confequences of his own decifion, fays, "Woman, where are thine accufers? "Hath no man condemned thee?" O THOU that art heavy laden with the infupportable burden of thy fins, whither shouldft thou betake thyself, but to the presence of thy Saviour? Couldst thou chufe thine own refuge, to whom wouldst thou flee? Happy are they, who when convinced of their miferable depravity, can at once betake themselves to that Judge, who is their Advocate, their Redeemer, their Surety, their Ranfom, their Peace. In a state of fluctuation between hope and fear, the criminal expected her decifion-hope, in that her accusers were gone; fear, in that fhe knew what she had deferved at the hands of justice. As yet the law was not abrogated by the atonement of CHRIST. Had fentence paffed legally, He, who would not intrude on the office of others, would not have oppofed others in the execution of thofe righteous decrees, once delivered by himself. Now, under thefe unexpected circumstances, his heavenly mercy hath its perfect work. Not that he would palliate the enormity of guilt— not that he would blanch over this flagrant offence by a too gentle reprimand. But he who once faid, "Who made “me a ruler and divider among you?" faid also," Neither do I condemn thee.' He came, not to be an arbiter of civil caufes, nor a judge of criminal, but a Redeemer of mankind-he came, not to destroy the body, but to fave the foul. Such was his care toward this miferable offender-" Go, and fin no more." How can we fufficiently magnify thy goodness, O bleffed LORD, who, far from taking pleasure in the death of a finner, cameft fo to fave, that thou urgeft our unkindness for being miferable-" Why will ye die, O house of " Ifrael?" BUT BUT, O thou Son of God, though thou wouldst not then be a Judge, thou wilt bereafter be. In thy first coming thou wouldst not enter into judgment with thy fervants-at thy fecond advent, a world shall stand before thy tribunal. Thou shalt come in the glory of thy Father, with thy holy angels, and fhalt judge every man according to his works. That we may not hear thy terrible voice fpeaking unto us, "Go, ye curfed," let us now hear thy voice of mercy, "Go, AND SIN NO MORE." LXXXIV. LXXXIV. THE THANKFUL PENITENT. THE Pharifees were univerfally known to be the proud enemies of CHRIST-men intoxicated with their own fancied fuperiority-haughty and contemptuous toward others-fevere in their manners, but hypocrites in heartstrict fectaries, but perfons deftitute of true and vital religion. Yet even among these fome were found, exempt from the general cenfure of "defpifing the counfel of GOD against themfelves." They could not only boast of Nicodemus and Gamaliel as their own, but could furnifh another of their number, who was not fo far blinded by prejudice, as to be infenfible VOL. IV. F infenfible of the honour and happiness derived from the prefence of our Lord. THE Saviour of mankind knew no mean and partial diftinctions. Whether it were Pharifee or Publican who spake, his heart refused not their proffers of friendship and hofpitality. Thus did his wisdom and mercy induce him to be all things to all men, that he might fave the more. Thy harbinger, O bleffed JESUS, was rigid in manner and difpofition, profeffedly harfh and auftere-thine own demeanour was gentlenefs, and courtesy itself. Each character befitted him who bore it. John was a preacher of repentance-Thou, the great author of comfort and falvation. He prepared the heart for the reception of grace-thou didft freely and liberally impart it. And shall we not, after thine example, endeavour by all honeft means to win the fouls of mankind to thee? Shall we not strive to recover those from |