interests of his universal and everlasting kingdom: And what are all crimes against society, compared with the malignity of the creature's rebcllion against his Creator, the infinitely glorious God? The injustice, ingratitude, contempt, enmity, opposition, and perverseness that are in every sin, can only be estimated by his infinite mind, who sees every thing and every character in their true colours, and judges of every thing according to truth. And he deems sin deserving of the everlasting punishment of body and soul in hell, hath denounced this sentence against all sinners, and will certainly execute it upon all who do not repent and believe the gospel.

Left under this awful sentence, all must have inevitably perished. We could have contrived no method of salvation which might consist with the honour of God: we could have made no atonement to divine justice for our sins: the depraved disposition of our heart even precluded all sincere endeavours to attain unto that "holiness without "which no man shall see the Lord:" nor could we ever have rectified the temper of our hearts, any more than Satan can recover his former rectitude, and rise by his own power to be a holy angel. Nay, left entirely to ourselves, we should every day grow more wicked, sink deeper under condemnation, and increase the weight of our eternal misery. Nor do I hesitate to say (what I trust is warranted by the word of God,) that, as certainly as all men sooner or later must die, notwithstanding all human contrivances and endeavours to the contrary; so all men must have perished for ever, without help from themselves or others, had not a gracious God

interposed. The plan of redemption by the blood of the Son of God, and recovery to holiness by the new creating power of the Holy Spirit, proclaims this humbling alarming truth: and a deep conviction of it is the only preparation of the heart for understanding, embracing, and valuing the gospel. They who are not thus humbled count "the preaching of the cross foolishness:" and, without our way being thus prepared, we may preach even the love of Christ without effect; for every mouth must be stopped, and all the world " become guilty before God."

Thus condemned to everlasting punishment, without help or hope from ourselves, we stand on the brink of eternity. One after another is by death transmitted to the judgment-seat of God, and fixed in his eternal state. For, what the general judgment will be to the world at large, that death proves to every individual. In the New Testament, the coming and day of the Lord are represented as at hand. Many ages have already elapsed, and many more shall doubtless yet succeed, before that grand and solemn scene; for the prophecies of scripture must needs be fulfilled. But what is that to individuals? The numerous inhabitants of the earth, through all these succeeding generations, already know and have entered upon, and we soon shall know and enter upon, an eternal unchangeable state. The resurrection of the body and the general judgment will complete the felicity or misery of that state, and display to the whole universe the glory of God therein. As then death and judgment are so connected in reality, we cannot associate them too closely in our ideas and ex

pectations. Meanwhile, being respited by the long-suffering of God, we are under a dispensation of mercy. Not the uncertain conjectures of reason, but authenticated revelation assures us that God is merciful, and that "there is forgiveness "with him." Mercy so rich and abundant, forgiveness so large, that no degree of guilt excludes the offender from sharing it. Mercy and forgiveness exercised in a way far beyond, and even contrary to, all our conceptions and contrivances; but devised in his manifold wisdom, expressive of his perfect holiness, honourable to his righteous law, vindicating his awful justice, worthy of himself, calculated to stamp sin with eternal infamy, to humble and fill the pardoned sinner with admiring love and gratitude, and to produce and enlarge all holy affections in his soul." Without controversy great is this mystery of godliness, God was mani"fest in the flesh." "His name was called Emma"nuel, God with us." "He was wounded for our "transgressions, was bruised for our iniquities," and "suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust," "that God might be just and the justifier of him "that believeth in Jesus." "Herein is love, not "that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent "his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."

Having, in this grand event, displayed in one view his infinite abhorrence of sin and love of sinners he can now honourably pardon and save all who accept of this salvation, and "come unto God "through him," who, being risen from the dead, "ever liveth to make intercession for us." This salvation the Lord proclaims in his word: "he "commands all men every where to repent;" "he

"warns them to flee from the wrath to come;" he "instructs them" to flee for refuge unto Jesus "Christ by faith," who invites "him that is athirst "to come, and whosoever will to take of the water "of life freely ;" he exhorts the wicked to forsake his wickedness, and turn unto him, to "strive to "enter in at the strait gate," and to use the means of grace; he engages " to give his Holy Spirit to all "who ask for him," that the power of corruptions, evil habits, and temptations may neither excuse him who despises, nor discourage him who desires, this salvation; he assures them that Christ" will in no "wise cast out him that cometh," but that "who"soever believeth shall be saved;" he allures them with exceeding great and precious "promises;" confirms them with the covenant and oath of God, "that they might have a strong consolation, who "flee for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before "them; he counsels them not "to neglect such

great salvation," for "how can they then escape?" and he tenderly expostulates with them-" As I live, saith the Lord, I have no pleasure in the "death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn "from his way, and live: turn ye, turn ye from 66 your evil ways, for why will ye die? Thus doth the gospel address the sinner, propose salvation to him, urge his acceptance of it, and leave every one without excuse, "who will not come unto Christ "that he may have life;" but, through pride and worldly affections, pour contempt on the wisdom, truth and mercy of God..

The Lord" waiteth to be gracious;" and therefore he prolongs, according to his sovereign holy purposes, our lives from day to day. At length

the appointed period arrives; the scene closes, and death fixes the final happiness or misery of every individual, according as he hath, or hath not, embraced this salvation; is, or is not, found ready.

Our situation in this world, and its connexion with eternity being thus ascertained, we perceive what that event is, for which we are to be ready. As rational and accountable creatures; as sinners guilty, polluted, and condemned; as dying, yet to live after death to all eternity, in the joys of heaven or the torments of hell; as under a dispensation of mercy and grace, by which all things requisite are freely given for Christ's sake to every onc that asketh for them; be ready, prepare to mcet your God, your Creator, and Judge, whenever by death, he shall summon you into his presence. We next inquire,

II. In what this readiness consists ?

Surely it consists not in the acquisition or possession of wealth.-Yet numbers act as if this were the one thing needful; as if they lived to good purpose and died happy, who leave behind them fifty or a hundred thousand pounds! This grand object engrosses their thoughts, affections, time, and attention: to this all other pursuits are postponed, all other interests subordinated; for this the exercise of piety and charity must be contracted or neglected; too often justice disregarded. Six busy days afford no leisure for religious exercises, and transmit them jaded to the sabbath, as their day of relaxation and refreshment; or a day of "weariness" more intolerable than all the rest. "When will the sabbath be gone, that we may set "forth corn, making the shekel great, and the