Theology

subject? In what circumstances could a judgment be more evidently sincere?

Nor ought it to be forgotten, that Laymen, by assuming their proper part in the support of Christianity, awaken, and increase, a just sense of their own duty as the friends of the Redeemer; realize that his cause lies upon them, as well as upon Ministers; and feel the importance of thinking, planning, and acting, vigorously in his behalf. That, in which we take no other concern than what is experienced in contemplation, will never be very near to our hearts. Its importance may be coldly acknowledged; but it will awaken neither interest, nor efforts. When we begin to act, we begin to feel. Were Laymen to act more generally, and more vigorously, in the cause of Christianity, its interests would come home to their hearts; and they would speedily become more virtuous, and more useful, members of Christian society.

I have dwelt thus particularly on this subject, not only because of its inherent importance, but also because it has not, within my information, been brought into the desk; and because there is no place where it can with more propriety be introduced than in this, d no audience, to which it can with more propriety be addressed.

IV. How solemnly does the Scriptural system of Doctrines and Precepts demand the cordial reception of every man, to whom it is published!

Every one of those, who hear me, is a creature of God; an accountable creature; an immortal creature. Every one is bound to the grave, and the judgment. Every one is a candidate for heaven, or hell. To every one, life is a day of trial. On your conduct in this life is suspended your destiny in that which is to

come.

All of you, also, are sinners. You have offended God. You have broken his most holy law, times innumerable, with a bold hand, a hard heart, and a blind mind. By that law you are condemned, and cannot be justified.

Your sins, also, are gross and dreadful; not perhaps scandalous, and such as cover you with infamy; but such, as have been committed in the meridian day of the Gospel, against the dictates of an enlightened conscience, against blessings of high moment, daily and hourly renewed. Ignorance of your Lord's will you cannot plead, for you have known it from early life. Leisure for understanding it, books, instructions, motives, have been supplied to you with a munificent hand. Your allotments in life have been mercifully distributed by the great Benefactor. He has called to you with a voice of unspeakable kindness. He has charmed you with continual testimonies of parental love.

In these circumstances, and amid so many inducements to hear, and to obey, the Saviour of mankind has placed himself directly

before your eyes, suspended on the cross, and expiring in agonies, to atone for your sins, and to reconcile you to God. He has offered to you himself, and all his blessings: and of you he has requir ed nothing, but cordially to receive him. Instead of listening, there is but too melancholy reason to believe, you have turned a deaf ear, and a blind eye, to all that he has said, and done. He has called; but you have refused. To what has he called you? To purification from sin; to forgiveness; to sanctification; to the attainment of the everlasting love of God; to the possession of heaven; to the blessings of immortal life.

But he knew, that your hearts were harder than the nether millstone. He therefore sent his holy and good Spirit into the world, to enlighten your minds; to convince you of your guilt and danger; to unfold to you the divine excellence of the Redeemer ; and by the renovation of your hearts to persuade you to embrace him as he is offered to you in the Gospel. A thousand times has this glorious Agent awakened in your minds a solemn sense of their worth, and their immortality; led you to serious reflections on your guilt; excited in you alarming apprehensions concerning death, and the judgment; and prompted you to sober resolutions of repentance, and reformation.

All these benevolent efforts you have resisted. All the grace of the Gospel, all the benevolent offers, which Christ has made you, all his merciful invitations and promises, you have rejected. On his cross you have cast contempt. To his character you have been hostile. You have grieved the Spirit of grace. You have wronged your own souls.

Still, you are bound to eternity. You must die: you will be judged: you will be rewarded according to your works. Consider this, ye that forget God; lest he tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.

