"Lord, Lord open unto us;" but the answer will be, "I never knew you; depart ye cursed." Oh, how awful will it be to them to hear such words! They will then experience an exclusion the most dreadful, the most unavoidable, and the most determined. The joys of heaven they shall never behold, except to aggravate their misery. The countenance of God they shall never see, except to frown their souls away. The society of angels they shall never experience, except those who are fallen, to increase their torments by pouring eternal curses upon them for rejecting the "Holy One of God." to the souls of the wicked shall be plunged into hell, to associate with devils and damned spirits for ever. If a damned spirit could but use the words of the poet, Young, with any hope that they would be heard, it might yield some happiness. "Forbid it! and oh, grant, great God, at This one, this slender, almost no request :- No-your doom is fixed "With anguish, but too late, the hopeless Bound to the bottom of the burning pool, owns, He's justly doom'd to pour eternal groans; Enclos'd with horrors, and transfix d with pain, Rolling in vengeance, struggling with his To talk to fiery tempests; to implore What is mentioned here by Young, we believe is all true; but at the same time we believe it cannot take place until after the resurrection of the body, when both it and the soul will be united for ever in misery. Matter cannot directly affect spirit; therefore material fire cannot operate upon the soul, as far as we know. However, a condemned soul, departing from this world into a place of darkness, beclouded with a consciousness of irremissible guilt, to be shut out from the presence of God for ever, we conceive to be a punishment, which the utmost grasp of imagination cannot comprehend. But this is not all-eternal torments shall be their final portion. Some infidels would endeavour to do away with the belief of future punishments, by striving to prove the non-existence of the soul after death. Such an opinion as this is too blasphemous, because opposed to the word of God, and too futile, because opposed to reason, occupy our attention. However we make this one remark, to shew that it is quite reasonable to believe in the immortality of the soul. Although we cannot form a correct idea of the soul, inasmuch as it is spirit, nevertheless, it is evident from its constitution, (if we may be allowed the use of the term) that it must endure after the body ceases to exist; for all the different feelings that we have, do not exist in, nor directly affect the body, but the spirit. Pleasure, pain, anger, remorse, love, hatred, are so many passions, the principles of which exist in the soul, and only wait for suitable causes to call them into operation. Now, when we experience malice or revenge, or a consciousness of our own irremediable guilt, we feel miserable; we know this because it exists within us, but how we cannot tell; the body has no share in this, only so far as the soul acts upon it. What argument can be brought forward to shew, that this feeling of The immediate blessing resulting misery may not endure for ever, when from faith is, deliverance from condemthe soul experiences it without the in-nation. This presupposes conviction of fluence of the body? In sleep, when the animal functions become morally dead, the spirit awakes, and often experiences anguish to which it is a stranger when the body is awake. From this we see the possibility of the immortal soul suffering punishment. However the Scriptures declare, that Thirdly, Consider THE BLESSED erFECTS OF BELIEVING“ HE SHALL BE SAVED." sin; for "there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." The prisoner at the bar, charged, tried, convicted, and afterwards pardoned, is not so free from impunity as the sinner found guilty and forgiven by the Lord Jesus. The former is merely pardoned through mercy, without satisfaction being made for his sins, or given for his future preservation from punishment: but the latter has obtained a Surety who has suffered in his stead, and by whom his debt is discharged, his fetters broken off, and his captive soul set at liberty; so that he is not only acquitted, but stands justified before God; because, by believing, he is wrapped in the garment of the Redeemer's righteousness, which covers all his impurity. While his faith is in exercise upon Jesus, sin shall not have dominion over him. It is impossible for a pure fountain to send forth impure streams; or for a good tree to bring forth evil fruit. Faith is a living principle; and when implanted in the soul, it must spring up and produce effects corresponding to its nature. Christ has said, "Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him, shall never thirst; for the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water spring- | ing up into everlasting life." Faith implanted in a man's soul would so renovate his affections and pervade his soul, that his desires would ascend upwards, instead of being scattered upon the sublunary things of the world; his hopes would be placed upon heavenly objects, instead of those of a terrestrial nature; and all his powers would be engaged in the service of Jesus in opposition to the world, the flesh, and the devil; over which enemies, through faith in Jesus, he will come off victorious. "Old things are passed away, behold all things are made new." The Christian, waging war against his spiritual enemies, always comes off victorious; and as every warrior experiences a degree of pleasure in the triumph over his foe, so will the champion of king Jesus, who will come off more than conqueror: but his happiness will be different in description, far greater in degree, and more noble, because more permanent and truly glorious. He shall be saved from desponding fears, his doubts shall be removed, his corroding cares shall be abated, and all his sorrows shall be obliterated. The evil passions, that formerly raged like the tempestuous ocean, are stayed; and a calmness and serenity indescribable now glide over his mind; a heavenly placidness now fills his soul; and his heart is imbued with delightful and transporting joys. He shall be kept in perfect peace, whose mind, by faith, is stayed on Christ. God will be as the dew unto