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gospel unto the same people, by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost declared, "The God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of your fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus." (Acts iii. 13.) Hence, therefore, let me proceed, secondly, to point out the meaning and privileges of this excellent distinction.

In consequence of the unfeigned faith, and corresponding obedience to his directions, which dignified the characters of those ancient patriarchs, the Lord Jehovah, the Almighty God, was not ashamed to be called their God. This should be understood to signify, that He had no apprehension of dishonouring His holy Name by acknowledging them, and by accordingly protecting and shewing mercy on them, in the sight of men.

Beyond dispute, each one of the three is recorded to have occasionally done amiss. Nevertheless, God would call Himself, and would be universally called, theirs; for their leading principle was to perform His will, and to magnify Him, notwithstanding that they evidently fell short of perfection, and were guilty of some even disgraceful infirmities. He saw their conduct on the whole decidedly tending to the support and advancement of His authority in the world; and hence, although imperfect, it seemed not unworthy to be encouraged by Him, and

accepted. Certainly they were actuated by a sincere intention to honour Him, and He would honour them in return; yea, He would have them remembered down to the latest ages, as the sort of men with whom He could be wellpleased. They had given up, depending wholly on His word, their kindred, and friends, and native country; an infallible proof, that there was none upon earth whom they looked to, or desired, in comparison with Him; so the Lord Almighty disdained not-thought no scornto become unto them instead of these; He openly received them to a friendly and an affectionate intercourse with Himself, and permitted them to make their boast in Him, and to proclaim Him, "the portion of their inheritance and of their cup," who would surely "maintain their lot." Their "glory was great "in His salvation;" and they were allowed to cherish a comfortable hope, that He would fulfil His merciful kindness towards them, by doing good to them ever more and more.

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To that end, or with a constant view to fulfil it, He who was not ashamed to be called their God, carefully protected them from any lasting hurt. In the language of the Psalms, the faithful ones, whose conduct has been surveyed, were kept by Him " as the apple of an eye," and hidden "under the shadow of his

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wings from the ungodly," who were disposed to trouble or root them out: "What time as

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they went from one nation to another, from "one kingdom to another people, He suffered "no man to do them wrong: but reproved

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even kings for their sakes; Touch not mine "anointed, and do my prophets no harm.” (Psalm cv. 13, 14, 15.) The heathen, among whom they pitched their tents, were admonished, by great plagues or otherwise, that none might injure them with impunity. Moreover, provision was made for them against the course of natural evil. When a dearth was ordained to take place, one of the sons of Jacob was wonderfully sent beforehand into the land of Egypt, and there exalted, that he might preserve the lives of his father and brethren, with their households. And in dealing with them, even on occasion of their infirmities and sins, the Lord God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob approved Himself to be still their God. He would neither let them alone, nor go so far as to destroy them in their transgressions; but His manner was, to connect with each trespass which they committed, an appropriate and salutary punishment. He chastened them, “as a 66 man chasteneth his son," whom he desires to reclaim, and to keep in the right way. We find Him not at any time speaking to them as

in wrath, or vexing them as in sore displeasure. Their most grievous errors only moved Him to inflict on them the requisite degree of wholesome discipline and trouble. His principal intention in all their afflictions, was to render them humbly conscious of their misdeeds, and so again becoming objects of His favour. As to permanently disowning or rejecting them, that would He never do, while they, lamenting their transgressions, would still resort to Him, and "put their trust in His mercy."

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Having thus sufficiently enlarged on the topics suggested by the text, I propose to conclude this discourse with briefly applying them to all that are at the present called of God, through Jesus Christ His Son, and the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven.

To all such, and not least, my brethren, to yourselves, the declaration of the apostle under review may, without doing violence to it, be brought home. God hath foreknown and loved you, and called you, with a holy calling, to be His children and people, by the ministration of the gospel of His Son. This may be said, with scarcely an exception, to the whole number who bear the Christian name; and there is the more need to say it, because the grace of God is sometimes disclaimed by unworthy

Christians, who would rather suppose themselves not to have received it at all, than to have received it negligently, and in vain. Let me repeat, therefore, that so many as have been born and brought up within the sound of Christ's saving word, and within the reach of His sacramental ordinances, have undoubtedly been called by God to be His own. And their calling bears a striking resemblance to that ancient one which was addressed to Abraham. The following are specimens of its general tenor: "Be ye not unequally yoked together "with unbelievers - Come out from among

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them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, " and touch not the unclean thing; and I will "receive you, and will be a Father to you, "and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith "the Lord Almighty." (2 Cor. vi. 14, 17, 18.) "Love not the world, neither the things of the "world." (1 John ii. 5.) "Set your affections "on things above, not on things on the earth." (Coloss. iii. 2.) "Be not slothful, but followers "of them who through faith and patience in"herit the promises." (Heb. vi. 12.) Hence, then, should arise the solemn consideration, God hath surely offered Himself to be our God, and hath instructed us to walk before Him, and be blessed, together with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; yea, and even with His Son