided in a cause more worthy, or which more directly involves your present and eternal happiness. Let the worldly man, follow the world; the avaricious grasp at gain; the gay and sensual thirst for pleasure; on the attainment of each is inscribed, "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity!" Be determined, therefore, to become the disciples of Jesus. In the name, and in the strength of the Lord resolve, without one exception, to rise,

and "follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth." You shall not be disappointed. "Vanity" shall never be your recompense. The promise shall be fulfilled in its largest import, "I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment; that I may cause them that love me to inherit sub stance, and I will fill their treasures*."

They who receive abundance of grace, and of the gift of righteousness, shall reign in life by Jesus Christ.

SIN is a dreadful evil, and its introduction into the world was a grievous calamity. Death, and all its gloomy, distressing attendants, are the consequence of sin: but grace is opposed to sin; grace rises above it,' and must secure a complete and final conquest.

This is clearly taught in the verses connected with the text. The Apostle, having noticed the melancholy entrance and devastations of sin, proceeds, at the fifteenth verse, to illustrate the glorious effi cacy and effects of grace: "But not as the offence, so also is the free gift;" the one is greatly superior to the other, and in every respect has the ad vantage: "For if through the offence of one many be dead; much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many." In the former instance, as curse was entailed: in the latter, an abundant blessing. "And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift; for the judgment was by one, to condem