his desire, that this church and the members of it might be sensible of the exceeding sinfulness of this lukewarmness and indifference. And, indeed, nothing brings professors of Christ's gospel into a lukewarm state, more than a customary formal attendance upon ordinances, and neglect of enjoying and seeking after communion with Christ in them. Our Lord proceeds to threaten the members of this church, "So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." And this is sufficient when brought home and applied by the Spirit of God, to make us tremble and fear, least any of us should be found of Christ in such a case. Hear this, ye that are hearers of Christ's gospel, ye are to be accountable unto Jesus for all your actions, and more especially for your religious ones. You come to hear the word, and some end or other will be answered by it; it must and will be, either the savor of life unto life, or of death unto death. You either do, or do not love the Lord Jesus. You hear Christ threaten those who are lukewarm, who are neither cold nor hot, that he will spue them out of his mouth. He will cast those who are destitute of unfeigned love unto him, and who are void of the wedding garment of his righteousness, into everlasting fire. If any man love not our Lord Jesus Christ, (says Paul,) let him be anathema, maranatha.' Oh fearful sentence ! Oh that you may escape it, and by believing, not only escape it, but also find Jesus precious, and your hearts inflamed with love to him. Christ here declares that he would unchurch and cast off these persons, by not acknowledging them for his own. Not that he will ever cast off his own people. But the meaning is, that he would put an end to this church-state, and have no more, says Dr. Gill, any such imperfect church-state upon earth, as he afterwards never will. Our Lord gives us to know what a vain opinion

these persons entertained of them. selves, being ignorant of their real state and case. 66 Because thou sayest I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." The lukewarm, professing members of this church, being ignorant of their state and case before and in the sight of Christ, think differently of themselves to what Christ does of them. They are contented in their present state from a presumptuous and vain opinion of themselves.

Thou sayest (says Christ) I am rich." It may be that the members of this church prided themselves upon the gifts of their ministers, and because they had the gospel preached in its purity, and the ordinances of it administered regularly, they rested in these things; whereas, though these are great blessings, yet they are not to be trusted to, nor relied upon. It is too commonly the case, that many are at ease in Zion, and are not truly alive to God in their own souls, though they enjoy these outward privileges, and yet they have confidence that all is well between God and them, because they hear the word of God; not considering that Christ says "Blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it," that is, who treasure it up in their hearts, and are living it forth through the power of the Holy Ghost in their lives. And increased in goods;" with the outward good things of providence, or the outward peace and prosperity of this church-state, even beyond former times, which brings forth this bad speech, "and have need of nothing," and yet, alas! she wanted all things. It is true indeed, true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, and as considered in him, stand in need of nothing, for they are complete in him, and have an everlasting treasure of grace and glory in him. But as considered in themselves, they are full of emptiness, misery, and wants, and therefore, have

daily need of going to Christ for the fresh supplies of his grace and Spirit; and therefore it shows both great pride, arrogance and ignorance in this church, to express herself after this manner. And so far was this from being true, that Christ says as follows, "And knowest not that thou art wretched," as the generality of the members and professors of this church, being destitute of a saving knowledge of, and true faith in, the Lord Jesus were, "and miserable," as all are who are without Christ, and these persons, the greatest part of them were, they not being alive to, and living upon Jesus, who alone could save and deliver them from present and eternal misery. And poor," being deprived of all holiness and righteousness by the fall, and not being regenerated by the Holy Ghost, nor interested in the unsearchable riches of Christ. And blind," as to their present spiritual state. "And naked," as every one is, who is not clothed in the righteousness of Jesus. Our Lord shows us here our grand mistake which we are too apt to make, we think we do not want Christ; but when we know ourselves, then Christ becomes suitable, and by believing, precious. And knowest not," says Christ, "that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." The real members of Christ are rich in their great head, being interested in his unsearchable riches, and it most highly becomes them to be seeking unto the Lord, that they may be rich in faith. It seems that our Lord is here pointing out the case of the greatest part of the members of this church, and what they were. Thou art poor," in a spiritual sense, and this is, and may be, the case of professors, and yet not be known nor considered by them; for there is a vast difference between a profession of Christ, and a possession of Christ. And blind," as all unconverted sinners are, to a saving knowledge of God in Christ, and the way of salvation by him. And naked," being Supplement, 1840.]

many of them destitute of the knowledge of, and faith in Christ's righteousness. Our Lord having represented their state and case unto them, and reproved them for it, proceeds to give them the following counsel and advice, suitable to their condition. 1 counsel thee to buy of me, gold, tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see." Christ is the counsellor of his church and people, and he is every way fit for this office, he being of infinite dignity, wisdom, and prudence. He is the great favourite of heaven; the angel of the great council, and one who is entirely acquainted with all the divine secrets; there is not anything transacted by his Father, without his express concurrence. In harmonious concert with his adored Father, and blessed Spirit, he devised and fixed the whole plan of redemp. tion, and every concern thereof. And Christ is every way qualified to advise and counsel his people, and direct them in every case and concern; and his advice and counsel is as follows:

I counsel thee to buy of me, gold, tried in the fire; by which may be understood the gospel, which is morę durable than gold, and more precious than fine gold; and which is styled the unsearchable riches of Christ, Eph. viii. 8., and which riches are solid, substantial, and satisfying. And poor sinners, brought to the saving knowledge of Christ by means of the gospel, are hereby enriched and made happy to eternal ages. And to buy it, must be understood here, to signify coming and partaking of these blessings freely; for how can poor sinners buy it in a proper sense? they are poor, and have nothing of their own to buy with, so that this must be understood of buying without money and without price, according to that gracious invitation, Ho, every one that thirsteth, come to the waters,

