regard by some, complete indifference by others, and utterly contemned by the worldling, the deist, and the infidel; words which are actually of equal | importance with any that ever were uttered, even by God himself, inasmuch as upon the reception or rejection of them pends, and shall most assuredly be fixed, our eternal destiny. It is astonishing to behold some individuals listening to these words of Christ, without the least degree of concern; when they should remember, that they are of vital, yea, of everlasting importance. Hear it, then, ye stout hearted, that are far from righteousness; and remember, that, unless you are made experimentally acquainted with the faith here spoken of, into heaven you can never, never, be admitted. Consider, First, THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DECLARATION. The declaration is important, and should be listened to with the greatest attention, because of the character of the Being who has given it. He is God; consequently he has power to perform what he has said. The words of an individual are esteemed important according to the character he may sustain among his fellow-creatures, the station he may hold in society, or according to the influence or power he may possess. For instance, the word of a poor man is not reckoned of great importance, especially by those placed in more affluent circumstances. When the word of a creditable personage is given, no matter with what circumstances it may be connected, or what may be the consequence, it is looked upon as binding, and on it we place implicit confidence. But when we raise our view in the scale of rank or fortune, the veracity of the person becomes still more binding. The sentence proceeding from the Judge, appointed by the civil authority, is expected to be fulfilled; the decree emanating from the Governor of the land is of still greater consequence; but the laws, counsels, and declarations, sanctioned by, or proceeding from the King, are of undoubted authority, in consequence of the power which he possesses to carry into effect his determinations. However, while we speak so confidently, it must be remembered, that it | is in a moral point of view we speak ; for it often happens, that in consequence of earthly beings not having restraining or unlimited power, their firmest resolutions and greatest deter-minations may be restricted or baffled altogether. It is not so with the Being who has pronounced this declaration; he is the King of kings, and Lord of lords; he is the Omnipotent Jehovah, before whom all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? These words are important, because none can escape his scrutiny, as he is an Allwise and Omnipotent Being.—If we follow the same chain of reasoning here, we shall find this assertion is equally true. Supposing a prince issued a proclamation to his rebellious and treacherous subjects, by whom the destruction of his kingdom had been threatened, his government despised, and his laws rejected, stating, that if they would submit to his authority, he would pardon their past rebellion, and receive them again into his kingdom. If, though some of them complied and accorded with his proposal, nevertheless the majority of them hated their sovereign, and endeavoured to undermine his government, yet strove to act in such a manner as to prevent suspicion, there is a great possibility that the prince might be ignorant of the very individuals, who were thus seeking to sap the foundation of the constitution. In this respect, too, God must have the preeminence his eyes are open to all our ways; he is present every where; he understands our thoughts afar off; he will bring every work into judgment, with every secrct thought; for "there is not a word in my tongue; but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether." Our hearts are open before him; neither is there in any creature that is not manifest in his sight; but all things. are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do: even hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering. And at the last and awful day, when the secrets of all hearts shall be revealed, none will be able to escape his scru tiny; he will then, as well as now, discriminate between the believer and the unbeliever. The declaration remains unchangeable for ever, as he is a Being who possesses the attribute of truth. Here, again, for illustration, we adopt the same method of comparison. Sometimes it occurs, that, when a sentence has issued from a temporal judge, or a decree from an earthly prince, it may, in course of time, be altered, or even annihilated. But it is not so with a declaration coming from the God of heaven; for as God he is perfectly holy; and as he is holy, the words emanating from his mouth remain the same, immutable for ever. The laws of nature have been and shall be altered. The fountains of the great deep have been broken up-the flood. gates of heaven were clift asunderthe sun has been made to stand still upon Gibeon, and the moon in the valley of Ajalon-iron has been made to swim-fire has been made to lose its power to burn-the spirits of the departed have been called from the invisible world—and the dead have been raised from their graves! Time shall pass away as a tale that is told the stars shall fall from their orbits the moon shall become as blood-the glorious sun shall be dissolved-the extended canopy of heaven shall be rolled together as a scroll, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat. But the words of our text can never be altered: "for God is not a man that he should lie; neither the son of man that he should repent; hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" Well then, if ever words were of paramount importance, it must be these spoken by Christ himself; as with them are connected our eternal misery or happiness. Hoping, therefore, that you are about to listen for eternity, and under the persuasion that it behoves you to place implicit confidence in the words of the