Let us then examine what is the supreme object of our affections, and chief source of our joys —
Nor let us ever conclude well of our state, unless we can adopt from our hearts the language of St. Paul p — ]
3. How highly should we value the ordinances of the Gospel!
[Faith, as has been shewn, is the mean of filling us with ardent love, and joy unspeakable —
And how is faith to be produced in our hearts, but by the preaching of the Gospel "J ? —
Let us then love the ordinances of religion, and diligently attend them —
Let us come to them with the express vieiu to have our faith, our love, and our joy increased —
And let us judge of our improvement of them by the degree an which we experience these effects from them — ]
P Phil. iii. 8. ' Rom. x. 14.
1 Pet. i. 1 2. Which things the angels desire to look into.
THE Gospel comes recommended to us by a great variety of most important considerations. It occu- pied the mind of God from all eternity. From the beginning- of the world it has been revealed with gradually increasing light and evidence. When the period arrived for its full promulgation, it was opened by the Lord of life himself, and was spread with incredible effect by a few poor fishermen, whom he chose and qualified to proclaim it. The^Holy Ghost also bore testimony to it by miracles unnumbered, that were wrought expressly in confirmation of it. But there is one circumstance, which is rarely adverted to, which yet should exceedingly endear the Gospel to us ; namely, that the holy angels are greatly interested in it, and that they are daily studying to comprehend it. This is affirmed by St. Peter in the words before us : for the elucidation of which we shall point out,
L The subjects of their inquiry —
The