law allowed no repentance for greater crimes. Whoever was convicted of any notorious tranfgreffion, was to die without mercy. But God pitied the miferies of man, and the Inconveniences of the law, and fent Chrift to fuffer for the one, and remedy the other; for, as our Lord himfelf declares, "Thus it behoved Chrifl to fuffer and to rise again, and that repentance and remiffion of Sins fhould be preached, in his name, among all nations." * Thus, then, when you fee the redeemer of the world hold out the golden Scepter and cry," come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden," + ye fhould with earnestnefs reply, "Lord, I will follow thee whitherfoever thou goeft." There is no one perhaps, when left to his own reflections, that would deli *Luke xxiv. 46. † Mat. xi. 28. Mat. viii. 19. deliberately reject this ineftimable bleffing. He cannot but know the frailty of his nature, and each fucceeding day presents him with fresh Inftances of Infirmity. He is confcious, that Sin is the Introduction to Mifery, and that Virtue and Goodnefs, upon the principles of the Gospel, is the Gate which opens into Heaven. He is not ignorant, that his offences merit punishment; and therefore, by a natural train of reasoning, must be fenfible of the neceffity of a redeemer. He knows alfo, that conviction of his faults is not fufficient. If he would reap the benefit of his Saviour's Sacrifice, he mult repent and be converted. Of all this he appears to be fully fatisfied. And when we see a person in this Situation, we may well conclude that he is not far from the kingdom of God. But ftill there is much to be done, confider himself as before he can entitled to the bleffings of the Gofpel. There is a wide wide difference between profeffion and practice. To be fenfible of right is one thing, but to reduce that into our daily practice is another. There are many amongst mankind who would be willing enough to be difciples of Jefus, if they thought profeffion all that was required; but when they are informed that they muft give up all the falle Enjoyments of the world, that luxurious living and vicious Indulgences are incompatible with the pure doctrines of Chriftianity, it will not be furprizing if they go away forrowful. May not feveral of you have been in this very Situation? With the best Inclinations, may you not have yielded to temptations; and when you expected to have found yourselves, at least not guilty, have you not been entangled in the fnares of fin, and fallen Victims to an unexpected Error? The Hiftory of your lives is the fame with that of too many of the Sons of men. K For, For, however fenfible they may be of the neceffity of reformation, from day to day they defer this important work, till the night clofes in upon them, and they are left dreary and defolate, uncheared by hope, upon the very confines of defpair. Many of you, I fear, have deceived yourselves greatly in this work of your Salvation. Procraftination, that Thief of time, hath robbed you of your deareft rights, and you have delayed to do that, which all the treafures of the world cannot recompenie, if you die and leave it undone: for "what is a man profited if he fhould gain the whole world and lofe his own Soul"? * It is a melancholy reflection, how many Souls have been irretrievably loft, thro' a vain dependence upon a death bed repentance. Is it reasonable to fuppofe, that a short prayer, an ineffectual wifh, infpired perhaps > by the fears of death, or terrors of damnation, fhould be fufficient to atone for a long life of fin, a series of years spent in the Indulgence of every fort of Iniquity? If this were the cafe, all diftinctions would be thrown down between wickedness and Virtue, and an Encouragement given to Scenes of Profligacy and Riot." If, with the repentance of "an hour, might the Sinner then ❝ reafon, I can infure my everlafting happinefs, I will not confine my" fell to the restrained rules of virtue "and religion, but will enjoy, according to my pleasure, the pre"fent moment, and give a loose to every inclination. I am not ig"norant, that thofe, who die in their fins, will be eternally punished, "but I hope to have a fmall refpite given me for repentance, and then "all will be well." 66 The general conduct of mankind, even |