text, we shall proceed in the next place to explain THE GROUNDS ON WHICH SIN NERS ARE TO BE SAVED. When our Lord gave his disciples the commission to go into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature, he did not say, that all those who should hear would be saved, but 325 on the contrary, only those who should Faith in Christ is necessary to salvation. But what does this faith imply? Not merely an assent to all that God may have revealed concerning himself, his attributes, and the functions of these attributes as displayed throughout the mighty universe; opinion which we may entertain respecting ourselves as sinners, and our consequent deserts; nor even a mere persuasion of the mind, that Christ is nor an the Saviour of sinners: all this might to be the Redeemer of mankind. Anbe the result of the exercise of right drew, who was afterwards an Apostle, reason and inquiry. That faith which told his brother Simon, "We have alone is the operation of the Holy found the Messias," or the Christ; Ghost, is a principle granted to, and which shews that he was recognised as established in the heart, which leads such by his disciples; and also indito a reliance upon, and a fixed confi- | cates, that all his followers are to dence in Christ Jesus, as the everlast- believe the same. He had been proing God, and consequently as the promised Messiah, and the only and all sufficient Saviour of sinners. The Unitarian would do away with the divinity of Christ by torturing the word of God, and teach that he was a mere man but may they rest in silence while you give ear to the Sacred Scriptures, which they pretend to beieve. The Scriptures declare, that he was in the bosom of the Father, "the brightness of his glory and the express image of his person, who upholdeth all things by the word of his power"that "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself"-" that he was God," and that "in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." "Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulders; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace." When the Heralds of salvation went forth from the mount in Palestine to preach the Gospel, the whole world, comparatively speaking, was "lying in the wicked one;" few believed in the existence of a God, and fewer still believed in Jehovah the God of the Jews. How difficult, then, would it appear, to bring men to believe that Jesus was the true God. However strange this might appear to their minds-much approved as it might be to their preconceived opinions-detrimental, as it certainly would be, to their erroneous ceremonies and sinful practices and injurious as it might be to their personal interests; yet, believe it they should; for faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as God, is the requisition of Jehovah. But it is not enough to believe that he is God-" the devils believe and tremble"- -we must also recollect the character he sustains for his people, and which it is necessary to believe, in order to be saved. Christ is the promised Messiah, which signifies, annointed, or set apart by the will of God mised long before; and when the ful- In Baptism is mentioned in the text as necessary. Baptism is an ordinance much disputed by Christians, and concerning which many erroneous opinions have been entertained, as highly disgraceful to the disputants as they are detrimental to the religion of Christ. Some maintain that it is not at all necessary, inasmuch as it was a mere ceremony or Jewish rite, which Christ came to abolish; while others contend that it is the same as, or that it actually is regeneration; sentiments which, as they are unscriptural, are greatly calculated to lead souls astray. However, the most scriptural opinion is, that it is only a symbol of an internal purification from sin, intended "" to show, that, as water purifies and refreshes the body, so would the Spirit of God, when received, purify and refresh our souls. There are two reasons which shew that it is right that it should be observed. First, in consequence of its being a command. "If you love me," says Christ, "keep my commandments.' This is a commandment; therefore it should be observed. But some say, If this is a command, why not obey another which he has given, and also shown an example to imitate, namely, to wash one another's feet? In answer to this, we say, the simple reason is, because it is evident, that he did not mean that it should be practised universally or continually. It was customary for the inhabitants of Palestine to do so, as an act of hospitality; and it was necessary, as they wore sandals in that very warm country. We find not the Apostles ever observing it; and it is plain that our Lord only meant to teach by such an act, the importance of humility. But baptism is an express command, to which we find the Apostles and Christians in every age attending. Secondly, we testify our faith by baptism. What the Apostle Paul said concerning the Last Supper, we conceive to be equally applicable to this ordinance. "For as oft as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come." We are to be as a "city set on a hill," and as "a light in a dark place." If we confess Christ before men, he will own us before his Father who is in heaven. We therefore should not be ashamed of him, knowing that if we are, he will be ashamed of us before his Father and the holy angels. Here we may also notice an objection to the time in which baptism is generally observed. It is said, by some good and well meaning persons certainly, that, in consequence of infants not being able to testify faith in Christ, therefore they should not be baptized; and because it is not said, "He that is bap. tized and believes," but, " he that believes first, and then is baptized, shall be saved," therefore they have no right to that ordinance. Now in reply to this, we say, that inasmuch as the children of the Jews were inaugurated into the Jewish Church by the rite of circumcision, and as Christ has