Christ, who is the subject of the Scriptures, the sum and substance of his ministry; or who does not view the Bible as the unerring test of truth, and never-failing fountain of light and life. Faithful ministers speak in the name of the Lord; for they are chosen vessels, and they go their ways to bear his name unto the Gentiles. The authority of Heaven is stamped upon all they say, when they speak, as led by the Spirit of truth into the truth contained in the Bible. They speak to sinners in the name of the Lord also, because they address them in a firm dependence on his Spirit. This Spirit shall direct them in their studies, shall give the enjoyment of the gospel in their own souls, and shall animate their hearts, by taking of the things of Jesus, and showing them unto them. This Spirit they depend on for illumination, for power, and for success; and if they have so Divine a teacher, and derive help from so blessed and exalted a source, do they not speak in the name of the Lord? Because God pours out his Spirit upon them, therefore it is that they prophesy; and because the power of the Highest overshadows them, their words are often

quick and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the joints and marrow;" their tongues are like the pens of ready writers; and their own souls rejoice within them, when they testify the glorious majesty of Jesus' kingdom.

Do they not speak in the name of the Lord, lastly, since they preach in the hope of promoting his glory?

From a sincere desire to honor him, they ought ever to dispense his glorious gospel; nor have we any reason to think that a man preaches in the

name of the Lord, who preaches himself, and not Jesus Christ. If the motives of the company of preachers are right ones, they are to glorify God by debasing the sinner, exalting the Saviour, and aiming to promote holiness of heart and life. If these are their aims, brethren, they speak to you in the name of the Most High God. And well may they ask, "Who is sufficient for these things?" The faithful ministers of Christ can say, "We are not as many who corrupt the word, but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, so speak we in Christ." It is a work that might fill the heart of an angel, and has occupied the hands of the Saviour. When I consider what it is to speak in the name of the Lord, I tremble for myself, I tremble for my brethren, but, most of all, I tremble for those time-servers, who love the praise of men more than the praise of God, and do not "commend themselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God."

Having endeavoured, then, to show you that the ministers of the gospel, like Jeremiah, speak to sinners in the name of the Lord; I would now,

II. Point out the unpleasant reception with which their message often meets. Their hearers say to them, "As for the word which thou hast spoken to us in the name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee."

We hope that there are but few who would plainly say this in words; who are so hardened as to glory in their shame; or so incorrigible as to tell God's ministers that they cast his words behind their back, as unworthy of attention, and beneath their notice: yet we are persuaded, that there are many professors who say this in their

hearts, and who will not see when the hand of God is lifted up: for if this were not the case, would ministers so often have to lament over them, saying, "O that they were wise ;" and, "O that there were such a heart in them, to keep his commandments and do them?" To show that there are many, who in their hearts say, "As for the word that thou hast spoken to us in the name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee," let us inquire, whether mankind, in general, hear the word of God attentively, believingly, and obediently.

Many there are, who seem to say, We will not hearken unto thee attentively. God has written to these characters the great things of his law, and they account them strange things; hence his ministers have to address "a disobedient and gainsaying people." Are there not some of you who never think of engaging the powers of your mind to hear the word of God; who think his service long and tiresome, and say, "When will the Sabbath be over, that we may set forth wheat;" who think so lightly of God's ordinances, as to come in late, and disturb the worship of others; or who, as if you wished us to believe that you have no couch at home, make God's house of prayer a place of repose, and the time of worship an opportunity to indulge in sleep? Careless hearers, then, all say, "We will not hearken unto thee." And O, how few are there that will hear believingly! The word does not profit, "not being mixed with faith in them that hear it ;" men often " reject the counsel of God against themselves," and disbelieve the record that God has given of his Son. Their conduct shows that they believe not in the name of the only-begotten Son of God. There are

many hearers of the gospel who view the atonement of Christ as unnecessary, the evil of sin as greatly exaggerated, the influences of the Spirit as nothing but enthusiasm, and the doctrines of origi nal sin and imputed righteousness as cunninglydevised fables. To such we would say, "O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!" Jesus Christ is set forth crucified among you; but "this is your condemnation, that light is come into the world, but you love darkness rather than light, because your deeds are evil." Nor will they hear obediently. For there are many who profess to admire the truths of the gospel, but do not the things which his servants say: their temper is not reformed; they are as idolatrously covetous as ever; not one single alteration is produced in them by the gospel. God says to one of "And lo, thou art

his ministers concerning them, unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument; for they hear thy words, but they do them not with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness." Thus, they do not hear, so that their souls may live; and their minister is obliged to say to them, "I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed on you labor in vain ;" and he is confirmed in his suspicions, by their rooted self-righteousness and unabated love of the world.

They really seem to have formed the resolution contained in my text, and to say, "We will not hear thee." They have "made a covenant with their eyes, to behold nothing but vanity;" with their ears, to refuse to listen to "the voice of the charmer, charm he ever so wisely ;" and with their hearts, never to "receive the engrafted word of

truth, which is able to save the soul." And let me ask, Why is all this? What is the reason that they will not attend to those things, which, it is evident, belong to their peace? I firmly believe, that the reason why they say, "As for the word which thou hast spoken to us in the name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee," is, because they are in league with sin, and what ministers teach loudly speaks their condemnation. It is, we remark,

1. Because they are in league with sin.

This is what you love, sinner; and therefore you cannot bear to hear it represented as an evil and a bitter thing. What your ministers represent as amiable and lovely, is diametrically opposite to your carnal taste; and being, like these impudent Jews at Pathros, determined to fulfil the desires of your own heart's lusts, you refuse him that speaketh on earth by the authority of Heaven. You hear, perhaps, without much regret, the holy name of the Lord continually blasphemed: you hear, with satisfaction, any thing else but the things pertaining to God and to his church. Because the works of darkness are your delight, you "set at nought all his counsel, and will have none of his reproof." You scorn the messages of his grace; despise one of his servants after another; and your hearts say of Jesus, whom the Father sent, saying, "They will reverence my Son," "This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the vineyard shall be ours."

It is sin that hardens your heart against the impressions which the gospel should make upon you; it is sin that shuts your eyes against this heavenly light. It is Satan who teaches you to say, for the words which thou hast spoken to us in the

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