and to humble believers'' ! Let all stir themselves up without delay, and prepare in earnest to meet their God.]
3. The use and benefit of divine ordinances —
[In the vi'orld, we may pass days and years, and never once hear the sentiment, That "it shall go ill with the wicked." On the contrary, we shall hear ten thousand assertions that encourage a directly opposite opinion. And, if a friendly moni- tor attempt to undeceive us, he is accounted rude, harsh, fana- tical. But in the house of God we may venture to speak with plainness, and to declare the determinations of heaven. God sends us for this very purpose, that we may draw aside the veil of futurity, and open to your view the things that shall be here- after. We are to shew you "the righteous shining forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father," and the wicked " lifting up their eyes with unavailing wishes in the torments of hell." Let the ordinances then be reverenced with humble gratitude, and improved with unwearied assiduity ^.J
" Job xvii. 9.
y If this were the subject of an Assize Sermon, this third remark might be to this effect ; The use and benefit of human judicatories ; which are intended to distribute justice, as far as possible, in this world, as God himself will distribute it in the world to come.
Isai. iv. 5. The Lord will create upon every dioelling-place of Mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud, and smoke hy day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night : for upon all the glory shall be a defence.
THE Church of God is frequently represented as hated both by men and devils, and exposed to their united assaults. But it is protected by an invisible and almighty Agent, vv^ho keeps it alive, as a spark in the midst of a tempestuous ocean. His watchful eye is ever over it for good : He considers it as his glory, and will therefore himself be its defence. This is promised to the Church in the words before us ; in which we are told, I. The Church is God's glory —
Mount Zion is a name given to the Gospel Church'': and a strict attention to the text will shew, that it is
a Heb. xii. 22.