said, "Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not," therefore we think, that Christ condemns not, but approves and sanctions, the ordinance of baptism to be administered to the children of all true believers. But oh, how awfully deluded are those poor dupes of monkish superstition, who are led to believe that water baptism applied to their dying children, will be a sufficient salvo against the fire of hell, as if the blood of Christ was not sufficient. Dreadful delusion! to imagine that the mere sprinkling of water upon the body, which is matter, could have any virtue upon the soul, which is spirit. A sentiment so abominable and so pernicious to immortal souls, no language can be chosen sufficiently strong to deprecate. Secondly, let us consider, THE AW FUL CONSEQUENCE OF NOT BELIEVING. Although our believing is the consequence of being in bondage in sin; nevertheless it is also clearly evident, that, because we do not believe therefore we remain in sin. "Without faith it is impossible to please God." Our nature is corrupt; we are in bondage to Satan; our souls are enslaved by the chains of sin, and we are blinded by the God of this world. In fact, we are, as the Scripture says, by nature, earthly, sensual, devilish." The eyes are continually seeking some new object of temptation. The sounds of hilarity and sinful festivity play well upon the ears; they listen with delight to awful imprecations, or the most filthy conversation; while the tongue in willing response reverberates corresponding language. The feet of the wicked, as the Psalmist says, are "swift to shed blood," and "Satan finds some mischief still, Now in this state they will continue, until by faith they view Jesus as their Saviour; and till then it is impossible for them to be happy. Guilt and misery of mind arise from this condition. Men may talk of pleasure, and picture to themselves future happiness; but strangers they are to true enjoyment or to substantial felicity. They may endeavour to steel their consciences against all conviction; but still the frightful phantom of their own gloomy imaginations haunts them. of this, where infidelity has spread its chilling and desolating blasts, and not only swept away, but almost annihi❘lated every fair and blooming flower, that once flourished there under the bedewing influence of heaven. The throne, his kingdom cast to the ground, Son of God is displaced from his led under foot, by the proud sons of and his doctrines and precepts trampDeism and Infidelity. What then is the result? why immorality has spread in proportion as the belief of the Gospel has been rejected; and condemnation and despair must be fixed on the minds of all those who will not by faith look to Jesus, as the God, the Saviour, the Redeemer of sinners. Temporal punishment in this life is also the result. Wherever the Gospel of Christ is received in the love of it, there will be stability of principle and an inculcation of purity of morals: We now come to speak of that which where it is absent, there will be, in a will be the ultimate consequence of less or greater degree, an entire want not believing in Christ. "He that of its holy effects. We say, there- believeth not shall be damned." We fore, that wherever this takes place, have already said, that the veracity there will follow temporal punishment. of the Being who has pronounced these Sickness in many instances is brought words renders them of the greatest on by intemperance, poverty by extra-importance. This word which is here vagance, and degradation, confine- rendered damned," signifies conment, and even death, by want of demned. The individual who believes moral principle. These evils certainly not in the only Saviour shall be conproceed from the sinful heart; but in-demned, not only at the judgment seat asmuch as the belief of the truth would of Christ, but at all times he shall be lead to the abolition of these evils, in a state of condemnation. "He therefore they are the consequences of that believeth not is condemned alnot believing in Jesus. Ask the cri- ready, because he hath not believed in minal at the place of execution, when the name of the only begotten Son of or how did he commence his wicked God." What is more awful than the life; and, it is probable, his answer stings of a guilty conscience? a conwill be, the neglect of the sabbath, or sciousness of being condemned alin the rejection of the Gospel of Christ. ready? Witness the dying bed of an Our not believing will have an evil infidel, and what an awful picture is effect upon society at large. Were we presented to your view! Hear him to confine our views to home, we pouring forth blasphemies against the might witness proofs enough of this Son of God, declaring himself to be a assertion, in the demoralized state of devil incarnate, that there is a hell those, who, although they have a name within him, his eyes starting from to live, yet are actually living (in the their sockets, foaming at his mouth, midst of privileges) without God in the twisting upon his bed, and longing world. But when we extend our menfor devils to drag his soul away. All tal vision to those places where there this has been witnessed in the chamis no profession of Christianity, we ber of the infidel: this was the end of shall find them still more debased. a Paine and an Altamont. Look at Jerusalem at the present day, where the pure and glorious Gospel was first preached. That place, which was once esteemed as the " Garden of the Lord," is now become, in a moral point of view, a den of wild beasts, where not only unbelief, but bloodshed and cruelty as its results have prevailed. Behold the Continent in proof "Beings of yesterday, and not to-morrow, Who lived in terror, and in pangs expired." But what will be the final doom of all those who will not believe in Christ? No matter whether they have made an outward profession or not, think it not strange when I tell you, that into heaven they can never enter. Many will come in the last day, and say, |