" onwards towards the mark for the prize "of the high calling of God in Christ "Jesus."

Third, We must look to Jesus with sentiments of gratitude and love.

As the man who looks to Jesus with an eye of faith cannot but look to him, at the same time, with eager desires of relief; so, in like manner, the man who has been thus earnestly looking for mercy, who has grounds to believe that Jesus has heard his supplications, and spoken peace to his soul, will naturally regard his Saviour with gratitude and love.

The unconverted sinner, who has never cast a wishful imploring eye to the blessed Jesus, is altogether insensible of his excellence. In his eye he has no form nor comeliness that he should be desired. He is ready to say to the affectionate, grateful Christian," What is

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thy beloved more than any other be"loved?" But when divine grace has shone into the soul to fill it with the knowledge of the glory of God in Christ Jesus, then he (the Saviour) assumes a

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different form. "To them that believe "he is precious; he is the chief among "ten thousand, and altogether lovely." Then believers fix their eyes on him, like the three disciples on the Holy Mount, when he was transfigured before them; "when his face did shine as the 66 sun, and his raiment was white as light." Then they look to Jesus in every situation of his life, with new emotions. Like the daughters of Jerusalem, they accompany him to Calvary, weeping. When they look upon him whom they have pierced, they mourn, and are in bitterness; " as one is in bit"terness for an only son, and a first"born." Then the Angel rolls away the stone from the door of the sepulchre; then the Lord of life rises in triumph from the tomb, leading captivity captive, and exhibiting the trophies of his victory over death and hell. What joy

overwhelms the heart of the Christian? With what gratitude and admiration does he behold the Captain of his salvation made perfect through sufferings? With Mary he is ready to exclaim, “ My “soul doth magnify the Lord, and my

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"spirit hath rejoiced in God my Sa"viour; for he that is mighty hath "done to me great things, and holy is "his name." And with what admiration and love does the believer look to Jesus, as he ascends to his everlasting glory, when he follows with his eyes, and in imagination contemplates him seated on his Father's right hand, invested with all power in heaven and in earth, surrounded with radiant hosts of subjects and seraphs, and ruling with the majesty of the King of Kings, over all his widely extended dominions! And with what gratitude and supreme affection does he behold him in the middle of this pomp and majesty, with the heavens for his throne and the earth for his footstool, listening to the needy's humble prayer, looking with compassion to the man who is of a poor and contrite spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and the heart of the contrite ones! In whatever point of view the believer regards his Saviour, still he attracts his admiration and love. He is the Lamb of God without spot or blemish. "He

" is love and dwells in love." He is the

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light and the joy of the world."

"He

" is the beloved of the Father; he is the

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delight of angels; he is the confidence "of all the ends of the earth.”

To him, therefore, the Christian directs his supreme affection. He loves him more than his nearest and dearest earthly relations,-more than life itself. He leaves all, and attaches himself to Jesus. He leans on him as he advances through the wilderness. "I have found my beloved," does he say, " and will "not let him go." "Neither life, nor "death, nor angels, nor principalities, "nor powers, nor things present, nor

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things to come, nor height, nor depth, "nor any other creature, shall be able to "separate me from the blessed Jesus." -This leads me to observe, in the

Fourth place, That we must look to Christ as an example of righteousness whom it behoves us to follow.

Men naturally imitate those whom they love. They view them in every motion, and in every action, with a favourable regard: even their failings are scanned with partiality, and assume the

appearance of propriety. Hence we are apt to imitate the weaknesses and the foibles, as well as the virtues of those whom we esteem. But in imitating the example of Jesus, we are in no danger of being misled. "He did no sin, nei"ther was there any guile in his mouth :" "he was holy, harmless, and undefiled, "separate from sinners." He appeared on earth in all the beauty of holiness. He came to shew the sons of men how fair, how illustrious human nature was in a state of innocence. He magnified the law and made it honourable. He gave to us an example that we should walk in his steps. Let us then, my brethren, look to Jesus as that living pattern whom it behoves us to follow, and consider his righteousness as the bright mark that is set up to attract our attention, animate our exertions and guide our conduct. How will it give spirit and energy to all our virtues, to set the Lord continually before us? How will it enable us to support our soul in patience, when we propose for our imitation the blessed Jesus, subjected to the most cruel sufferings, and bearing them with unshaken fortitude? How will it soften and smooth our