I.
1. If you are not Chrift's, what are your
hopes? Do you flatter yourself that the Scrip-

tures may prove not to be the word of infpi-
ration? Or do you affume the promises of
God as true, and regard his threatenings as
empty terrors? Or do you imagine that when
Chrift from his throne of judgement configns
to predicted punishment every other defpifer
of his gofpel, he will felect you as an excep-
tion; that he will diftinguifh you by unex-
ampled mercy, becaufe you have dared to
make his known difpofition to mercy a plea
to your confcience for habitual rebellion
against his laws? Behold the thin and hollow
ice, on which you propose to crofs the gulph
of everlasting deftruction! If you recoil
from the profpect, what are your purposes?
Are you defirous of falvation ?
willing to be taught of God, to be deli-
vered by him from the bondage of Satan, and
tranflated into the kingdom of his Son? Are
you willing to receive the gift of Salvation as
light after darknefs, as life from the dead?
Approach then with confidence the fountain
of living waters; and take and drink of them
freely. Approach to your Saviour, through
whom alone can man have accefs to the Father.
that are weary and heavy

Come unto me,

all ye

Are you

laden;

laden; and I will give you reft. Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wife caft out. To you is this invitation directed: to you is this promise addreffed. But, if you would come unto Chrift effectually ; come unto him faithfully. Come unto him with a furrender

of

your whole heart. Think not that it will be fufficient to abandon your groffer defilements. Think not that it is religion to pafs a tolerably decent life, diverfified with a regular fprinkling of religious obfervances. Will the grace of Chrift fhare a divided empire? Will the grace of Chrift vouchsafe to occupy thofe out-fkirts of the heart, which fin is content to relinquish, in order that it may enjoy in tranquillity the favourite spots which it has fenced off for itfelf? Is this to become a new man? Is this to be born again of the Spirit? Is this to crucify the flesh with the affections and lufts? Is this to be Chrift's? Is this to offer your whole fpirits, fouls, and bodies, a living facrifice unto the Lord? Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar. Ye have brought that which is torn, and the lame,

2

and the fick :

thus ye have brought an offering. Should I accept this of your hand; faith the Lord? Offer it now to thy governor. Will he be pleafed with thee, or accept thy perfon; faith the Lord of bofts? Curfed be the deceiver, which facrificeth

unto the Lord a corrupt thing. For I am a great King, faith the Lord of hofts: and my name is dreadful. I have no pleasure in you, faith the Lord of bofts: neither will Į accept an offering at your band (1).

2. If you are already a true Chriftian; fofter the good feed fown in your heart, that the divine planter may preferve it from being overwhelmed by furrounding tares, and may nourish it unto timely and plentiful maturity. Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jefus Chrift, Do you feel yourself difposed to be satisfied with your present attainments? And is not fufpicion, is not alarm awakened in your bofom? With any perfon whom you cordially love, you are day by day defirous of cultivating a more and more endearing intercourfe, a more and more intimate connection. When your heart is warmly engaged in any purfuit; you grudge the time which you are not able to devote to that object: you are zealous and anxious in pushing onward towards the attainment of it: you note with pleasure every degree of approach towards it: you are filled with regret if you difcover that during a period of fome length you have not made any perceptible advances. () Malachi, i. 7, 8. 10. 13, 14,

Why

Why is it not thus with your love to Christ? Why is it not thus with your pursuit of faith and holiness? Brethren, said St. Paul, I count not my felf to have apprehended falvation. But this one thing I do: This is my great and unceafing object forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Chrift Jefus (m). Are you farther advanced than the apoftle? Though he did not deem himfelf to have apprehended falvation falvation; do you prefume that you are fecure? If you disclaim the arrogant delufion; if, representing yourfelf for a moment as a fellow-traveller with that leadeth to life eter

you

the apoftle on the way nal, you behold him already at an immeafurable distance before you: Why is it that imitate not his humility, his ardour, his perfeverance? Why is it that, like unto him, you count not all things but lofs, that you may win Chrift; if that by any means you may attain unto the refurrection of the righteous (2)? The Holy Ghoft, the Comforter, from whom alone, through the merits of the Lord Jefus, every Chriftian grace is to be derived, withdraws not his countenance from you, limits not his bounty towards you.

(m) Philipp. iii. 13, 14. (n) Philipp. iii. 8. 11.

Has

Has he enabled you to bring forth fruit thirtyfold? He offers to enable you to bring forth fixty and an hundred fold. Ask; and you fball receive. What shall you ask? Ask that you may be enabled to give all diligence, to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, gadliness ; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity. Ask that you may give diligence to make your calling and election fure. For if you do these things you shall never fall. For fo an entrance fhall be miniftered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift (0).

(0) 2 Pet. i. 5—7. 10, 11.