the attention is awakened to investigate the meaning of the bold and comprehensive metaphor which is used, when the apostle affirms that this rock was Christ.

To unfold the intention of this metaphor, and explain and apply the design of the whole expression, is the object of the present discourse. In doing this, it will be useful, in order to avoid the danger of torturing the figurative language of the inspired penman to a meaning foreign to his own, to consider attentively the spiritual truth intended to be conveyed; to state this truth distinctly and summarily at once; and then to recall the sensible images, only for the purpose of illustration or enforcement. Agreeably to this, let it be carefully remarked, that there are three distinct things comprehended in the type we consider. First, -The rock, which was the source, or fountain, from which the water flowed: Secondly-The streams themselves, by which the thirst of the people was allayed, and their strength invigorated: Thirdly-The ultimate object for which the whole was done; namely, to conduct the Israel of God to the promised land. Now, as the apostle asserts that this rock was Christ, I think the propositions of evangelical truth corresponding to the sensible and temporal things just stated, are plainly the three following

I. That the believer's hope of salvation must derive its very origin from Christ Jesus, or be placed on him alone.

II. That a resort must constantly be made to the never-failing fulness of the Saviour, for all those supplies of grace and strength, which are necessary to refresh and invigorate the Christian, in his passage through the world.

III. That the ultimate design, and the sure result of all, is, that the faithful disciple of Christ shall at length possess the heavenly inherit

ance.

After speaking very briefly to each of these points, the discourse shall be concluded with a practical application.

First, then, we are to consider-That the believer's hope of salvation must derive its very origin from Christ Jesus, or be placed on him alone. As the rock smitten by Moses furnished the fountain, from which sprang forth the water which saved the thirsty Israelite from death, so Christ, when "stricken, smitten of God and afflicted," poured forth that blood of the atonement, which alone can save from eternal death, the perishing soul, which hastens to it for relief. Hence the Saviour himself, "in the last day, that great day of the feast, stood and cried-if any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink." His atonement and righteousness only, are the "fountain opened to the house of David and inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness." Or if, taking another figure furnished by the sacred writers, you view this rock, not as a fountain, but as a foundation, on which the hope of eternal life is built, then we are assured that "other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ-Behold I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious; and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Ye are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone." But, my brethren, to the fountain contemplated none will come, on the foundation laid in Ziou none will rest, till the absolute necessity of doing it is felt, in a manner the most urgent and pressing. Till a sinner see clearly and undoubtingly, that without a vital union with Christ he is sure to perish, he will never embrace the Saviour "as all his salvation and all his desire." Without such a perception indeed, it

is impossible that the necessary application should be made. How great is the number of those who enjoy the gospel, to whom the Redeemer never appears precious? They hear the declarations of his suitableness, and the invitations of his grace, without interest or concern. Asleep in their sins, they perceive not the burning gulf that is working beneath them, and therefore see no necessity of escaping for their lives to a place of safety. Nor is it enough merely that the sinner be alarmed. Many have had their fears excited, who have never "fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before them" in the gospel. If the awakened conscience be quieted with the belief that some tears of penitence, a partial reformation, or abstaining from gross sins, will be sufficientnay, if making many prayers, attending on all ordinances, attempting all duties, and exhibiting an unexceptionable deportment, be relied on as the meritorious cause of acceptance with God, the sinner is miserably deluded. Ah! my brethren, this specious self-righteousness, in whatever way, and many are the ways, in which men attempt to build upon it, is not the rock which will sustain the fabric of your eternal hopes. Here is "the sandy foundation," against which our Lord himself hath warned us; and whoever builds upon it, will find that in the day of trial, when the wind shall blow, and the storm shall beat, and the floods shall come, this "refuge of lies" will be swept away, and he who had taken shelter in it will be lost in the abyss of final ruin. But when, under the influences of the Spirit of grace, an effectual conviction of guilt takes hold on the conscience of a sinner; when he sees the depths of depravity which exist in his very heart and nature, and the violations of the holy law of God which have filled up his whole life; when he sees that he can offer no excuse and make no escape; when he is made impressively sensible that nothing he can do, or work out of himself, can be any recommendation of him to the divine favour; when he realizes that an infinite atonement and a finished righteousness is what he needs, and must have, or be undone forever; then in very deed he is "shut up unto the faith" of the gospel. And when, by the enlightening and regenerating influences of divine grace, he is made to discern clearly, that "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth;"-that in him there is all that can be asked in a Saviour; that the veracity of God offers him even to the chief of sinners who will accept him freely; that "whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life;" and when the will and affections fully and delightfully approve of this plan and offer; then the soul is won to Jesus. Then, throwing away with abhorrence every remnant of his own righteousness, abandoning every plea, and every hope, and every wish of deliverance from any other quarter; viewing with holy rapture the glory of God displaying its splendours in the gospel plan of salvation, the sinner grasps the Saviour as his all -choosing with infinite preference that Christ should be "made of God unto him wisdom and righteousness, sanctification and redemption;" then the soul is founded on the rock Christ Jesus-the rock of ages, against which the gates of hell shall never prevail. Now, "being justified by faith, the believing penitent has peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ"-The sweet sense of this "peace which passeth all understanding," the joy which arises from the humble confidence of pardoned guilt, the assurance that sin shall not have dominion over him, and that all that God hath promised he is not only able but assuredly engaged to perform; this is the first draught of the fountain of life flowing from the rock Christ Jesus, which rejoices and enlivens

