before they shall attain the full object of their desires, they set out in humble dependence on their God, assured of final and complete success. They are willing to " sow in tears, confident that in due time they shall reap in joy."]
Address —
1. To those who have experienced some measure of this deliverance —
[You have heard the parallel drawn between the deliver- ance of the Jews from Babylon, and that of which you are the happy subjects. It remains for you to carry it yet further, and to realize it in its utmost extent. Of all the multitudes who set out on their journey towards Zion, there was not one who was not sensible of the cruel bondage from which he had been delivered ; not one who did not feel his obligations to Cyrus as his great deliverer; not one, who did not see that his provision by the way, and his succours at the close of his journey, were the fruits of that same grace that first proclaimed the deliver- ance : moreover, all of them without exception would feel a consciousness that they were not yet arrived at the place which their souls longed after ; but that they were daily proceeding towards it : they felt no inclination to rest satisfied with any thing they met with in the wilderness ; but looked forward to the enjoyment of God's ordinances in Jerusalem as the consum- mation of their bliss. Now then let it be so with you. Never for a moment lose the remembrance of your former captivity, or of your obligations to the Lord Jesus Christ, who " by his own death has destroyed death, and him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and hath delivered those who through fear of death were all their life-time subject to bondage." Never for a moment forget that you are on a journey towards Zion, and that all your fresh springs are in that adorable Saviour, who has redeemed you by his blood. Never for a moment cease to press forward in your heavenly way ; but, forgetting what is be- hind, reach forward, like coursers, to the destined goal. Let all your hopes, and all your happiness be in heaven. In a word, be exactly in the state and habit of your minds, what the liberated captives were in their journey towards Zion. Then will you have attained the perfection of Christian pilgrims, and will in due time possess in all its fulness your destined inheritance.]
2. To those who are yet the bond-slaves of sin and Satan —
[This is the state of every man by nature. It is to little purpose to say, that we are not addicted to any gross iniquity; for " the whole world lieth in wickedness," or, " in the wicked one :" and if the Captain of our Salvation have not rescued us from the hands of " the strongman armed," our very peace is a