plorable wretchedness, and translated into a state inconceivably glorious and happy. They contemplate a creature of God undergoing the most blessed and important change. They see one, whom sin had enslaved, defaced, ruined; breaking its potent chains, recovering the lost image of his maker emerging from darkness and death into light and life. Can they view this interesting sight without emotion? Can they view a soul thus saved, and not be filled with joy? Men indeed too often repine at each other's happiness: for envy is deeply rooted in their evil hearts. But angels are incapable of experiencing this baneful passion. Their pure and benevolent natures cannot but feel delight at the extension of happiness. Is one sinner penitent? He is a brand plucked out of the fire. He is a being rescued from the jaws of everlasting death. He is another soul added to the number of those, who shall be blessed for evermore. there is joy on his account in the presence of the angels

of God.

Hence

But the repentance of a sinner is not only an increase of human felicity, it is an accession also to the divine glory. Every penitent sinner is not only a soul saved: but a soul saved through the love of the Father, the merits of the Son, and the agency of the Holy Ghost. Every penitent sinner is a fresh instance of the riches of divine grace, of the efficacy of Christ's blood and intercession, of the converting power of the spirit. The divine perfections no where appear so glorious as in the salvation of man. There the union of infinite mercy, justice, holiness and truth, illustriously appears. It was almighty wisdom only, that could have devised a plan, in which God can be just and yet the justifier of the sinner. Every sinner then, that repenteth, shews forth afresh the wisdom of this plan, and reflects new lustre on the glory of the godhead. Hence angels rejoice over him. They rejoice over him as calling forth their renewed admiration of the divine perfections. They rejoice over him as another subject added to the Redeemer's kingdom; another jewel inserted in his crown: another soul, who, rescued by his power and washed in his blood, shall sing his praises and share his glory for evermore.

What are the reflections, which this subject suggests?

If repentance be so important and glorious a work with what importunity should we seek of God this gift for ourselves, with what earnestness should we desire and labour to bring others to repentance! If angels rejoice over the penitent sinner, what joy should be felt by us over every sinner that repenteth! But is such, in this respect, the conduct, are such the feelings of men? Far from seeking repentance with an anxiety suited to its importance, they openly despise and ridicule the very idea of a total and abiding change within. Far from earnestly labouring to bring a fellow-sinner to repentance, they often exert their ingenuity and influence for the express purpose of hardening him in iniquity. Far from rejoicing over a sinner that repenteth, they frequently load him with reproaches, and brand him as the object of contempt and scorn: or, like the pharisees of old, quarrel with the riches of divine grace, and declaim against the gospel for offering mercy to one, whom, compared with themselves, they deem undeserving any favour. But if this representation be just (and we need only appeal to experience for the confirmation of it), what a striking proof is thus afforded of the corruption of the human heart, and of its natural enmity to God and holiness! How unlike are men to angels! How fallen and depraved! How destitute of those heavenly dispositions, which characterise the blessed spirits above, and lead them to rejoice in every thing, which increases human happiness and the divine glory! But be it remembered, my brethren, that without professing similar dispositions you can never be made meet for partaking the inheritance of the saints in light, for enjoying heaven and the society of angels. So long as you retain your carnal hearts, the mansions of unfading bliss themselves would to you become the regions of disgust and misery. Seek then of God that new heart, which he has promised to give to them that ask for it. Pray that you may repent that, considering your ways and convinced of your sins, you may return through the blood of Jesus, and the supply of his spirit, to your heavenly Father. Never will you learn cordially to rejoice 66 over a sinner that repenteth," till by your own repentance you have

yourselves occasioned joy in the presence of the angels of God.