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and he that hath no money; come ye, buy and eat, yea, come, buy wine and milk, without money and without price." Isaiah Iv. 1. Christ and his grace are freely given, and he gives himself and the blessings of his grace freely to all who come unto him; and Christ is an eternal gift,—and a soulsatisfying gift,--a comprehensive gift, for with Christ is given pardon, peace, righteousness, and everlasting salvation. Christ advises the poor, blind, miserable, and naked members of this church, to buy of him gold, tried in the fire, that they may be rich, says he. For though the language of these persons were, I am rich, yet they were not really so for none are rich but those who have an interest in Christ and his grace, and they who are poor in this world, and yet have Christ dwelling in them, are rich indeed. Our Lord adds, " And white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed;" by which I understand the immaculate righteousness of Jesus, compared to raiment, because it clothes the souls of God's people, and renders them acceptable unto the Lord; and protects and defends from every spiritual foe, and it is called white raiment, upon the account of its purity, and to denote its beauty; and it is to be had of Christ freely, without any worth or worthiness in us to deserve it. It is a free gift of free grace, and so is faith itself, which receives this blessing from the Lord, and this righteousness from the God of salvation. And as Christ's righteousness is the only garment which can cover the souls nakedness, and hide all its deformity from view, so Christ advises these persons to apply unto him for this white raiment, that they may be clothed, and that the shame of their nakedness may not appear; and anoint their eyes with eye-salve that they may see. By the eye-salve, the word of God may be intended, and the anointing with it is the making use of it, for the gaining of spiritual light and knowledge; and hereby these persons

would be led to see and know the things of God, and their own spiritual case. Our Lord is pleased to give this reason, to the living members of this church, for his reproof, advice, and counsel. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent;" and then follows the words of our text, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Το him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."

We now proceed to consider the words of our text, in which are contained the following particulars ;-

First. Christ informs his church where he is. Behold I stand at the door and knock;" and Secondly.What he expects from them. "If any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Of these in their order, and—

First, Christ informs his church where he is. And he ushers in the account with the word behold, which serves to raise the admiration of those who are addressed. Our Lord calls upon his people to see, take notice, and observe, what he has to say unto them. And this word is made great use of both in the Old and New Testament, when things of great importance are delivered by the Lord, unto his church and people. Behold, I, the great head of my body, the church, -the beginning of the creation of God,-the first cause, and the last end of all things, stand at the door and knock; which is expressive of his presence with his people, and his readiness to help and relieve, and to hold communion with his people; and Christ stands to show his readiness to assist, bless, comfort, and to commune with his people; and he stands

at the door of their hearts, to show his willingness and readiness to enter and hold communion with his saints. In the 5th chapter of the Song of Solomon, we have the church in the same sleepy drowsy state, she is here represented in, and she hears the voice of her beloved, who speaks in this kind endearing manner, "Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled; for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night." To whom she returns this most unkind answer, I have put off my coat, how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet, how shall I defile them?" But, the Lord Jesus was pleased, notwithstanding this ungracious carriage, "To put in his hand by the hole of the door." By means of his blessed word and promise he communicates himself and his grace unto his people, and this had its powerful effect upon the heart of the spouse; it causes her to say, my bowels were moved for him. The voice of Christ being heard in ordinances, even when they are in sleepy frames, it is the means of bringing them out of it, and of reviving and quickening their languid graces. It was so in the case before us. Though excuses had been made, as "I have put off my coat, how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet, how shall I defile them?" Yet the great bridegroom of the church having spoken to his bride, and caused her to hear his voice, she is divinely affected with it, and powerfully drawn by it from her bed of sloth, to go forth to seek after holy fellowship with her beloved "I rose up to open to my beloved, and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh upon the handles of the lock;" which signifies the faith of her heart, drawn out into lively act and exercise towards and upon our Lord Jesus Christ. Now, as this passage in the Song of Songs, represents the church in a drowsy and lukewarm state, and Christ's most astonishing love, and endearing carriage and language unto

her, so it may serve to give us light into the spiritual meaning of our text. Christ is not speaking unto dead sinners, but unto sleepy saints; and it is much to the same purpose with these words of the apostle, Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee life." The persons thus addressed were profes sors of faith in Jesus, who, by too much converse with carnal persons, were in a dead frame of heart and soul, and their affections were hereby much abated towards the ever-blessed Jesus, and they are called upon to awake from their spiritual sloth, and carnal converse, and to attend the means of grace in faith, and they might be assured of it, that Christ would give them life, that is, that he would revive and refresh them, and make them as though they had not been cast off. "Behold I stand at the door," that is, at the hearts of his people; and this intimates how greatly our Lord delights to hold fellowship with his saints, in the or dinances of his appointments. And it is in the hearts of his people he dwells, and here he rules and reigns, and has his throne. My son, (says he to all his children) give me thy heart." And Christ standing at the door, implies his gracious readiness and willingness to entertain and make the hearts of his people perfectly happy in the enjoyment of himself. It shows his great end and design in all the ordinances, which is, that he may entertain his people in them with the refreshing visits of his presence, and with sweet communion with himself in the present enjoyment of his salvation. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock." By which we are to understand the voice of Christ in his word and promises, by which he knocks at the door of his people's hearts for admission. For the beauties of Christ are winning, his love has overpowering charms, and his promises and his voice heard in them are divinely drawing, and are the