that the promise of a man of integrity is equal to his oath; the oath of God, then, is no better than his promise-none in the least-it cannot be more valuable. Why? Because infinite truth fills and pervades the promise,—and more than infinite truth cannot fill and pervade the oath. Why then is the oath taken, and why given to us? In infinite condescension to our weakness, because we are so prone to disbelieve him. Here is love! This is the love and condescension of a heavenly Father.

It is given in Jesus Christ. And here, two things are especially to be noticed. Christ is an infinite Person; the work of Christ is of infinite worth: what then is due to Christ? Eternity, in all its glory, is due to him, as the reward of infinite suffering here below. On whom is this reward to be conferred? On his family. It is, then, in justice to the Lord Jesus Christ, that all the blessings of salvation will be conferred on us for ever and ever.

Study this interesting subject; do justice to the purposes of the Almighty, and you will find nothing in them but what is friendly

to you-friendly to the whole human race. For the sin and misery of mankind flow from other

sources.

But now, this question forcibly presents itself to us, Are we the subjects of the grace of God? Have his purposes found us out? Have we found him out? He invites all who hear the gospel to return to him. Whatever difficulties and obstacles may be found,-let all sinners know, they inhabit themselves exclusively. Not one of them is to be found in the Deity! Do justice to the truth of God, and all who hear the gospel are welcome to return to him. On what ground? it may be asked. IN THE MERIT OF AN INFINITE ATONEMENT. And does, then, the atonement travel further than the elect people of God? Most assuredly it does. I defy the universe to disprove this truth-the atonement is a medium of moral government between God and all whom the gospel addresses; and all I contend for is this, that there is a special provision for the elect family of God; while, at the same time, all are primarily addressed as sin

ners.

Remember, too, the purposes, the covenant, the invitations, of God; and the responsibility of a sinner, are involved in each other: "Incline your ear and come unto me, hear and your soul shall live, and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, saith the Lord."

O thoughtless men! who tell us that the wants, only, of man, are provided for in his covenant. This is true, but more than this is true; the purposes, (and therefore the covenant,) of God in their provisions, were as fully intended to meet the responsibility, as the wants, of man. While I am speaking, may the Holy Spirit descend and teach the hearts of those who hear me, to prevent their blasphemously reasoning against the truth of God, and madly attempting, before they will consent to approach him, to fly back into eternity, to peruse their own names in the book of life, infinite ages before the birth of time,-that they may sink down into shame before the living God, and with the prayer of the publican in their hearts, and

1 Isa: lv. 3.

flowing from their lips, individually say, God be merciful to me, a sinner!

To you, then, who are conscious that you have chosen the Lord as your portion, and this, as you must see and feel, in consequence of his having chosen you, I would say, Live delightfully dependent, as pensioners, on his bounty:-you will find enemies enough within to contend with every day ;—your pride and selfimportance-enemies that follow the best hearers into their pews, preachers into their pulpits; enemies that will be at our heels, the very blood-hounds of hell-to the day of our death; but, mailed in the panoply of God himself, we are destined to fight against them, to triumph over them, and to trample them beneath our feet for ever and ever.

Amen.

SERMON III.

PSALM 51.7.

"PURGE ME WITH HYSSOP, AND I SHALL BE CLEAN: WASH ME, AND I SHALL BE WHITER THAN SNOW."

WE cannot be sufficiently grateful to a God of grace, who, in his providence, has handed down to us the history of David. It comprises the most interesting and valuable instruction we can possibly derive, and that, too, in a very short compass. It teaches us to live in ceaseless dread of ourselves.

My young friends,-you who are entering on a profession of religion, dread yourselves more