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"His foul refin'd beyond the common race,
Was cultivate by nature, art, and grace.
"He brightly fhone, even in his private sphere,
Ere he poffeft the minifterial chair.”

Were we to view him in his public ftation,
His match we fcarce could find in all the nation.
God's word's the facred fource from which doth flow,
Knowledge divine to mortals here below:
This word he fearch'd with diligence and care;
Gave to each foul its portion and its fhare.
For, to divide aright God's word of truth,
He was inftructed early in his youth,
His infight into truth's abyfs was great;
And could explain beyond the common rate.
"Seraphic principles and graces bright,.
In him confpired to difplay their might.
In public work he taught with folemn awe,
The pieceful gofpel and the fiery law.

Heav'n form'd his mind great gofpel-truths to trace,
His mouth to found the filver trump of grace;
To fpeak the grandeur of the Saviour God;
To blaze his righteousness divine abroad.
His view of every facred line was bright;
Each fermon was a lamp of gofpel-light.
The holy theme was trim'd with holy bait;
Each word was maffy, and each fentence great.
His language fhew'd a judgment moft profound,
A depth too great for common lines to found.
His frame was ftill divine, his words exact;
Saints heard the voice which did their hearts attract.
An holy humble courfe of life he fteer'd,

That all might fee the doctrine which they heard.
His prefence grave did rev'rence great command,
And crave profound refpect from every hand.
His very look could vanity reclaim,

His countenance put levity to fhame."
A difputant moft bold for truth appear'd;
And 'gainst all errors conqu'ring trophies rear'd:
His words gave all antagonists a wound,

Which did them foon convince, or foon confound

His public fpirit was of fuch a pitch,

"That few in zeal for God were found fo rich."

Hark! you who remind him, furely will allow,
That grace triumphant fat upon his brow.
Won't you confefs his mind was much refin'd,
Beyond the common nafs of human kind?
The lovely graces in his bofom found,
Diffus'd ambrofjal odours all around.

(wings:

His lofty mind, ne'er drenchi'd in earthly things,
With eafe could mount to heav'n, with out-ftretch'd
Spy out the glory of the realms of light,
Unfold the grandeur unto mortal fight.
His pious foul, fram'd to furmount the fkies,
With winning charms did fiocp to vulgar eyes;
Diffufe that knowledge giv'n him from above,
To all mankind, with fervency and love.
Heav'n fill indulgent to his pious mind,
Difplay'd her glorious rays purely refiu'd.
The amazing wonders fhew'n to him from thence,
He could, with eafe, to others foon difpenfe.
Thus heav'n and earth in him, did joyful meet;
Nature and grace their lovely charms unite.

His works now extent *, happily display,
How well he underflood the gofpel way.
Th' attentive reader and judicious mind,
In ev'ry page may a rich treafure find.
Thefe volumes elegant contain the scheme'
Of gospel doctrine; his beloved theme.
Christ is the theme, whofe robe of righteoufnefs,
He publifh'd, as the faints adorning drefs.--
To form juft fentiments of this great man,
'Tis proper carefully his works we fcan.
There we will find both law and gofpel taught;
The first to rouze, the last with blifs is fraught.
He ftudy'd firft the finner's cafe to fhew;
And then prefents the balfam to his view.

* Alluding to that beautiful edition of his Practical Works, in two volumes folic, printed annis 1764, 1765.

The CONCLUSION.

Is this the Man whom Heav'n defign'd,
With honours full to load?
With what enliv'ned fouls fhould we
Adore and ferve our God?

And if we would thofe bleffings fhare,
Which makes the faints rejoice;
All vice abstain, all virtue love,

And make this God our choice.

Let us for ever blefs the name
Of this exalted King,

That any of the human tribe
Heav'n's anthems high do fing.

GLASCOW, April 15th, 1765.

THE

CONTENTS,

SERMON I.

The Sword of Juftice awakened against God's Fellow,

3!

ZECH. xiii. 7, Awake, O fword, against my Shepherd, and against the
mạn that is my fellow, faith the Lord of bojis.

After a brief intraduction, clear analization, and fuccinct explication
of th words, the following general topics of difcourfe are treated
of, viz.

1. The character of the perfon against whom the word doth awake,

enquired into,

2. The nature and quality of this fword opened up,

3. The manner how this fword did awake, and the import of it,

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The words being viewed in their connexion and fcope, and wrapt up
in a doctrinal propofition, the following general topics are illuftrat
ed, viz.

1. That there is a marriage-relation betwixt Chrift and believers, prov

ed,

2. The nature of this marriage opened up,

The connexion of the words being traced, viewed in their scope, di-
vided, explained and fummed up in a compendious propofition, the
following gencrai heads of method are profecuted, viz.

1. Some remarks offered concerning the covenant in general,

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203:

25.5

Isa. viii. 18. Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me,

are for figns and wonders in Ifrael; from the Lord of Hefts, which

dwelleth in mount Zion.

After a copious introduction, in which the scope of the prophet, both
in the preceding and fubfequent context, is taken notice of, the pro-
per fenfe of the words afcertained, an analization and explication
effayed, and a doctrinal propofition laid down, the following gene-
ral topics are handled, viz.

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