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Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the "kingdom of heaven." But, if all these things are improper or inefficacious, what shall we think of the conduct of vast numbers, who are so far from being ready, or making diligent suitable preparation, that they are daily adding "drunkenness "to thirst," and "sin to sin;" profaneness to debauchery, and infidelity to profaneness?

I hope your attention is not wearied, nor our inquiry interrupted, by this seeming digression, not foreign, I trust, to the main subject. For, by considering some of the most common ways in which men waste their lives, till death surprises them unprepared, and plunges them into irremediable miscry; we may to more effect contrast that diligent, and constant, and earnest preparation, which the word of God enforces. This preparation, I apprehend, is twofold. A preparation by which the soul is secured; and a preparation by which that security is evidenced, improved, and rendered apparent for our comfort. Every true believer habitually possesses the former: when vigorously exercising grace, and diligently practising his duty, he actually enjoys the latter. We may, therefore, call the former the habitual, the latter the actual, preparation for death and judgment.

1. Our precedent and introductory preparation, by which we become habitually safe, and therefore ready, consists in acceptance with God and meetness for heaven.

Having incurred the divine displeasure by transgression, the wrath of God must "abide upon us," unless, or until, we obtain forgiveness. If cut off by death without the pardon of our sins, that wrath

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must abide upon us for ever; for "the wicked is "driven away in his wickedness:" nor will the ransom of the death of Christ avail in this case. "Beware lest he cut thee off with a stroke, and "then a great ransom cannot save thee."-On the other hand, "Blessed is the man whose transgres"sion is forgiven, whose sin is covered, and to "whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity." How vile soever he may have heretofore been, he is now safe, and happy.-We have already seen whence this forgiveness springs; in what manner the way is opened for its honourable exercise: how it is proposed to all who hear the gospel; and how God with authority demands our acceptance of it. This is "the obedience of faith," and Christ " is become "the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him." The man who truly believes the testimony of God in the sacred scriptures, concerning the Deity, the incarnation, humiliation, sufferings, death, resurrection, and mediatorial exaltation of the Lord Jesus Christ; who perceives the necessity, the nature, and the glory of such an extraordinary expedient to render the salvation of sinners consistent with the honour of the divine law, justice, and purity; who cordially approves of a salvation so humbling to man and so honourable to God; who, as a sinner, is sincerely desirous to be saved from a deserved eternal condemation, in this way; and who applies to, and trusts in, Christ alone for the pardon of his sins, the acceptance of his person, the sanctification of his heart, and the eternal salvation of his soul, through his merits, atonement, intercession and grace :-this man, I say, "sets to his seal that God is true," honours all

the divine attributes, displayed in the gospel, and is thus fully pardoned and justified, and shall be eternally saved. "He shall not come into con"demnation, but is passed from death unto life.” But he who does not believe this testimony; who rejects this salvation, as seeing no occasion for it, and no glory in it; and who either is careless about eternal things, or seeks acceptance in ways of man's devising, and more suited to his pride; makes God a liar, pours contempt on every divine attribute, defies his justice, despises his grace, and affronts his manifold wisdom, which angels behold and adore, in the church purchased with Emmanuel's blood. But it is to his own loss; for thus he seals and aggravates his own condemnation.

As unbelief is always accompanied with impenitence, so faith springs only from a penitent heart. Therefore "repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ" comprise the conduct, character, and experience of the sinner who seeks salvation in the acceptable method. That blessed Spirit, who applies to the soul the salvation which flows from the love of the Father, through the atonement of the Saviour's blood, (that glory may be to God the Father, Son, and Spirit for ever,) begins the work by "convincing us of sin." luminating the mind to perceive in some degree the glorious holiness and perfect law of God, he shews us proportionably the odiousness of sin, and the vileness of our conduct and character; and produces a disposition to abhor sin, and abase and condemn ourselves as sinners; while he convinces us that justice is armed against us, and undeserved mercy our only refuge. When the mind is thus

in some degree prepared for the discovery, we are led to consider the truths of the gospel, and to see somewhat of their nature and glory, which before were hid from us. In proportion as we, with enlightened minds, under the influences of the Spirit of truth, look to the cross of Christ, we are made more sensible of the demerit and hatefulness of sin, of our own guilt and depravity, and of the sinfulness even of our best performances. This effectually deprives us of all hopes of being saved in any other way, and inspires us with ardent desires, and humble expectations, of being saved in and by the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus we are led to seek salvation, where it may be found; to use the means which God hath appointed; to wait with patient expectation, though tried by delays and discouragements; (for we have now no where else to go, and are consciously unworthy of every favour ;) to long and pray for faith; to be willing to leave all worldly interests and pleasures for Christ, and to count them but loss and dung; to examine anxiously what is wrong in our manner of coming to Christ; and what in our conduct or dependence excludes us from the tokens of his love, in which others rejoice; with greater earnestness to use the means of grace, to watch against the approach of sin, to attend to our duty; yet still to grow more jealous of our hearts, lest we should trust in any thing but free mercy through Christ alone. When the soul is thus humbled, and weaned from other dependences, and prepared to make a good use of encouragement, that favour will be bestowed; and then the believer, "abounding in hope through

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"the power of the Holy Ghost," learns to rejoice in forgiveness of sins.

Other kinds of experience and of faith, confidence, and joy, may be separated from the "meet"ness for the inheritance of the saints in light;" but this cannot. They who despise spiritual blessings, and have an aversion to spiritual occupations and holy company, cannot be fit for the society and employment of heaven. The proud and ambitious, the luxurious, and dissipated, and covetous, the envious and malicious, could find nothing there suited to their disposition, or capable of affording them satisfaction. They are not only condemned, but they are also "vessels of wrath, fitted for de"struction." "Ye must be born again." But when, through this gracious change, we become capable of perceiving the glory, loving the excellency, and relishing the pleasure to be found in spiritual things: when spiritual blessings are supremely valued, spiritual exercises delighted in, religious society sought after: when sin is abhorred the world despised, Christ become precious, righteousness hungered and thirsted after; the humbling salvation of the gospel cordially approved and embraced, its holy precepts chosen, and the whole glory given unto the Lord: then we are evidently fitted for the society, worship, and employ→ ments of those holy spirits, who, with exalted love and gratitude, are giving glory to God and to the Lamb for ever.

2. But even of these very persons, who " have "been thus turned from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan unto God;" who "have