cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Repentance is a gift from God. Faith is a gift from God. Pardon of all sin is a gift from God. Jesus Christ died, the JUST ONE, for us the unjust; bearing our sins in his own body on the tree: and he is risen again, and exalted to the right hand of God, a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance, and faith, and pardon. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. Men and Brethren, hearken! If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things have passed away, and all things are become new. God dwells in the man. The man walks with God. His religion is not a science, but a nature; not a theory, but a life. His worship does not consist of the bended knee, the outstretched hands, and the uplifted voice: neither is it confined to the church, the family, and the closet. These all are but occasional actings of it. Its habit is pervading; extending to every faculty of body and mind; originating the motives, and thereby sanctifying the performances of daily duty. I beseech you, therefore, Brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the re newing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. If you know and experience these things, and live no longer unto yourselves, but to him who died for you and rose again, then happy are ye; and your studies of prophecy will be safe and honourable. But if not, all your inquiries, however interesting in the pursuit, may prove but as the delusive hopes of the enemies of Mount Zion. As it is written: "It shall even be as when a hungry man dreameth, and behold he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and behold he drinketh; but he awaketh and behold he is faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be that fight against Mount Zion." Christians, be ready! Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye, therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.* Jews, be ready! Addressing you as indivi * St. Luke xxi. 34-36. duals, I say unto you, there is no salvation for any human being but in Jesus Christ, Neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature in Christ Jesus. In him, the son of Abraham, the son of God, there is neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, male nor female, but one faithful body. Believe, then, in him whom your fathers crucified, and ye shall be saved. Addressing you as a nation, separate from every nation, I say unto you, mourn, mourn ye children of Judah, for your long, your deep offences against the Holy One of your fathers. You will not, indeed, acknowledge Jesus of Nazareth as your Messiah till you see him; but you shall see him in such an hour as ye think not. Behold, we mourn for you, and pray for you, and we believe assuredly that honour and glory await you in the land which the Lord your God hath promised to you; that you shall there see, and acknowledge, and admire him whom we love, and shall say, Hosannah to the Son of David! Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord! Hosannah in the highest! Lord, hasten it in its time! Even so, Amen. "Israel arise! shine forth! Thy light is come, The glory of the Lord is risen on thee ; And tho' long banish'd from thy favour'd home, Thou'rt still belov'd of God: thou shalt be free. Zion, awake, awake! put on thy strength; Thy cup of fury is wrung out at length; Thy day of trembling none shall more behold. "Arise, Jerusalem! unbind thy chains : Oh, captive daughter! lift thine head on high! Thy King of glory in effulgence reigns. And nations gather 'neath thy brightning sky." |