to look beyond the valley of the shadow of death, to look across that Jordan which we all must pass, and see, by faith, the inviolable peace, the smiling fertility, the verdure, the sunshine, and the glory, of the heavenly Canaan? If so, we are born from above-we have the mind of Christ-and if we are faithful unto death, we shall receive a crown of life. If not-if we have not that faith which purifies the heart, and works by love-if we do not, at least, hunger and thirst after the righteousness I have described; we are not, according to the plainest meaning of the Scriptures, in a state of salvation. But the door is always open. Let us, this day, repent of all our sins, and believe the Gospel; and "behold! now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation." To conclude. None of you, my brethren, (if there be any such here,) who feel unconcerned in these matters, can form any conception of the painful anxiety, which ministers often experience, when they address a congregation of professing Christians. We seem to ourselves, as if we beheld many of you scattered upon the hills, like sheep that have no shepherd. We see you toiling for happiness; and we see the cup of living water near your lips, while you dash it from you, and say, "Am I not in sport?" Like one who stands on some lofty summit which overlooks the ocean, we see the haven of eternal rest, opening her calm bosom, to receive you; while many of you are steering off, that you may plough the dark waves of this troublesome world—that you may navigate a sea that knows no bounds, till you strike upon some hidden rock, and then go down, and render all our lights and signals vain, and leave our warnings and invitations to float upon the winds of heaven. In such a spirit of deep anxiety, with many tears and prayers, we would beseech all that are unconverted to God, now to turn unto him, and live. We would pray you, in Christ's stead, to be reconciled to God. We trust that we can say, with the apostle, We also believe, and therefore speak." Will you, then, receive our witness? Will you believe the testimony of God himself? Will you take part with those, whom God has covenanted to pardon, to save, and to make a blessing for ever? Will you cause the angels in heaven to rejoice over a sinner that repenteth? Will you make a holyday in heaven, and put a new song into the mouths of the blessed, and cause them to tune their harps, that they may sing, for you, the triumphs of redeeming love? 66 May these affecting motives, these animating considerations, reach your hearts, and gently force a passage to the seat of conscience, and touch the springs of life and immortality, within you! And Ꮓ |