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They were the first disciples of our Lord, men of Innocence and Simplicity; who, without fearfulness or Hypocrify, were to preach the Gofpel to an incredulous world. In this Situation they might expect oppofition of every kind; and in this cause even Life itself was to be laid down with pleasure. But what was the Enjoyment of a few tranfitory days, to the duration of an endless reward? Or what would have been their gain, if, like Judas, they had denied their Lord, and for the fake of a few trifling pieces of filver, had groaned out a fucceffion of ages in mifery?-Be not afraid of them that kill the body and after that have no more that they can do: but I will forewarn you whom you fhall (rather) fear, fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to caft into Hell; yea, I fay unto you, fear HIM.

Collect your thoughts, my brethren, and look forward with me to

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the laft Judgment; a time which will furely arrive, and to many of us may be near at hand. While I thus addrefs you on so awful a subject, a tremor runs thro' my frame, when I reflect how dreadful that day will be to the unrepenting Sinner. Look ing upon this circle, I hudder at the Idea of multitudes, paying the penalty of fin in thofe unhappy regions, where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched.” * God knows, every one of us, the ery beft of men, offendeth Seven times a day; what shall then be faid to you, who have tranfgreffed fo many laws, and with fo many aggravations? What! but that the forgiveness of the Gospel is not circumfcribed I fay not unto you till feven times, fays our merciful Saviour and our Judge, but until feventy times feven. †

Mark ix. 44. + Mat. xviii. 22.

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Impreffed with this Idea, we can come boldly forward, and ftand be fore the Throne of Grace. Here, however, what have we to offer? Not our own works, for thefe have been defective in every effential point; but the works of him," who of God is made unto us wifdom, and righteoufnefs, and fanctification, and redemption." For, as the Apoftle emphatically defcribes the fituation of man, without the knowledge of the Gofpel," we ourselves were fometimes foolish, difobedient, deceived, ferving divers Lufts and Pleafures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But after that the kindnefs and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righte oufnels, which we have done, but according to his mercy he faved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the holy Ghoft, which

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1 Cor. i. 30.

he fhed on us abundantly, thro' Jefus Chrift our Saviour; that, being juftified by his Grace, we should be made heirs, according to the Hope of eternal life." *

Tho' it cannot but be confeffed, that we are all offenders in different degrees, yet it is evident, on how fure a foundation the hope of a Chriftian refts. For our Sins, fincerely repented of, or wilfully committed, we must be juftified or condemned at this tribunal. "For we muft all appear before the Judg ment-feat of Chrift, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing, therefore, continues the Apoftle, thefe terrors of the Lord, we perfuade men." I would above all things recommend the confideration of this day to your most

Tit. iii. 3-7. +2 Cor. v. 10, IL.

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moft ferious thoughts. You cannot but be fenfible, that, it will arrive; and you must know, that if it come upon you unawares, your Souls not fet in order, your fins yet unrepented of, that your portion must be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth."* Suppose that now called upon to anfwer at this bar. What confufion and horror would arife! What dreadful, but juft forebodings of punishment ! What could you then fay, but that you had juft finifhed the perpetration of fome horrid wickedness, that you had juft injured your neighbour, either by open violence or fecret mifchief, that your hands were hardly free from blood, either unjustly fpilled or malicioufly intended? If the queftion fhould be afked you, whence come ye? Would ye not be confounded to anfwer, "From an earthly prifon,

Mat. viii. 12.

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