him. Herein is love; not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved,) and hath raised us up together, and hath made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness towards us in Christ Jesus."

In manifesting the exceeding riches of his grace through the redemption of the church, God gives the fullest and clearest exhibition of his divine perfections, and brings the highest glory to his great and holy name.

Since God is glorified, and all holy beings rejoice in the salvation of penitent sinners, and since the greatest number of penitent sinners, however many and however great their sins, shall be saved from endless wrath, and enjoy the glories of heaven on the easiest and best conditions; it may well be declared, that what was necessary that sinners might be saved, has been done in the best manner.

REFLECTIONS.

1. From what God has done for the salvation of sinners, there is no reason to believe that all mankind will be saved. From the sufficiency of the atonement through the death of the Lord Jesus Christ, and from the offers of the gospel, there are many, who profess to be.

make excuse.

.

lieve in the salvation of all mankind. But neither does the sufficiency of the atonement, nor do the offers of the gospel secure the salvation of sinners. On this subject we may obtain instruction from the parable, which contains the text. Did not the man, who is mentioned in this parable, make a supper sufficient for all who were invited to his house? Were not all things prepared in the best manner for their entertainment? Were they not kindly called by the servant, and urged to come to the feast? Was it certain, though all this was done that they, who were bidden, would taste of the supper?" They all with one consent began to Then the master of the house, being angry, said, I say unto you that none of the men, who are bidden, shall taste of my supper." ." Though God has in the best manner prepared the gospel feast, and made provision sufficient for the millions of the human race; though sinners be invited, and commanded, and intreated to accept of the great salvation ; is it therefore certain that all mankind will be saved? What, if sinners with one consent pray to be excused from coming unto the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation? Then, notwithstanding what God has done, and what Christ has suffered, if they be allowed to act according to such a choice, no one will be saved. Then Christ crucified will be preached unto sinners a savor of death unto death. Then sinners though favored with the means of salvation, will be formed into vessels of wrath, and fitted,

for destruction. Now it is in the highest degree evident, from what God has said, and from the conduct of sinners, that they naturally refuse the salvation of the gospel, and reject the counsel of God against themselves. As none came to the supper, which is mentioned in the parable, but those persons who were brought, and those who were compelled to come; so none come to Christ for the blessings of the gospel, but they who are made willing in the day of his power, by the almighty and invinci ble grace of the Holy Spirit.

But

2. Since salvation is so offered to sinners, the reflections of those persons, who have rejected the offer and died in their sins, must be very distressing. When they were in this state of trial, they were taught their sin and guilt. They were informed of the gracious Saviour, and of his atoning blood. They were kindly warned to flee from the wrath to come. though God called, in the most earnest and affecting manner, they refused to hear. Though he stretched forth his hand, they would not regard him. They set at naught his counsel, and despised his reproof. They would madly persist in treasuring unto themselves wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God. And now indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish have come upon them to the uttermost.

But

though they now call upon God, he will not answer. "He that made them will not havemercy on them, and he that formed them will

shew them no favor." Though they might have taken the water of life freely, they are now tormented in the flames of hell, nor can a drop of water ever be given to cool their tongues. They must for ever eat the fruit of their own devices. What now are the riches and pleasures and honours, for which they neglected the great salvation? What are the amusements, for which they despised the joys of heaven? What are the vain and wicked companions, by whom they were induced to contemn the Lord of glory, and the society of his chosen and happy people? What now avail their boasted morality and formal services of religion? What avail those false sentiments, which blinded their minds, and flattered their delusive hopes? Though they once held fast deceit, yet now the hail has swept away their refuges of lies, and the waters have overflowed their hiding places. Their covenant with death is dis-annulled, and their agreement with hell cannot stand. Have they not learnt the worth of those sabbaths, they could spend in stupidity? Do they not feel the importance of those sermons, they once heard with contempt and mockery? Does the salvation, they were urged to accept now seem a trifle? Does the damnation, they were warned and intreated to escape, now seem a jest? But though they might, on the best conditions, have enjoyed the glories of heaven, they are now cast into hellfire, where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched. Do they not exclaim-" Eter

nity, O eternity! Must we for ever weep and wail, and gnash our teeth in these tormenting flames of the wrath of Almighty God!" How does the anguish of the damned pierce their souls, when they consider how foolishly and wickedly, they rejected the great salvation of the gospel..

3. In view of what has been done that sinners might be saved, great appears the sin of those persons, who continue impenitent, where the gospel is preached. The heathen know nothing of the glorious character of God, as it appears in the work of redemption. They have never once been told that "God so loved the world as to give his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,, but have everlasting life." They have never once been told that God forgives iniquity,, transgression and sin, and that he will by no means clear the guilty. They have not once been forewarned of the exceeding and eternal weight of divine vengeance, which must fall upon the wicked in the future state. Yet the heathen are without excuse. And if the heathen have no excuse for their wickedness, what. is the sin and the guilt of those persons, who often hear, and as often despise the gospel of the grace of God? When the great salvation of the gospel is urged upon sinners from sabbath to sabbath, and from year to year; when. they are constantly reminded of the endless perdition of every one, who rejects this salvation; when against the commands and warn