righteousness, and sanctification and redemption." The soul under the radiancy of this divine light, exclaims, "Who is this "that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah, "this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness "of his strength?" The transporting answer to the illuminated mind is, "I that speak in righteousness and mighty to save." How transcendently glorious is the whole plan of salvation to the enlightened soul, by the mediatorial offices of Jesus, and a return "to God in the way of holiness. "The people of God shall be "willing in the day of his power in all the beauties of holiness." They live and exhibit holy actions from new principles. "Where"as in time past, they walked according to the course of this "world, and according to the prince of the power of the air, the "spirit that worketh in the children of disobedience; but now "are they washed, sanctified and justified in the name of the "Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." Under this blessed view of divine realities, the whole soul goes forth in breathings after holiness. "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, "so doeth the renewed soul for God, the living God." The brightness of this illumination at seasons fills the heart with extacy, and causes it to cry out, "Whom have I heaven but thee, "and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee?" His oul longs and faints for the courts of God, and his heart and Besh crieth out for the living God. The soul in this branch of holiness, comparitively, delights in no other object but God and the Saviour, and all his pleasure, comfort and happiness is in his duty, obedience to the divine commandments, and in attendance upon divine ordinances. "He feels it his meat and drink to do "the will of his heavenly Father." His conscience is made tender, and becomes the centinel of the soul. His language is, "herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void "of offence toward God and toward man." A watch is stationed upon the door of the lips, and a covenant is the covert and direction of his eyes, and thus he is employed in holiness. The

an thus engaged is a new creature. away, and all things are become new."

"Old things are passed

The Second thing contained in the nature of holiness, is an ho by frame of mind. This is so much comprehended in the spirit af illumination, that my observations here will be few. Without a godly temper, no holiness can exist. "For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." This holy frame may be considered as habitual, or in active exercise. None can be saved without the former; and there is little comfort, pleasure, or hope without the latter. Those who have not holy habits, may undoubtedly conclude they have not holy natures. This was the frame which caused Joseph to resist the temptation of his mistress, and gave him boldness to say, "How can I commit this great wickedness and sin against God ?** This habitual frame is a constant caution against sin, and a prevailing excitement to the performance of duty. This influenced the Psalmist to say, "O God thou art my God, early will I seek thee, and because thy loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee." At times this holy frame is in sweet and actual exercise. Then the soul is elevated; its views strong, and its pleasures joyful. His thoughts are exalted in the rever ence of God; he feels himself as nothing in his presence; and the transcendent excellencies of Jehovah, swallow up his whole powers; and overwhelmed in admiration, all he utters is, "my Lord

and my God." It was an extacy of this frame made St. Paul "declare, He knew not whether he was in the body or out of the "body." This frame awakens all the tender passions of the soul, carries it beyond itself, raises to heaven, and places terrene things beneath its feet; gives life in duty, and all his purposes are marked with zeal to promote the divine glory. These elevated frames are usually transitory in the present life. It is best they should be so; perhaps their continuance would unfit us for our present station. They are rapture while they last, and joy and pleasure are in their train.

The Third thing mentioned as a necessary constituent of holl ness, and which exceeds all the rest, and affords evidence and proof to the preceding, is an holy walk and conversation. The foolish and impertinent language of modern times is, when every thing external witnesses a reprobate life, where no virtue, order or morality is exhibited to view, then the carnal world applies to invisibles, and pronounces "he has a good heart." But if the life and conversation be not virtuous, holy, and good, it is a reproach upon goodness to speak of a good heart. "Be not de "ceived," saith the Apostle, "God is not mocked, for whatsoe"ver a man soweth, that shall he also reap." We can impose upon each other, and delude one another to perdition, but Omniscience admits not of deceit or imposition. The life is the character, and if this be wicked and unrighteous, all pretences and professions will fail. The heavenly decree is, "Be ye holy in "all manner of conversation." We may pretend to holy illuminations, holy views and exercises as much as we please, and to all the invisibilities of religion, if time be allowed for an holy practice, the latter according to scripture, and reason is the only demonstration of the former. Our text is an aphorism not to be disputed or changed, "Without holiness, no man shall see the "Lord." The blessing of heaven is settled upon the holy, and none else : "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that "they may have right unto the tree of life, and may enter in "through the gates into the city." No religious fits, however pompous, extravagant or showy, will prove a reality of holiness, without a sober, temperate and godly conversation. All real godliness will prove itself by a mind illuminated and taught in experimental and practical religion; by the sweet experiences of holy views, exercises and frames; and the whole must be testified and proved by a decent, orderly and holy conversation.These things will prove to the church, to the world, and our consciences, that we have entered into the ways of holiness. And if found in these ways, we have the promise of a faithful God;

through prosperity, and adversity, we shall be guided and direct ed to eternal glory.

More uses than can be attended to, ought to be the improve ment of this subject-It embraces the whole system of religion in doctrine, faith and practice, therefore, a selection for application must be easy.

First, We are here taught that holiness is of essential consequence to happiness. Without the one, the other is inattainable. All wish for happiness, but few, very few, seek it in the way of holiness. A wicked Balaam desired "to die the death of the "righteous, and that his latter end might be as his." But it would have been of infinitely greater moment, to have been living the life of the righteous, or breathing out our souls with the spouse, "O thou whom my soul loveth, tell me where thou "makest thy flocks to feed, where thou dwellest, that there I CC may be and dwell also." A voice from heaven declaring us the favorites of God, could not create felicity equal to this. The coming of an angel, as he did to Mary, "pronouncing her highly "favoured of the Lord," yet an holy nature in our souls would be ineffably preferable. Had we a discovery of God, as Moses in the clift of the rock, yet true holiness of heart would be far better. Fear the Lord, and serve him with integrity of soul. "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the last "end of that man is peace. Give unto the Lord the glory due "unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness."

Secondly, This doctrine recommends and enjoins with the highest sanctions, both of promises and threatenings, our culti vation of, and progression in holiness. The promise is, "The "path of the righteous shall shine more and more unto the perfect "day." The joints, bands, and ligaments of the new man in Christ, "having nourishment ministered and knit together, in"creaseth with the increase of God. The divine power hath "given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness,

through the knowledge of him who hath called us to glory and virtue whereby we have exceeding great and precious pro "mises." And besides these, all that is requisite in this life for holiness, and a compleat preparation for the life to come, is fully comprehended in this counsel, "Giving all diligence, add to your "faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge tem16 perance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godli "ness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly "kindness, charity. For if these things be in you and abound, "you will neither be barren nor unfruitful in this world ;" nor will you miss of an eternity of glory and felicity in the next.Happy are all the souls, who have begun a course of holiness.

Thirdly, This doctrine should direct every one, minister and hearer, into a serious consideration of himself, his disposition, temper and practice. At present, the application shall be made to simple feelings and experience. Have we ever beheld the beauty and excellency of divine objects, sheding new and strange feelings into our souls? The discovery has irradiated the understanding, subdued the will, reformed the choice, and captivated the affections, and all before it is God. The transcendent holy beauty and amiableness of the Father and the Saviour, awakens pantings of heart to be transformed into that similitude, and the enjoyment of the object is all its desire and all its wish. These views open a spring in the soul, whose streams are eternal life. David had this blessing, when he said, "As the hart panteth for "the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My "soul thirstéth for God, for the living God." No man ever equalled these feelings but St. Paul, when he exclaimed, "For "me to live is Christ, and to die is gain," the more common employment of the Apostle, and shows the experience of every christian is expressed in these words: "I press towards the mark "for the high prize of the calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Let our resections at present be limited to these three quest