That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ" (1 John iii. 23), and it is further written, that "he who believeth hath eternal life, and he that believeth not is already condemned." The Doctrines are divinely true, and are to be impliitly received; the Promises are to be considered as faithful, because he is faithful who hath made them; and we should imitate Abraham, whose faith is peculiarly celebrated, because he consulted not with flesh and blood-he calculated not upon probabilities, but fully believed that what God had promised he was able to perform; and if we are Christians indeed, we thus receive the divine word; we"hear the voice of the Son of God," and as the Sheep of Christ, follow our divine Shepherd, whithersoever he goeth.

Again, to follow the Lord fully includes a regard to all the Ordinances of divine appointment. This is the commendation of Zacharias and Elizabeth, that they "walked in all the ordinances and commandments of the Lord blameless"-among these prayer has an eminent place. "Praying always," says the apostle," with all prayer"-private prayer, domestic prayer, social prayer, public prayer. Indeed they who pray most, follow the Lord the most fully. Hearing the word is also our bounden duty, and our delightful privilege; it is a principal ordinance of God, both for the conversion of sinners, and the building up of believers. Such likewise is the daily study of the holy Scriptures.-If we follow the Lord fully," the word of Christ will dwell in us richly," and we shall meditate therein day and night. Give me leave also to say-that Attendance on the table of the Lord belongs to the duty of following the Lord fully. Many humble Christians, it may be, through a groundless timidity, too long neglect this holy ordinance; but it is both their fault and their misfortune; for doubtless they are great sufferers thereby. Now, to follow the Lord fully in all these things, is to engage in them with regard to the divine authority-with

seriousness and sincerity, as in the presence of God, and not occasionally, merely as humour and convenience may dictate; but resolutely and constantly, that so we may, as it were, "dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of our life."

Further, following the Lord fully, includes obedience to the divine commands.-Believers are not, by the Gospel, released from their natural obligations to obedience; nothing can alter the right of God to command, nor the obligation of man to obey; and therefore no wilful omission is to be pleaded for: no actual sin to be indulged: self must be denied: the flesh crucified; the world opposed; nor are we to sit down contented with the lowest degrees of sanctification, but rather to aim at the highest.

Likewise, with regard to that fellowship and communion with God which is the high privilege of the saints, we are to "hunger and thirst after righteousness," and to say with the Psalmist, "My soul followeth hard after God; and after all, we must confess, with the Apostle, "We have not yet attained, nor are we yet perfect, but we press forward, towards the mark, for the high prize of our calling in Christ Jesus."

I only add to this, Zeal in promoting the cause of Christ in the world-He has a cause; his kingdom is to increase; and this is to be effected by instruments; we are his instruments, and the present is a special and favourable time for exertion; there are more facilities now, and in this country, than ever were known before; and therefore they who would follow the Lord fully, must set their shoulders to the work, and do every thing in their power to promote the cause and kingdom of God in this wicked world.

I proceed to the last thing, which is, That those who follow the Lord fully shall be honourably distinguished.

How remarkably favoured was the upright and courageous Caleb! The promise in the text, made to him, was very remarkable; "Him will. I bring

into the land whereinto he went, and his seed shall possess it:" and though the fulfilment of the promise was delayed for forty-five years, yet the Lord preserved him in remarkable health and strength, so that at the age of eighty-five, he declared his health was as firm as it was when he was forty, when he went forth as a spy into the land: and if you turn to the 14th chapter of the Book of Joshua, you will there find that Caleb came forward to Joshua, the leader of the people, claiming the possession of the inheritance, "Behold, says he, the Lord hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years; even since the Lord spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness, and now, lo I am this day fourscore and five years old, as yet I am as strong as I was in the day when Moses sent me." O what a distinction was this, when among all the people who came out of Egypt, who were then twenty years old, two only reached the place, and were put in possession of the promise, all the rest (more than 600,000) fell in the wilderness, through unbelief.

As God distinguished Caleb, so will he distinguish all those who follow him fully. It is said of Enoch, before his translation, that he had this testimony, that he pleased God: and it ought to be the ambition of every Christian thus to please God by following him fully as Enoch did. Such persons also frequently receive the approbation of men, of all good men certainly, for they must heartily approve of following God fully; but even bad men will often commend. Courage and consistency will gain the approbation of the world, and a wicked man had been known to say, "If I could believe as such a one does, I should act like him; nay, I should surpass him."-There is another advantage, and that is, The approbation of conscience. Happy they who can say with St. Paul, "Our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, we have had our

conversation in the world." Another advantage is, that many temptations are avoided. Peter followed his master "afar off," and miserably fell;John followed him closely, and he stood his ground. They are in the greatest danger of falling by temptation, who keep at the greatest distance from God. But, after all the great thing is,-Eternal glory will crown the whole; even as Caleb was put into possession of that rest, which, from the power and faithfulness of God he expected to enjoy. Not that the glory of heaven can in any way be considered as our desert, or the wages of our fidelity.No; he that follows the Lord most fully, will be the most ready to say, "I have been an unprofitable servant;" yet the gracious recompense to which faith looks forward, shall unquestionably be bestowed. The promise is, "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life." No man more than Paul ever magnified the grace of God; and yet, looking forward to death, he says, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give to me at that day, and not to me only, but unto all them who love his appearing."-As Caleb entered the promised land, so shall the believer enter the heavenly Canaan, for not one word which a faithful God has spoken shall fall to the ground.

From what has been said we may learn, First, that the true character of every man is fully known to God; it is recorded in the book of his remembrance, and it shall be published before an assembled world. It will then appear whether we followed God at all; whether we followed him partially; or whether we followed him fully.

Perhaps some who now hear me, follow not the Lord at all-they are indeed following but it is "the multitude to do evil"-it is " the devices and desires of their own hearts:" but what said the

Lord Jesus when he was upon earth? "He that
taketh not up his cross and followeth after me, is
not worthy of me.
"If we follow not the Lord, yea,
if we follow him not fully, we have no part nor lot in
the matter; and if we follow him not, whither are
we going? there is but one other way, and that is the
broad way that leads to death and destruction.-O
sinner, stop! stop! in this thy way-for there may
be but a step between thee and death.—O turn again,
and God will have mercy upon you.

Others, perhaps, follow the Lord only in the partial manner that has been described. O how dishonourable this is to God! Is his service then of such a nature that he deserves not thy whole heart? Consider what a loser you must be by this partial sort of conduct. How dubious must it leave your state! Is not the state of your minds such that you cannot certainly say whether you are following the Lord or not? How uncomfortable is this condition!-many persons have religion enough to make them miserable, but not enough to make them happy.-O be persuaded no longer to act this part, but, from this mo. ment, resolve, in the strength of divine grace, to give up your whole selves unto him-body, soul, and spirit, which is your reasonable service.

Finally-Let believers in Christ be animated and encouraged by the example of Caleb. When he got possession of the charming hill of Hebron, how delightfully would he review the way in which he had been led through the wilderness! Did he repent of his courage and perseverance? No; he would reflect with thankfulness on the power, goodness, and faithfulness of God? rejoicing not so much in his pleasant inheritance, as in the divine approbation. Let us then follow his example, and cheerfully obey the apostolic exhortation.-" Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."