that which a little before was a weary and heavy laden spirit. But still, though the believer be thus comforted and strengthened for the present, the wilderness is not yet passed; it is only entered, and through it lies yet before him the tedious and trying journey which leads to the heavenly rest-And, therefore, I have said

II. That a resort must constantly be had to the never-failing fulness of the Saviour, for all those supplies of grace and strength, which are necessary to refresh and invigorate the Christian in his passage through the world.

Speaking of our blessed Lord, the author of our text asserts that “it hath pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell:" yea, that "in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily:" And the apostle John affirms, that "of his fulness have all we received and grace for grace." By the most various and impressive language of inspiration is the doctrine taught and inculcated, that all the spiritual wants of the believer are provided for in the Redeemer, and that from him relief is to be sought and obtained. Like the unfailing and inexhaustible streams that followed the chosen people of Heaven through all the dry and inhospitable deserts which they had to pass; so the streams of divine grace which flow from the fulness of their redeeming God, follow his chosen ones through all the thorny and thirsty wilds of their mortal life: And happy is it, beyond estimation, that such is the fact; for their wants are both numerous and incessantly recurring. He can only have entered the school of Christ, who supposes that when a vital union with him is effected, every difficulty is past. Alas! they who know most by experience of the Christian course, can tell most of the various difficulties that lie in the way. When, indeed, a full draught has been received of "the water of life," whether at the beginning of a converted state, or after much progress in it, the soul is so cheered and satisfied, that it seems as if distress was gone forever. Like one who has just extinguished all his natural thirst by drinking largely at a pleasant fountain, the idea can scarcely be realized that the painful sensations, now completely removed, will speedily return. The present relief is so complete, that it seems as if it must be lasting. But in both cases the event is the same. As the natural refreshments which we take to-day, however agreeable or abundant, will not serve us for to-morrow, so in the spiritual life, no comforts or cordials of which we have tasted in time past, will suffice us for the time to come. "Give us day by day our daily bread"-is a petition not more applicable to the body than it is to the soul. It was not more necessary for the Hebrew in the wilderness to go daily, and more than once in a day, to "the rock that followed him," than it is for the Christian pilgrim, in the wilderness of this sinful world, to go as frequently to the rock of his salvation, to the fulness of Christ, there to beg and to receive the supply of his new necessities.

It is an important advice given by the penman of the text, in his epistle to the Colossians, แ as ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk ye in him:"-That is "Be careful to preserve inviolate the union that is formed between your souls and the Redeemer; and in the same manner in which you came to and embraced him at first, continue to come, to the end of life-Continue, after you have known him ever so long, to receive him by the acts of faith, just as you received him at first; as a complete Saviour, to pardon freely all your sins, and to quicken, sanctify, uphold and preserve you." The present state, my Christian brethren, was intended to be a constant trial of the faith and