Israel; he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon ; his branch shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon." The Christian's happiness, therefore, does not consist in a mere excitation of the animal spirits; but in a holy joy imparted through faith unto the soul, which will guide the affections into their proper channel, through which the feelings will run to the most suitable and glorious objects. In proportion, then, as his faith becomes strong, in like manner shall his spiritual wisdom increase, as well as his happiness. He shall grow in the knowledge and love of God daily; he will be placed in circumstances in which his experience will have a different effect upon his mind than when living in sin; for now he will be saved from murmuring and repining; and he will be enabled to bear with patience the providential dealings of the Lord. While in this state of mind, as his experience increases, so will wisdom from above be imparted; he will have new desires occasioned by every disastrous circumstance; he will obtain by his afflictions an acquaintance with heavenly objects. Therefore it follows as a matter of course, that this wisdom, so obtained, will be greater in degree, as well as superior in description, to that which he could have, if not the subject of the salvation obtained by faith. To the believer shall the prophecy of David be found to be applicable, when it is fulfilled in his experience "The righteous shall flourish as the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing." A general diffusion of morality shall also be the result. "Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more; but they shall sit every man under his vine, and under his fig tree; and no man shall make them afraid." According as faith in Jesus shall spread, so shall this prophecy be fulfilled. Before the chariot of a preached Gospel shall infidelity hide its unblushing countenance; impurity and wickedness shall fly apace; and holiness and righteousness shall cover the face of the earth. What an encouragement is this to missionaries!-"the wilderness and solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, even with joy and singing; the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon: they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God." All this shall be the consequence of holiness. But there are still greater blessings. There is salvation from fear of death. I have endeavoured to describe the misery of those who at the hour of death believe not in Jesus; but language would fail me in endeavouring to depict the happiness of those who believe in Christ at such a period. The Christian may experience sickness -for God has not promised that he should be exempted from it--but he will be saved from desponding fears, and the afflictions will be made the means of spiritual good to his soul. His body may be the subject of excruciating pain; yet amidst the greatest pain God will enable him to cast his care upon him. Death may wave his iron sceptre before his mind, and in awful form he may appear before him, threatening his dissolution; but by faith the believer may smile at his impudent daring; and by the shield of faith he will be enabled to quench the last dart; and by the sword of the Spirit, the king of terrors shall be conquered. Holy raptures and extatic joys shall fill the souls of some, while a heavenly placidness shall bedew the mind of others; and as gently as the feathered wing glides along the air, and as quickly as the lightning flashes, yea, with far greater celerity, and with much more calmness, shall their souls pass into eternal joy and true felicity. "The wandering streams that shine between the hills, The grots that echo to the tinkling rills; The dying gales that pant upon the trees, The lakes that quiver to the curling breeze-" these give but a faint emblem of the departure of their spirits into glory. Thus here you may perceive, "Faith builds a bridge across the gulph of death, To break the shock blind nature cannot shun; And leads thought smoothly on the farther shore. Death's terror is the mountain faith removes; That mountain barrier between man and peace. 'Tis faith disarms destruction, and absolves From every clamorous charge the guiltless tomb." By faith the followers of Christ shall be saved from hell. Could I but convey you, my friends, to the abodes of the damned, could I open to your view the gates of hell, and present to your mind the anguish and misery of the souls therein confined-then, indeed you might have a right conception of what faith saves the people of God from. But from this, could I but convey you up to the realms of bliss, and let the glories of that unknown world burst upon your view, in silence you should remain, as being incapable of developing by any human effort the joys of that transcendently happy place: "For eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." We have before remarked-in opposition to the opinion respecting the possibility of the annihilation of the soul-that the different feelings possessed by it, without the influence of the body, argue the reasonable possibility of its eternal existence and what has been said concerning some spirits carrying the passions of hatred and revenge into another world, may be said concerning some spirits retaining the good principles infused into them by the Spirit of God, into that place of which revelation informs us. It is true, that the appearance of sensible objects makes a great impression upon the mind; and therefore it might be asked, How can those ideas or feelings be entertained in a world of spi rits, where no sensible objects are, be, as it were, swallowed up in the and no senses to be exercised. With-effulgence of his glory for ever and ever. out wishing to arrogate greater knowledge of that place, of which the wisest have but a poor conception, we state, that the impression made by the first appearance of tangible substance is very often, almost universally, altered according as we become acquainted with what?