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Sermon 5.

THE SURE PROGRESS OF GRACE.

Psalm 92nd, 13th 14th Verses.

Those that be planted in the house of the Lord, shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall bring forth fruit in old age, they shall be fat and flourishing.

I

KNOW not whether it hath ever struck you, with the importance the subject merits, the beautiful order, which is observed, in the great plan and œconomy of human redemption. It is difficult 'indeed to know which to admire most, the astonishing mercy displayed in the act itself; or, the perpetual grace and goodness, manifested in the carrying of it on, from day to day, in the heart of him, who is made the happy partaker of it.

God hath no less consulted the comfort, than he hath the interest of his People, in that the

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same grace, which was displayed in forming re demption, is unremittingly exercised, to establish and confirm it. And certainly one of the highest felicities of the mind, is to watch the leadings, of grace, and trace its progress, in the various operations of it continually.

It should seem, as if the gracious Author of so. much mercy, thought it not enough,, to make the renewed soul truly happy, in teaching him, that the eternal interests of the Lord's people, are lodged securely in the Lord's Hands; and that all the covenant-engagements of Jehovah, are with the Person of our Almighty Mediator, as Trustees of this Covenant: but God opens besides this, another source of the sweetest enjoyment, in leading him to the view of the operations of the Holy Ghost in the heart, and ripening the seeds of grace planted by his own Almighty Hand, by the daily fostering care of his own Almighty power, and carrying the whole on, by various evidences of his love through the course of time to eternity. This sums up the contents of the Holy volume, which he puts into our hands to peruse, and which when fully read and understood in the heart, gives that joy, which is very properly termed unspeakable and full of glory.

A train of observation like this, may be well supposed to arise in the mind, from the words.

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of the text, as well as the many precious things, belonging to this golden psalm, from whence they are taken.

It is entitled a Psalm, or Song for the Sabbath day. And what more sweet, or more suited, for the service of the Lord's day, than the celebration of the Lord's praises? what more likely to awaken, every becoming frame towards God, than when recounting the faithfulness of God? we certainly take the most effectual method, to excite under the blessed Spirit's influence, a trust in a Covenant-God, for future blessings, when we look back, and take a review, of his past favors. And while grace is in exercise, how are we more likely to promote prayer, than by approaching a mercy-seat, with praise?

But without entering into an examination, of the whole beauties of this sweet psalm, the text alone will be found to contain so many in itself, that I fear we shall hardly find time, within the limits I must observe to unfold to your present view, all that it contains.

The Holy Ghost, in order to convey his divine truths to the mind, hath been pleased to make use of a great variety of metaphors, to answer this purpose. As the Great Teacher in the school

school of Jesus he is for ever sending his people, to some image, or figure, in the wide field, both of nature, and art, the better to illustrate, and explain, his doctrines of grace. And seems

indeed, if one may presume to say so, to have ransacked, all the kingdoms of vegetable and animal life in order to arrest every faculty of man, that nothing might be wanting, to convey right apprehensions, of the important truths of salvation.

Among the many methods of this kind, which he hath been pleased to adopt, in borrowing illustrations, from art, or nature, to explain divine things by; the idea, of planting mentioned in the text is more than once made use of in the holy scriptures, and as it is a very common, and well understood process, and not more common, than beautiful, the Holy Ghost seems to have more frequently adopted it.

He compares the people of God to trees of righteousness, planted not in the usual place of fields, or gardens, remote from constant observation, but brought into the house of the Lord, where they are sure to be always in view, and to be both sheltered, and flourish in so highly favoured a soil. And contrary to nature, (for the whole work is grace) they are said to increase, with increasing years, and to be most. luxuriant,

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