patience of the saints. The world, the flesh and the devil, are their enemies; and in all the multiform ways in which they can produce annoyance, it will to the very last be experienced. A volume would scarcely suffice to delineate all the difficulties and distresses, all the doubts, fears, conflicts and temptations, that may assail the Christian pilgrim who has set his face toward Mount Zion above. But blessed be God, there is not one case, nor one situation, in which a child of his ever can be placed, but there is provision made for it in the covenant of grace, in the fulness of Christ. To him, therefore, let the constant resort be made; to him let the importunate application be incessantly addressed; and though for a time, and for a trial of faith, he may seem to refuse, yet in the end he will assuredly afford relief. If your necessities, Christian brethren, be frequent, numerous and pressing, let your entreaties be as frequent, numerous and pressing as your wants. When you suffer most, imitate your Saviour in his agony, and cry to him the more earnestly. When you are the most thirsty, come the most frequently to the fountain:-"To him that is athirst will I give (saith Christ,) of the fountain of the water of life freely." And to thy Saviour, in the hour of death, as in every past hour, be thy soul, O believer! committed; and he will not fail either to cheer it by his sensible presence, or to keep it in safety by his almighty power. For we are now to show

III. That the ultimate design and the sure result of all this provision of grace is, that the faithful disciple of Christ shall, at length, possess the heavenly inheritance.

The miracle which was wrought by the instrumentality of Moses to supply the camp of Israel with water, was only a mean necessary to an important end. The God of their fathers had engaged to give them the land of Canaan for an inheritance and possession.-To preserve them from death, in crossing the parched and barren regions which lay between them and the promised land, the waters were made to flow at their side. The relief which these waters afforded from threatening death, and the temporary comforts which they produced in a sultry climate, were indeed blessings in themselves; but still they were only preparatory to greater and more durable blessings in reserve. They were but the indispensable provision for those who were travelling to a fixed home and a settled rest, and were given to insure an arrival there. There, when they arrived, they would, in place of a solitary stream, find "a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, and vines, and fig-trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil-olive and honey; a land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness; thou shalt not lack any thing in it." Just so the supplies of divine grace which are now afforded to the Christian, are only a foretaste and presage of better things to come. They are given to strengthen him on his way to the heavenly Canaan, to the rest which remaineth for the people of God, and to insure its eventual possession. This is the declaration of our Lord himself-" Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." That is "The graces of the divine Spirit, given to those who truly believe on me, shall produce within the possessor a source of happiness that shall ultimately extinguish every uneasy desire after it-for these graces shall continue and increase till they terminate in that

everlasting life of which they are the earnest, and of which they insure the possession."

Yes, beloved brethren, to whomsoever the special grace of God is imparted, it insures eternal glory as the consequence. This is the divine purpose in the gift, and nothing can prevent its accomplishment. Hence, saith the apostle, "he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God. Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts." And the divine Saviour declares" My sheep hear my voice, and I know them and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand. My Father which gave them me is greater than all, and none is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand-I and my Father are one." The most of those indeed who left the land of Egyptian bondage under Moses fell, through unbelief, in the wilderness; and this should serve as a solemn admonition to all professing Christians to guard against the same evil-For the apostle warns us in the context-"That all these things happened unto them for ensamples; and they are written for our admonition npon whom the ends of the world are come-Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." But though many nominal and visible Christians who have partaken of all ordinances in the church on earth, shall never be admitted to the church triumphant above, still it is a truth, that none of the real people of God shall fall, as the faithless Israelites did in the wilderness-He who is able to make them stand will still uphold them; will recall them from all their wanderings; will preserve them from all their enemies; will at length bring every individual to the Canaan above; and confer upon them "an inheritance, incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away." There their sorrows, their sufferings, and their sins, shall cease together; and they shall drink of the rivers of pleasure that flow at God's right hand. "They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light upon them nor any heat. But the Lamb that is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them to living fountains of waters, and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes:—and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.” It now remains to apply the subject.

In the first place, then-From what you have heard, let professing Christians be exhorted to examine with frequency and care, whether they have truly rested their souls on the rock Christ Jesus. Many, we are assured will, in the day of final retribution, say" Lord, Lord, have we not eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets" to whom he will profess, "I never knew you; depart from me, all ye that work iniquity." And how dismaying, beyond conception, must be the rejection and condemnation of those who have gone into eternity confidently expecting to meet the plaudit and acceptance of their judge? Let us, then, my Christian brethren, with frequent and jealous scrutiny, examine whether we have been taught and enabled to place our salvation truly and wholly in the hands of Christ: whether we have felt, and do constantly feel, that we are infinitely vile and ununworthy in ourselves, and in consequence of this, are looking to him, and depending on him as our all: whether we do earnestly desire that he would help us to contend against all sin, and that he would more and more deliver us from it: whether he appears as a precious Saviour to our souls, because he is "to save his people from their sins:" whe