In this solemn, this exposed, situation, immeasurably interesting to every one of you, what measures will you take? Remember, that, whatever you may think proper to do, God will take his own measures. You may wish, that he would do otherwise. You may hope, you may believe, you may determine, that he will bend his purposes so, as to make them more palatable to you. Under this determination, and with these hopes, you may feel yourselves safe; and say, Peace, peace, when there is no peace. Like Agag, you may exclaim, Surely the bitterness of death is past; when you are on the point of being hewed in pieces. The providence of your Maker, whatever you may wish, or believe, will move on uninterruptedly, and immutably, to the accomplishment of every one of his purposes; and of those, which respect your salvation, and your perdition, as truly as any other. When you come to the regions of wo; with what anguish will you look back upon your present life; and wish, that you had now listened to the calls of mercy;

that you had been roused from this sleep of death, and obtained life from the hands of the Saviour!

It is not necessary, that every one should be learned in Theology: but it is necessary that every man should be a Christian. The souls of the learned and the unlearned, are alike immortal; and are alike destined to endless happiness, or endless misery. How will you acquire this glorious blessing, and escape this absolute ruin? There is but one path, which has hitherto conducted; there is but one path, which will ever conduct; mankind to eternal life. This has been pointed out by the finger of God; and was never discovered by human philosophy. The cell of Philosophy is dug beneath the ground; is dark, cold, and comfortless; and was never visited by the sunshine of heaven. The miserable rushlight, which glimmers along its walls, scarcely enables this goddess, of man's creation, to distinguish her own footsteps around the dreary cavern; and shows no avenue to the world above. Here no celestial messenger ever arrived; and no tidings from that world were ever announced. Here God is neither worshipped, loved, nor known; the voice of mercy was never heard; and salvation was never proclaimed, sought, nor found.

The Gospel, at an immeasurable distance from this desolate mansion, is the garden of Eden in its pristine beauty. Here JEHOVAH manifests himself in the Shechinah; as of old he caused the glory of his presence to dwell at the east of Paradise above the Cherubim. Here his answers are given to the inquiring penitent. Here angels are again heard praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest; peace on earth; and good-will towards men. Here the Saviour is born; and publishes the glad tidings of great joy. Here the Spirit of Grace fixes his divine abode, and sheds piety, and peace, and faith, and hope, upon the assembly of the first-born. Here, finally, commences the high-way of holiness, which leads directly to the regions of immortality.

Who, in this house, can contemplate these things without the strongest emotions? Who can behold his all at hazard; his soul, his eternal well-being, at stake; without inexpressible anxiety? Life and death, both eternal, are here the objects of choice. Whose bosom must not thrill; whose heart must not throb; when, famishing with thirst, and perishing with hunger, he hears a voice from heaven, calling directly to himself, Ho! every one that thirsteth! come ye to the waters; and he that hath no money: come ye, buy and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk, without money, and without price. With what transport will he learn, that the voice, which conveys this delightful invitation, is the voice of the Son of God! Must not his soul expand, with ecstasy, to see the Almighty arm of this glorious Person stretched out, to seize him, while walking on the brink of perdition, and convey him to the world of joy?

* Genesis iii. 24, paraphrased by the Targums.

On the brink of perdition every sinner in this house is walking at the present moment. The only way, back, to eternal life; the only safety, the only hope; is found in the Gospel. Strive, then, with all possible earnestness to enter in at the strait gate, which stands at the head of this delightful path. Now the gate is open soon, to you, it will be shut. Now the path is illumined by the Sun of righteousness: soon it will be lost in interminable darkness. Now heaven invites you to enter in, and be saved. Soon its doors will be closed for ever. Now God is reconcileable to you: the Saviour proffers himself, and all his blessings, to your acceptance; and the Spirit of Grace is waiting to renew you to repentance. How soon will all these blessings retire beyond your reach; the hope of salvation set, to rise no more; and the voice of mercy be dumb for ever!

THE END.

INDEX.

vol. page.

Actions of Christ: Creation of the Universe,

Preservation of ditto,

I. 538

do. 539

Government of

ditto,

do. 540

Giving and restoring life,

do. 541