-not with the bodies, for it is admitted, that we are acquainted with them already-but with the spirits of individuals. For instance, when we converse together, it is not our bodies, but our spirits, that are engaged in communion with each other. It is true, that voice is the medium which conveys the thoughts of the soul, and therefore it may be said, What communion can there be between spirits in another world, inasmuch as the exercise of voice depends upon the formation of the lungs, which cease to exist along with the body? With respect to this we can only remark, that that Almighty Being who is the Father of our spirits, can, and will, according to his word, ordain a medium of communication between the souls of the righteous, until that day when glorified bodies will be attached to their immortal souls in glory everlasting. When there is a similarity in the thoughts and conceptions, the desires and hopes of those spirits, immediately they become united, or a reciprocal attachment is formed between them; and they are therefore designated, kindred spirits. It is on this principle that the wicked and the righteous are not here, and cannot be hereafter, in unison; it is on this principle that angels are united; it is on this principle that the spirits of the followers of Jesus are, as it were, cemented together; and upon this principle they will be joined in the closest fellowship in eternal glory. Jesus is the magnet of attraction to which all the spirits of those to whom faith is imparted must tend; he is the centre of the Christian system, around which all his people shall revolve, as the planets around the sun; with this difference, that while they remain in the same orbits, the people of God in their revolutions tend nearer and nearer to Christ, and so will continue to do, until the day when they shall What a glorious salvation is this wrought out by Jesus and imparted through faith, by which we are rescued not only from sin and hell, but brought to eternal happiness! Oh glorious hope! Oh transporting prospect! There we shall meet our fellow-travellers to Zion. There we shall be surrounded with an innumerable company of angels, and shall see Jesus as he is. Then shall The favoured of their Judge in triumph move To take possession of their thrones above, I My hearers, being aware that there are before us two descriptions of characters, the believer and the unbeliever, I must deal faithfully with both, by declaring the whole counsel of God, compromising nothing, but giving to each their portion in due season. therefore cannot say to the impenitent, the indifferent, the prayerless sinner, that these blessings of which we have been speaking shall be yours, while in your present state you remain. I must rather say, boldly and fearlessly, in the language of Christ, "Unless ye believe ye shall all likewise perish." But my words must be quite different to the believer; they are, Ye shall be saved, and be made the partakers of the joys which we have been laying before you. There are two descriptions of soilthe barren and the fruitful. The seed is sown on both, the rain descends on both; but the barren soil receives not the seed except on the surface; it therefore springs not up, and consequently produces no fruit: whereas the fruitful ground receives the seed, and by the powerful influence of the sun, and the fructifying power of the rain, it takes deep root and springs up, casting its blossoms and fruits and fragrance all around. Thus it is with many who : hear the Gospel some hear it in vain, | they receive not the ingrafted word which is able to save their souls. The sound of the word falls upon the ear; they may receive it on the understanding, but not in the heart. Ah, my friends, there is a vast difference between having a theoretical knowledge of salvation and having the love of Jesus in the heart. It will not do in the last day to say, "Lord, Lord, open unto us; for we have heard thy Gospel, we have understood the plan of salvation-yea, we have even prophesied in thy name." All this will not those who believe not with the heart unto righteousness shall be do; damned. But blessed be God, while there are, alas, some of this last description, there are many who receive the truth in the love of it. They hear the Gospel with joy, because it is the power of God unto their salvation. They feed upon it, and find it the joy and rejoicing of their souls. The Gospel to them is like an effectual growing tree; it strikes its roots deep into the heart; by | by which you may be saved; the consequence of not having faith; and the blessed effects of believing. Allow me to ask you, Are you yet decided either to flee to Christ that you may be saved, or to remain without faith that you may be damned? Startle not-for Jesus has said, "He that believeth shall be saved, and he that believeth not shall be damned." A Sermon DELIVERED BY THE REV. ISAAC SAUNDERS, A. M. AT ST. ANN'S CHURCH, BLACKFRIARS, SUNDAY, JAN. 2, 1831. Matthew, xxvi. 41.-" Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.” THE passing away of one year, and the coming in of another, however they may be regarded by the world only with merriment and sport, are solemn events in the eye of those who know the value of immortal souls. How many, my dear friends, both of old and young, since this day last year, have passed out of time into eternity, whose doom is for ever fixed in everlasting joy or unutterable woe! The arrival of the first sabbath evening of the new year I hail with pleasure, because it presents the younger part of my flock to my view in a particular manner; and I desire, my young friends, to address you this night, upon those things which are infinitely important to you, so that you may hear while it is called to-day-that if you this night be not among the num ber of those who fear not God, another year may not pass away, until it witnesseth you gathered home to the flock of God; and that if you be already brought home by God's grace and mercy, you may go on your way re joicing. But O, I pray, and surely every Christian will join with me in the petition, that the words that are spoken in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to this assembly of immortal souls, and especially to the young that are amongst them, may not be spoken in vain. There is ground for our faith that this prayer should be answered. It is God's own promise that his word shall not return to him void. We gain so little because we believe so little we have so little because we ask so little we have so few prayers. answered because we ask amiss. May |