without salvation, without happiness; yea, worst of all, without hope, without one single solitary gleam of hope! Oh! what an eternity will that be! Were it only the loss, the eternal loss, of all the happiness and glory, which all who have on earth welcomed Christ, and His salvation, shall enjoy with Him in heaven, through everlasting ages this were dreadful enough-even this were surely a high price for an immortal being to pay, for a few years' enjoyment of any thing this world has to offer, in exchange for an eternity of bliss; but this is not all—an eternity of bliss cannot be lost, without an eternity of woe being incurred of wrath-of anguish to which earth's wildest agony is enjoyment an eternity of self-reproach-for ever haunted by the thought, I have murdered my own soul for ever hearing conscience cry, with an awful voice, that cannot be for one instant silenced or stifled, "self-murderer, I warned thee of this." Oh! that harrowing reflection, that cannot be bidden away, or borne down, and will not depart or slumber even for one moment"I have no one to blame but myself, my stubborn, impenitent, accursed self, for being brought into this place of torment; friends intreated me-ministers warned meChrist pleaded with me-the Spirit strove with me— God waited on me how long-oh! how many years yet all in vain! I was resolved to destroy my

own soul, with suicidal hand—I have pulled down on my own head the everlasting wrath of God. It is not the remembrance of His offended justice, or even His insulted majesty, it is His despised mercy; oh! it is this which so racks and tortures my soul. A Saviour's love despised a Saviour's blood trampled on a Saviour's supplications spurned the very thought is hell the wrath of Jehovah is indeed terrible-but mild, compared to the wrath of the Lamb; it is this, which I cannot bear, and yet must bear, for ever; and I might have been as happy as the happiest spirit now before His throne. Had I not been desperately bent on my own damnation, I might be this moment rejoicing in a Saviour's presence, and singing a Saviour's praise, with all His ransomed host." And you may yet rejoice in His presence, you may yet sing His praise, sinner; it is not yet too late the throne is not set-the trumpet has not sounded-the sentence is not passed; there yet is hope—yes, pardon, salvation, heaven, may yet be yours! Only receive Christ, and with Him all these things shall be yours, for ever. But procrastinate no longer! Surely you have trifled with the patience of God, and sported on the brink of hell, quite long enough. Delay not then, I conjure you, one moment longer; behold now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation! This day may decide your destiny! Close your

heart today against the Saviour, and tomorrow, the door of mercy may be closed against you for ever; for this night you may be in the world, "where God has forgotten to be gracious, and His mercy is clean gone for ever!" Oh! if it be so horrible even to hear or to think of that world for a few moments, what must it be to dwell in it throughout eternity? If you cannot bear even the idea of its torments now, how will you be able to endure the reality for ever? If the thought of hell be so insupportable, what must hell itself be? Would you escape its intolerable torments, its never-ending agonies? then fling the door of your heart wide open, to receive that Saviour, who can alone deliver you from going down into the dwelling-place of despair, and the King of glory will come in, and all the most precious treasures of grace and glory will follow in His train-hell will be escaped, and heaven secured for ever. Oh! do not plead as an excuse, that you cannot, by your own strength, force back the bars and bolts by which Satan has so long kept your heart closed against the Saviour. I know you cannot, but the Holy Spirit can give you strength' sufficient, and you can ask for His power by prayer, and God has promised to give the Spirit to them that thus ask Him. Pray then earnestly, fervently, perseveringly pray, that this Almighty Spirit may enable you to unbar your heart, and throw it open this day, to

receive and welcome the Son of God; that He may come in all His glorious and gracious offices and operations, and dwell in your heart by faith, till He shall take you up to heaven, to dwell with Himself for ever and ever.

SERMON XV.

COMMUNION WITH CHRIST.

REVELATION, iii. 20.

"Behold! I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and sup with him, and he with Me !"

WHAT joy would one feel, on being suddenly transported from a dark and noisome dungeon to the loveliest spot in creation; exchanging in a moment the chilling gloom, and pestilential vapours, and clanking of chains, and doleful cries of the prisonhouse, for the blessed light and reviving air of heaven, the song of sweetest birds, and all the most gladdening melodies of nature. It is even with some such joy, my friends, I turn this day from the dismal scene that was lately before us, while addressing you on the opening words of the text the gloom of the everlasting darkness, the clanking of the everlasting chains, the groans of