If it be possible that you can require additional motives. to repentance, the text, as it has been unfolded, will amply furnish them. Contemplate the stupendous scene, which has been opened to your view. Behold the cloud of witnesses, with which you are encompassed. Behold the unnumbered millions of immortal spirits waiting in joyful expectation your return to duty, to God, to happiness. Shall they wait in vain? Shall they be prepared to raise their angelic voices, and to strike their golden harps in celebration of your deliverance, from the wretched captivity of sin and will you madly cleave to sin; prefer its dreadful bondage, and in obstinate impenitence rush. upon destruction? Shall Satan and his legions feel on your account a malignant pleasure, and insultingly triumph in your ruin; while angels might be rejoicing over you? Shall that soul which might be furnishing fresh matter for praise and joy throughout the realms of light, continue immersed in fleshly lusts, in sensual gratifications, in worldly pleasures and pursuits regardless of the high and glorious privileges, to which it is invited? God forbid, my brethren, that any of you should be so sunk, so lost! May that blessed Sprit, who only can "work in us to will and to do of his good pleasure," work in you true repentance unto life! By the effectual operations of his grace, may he enlighten your darkness, break the fetters with which you are bound, and constrain you henceforth no longer to live unto yourselves, but unto Him, who died for you and rose again!"

But lastly, and chiefly, let me apply the subject for consolation to those who stand most in need of consolation. Is there present one sinner that repenteth? He, in a pre-eminent degree, is deeply interested in the whole tenor of this discourse. Perhaps you have been awakened from a careless, and, as you now perceive, a sinful course. You are alarmed for your soul. You are greatly cast down at the number and the magnitude of your sins. But you have heard of Jesus, and of salvation through his name; and you are earnestly desirous of fleeing to him for refuge, and of being saved by his power and grace. This is your only hope. But many doubts and fears con

spire to discourage you. You are seeking Christ in every appointed way, in prayer, in his word, and in his ordinances. But you are apprehensive that he will not receive you. After all your endeavours, you experience no sensible comfort in your soul. The adversary accuses; your own conscience condemns; the world, far from pitying your state, so far as it knows your sufferings, derides them. You are ready to sink under the burden. But be of good cheer. Your prayers, your sighs, your tears, are not unnoticed. Jesus sees them all; and, while you are disposed to conclude yourself forgotten, is calling on the ten thousand times ten thousand angels, which surround his throne, to "rejoice with him, for he has found his sheep which was lost." Yes: in those very moments, when you are tempted to despair of mercy, heaven rings with peals of joy and gratitude on your account. Angels rejoice over you. The blessed Jesus himself rejoices over you. He sees in you the "travail of his soul and is satisfied" and though for a season he may hide his countenance from you; yet in due time the day-star shall arise in your heart; and you shall walk in the light of him, whom your soul loveth. Then shall your sorrow be turned into joy. Then shall you rejoice "with joy unspeakable and full of glory. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with them.”

SERMON XVII.

CONSOLATION TO THE AFFLICTED.

Who is among you that feareth the Lord, and obeyeth the voice of his servant; that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.-Isaiah 1. 10.

WHILE the holy scriptures denounce vengeance on every obstinate and impenitent sinner, they abound with the richest consolations to persons of an opposite character. It appears indeed to be one constant and leading

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object of the sacred writers not to "make the heart of the righteous sad," but to keep alive in them a cheering recollection of the important truth, that "the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations," as well reserve the unjust to the day of judgment to be punished." Hence it generally occurs, that in those passages, where divine wrath is proclaimed against incorrigible transgressors, some gracious promise, some encouraging exhortation is introduced for the comfort and support of the true servants of God.

The text affords an illustration of this remark. In the preceding verses Isaiah had been foretelling the awful judgments which God would assuredly inflict upon the Jews for their rejection, first of his prophets, and afterwards of his Son. 66 Lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up." But was the whole nation to be indiscriminately involved in destruction? No. There was a remnant, there always would be a remnant, distinguished by their piety and zeal: and to such persons the predicted vengeance did not attach. Though for a season they might appear to be involved in the general ruin, yet let them not be cast down, neither let them be afraid. The Lord "with the temptation would make a way of escape, that they might be able to bear it." Let this assurance comfort their hearts, and sustain their drooping spirits. Such is the purport of the consolatory address in the text: "Who is among you that feareth the Lord, and obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God."

But this consolatory address is not to be confined to the Jews, or to the times of Isaiah or of Christ. It is equally applicable to all nations and ages. The conso

lation to be derived from it belongs to every person, whose case accords with that described in the text. Every person among us, who "feareth the Lord and obeyeth the voice of his servant," may with confidence be exhorted under every affliction to "trust in the name of the Lord, and to stay upon his God." In making this extended use of the passage, I shall proceed,

I. To give a general statement of the case described, and of the consolation provided for it.