"Eternity thou couldst not but perceive. "Because, puffed up with ignorance, which "thou calledft Philofophy; immersed in "defilements, which thou wert refolute not

to abandon; or living only to cares and "trifles confeffedly pertaining but to thy "mortal existence; thou blindedft thy mind, pervertedft thy heart, refufedft to

enquire, to liften, to obey: doft thou hope to escape My promulgated fentence, directed to men fo endowed, fo ftationed, fo warned, fo invited, as thou wert; He that believeth not, shall be “damned (a) ?" What could Presumption reply? What could Charity suggest?

The Pharifees difdained to apply to our Lord for pardon and juftification, because they were felf-righteous. They boasted that they had fcrupuloufly obferved the commandments of God. They valued themselves on their ideal merits. They fuppofed themselves to be whole; and confequently to have no need of a physician. They perceived not that they were fick unto death; that their heart was full of corruption; that they were proud, worldlyminded, envious, impure, in every respect unholy.. Numbers who denominate them(a) Mark, xvi. 16.

felves Chriftians in principle, resemble the contemptuous Pharifee. They cherish high opinions of themfelves. their fouls before God.

They humble not Outwardly decent

in their conduct, and not inattentive to the externals of religion; they prefume that they are fubftantially righteous, and perhaps defpife others. Their hearts, in the mean time, are set upon their idols; upon wealth, or power, or confequence, or pleafure, or praise. Of the depravity of human nature, of the heinous guilt of fin as an offence againft God, of the need in which they ftand of a Saviour who can bestow upon them forgiveness and fanctification; they have a very inadequate and feeble conception. Their love of Chrift is cold; their gratitude to him languid. With their lips they acknowledge that through Him alone they expect falvation. But fo far are they from difcerning that their falvation, if they are faved, will be wholly owing to his grace; and that their own best works, when tried by the pure and Spiritual Law of God, will be found defective and finful: that they look for an inheritance in heaven chiefly through the affumed merit of their own works ; and deem themfelves dependent upon a Saviour

1

only

only for a little affiftance to make up for their imperfections.

Others are prevented from throwing themselves at the foot of the cross by the care of the world. Religion feldom enters into their thoughts, and when it croffes their minds, is fpeedily expelled by bufinefs. They are inceffantly employed in the improvement of their land; or in the conduct of their merchandize; or in the fuperintendence of their manufactories; or in the management of their shops; or in the concerns of fome lucrative profeffion. Morning finds them eager to begin their daily occupation. Evening difmiffes them weary with the labour and bustle of to-day, and meditating on plans of fimilar employment for to-morrow. Year after year rolls on, and beholds them in the fame track. If you mention religion to them, they reply that they have no time for it; that every hour has its engagement; that they must provide for their families; that they must adhere closely to their business. They remark farther, that induftry is commanded in the New Teftament: that honefty is one of the principal virtues: that they are industrious and honest: that, as to public worship, they attend their church once in a

day

day when they have opportunity: that for books and study they have no leisure ; and that, when they can contrive to secure an interval from the hurry and toil of bufinefs, they have a right to unbend and enjoy themselves, and are not to be called to account for indulging in a little pleasure.

Others come not unto Chrift that they might have life, because they are fast bound in the chains of criminal practice. They are fenfualifts, or unchafte, or profane, or fraudulent, or rapacious. Their underftandings are blinded, their hearts are hardened, by the deceitfulness of Sin. They mind the things of the flesh: therefore they come not unto Chrift. For the carnal mind is enmity with God. They defpife or deride the method of falvation revealed in the Scriptures. For the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him. They turn with fecret averfion from the purity of the Gofpel and the strictness of its Laws. They hate the light; neither come they unto the light, left their deeds fhould be reproved, because they are evil. They wink with their eyes left they fhould fee, and fhut their ears left they fhould hear. They

take

take wickedness for their portion, and this world for their hope.

With fome youth is the impediment. The morning of life fhines bright, and portends a glowing noon. It will be long, very long, before the twilight of evening draws nigh. "I purpose to be a votary "of religion. I am perfuaded that even "at present I am not far from her paths. "But why this hurry? May I not for a "feafon join my contemporaries in their "amusements? Be affured that I will al

ways bear religion in mind, and in "due time will devote myself to her entirely." Thou foreseeft not the gathering mifts of fin, nor the intervening

cloud of death!

With others age is the obftacle.

"It is

now too late to change. My mind is "fettled. My fentiments have long been "decided. Am I to believe that to this

period I have lived in ignorance? Do you "fend me back as a child, to rudiments? Do

you bid me unrip the texture which my "life has been occupied in weaving? Do

you bid me undermine the foundation on "which my hope has hitherto been fuf"tained?" The inertnefs of declining

years