he have respect unto the lowly;" yea, he not only will dwell with such persons, but actually does dwell with them: this is God's own assertion in the text; and it is our duty, as well as our privilege, to believe him-]

3. That the exercise of serious and deep repentance will deprive a man of all the comforts of life

[Repentance will doubtless deprive us of all pleasure in sin: but is there no other source of happiness than sin?May not all the gratifications of sense, and all the comforts of society be enjoyed in a way of righteousness, as well as in the ways of sin?-But even supposing we were deprived of these, would not the presence of God in our souls compensate for the loss of them? Is it, nothing to have God "manifesting himself to us as he does not unto the world," yea, " dwelling in us, and reviving us" with the consolations of his Spirit? Or does a man stand in need of a taper, while he enjoys the light of the meridian sun?-Away then with all ungrounded jealousies on this head-Let us seek to experience the comforts of religion instead of ignorantly asserting that there are none to be found-And, instead of reprobating the communications of grace and peace to the soul as enthusiastic and absurd, let us pray that we ourselves may be "the temples of the Holy Ghost," "the habitation of God through the Spirit" for ever and ever-]

t Ps. cxxxviii. 6.

DXX. THE POOR AND CONTRITE THE OBJECTS OF GOD'S FAVOur.

Isai. lxvi. 2. To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

IT often happens that accidental distinctions serve men as grounds of confidence towards God

Many found their hopes on no better basis than Micah dida

The Jews in particular thought themselves assured of the divine favour because of God's residence in their temple

a Judg. xvii. 13.

Hence that common boast among them, Jer. vii. 4.

But God shews them the folly of their notionsoAnd declares the character of those, who alone shall be considered by him with any favourable regard

I. Who are the objects of the divine favour

Men choose for their companions the rich and gay

But those, whom God regards, are of a very different character

1. They feel themselves destitute of all good

[It is not temporal, but spiritual poverty, that distinguishes God's people

They have discovered their total want of spiritual wisdom They are constrained to acknowledge that they have no righteousness of their own

And that they are " without strength" for obediencef—
They unfeignedly adopt the language of St. Pauls-
Nor do they hope for mercy but as the free gift of God"-]
2. They bewail the many evils they have committed

[They have been made to see that sin is hateful to GodAnd they have felt the bitterness of it in their own consciences

They know experimentally the sensations of David They loathe themselves for all their abominationsk Nor are their convictions merely occasional or transientThey are habitually of a tender and "contrite spirit”—] 3. They pay a reverential regard to every word of God [They dare not say like the idolatrous Jews

They rather resemble the man after God's own heart"If the word be preached, they " receive it as the word, not of man, but of God"

They hear the threatenings like the meek Josiah"

They attend to the promises with an eager desire to embrace them

• Ver. 1, 2. The import of which is, How can you think that I, an infinite Being, who myself created those things of which you boast, can be allured by an earthly structure to continue my presence among you, if you persist in your evil ways?

d Prov. xxx. 2, 3.

Rom. v. 6. 2 Cor. iii. 5.
They say not, like the servant,

e Isai. Ixiv. 6.

g Rom. vii. 18.

Matt. xviii. 26. but desire to experience the clemency shewn to insolvent debtors, Luke vii. 42.

i Ps. xxxviii. 4, 6, 8. m Ps. cxix. 161.

k Ezek. xxxvi. 31.

n 2 Chron. xxxiv. 19. 27.

Jer. xliv. 16.

To every precept they listen with an obedient ear]

These, though generally considered by the world as weak and superstitious, are not overlooked by the Supreme Being

II. The peculiar regard which God shews them

The "eyes of God are in every place beholding the evil and the good"

But he

looks to" these, in a far different manner

from others

This distinguishing favour implies

1. Approbation of them

[From the proud and self-sufficient God turns his faceBut he "despises not the broken and contrite in heart"Though so exalted in himself, he will not disdain to notice them

His approbation of such characters stands recorded for

ever

His reception of the prodigal is an eternal monument of the regard he will shew to every repenting sinner-]

2. Care over them

[Wherever they go, his eye is upon them for good'— He watches them in order to deliver them from danger He watches them in order to comfort them in trouble". He watches them in order to relieve them in wants— He watches them in order to exalt them to happiness and honour-]

3. Delight in them

[There are none on earth so pleasing to God as brokenhearted sinners

Their sighs and groans are as music in his ears

Their tears he treasures up in his vial

He dwells with them as his dearest friends

He rejoices over them as a people in whom he greatly delights

He saves them here by the unceasing exercise of his powerd

And reserves for them hereafter an inheritance in heaven-]

• Luke Cornelius, Acts x. 33. and Paul, Acts xxii. 10. yea, the angels in heaven, Ps. ciii. 20.

P James iv. 6.

$ 2 Chron. xvi. 9.
x Isai. xli. 17, 18.

a Ps. lvi. 8.

d Ps. xxxiv. 15. 18.

Nor shall the fewness of such characters render them at all less the objects of God's regard

[It must be acknowledged that they are but few

But if there were only one in the whole world, God would find him out—

Not all the splendour of heaven, nor all the acclamations of angels, should for a moment divert God's attention from him— Though he were despised by all the human race, yet should he be amiable in the eyes of his Maker

Nor should he want any thing in time or eternity

Never shall that declaration in any instance be falsifieds-] INFER

1. How should we admire the condescension of God! [If we view only the material world we may well stand astonished that God should regard such an insignificant creature as man

But, if we contemplate the majesty of God, we cannot but exclaim with Solomon

Let then the declaration in the text lead our thoughts up to God

Let us adore him for so clearly describing the objects of his favour

And let us express our admiration in the words of David-] 2. How should we desire to attain the character that is pleasing to God!

[The poor and contrite are exclusively beloved of GodIf he look on others, it is only as he did on the Egyptians'

And how dreadful must it be to have such an enemy!— But how delightful to have an almighty, omnipresent guar dian!

Above all, how awful must it be to have him turn his face from us in the day of judgment!

Let us then endeavour to humble ourselves before God" And rest assured that the promised mercy shall in due time be fulfilled to us"-]

DXXI. TRUE HAPPINESS STATED.

Luke vi. 20-26. And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed are ye poor; for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are ye that hunger; for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now; for ye shall laugh. Blessed are ye when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy; for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. But woe unto you that are rich; for ye have received your consolation. Woe unto you that are full; for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now; for ye shall mourn and weep. Woe unto you when all men shall speak well of you; for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

MEN who dislike the doctrines of the gospel are no less averse to its precepts

They may both approve and practice heathen morality— But the morality of Jesus will appear to them unamiable and precise

The words before us will fully establish this assertion— They lead us to consider

I. The false notions which the world entertains of happiness

Many have been the speculations of philosophers on this subject

But there are general views in which the world at large are agreed

[They think that wealth must of necessity conduce much to our happiness

They think that a freedom from care and trouble will greatly augment it—

They think that an easy access to pleasurable amusements and carnal enjoyments will abundantly promote it

a It should be observed that this passage has no direct reference to the deeper mysteries of our religion: it is altogether of a practical nature: and the terms are so full, that they scarcely need any elucidation, while they are at the same time so plain as to be almost meapable of perversion.