If he does not, in heart, pay a due homage to Christ, let him be accursed; and, if an angel from heaven were to preach any other Gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. We can easily conceive if a traitor were to hold up his hand from the bar and were to talk of his goodness, we should say-What is this to the case? You are guilty of trying to dethrone the King! And so it may be said to every one who is not submitting to the rule of Christ in his heart, and who is found standing out against his being exalted in the earth.

Let us consider,

III. THE GENERAL CONQUEST HERE SPOKEN OF.

If there is certainty of this-which cannot be doubted -for, says the Apostle, "He must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet," then, blessed are all such as are made willing in the day of his power! Those that stand out, "he shall strike through." Our Saviour has shown this in a parable. "A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return: and he called his ten ser vants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us."-And what is the result of this rebellion?" But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me!" Luke xix. 11-27.

But we cannot pay too much regard to the peculiar manner in which Christ obtains this victory," Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my Spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the

street." He is not ostentatious. As if God had said -Your kings and nobles go forth with noise, but the King I have placed at my right hand shall work through his grand design with grace, truth, and meekness. "Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty. And in thy majesty ride prosperously, because of truth, and meekness, and righteousness."-His life on earth may be that of "a man of sorrows;" humility, submission, suffering, and death; but he shall send his Spirit, who shall bring in numerous subjects to his kingdom; his arrows shall be sharp in the heart of the King's enemies, whereby the people shall fall under thee;" Thou hast the dew of thy youth." And he shall come again with glory. "Behold, he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him:" he shall come as the "ALPHA and OMEGA, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." It is remarkable, that St. John, when about to describe his glorious vision of the Son of God, begins, "I, John;" as if he had said, It is I who had seen my Master and Lord in the days of his humiliation, when "the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth."-Yet, I John, when I saw him, as ascended, in his Divine glory, fell at his feet, as dead; until "he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last." So different did he appear; and so beyond all conceptions of human thought!

Our Lord Christ shall work through this grand design as the sun brings on the seasons. God works through the season, and brings on the success, with silent but irresistible force. It was prophesied of Christ, "Even

he shall build the temple of the Lord; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne;" Zech. vi. 13. He shall undertake a work that is glorious in itself beyond all comparison. In a calm, holy, but silent progression, he formed the world: in a calm, holy progression, he redeemed the world: in the same. manner he carries on his work by his word and ministers; and "other foundation can no man lay:" and when the whole design is fully accomplished, Christ will be seen as a mighty Conqueror; for it is the peculiar and determined design of God to glorify his Son Jesus. "And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him and he went forth conquering and to conquer." Though the conquering is different from the conquest, yet not less effectual. It stretches out arms of mercy to those who are still enemies: it says, Oh, come, and kiss the Son: come, and enter into the design of God: come, and do homage to your rightful Sovereign! But, if not-you have heard of the victory.

But if you ask, who among you are the particular persons to whom I speak as enemies-I answer, I cannot tell I speak the word of God, and I would do it simply. You have had set before you THE INAUGURATION OF CHRIST, as the King oF ZION; you have heard who are HIS ENEMIES; and the certainty of HIS CONQUEST Over them all. Here is enough in this blessed book to instruct you, so that "he who runs may read,” as to this question. For it is as certain as that Christ has not yet returned, that he will return to call his citizens to account. The word is past; and "he that believeth not is condemned already." It is no matter what set of unbelievers we stand among; whether we are classed with the gay, or with mere hypocrites: the

question is, Are we enemies? Brethren! judge ye yourselves! But it is not enough to say what you think on this subject: take the standard: you may think this, and I may think that, and another contrary to both but take the balances of the sanctuary, and judge ye yourselves!

Do you come, like "the wise men," and follow the star, and find the King of glory in his abasement? Do you say with Simeon, "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation?" Do you say with Peter, "Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life?" and with the Apostle Paul, "I count all things but dung and dross for Christ?"—this I esteem my highest honor, and joy, namely, to "be found in him?" Like John, do you repose on his bosom? With Thomas, do you say, Let us go, that we may die with him?" With Stephen, are you willing to set your face against a corrupt world-nay, against a corrupt Church-even though the leaders may be men of consequence? Are you willing to be a solitary witness to the truth, if you can be no other? and are you ready to lay down your life for it, as the martyrs did?

If, instead of all this, you find it the reverse with yourselves, then why need you stand to consider if you are enemies? Why do you not rather consider, if there be not a root of enmity? I say this, that you may know yourselves. This is certain, that till you are made willing that Christ should reign over you, all I have been saying must be displeasing to you. You do not like it; I know you do not like it. But, oh, contend not with the Strong! harden not your heart! for He that has set his King upon his holy hill of Zion, will assuredly make every enemy to become his footstool.

To such as have become subject to Christ, I would say, Be not alarmed, or moved, by the state of the world, while Christ is coming to take possession of his kingdom. There may appear confusion, and there may be storms. But remember what Cæsar said to the pilot when sailing during the storm, "Be not alarmed, for thou dost carry Cæsar and his fortunes!" This was an empty boast; for there was but one King that could walk the waves, and who could say, Fear not, you unite yourself to power, to wisdom, to love, to victory! You are accounted as those that are "kings and priests," and who shall reign with Christ. If we belong to him, we shall partake in his conquests: every believer, the weakest, shall "reign with him." In a stormy night, what a comfort is it to know that I may lay my head on the bosom of Omnipotence-to know that nothing is wanted but a full confidence in him! Having taken hold of his hand, without whom not even a sparrow falleth to the ground, I may cast every care upon him. Let this be the believer's aim, in all things to magnify the arm of his power.

CHRIST THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH.

And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the Church.-EPHES. i. 22. [1803.]

THERE is a kind of religion which may serve a man in ease and security, but it will not do in sickness and trouble a man will then want something that is vital and interior. St. Paul is here speaking to a Church in deep waters, and calling upon it to look to its Head,