by him, given to him, self-surrendered, and even dwelling in Christ, and Christ in him, what good thing is there which a believer may not expect to receive? Verily, "all things are yours," if ye be "Christ's."

Does a doubt arise in your minds, as to the competency of Christ himself to justify this expectation? When the believer exclaims, "My Beloved is mine, and I am his," are you tempted to ask, "What is thy beloved more than another beloved?" The answer is ready provided in the text: "Christ is God's;" his "beloved Son, in whom he is well pleased"—his "Servant whom he upholds," his "Elect in whom his soul delighteth"- his appointed Mediator, for "reconciling all things unto himself"-his own great High Priest, who, after fulfilling all that was stipulated, for the salvation and happiness of man, is now ❝ entered into heaven itself, there to appear in the presence of God for us." Our right to the promise, therefore, is in safe hands. Whatsoever you possess in virtue of your relation to Christ, is more secure than the foundations of the world itself.

They shall perish, but he shall endure; yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shall he change them, and they shall be changed; but he is the same, and his years shall have no end." What is the inference, my brethren? It is one which a child might draw. All things

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must be yours, if ye are Christ's-for "Christ is God's."

In conclusion, there are two practical points, which I would endeavour, by God's help, to press upon your consciences-briefly, but most earnestly.

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1. Do you belong to Christ? With such a profusion of wealth laid at your feet, have you a right to take it up, and say, 'It is all mine?" ascertain this, we must look back to the means whereby Christ himself becomes possessed of "them that are his." You have seen that he gains them by purchase, by gift from his Father, by their own self-surrender, and by putting his Spirit within them. Over three of these acts you have no control; nor any means of knowing that they have been exercised towards yourself, till you have executed your own part in this holy transfer. The question, therefore, comes again in another form — Have you made a voluntary dedication of yourself to that Redeemer, who hath all power in his hand to save or to destroy you? It is a question which, in too many cases, may be answered without much inquiry. It means-Have you been "born again of the Spirit" (for "if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his")? Have you turned to the Lord in a godly repentance? Have you sought and found mercy, by

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And are you

faith in the one Sacrifice for sin? now living with the holy circumspection of men who feel they are "not their own," because they are "bought with a price," and should therefore

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glorify God with their body and with their spirit, which are his?" Too many among us, I fear, must at once answer, No: we have no such feelings, and have undergone no such change!' But why have you not? Is it that Christ has never demanded, or that he does not merit, this at your hand? Or, is the claim acknowledged indeed, but its fulfilment postponed to a more convenient season? What! can you too soon become his property, share his love, and in virtue thereof have all things yours? Oh, shake off this delusion! Trifle no more! No longer "forsake your own mercies!" Come to Christ, as a guilty, but not despairing, sinner. He will 'pour upon you the riches of his grace-he will sanctify and bless you:' "yea, no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly" with him.

2. Some of you-many, I trust-have already drawn nigh to God in Christ, and have "tasted that he is gracious." To them I would say

Are "all things" indeed "yours?" Then what one thing is there, concerning which you have the slightest occasion to be anxious?-The case out of which the words of our text grew, was a very strong one: it was no less than this, that some Corinthians derived a benefit, as they sup

posed, from one faithful preacher, which they did not get from another, though he was equally faithful. Yet a preference, even from motives like this, is here censured as a "glorying in men." Now the same fault is committed in every case, wherein we expect, from specific instrumental causes, that which (come whence it may) is only God's gift. Are "all things yours?" Then trouble not yourselves concerning the quarter from which the benefit is to arise.

Your estate is

too ample, for you ever to be in want. In every emergency apply to Christ, as the Trustee under whose management it is placed, and you shall be duly supplied. He will indeed take his own time and way for blessing you; but a blessing, most assuredly, every act of his will prove to be. The more you leave your affairs at his disposal, the oftener will you have cause to make David's thankful acknowledgment-" All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, to such as keep his covenant and his testimonies."

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SERMON V.

LUKE VIII. 11–15.

Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way-side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy: and these have no root; which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which, in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

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THE Sower and his Seed' is one of those 6 bles, of which our Lord, at the request of his disciples, gave his own explanation. We are therefore not left to speculate concerning its design. We have only to bring it home, by faith