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Sleep not on the precipice of danger. Heaven calls. Hell threatens. Death advances. The Saviour speaks: "Behold I come quickly, and my reward is with nie, to give to every man as his work shall be.* And the Spirit and the bride say come, and let him that is athirst come, and whosoever will let him take of the water of life freely."+

PREPARATION FOR ETERNITY. LET us now enquire, In what preparation for a better world consists? Do you know then, O reader," that it is not by works of righteousness which we can do?" This may seem a strange expression, but it is the language of scripture, and is worthy of your particular notice. If you ask, "Why not saved by my own works?”—the reason is obvious. By the fall, man lost his original righteousness, and became subject to moral inability. His powers are now all so contaminated by sin, and his

*Heb. iii. 11.

+ Rev. xxii. 17. Titus iii. 5.

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nature so depraved, that he cannot satisfy the claims of divine justice, expiate his past transgressions, or remove the curse pronounced on him as a sinner. Now, to be saved by our own works, our motives must be absolutely pure and unmixed; our hearts must be divested of all corruption; our obedience must be complete, universal, and perpetual. The law requires perfection. It condemns all deviation in thought, word, or deed. If we offend in one point, we are guilty of all. "Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them."* Can you then say, that you have never offended? Supposing even that you have not been openly vicious, and that your character has been respected among men, can you say you have never felt any evil thoughts; never been led by irregular passions; never uttered an unguarded word, and that, from the first moment since you began to reason, you have never had any thing in view but the glory of God? Alas!-No. "For we have all sinned, and come short of the glory of God." But could you this moment be trans

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formed into an angel, and rendered a perfect being, yet that perfection would not atone for past sins. Perfect obedience is a debt due to God, and relates only to the time wherein it is performed, and cannot satisfy for former sins. You stand condemned then by the law. Justice requires satisfaction. You have nothing to pay; and therefore, without a ransom, without a mediator, you must perish. That this is the doctrine of the scriptures, you will clearly see, if you consult the following passages." All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags: and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. All we, like sheep, have gone astray. Without me ye can do nothing. Knowing, that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law; for by the law shall no flesh be justified. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid! For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a trans

gressor; for I, through the law, am dead to the law, that I might live unto God."*

own.

The preparation some boast of then, is delusive. It is mere ignorance of the truth, and confidence in a supposed righteousness of their Nor are they less deceived who wish to join their imaginary merit to that of the Sa viour's; for the fact is, man is utterly unable to recover himself, to atone for his guilt, to change his own heart, and, by his own righteousness, prepare himself for heaven. How is it then that man can be saved? This is the great question we shall attempt now to answer. When the jailor at Philippi made this important enquiry, the reply given him was this, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” This, then, reader, is the only preparation for eternity. It is by faith in him only that we can be justified. "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me. There is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be

*Isa. lxiv. 6. Ibid. liii. 6. John xv. 5.
2 Gal. 16 to 19.

saved. He is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. He hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us. He was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world: he that believeth on him shall be saved; therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ."* These scriptures evidently show the way in which we are accepted of God; that salvation is not by works, but by grace; that the righteousness of Christ is imputed to believers; and that it is through his merit alone they can obtain everlasting life, "There is therefore then," says the apostle, 66 no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth -who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather that is risen again, who is even

* Acts xvi. 17. Acts iv. 12. Rom. x. 4.

Rom. iv. 25. John i. 29.

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