fon was always the fource of immortality, DISC. however the facred fymbols, inftituted to adumbrate it, have been varied under different difpenfations. To our firft parents, before the fall, he ftood in the relation of Creator and Lord. To them, and to their pofterity, fince that fad catastrophe, he hath ftood, and ever continueth to ftand, in the new relation of Saviour and Redeemer. The man who doth not now acknowlege him in this latter character, will find him, in the former, an avenger to execute wrath: and what wrath can be fo fierce and terrible, as that of the Lamb? It is oil fet on fire. The finner, unless he be in love with condemnation, must not revert to the first covenant, and aim at the acquifition of eternal life, on the foot of the law of works, or the performance of unfinning obedience. In this cafe the rebel claims promotion, instead of suing for pardon. He puts forth his hand to the fruit of the now forbidden tree, which is no longer food for man. It's nature is changed, with our condition. To the eye

of

III.

DISC. of human pride it still looks fair and tempting; but it's contents, when eaten, are afhes and fulphur; and immortality, without redemption, would prove the reverse of a bleffing.

Such being the state of this matter, and the order of the divine œconomy concerning it, all that is faid in the Scriptures from the fall downward, with regard to the new method of obtaining eternal life, and the appointed means of so doing, will throw light backward and ferve to illustrate the account already given of the Tree of Life in Paradise.

To this end may be adduced the texts, which speak of the Redeemer, his religion, truth, grace, and falvation, under the very original expreffion of the Tree of Life.

And here, the first place is due to that charming defcription, left us by king Solomon, in the Proverbs, of divine WISDOM perfonified, and represented as having been

III.

with God in the beginning, yet rejoicing DISC. in the habitable parts of the earth, and delighting to be with the fons of men; as the way, the light, and the life, the author and giver of peace and comfort, joy and gladness; the Creator of all things, by whom the worlds were made, and without whom was not any thing made, that was made.-"Happy"-fays the great teacher of Ifrael "Happy is the man that findeth

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Wisdom, and the man that getteth un"derstanding. For the merchandise of it "is better than the merchandise of filver, "and the gain thereof than fine gold. She "is more precious than rubies, and all the

things thou canst defire are not to be I compared unto her. Length of days is "in her right hand, and in her left hand "riches and honour. Her ways are ways "of pleasantnefs, and all her paths are

peace. She is a Tree of Life to them

"that lay hold upon her, and happy is

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every one that retaineth her."

DISC.

III.

Thus, in another place-" The fruit of "the righteous is a Tree of Life; and he "that winneth fouls is wife f." The fruit produced by the righteous, through grace, copious, fair, and well flavoured, like that which once grew upon the Tree of Life, invites all beholders to come and partake, with it's owner, of that glory and immortality with which it fhall one day be crowned. And furely he, who, by these means, winneth fouls to righteousness and falvation, is wife indeed! He resembles the eternal Wisdom, the Son of God himfelf, who came down from heaven to win fouls, when the fruit of the righteous was the true Tree of Life.

Again"A wholesome, or healing "tongue is a Tree of Life; but perverse"ness therein is a breach of the spirit."

If this be fo in what paffes about the affairs of the prefent world, how much

f Prov. xi. 30.

Prov. xv. 4.

more,

III.

more, when the concerns of another make DISC the fubject of conversation! When we extend the Proverb to them, we cannot but think of the two capital instances, in which it was most signally verified. We deteft the tongue that "perverted" mankind from the path of Life, and made a " breach in "the fpirit," at which fin entered, and death by fin. But everlasting benediction be upon that tongue which spake, as no other ever did, or could fpeak, pardon, peace, and comfort to lost mankind. That was the Tree of Life, whofe leaves were for the healing of the nations. "With the "tongue confeffion is made unto falva"tion."

Once more.

Hope deferred maketh "the Heart fick; but when the defire com"eth, it is a Tree of Life"." This likewife is true, in temporals, of any object long wished for, and at last poffeffed; but it is emphatically fo of the hope of falvation, which, while it is deferred, maketh the heart fick; as we may find by the pa