in heaven for him, who is also kept by the power of God for it. And who shall rob him of this inheritance? " Who shall separate him from his Father's love ?" He can look on the innumerable hosts of men and devils, and boldly defy them allf. The Spirit of adoption, which enables him to " cry, Abba, Father," assures him of the victory, and is to him a pledge and earnest of his future glory.]
Observe —
1. How little is the true nature of Christianity understood amongst us !
[Men conceive of Christianity as a system of restraints ; or, at best, as a system of doctrines and duties. But, though it partakes of all these things, it is in reality a system of pri- vileges : it " takes men from the dunghill, to set them among princes ;" and " translates them from the kingdom of darkness, into the kingdom of God's dear Son." Contemplate Chris- tianity in this view; as taking "strangers and foreigners ; and not only bringing them into the household of God," but making them " sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty." Well might St. John express his wonder, saying, " Behold, what manner of love is this wherewith the Father hath loved us, that we should be called the sons of God ! " Truly, this is the light in which we should view the Gospel; and this is the end for which we should receive its gracious de- clarations.]
2. What enemies to themselves are the unbelieving world !
[It is to bring you to this very blessedness that we preach unto you the Gospel of Christ. For this we set forth all the wonders of redeeming love. For this we invite you to come to Christ, and believe in him. It is not to make you melan- choly, as foolish people imagine ; but to make you blessed in the enjoyment of your God and in the possession of his glory. Why then will you put these things far from you ? Why will you pour contempt upon them, as if they did not deserve the attention of any considerate man ? Be assured, that, in rejecting the salvation offered you in the Gospel, you are your own enemies : you rob yourselves of happiness, of which not all the universe could deprive you ; and plunge yourselves into misery, which all the universe would be unable to entail upon you. Tell me, is it so light a matter to be sons of God, that you will despise it ; and to have a sweet sense of this sealed by the Holy Spirit upon your soul, that you will
' Rom. viii. 34—39.