in anticipation. If he cannot be blamed, he cannot be praised, he cannot be honoured-and man without honour is more wretched than the beasts that perish. Unenviable mortal!

It

What an abortion is the system of nature, if man lives not again! It is a creation for the sake of destruction. It is an infinite series of designs, ending in nothing. It is a universe of blanks, without a single prize. It cannot be. The Bible is necessary to the interpretation of nature. is the only comment on nature-on providence-on man. Man without it, and without the hope of immortality, has nothing to rouse him into action. He is a savage, a Hottentot, a cannibal, a worm. You are compelled, then, to admit that the gospel is true, unless you put out the eye of Reason, and refuse to hear the voice of Nature.

But is it not a happy necessity which compels your belief in God, and in his Son the renovator of the universe? It opens to you all the mysteries of creation, the arcana of the temple of nature, and inducts you to the fountain of being and of bliss. It inspires you with motives of high and lofty enterprize, stimulates you to manly action, and points out a prize worthy of the best efforts of body, soul, and spirit. Is it not, then, "a credible saying, and worthy of universal acceptance, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, even the chief?"

But you ask, "Where shall the kingdom of heaven be found, and how may you be constituted a citizen of it?" The prophets and apostles must be your guide in deciding these great questions. Moses in the law, all the prophets, and all the apostles, point you to the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world-the apostle of the Father Almighty-the divinely constituted Chief of the kingdom of heaven. He has submitted his claims to your examination-he has invited you to test all his pretensions-and to the humble and docile he has tendered all necessary assistance, in deciding upon his person and mission.

His character is so familiar, so condescending, so full of all grace and goodness, that all may approach him. The halt, the maimed, the deaf, the dumb, the blind, found in him a friend and physician indeed. None importunes his aid in vain. His ears are always open to the tale of woe. His eye streams with sympathy on every object of distress. He invites all the wretched, and repulses none who implore

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relief. He chides only the proud, and kindly receives and blesses the humble. He invites and beseeches the weary, the heavy laden, the broken hearted, the oppressed, and all the sons of want and misfortune to come to him, and tenders relief to all.

In his official dignity he presides over the universe. He is the High Priest of God, and the Prophet and Messenger of Peace. He has the key of David; he opens and shuts the paradise of God. He is the only Potentate, and has the power of granting remission of all sins to all who obey him.

To receive him in his personal glory and official dignity and supremacy, as the Messiah of God, the only-begotten of the Father-to know him in his true and proper character, is the only prerequisite to the obedience of faith. He that thus accredits him is not far from the kingdom of heaven. To assume him as your Prophet, your High Priest, and your King; to submit to him in these relations, being im mersed into his death, will translate you into the kingdom of heaven. Why not, then, gladly and immediately yield him the admiration of your understanding, and the homage of your heart? Why not now enter into the possession of all the riches, and fulness, and excellency of the kingdom? He commands all men to repent-he beseeches every sinner whom he addresses in his word, to receive pardon and eternal life as a gracious gift.

Can you doubt his power to save, to instruct, and to sanctify you for heaven? Can you doubt his condescending mercy and compassion? Will not he that pitied the blind Bartimeus, that condoled with the widow of Nain, that wept with Mary and Martha at the grave of Lazarus, that heard the plea of the Syrophenician woman, that cleansed the supplicating leper, that compassionated the famishing multitudes, that looked with pity (even in the agonies of the cross) upon an importuning thief, have pity upon you, and every returning prodigal, who sues for mercy at the gate of his kingdom?

Is there in the universe, one whom you can believe with more assurance, than the Faithful and True Witness, who, in the presence of Pontius Pilate, witnessed a good confession at the hazard of his life? Is there any person in heaven, on earth, or under the earth, more worthy of your confidence, than the Sinner's Friend; than he who, always,

and in all circumstances, bore testimony to the truth? When did he ever violate his word, or suffer his promise to fail? Whoever repented of his confidence in Jesus, or of relying implicitly upon his word ? Whoever was put to

shame because of confidence in him?

Who can offer such inducements to obedience to his authority as the Saviour of the world? Who has such power to bless? He has all authority in heaven and on earth. He has power to forgive sins, to raise the dead, to bestow immortality and eternal life, and to judge the living and the dead. And has he not tendered a participation of his official authority to every one who submits to his government, and who, by him, is reconciled to God? If he have wisdom and power divine, has he not pledged these to the relief, guidance, and benefit of his people? Who can injure them under his protection-condemn whom he justifies-criminate whom he pardons-or snatch out of his hands those who betake themselves to his mercy?

Was there ever love like his love-compassion like his compassion-or condescension like his condescension ? Whoever could-whoever did humble himself like the Son of God? On whose cheek ever flowed tears of purer sympathy for human woe, than those he shed? Whose bowels ever moved with such compassion, as that which dissolved his heart in tender mercies for the afflicted sons and daughters of men? Whoever for his friends endured such contradiction of sinners against himself; submitted to such indignities; sustained such accumulated sorrows and griefs; suffered such agonies of mind and body as those which he endured in giving his life an offering for his enemies? Forsaken by his God, abandoned by his friends, deserted of every stay, surrounded by the fiercest enemies, the most implacable foes, whose hearts were harder than adamant, insulting the very pangs which they inflicted, he expired on the accursed tree! The heavens blushed at the sight-the sun covered his face-the earth trembled-the rocks splitthe veil of the temple was rent from top to bottom-the graves opened. All nature stood horror-stricken, when Roman soldiers, urged by blood-thirsty priests, nailed him to the cross-when the chief priests, scribes, and elders in derision said, "He saved others: cannot he save himself?" The person who perceives not, who feels not the eloquence of his love consummated in his death-the ten

derness of his entreaties and expostulations, is not to be reasoned with-is not to be moved by human power. Will you not, then, honour your reason by honouring the Son of God-by giving up your understanding, your wills, your affections, to the teachings of the good Spirit-to the guidance of his love? Then, and only then, can you feel yourself safe, secure, and happy.

Need you to be reminded how much you are indebted to his long-suffering patience already-to his benevolence in all the gifts and bounties of his providence vouchsafed to you? How many days and nights has he guarded, sustained, and succoured you? Has he not saved you from ten thousand dangers-from the pestilence that walks in darkness secretly, and from destruction that wastes at noon-day? Who can tell but he has lengthened out your unprofitable existence to this very hour, that you might now repent of all your sins, turn to God with your whole heart, be baptized for the remission of your past transgressions, be adopted into the family of God, and yet receive an inheritance among the sanctified. Arise, then, in the strength of Israel's God-accept salvation at his hands-enter into his kingdom, and be for ever blessed. You will not, you cannot repent of such a step, of such a noble surrender of yourself while life endures; in the hour of death, in the day of judgment, nor during the endless succession of ages in eternity. To-day, then, hear his voice: to-morrow may be for ever too late! All things are ready-Come. Saints on earth, and angels in heaven-apostles, prophets, and martyrs will rejoice over you-and you will rejoice with them for ever and for ever. Amen!