cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me: thou hast brought up my soul from the grave; thou hast kept me alive that I should not go down into the pit; thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness: therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, my God, for ever."

But this forgiveness, precious and invaluable as I have shewn it to be, is only the introductory blessing, bestowed on those who are enabled to give the grace of God a full and cordial reception. Being no longer enemies of their own souls and of the cross of Christ, they are restored to peace of mind and to the friendship of their Redeemer. The God whom they had offended condescends to be called their Father; nor is he reluctant to confer upon the reconciled, the blessings and honours which pertain to his children. Hence the rapturous expression of Saint John: "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." Though our desires soar to the greatest height,-though we stretch our imaginations to the utmost,—yet the benevolence and liberality of God will be far more unbounded. His bounty will be an everlasting fountain, which will prove an eternal source of consolation to his redeemed: "for he that spared not his own Son, but gave him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely

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give us all things?" Read the farewell discourse of our Lord to his disciples before he suffered, and learn from it what ye are authorised to expect, through his atonement, from a reconciled Father. It tells you, that all your prayers shall be heard that the "Comforter, even the Holy Ghost, shall come into your hearts, and lead you into the knowledge of all truth:" that, being made fruitful in the works of righteousness, God himself, by his grace, shall make his abode with you; that ye shall be safe in this world, under the shadow of his wings; and, at last, being exalted where your divine Redeemer is, ye shall behold his glory, and be blessed with his pre

sence for ever and ever.

Are these considerations insufficient to determine your choice? If so, wonder not at the unbelieving Jews, who persecuted and slew the Lord of Life. Their scorn of him was excited by his mean appearance; and they "hid their faces from him," because "he took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of man." But wonder indeed, at your own wickedness and ingratitude, whilst ye behold the Son of God clothed in all the mild glory of an exalted Saviour, and stretching forth his hands to bestow all the blessings purchased by his most precious blood:-tremble indeed, for yourselves, while ye despise and reject him. Yet, notwithstanding sinners have cause to tremble,

who reject Christ, such is the merciful loving kindness of the Lord, that he authorizes us, to whom he hath committed the

message of grace, to beseech them, even them, not to despair.

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Long as the kindness and love of God, your Saviour, have been insulted, they are still graciously offered; for the prophet Jeremiah hath said, "his compassions fail not." It would be needless indeed to adduce particular passages of scripture to confirm this comfortable truth. is visible from the whole tenor of revelation; every page of which contains the language of the divine love towards sinners. Review the history of Jesus, and after you have seen what he hath already done and suffered for the sake of ungrateful and rebellious man, say if you can possibly question his tender mercies. Did he condescend to take our nature upon him, and will he disdain to receive the homage of a penitent heart? Did he die in agonies upon the cross for sin, and will he fail to perfect his work in the salvation of sinners? It was a powerful argument which the apostle Paul employed with Agrippa: "Believest thou the Prophets?" and I now use similar language to you. Do ye believe the history and declarations of your Saviour as recorded by his holy evangelists? What was it that affected him with grief?-Was it not the hardness of men's hearts?-What was it that made the blessed Jesus weep? Was it not the view

of the impenitent city of Jerusalem, which knew not, or would not regard, the time of its merciful visitation? Nay, what was the errand on which he solemnly declared himself to be sent into the world? Was it not "to seek and to save them who were lost?" And did he not invite all to come unto him, that they might be saved? declaring that none who did come, in faith and penitence, would he cast out? And say, who will counteract, by obstinate folly and perverseness, all these gracious intentions? Who will rashly persist in rejecting his grace, until they have provoked his vengeance, which is as a consuming fire? Be not ye, brethren, like these selfdestroyers; but, as ye value your immortal souls, be warned in time. The gracious call still, by my mouth, sounds in your ears: " to-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts." And, as an ambassador of Christ, I am charged to "beseech you, in his stead, be ye reconciled to God."

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And now let it be asked, what impression these plain and honest admonitions have made on your hearts? Gladly would I hope, that, by the blessing of God, and the powerful influence of his Holy Spirit, they have not been altogether in vain. Gladly would I hope that "the love of God may be shed abroad in your hearts, by the Holy Ghost which is given you; and that ye will not slight the solemn warning, which, as a

minister of Christ, and "worker together with him," I now most earnestly give you, to "flee from the wrath to come." Remember, I beseech you, that the eternal Son of God left the glories of his Father's kingdom, and sojourned in this vale of tears, to "bear our griefs and carry our sorrows; remember, that the sinless Saviour "bowed his head" upon the cross, to redeem us poor miserable sinners from the punishment due to our offences; and remember, that if we continue wilfully in a course of sin, after we "have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin." Jesus will die no more; death will have "no more dominion over him." Wherefore, consider this present opportunity as the accepted time: ye may now, by the assistance of God's Holy Spirit, obtain an interest in your Saviour's merits; but if ye neglect to improve the day of grace,-the time mercifully allotted you, "to work out your salvation, "—remember, that the night of death cometh, when none can work. Yes, the hour is at hand when ye shall "desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but ye shall not see it;" ye shall supplicate with "strong crying of tears to be reconciled to God;" but ye shall weep and lament in vain. "You shall cry unto God, but he will not hear; ye shall pray unto him, but he will not answer." Yet, God forbid that this should be the dreadful fate of any here present

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