who himself said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.' There is no way from sin to holiness, from wrath to mercy, from hell to heaven, but the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the door, the way, the only Saviour. Jerusalem! my happy home; Name ever dear to me! When shall my labours have an end When shall these eyes thy glorious walls 103 1 Thy bulwarks with salvation strong, O when, thou city of my God, Where congregations ne'er break up, There happier bow'rs than Eden's bloom, Blest seats! thro' rude and stormy scenes Why should I shrink at pain and woe, I've Canaan's goodly land in view, Apostles, martyrs, prophets, there 950 MIRACLES WILL NOT CONVERT MEN. SIN blinds a man's eyes to his own best interests, and hardens his heart, not only against God and his fellows, but against himself. Therefore he despises warnings, neglects admonitions, and refuses to come to Jesus for life. Nothing but the power of the Spirit of God, can save a soul. Hence, when the rich man in hell, desired that Lazarus might be sent to his brethren, to prevent their ruin and induce them to repent, Abraham informed him that it was of no use, that a greater power was necessary, saying, "They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them. If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." Luke xvi. 29. 31. MOSES AND THE PROPHETS SPEAK TO US. They describe our state as sinners against God, as exposed to his just and terrible wrath. They warn us of our danger, assuring us that the soul that sinneth it shall die. They exhort us to repent, saying, "Repent and turn ye from your evil ways, so iniquity shall not be your ruin." They invite us to the Saviour, and cry, "O taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man that trusteth in him." They hold up examples before us to caution us, as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brotherIshmael, that wild man, whose hand was against every man-Esau, that self-indulging man, who for one morsel of meat sold his birth-right-and Absolom, that vain man, who rebelled against his father, and perished in his sin. They present examples also, to induce us to imitate them, as Abel, that faithful man who offered unto God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain-Joseph, that chaste man, who would rather suffer than sin-Samuel, that just man, who would take no bribe, nor defraud any one-and David, that devout man who worshipped God himself, and induced and assisted others to do so. The prophets also call for decision, demanding, "How long halt ye between two opinions, if the Lord be God, follow him; but if Baal be God, then follow him." But though we read our Bibles, we disregard their description of our state, we slight their warnings, we neglect their exhortations, we refuse their invitations, we pay little attention to the examples set before us, and live on without decision or care. Only omnipotent grace can make us what we ought to be. MOSES AND THE PROPHETS PERSUADE us. They deal with us as men, intelligent and accountable. They persuade us to be thoughtful, and consider our latter end-to shun temptation, lest we all fall into a snare -to avoid danger, lest we rue our folly too late-to escape hell, the place where God's prisoners are bound to enter the way to heaven, and persevere therein until we safely arrive there-and to pursue that course, which will lead us to the highest honour. These good men as sent of God, as inspired by God, use often loving words, powerful arguments, and striking figures. They appeal to our fear and love. They give us line upon line, and precept upon preeept. By the earnestness of their manner, by the simplicity of their language, by the touching nature of their appeals, they seem to say with the apostle, "Knowing therefore the terrors of the Lord we persuade men." They persuade us, concerning Jesus, to embrace the testimony borne, believe the promise given, receive the salvation presented, and trust in his mercy and merit alone. But alas! how often they presuade in vain, and have still to cry out, Who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed ?" 66 IF WE DISREGARD MOSES AND THE PROPHETS, MIRACLES WOULD NOT PERSUADE US. The mind is changed by conviction, not by surprise; and the word of God is intended to produce that conviction. We are influenced by motives, not by prodigies; and motives are awakened and directed by truth, not by miracles. There is a suitableness in Scripture to inform, impress, stimulate, and persuade us; but not in the resurrection of a dead man from the grave. The former is God's ordinance, wisely ordained and adapt ed to the purpose, the latter is man's wish, arising from ignorance and mistake. Let us therefore not wish for miracles or prodigies, but pray that the Holy Spirit may by the word persuade us of our lost estate and dan ger, and to receive Christ to be our perfect Saviour. Young friends, read God's word as written for you. It was in reference to five young men that Abraham said, "They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them: for if they hear not Moses and the prophets, nei ther will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead." Consider then, that the contents of the Bible, are able to make you wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Beware of fancying, that though you remain unaffected under the reading and hearing of God's word, yet if something uncommon, something miraculous happened, it would persuade you, and you would be converted. The word of God is perfect, converting the soul. The Spirit of God works by the word, not by prodigies. If you resist the evidence and power of the word, the sight of a dead man raised to life would not convert you. Many saw Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead, and remained in an unconverted state; yea, some |