hearts of believers to that godlike temper of charity and good-will for all that bear the image of God; and, by this practice, supporting the spirits of dejected penitents, who will have no reason to despair, since the greatest sinners are in a capacity of being saved. We are obliged to say, in a capacity of salvation; for the truth is, all are not saved that Christ came to save. Salvation is indeed offered to all, to whom the Gospel is or has been preached; but all are not disposed to receive it, especially on the terms on which it is offered. Many are not sensible of the danger they are in; others will not forsake their sins for any consideration whatever; and even too, too many despise the very offers of a Redeemer, of pardon and grace through Him. In all these cases, the Saviour of the world assures us, that it is their own fault, purely their own fault, if they are not saved. "Ye will not come unto Me (saith He) that ye might John 5. 40. have life." If people, when salvation is offered them, will notwithstanding unworthily slight the mercy; if men to whom God has made Himself known, will not retain God in their knowledge; if those that have been enlightened, and have escaped the pollutions of the world, through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; if they are again entangled therein, and are finally lost; this is not for want of means to save them, but they will not be saved: they will not attend to the word preached unto them; they will not believe the terrors of the world to come; they will not submit to the terms of salvation. This being their case, their destruction is from themselves. II. And this brings us to consider, how very dreadful the case is of those who deny the Lord that bought them, or neglect the offers of salvation made by Him to all sinners. And indeed, when we consider what Jesus Christ has done, in order to redeem and save us, we shall have the greatest reason to believe, that the punishment of those who are not saved by Him will be unspeakably great. For can we imagine that Christ, the Son of God, would have left the glories of heaven, and would have lived a miserable life on earth, and died a more miserable death, but that He knew, that if sin XV. SERM. ners were not reconciled to God, but died in their sins, their punishment would be terrible, and their condition miserable, and without remedy. So that the greatness of the mercy may convince us of the greatness of the punishment of those that despise the salvation offered them. The Spirit of God, from Whom only we can know what becomes of men after death, assures us, that such shall be shut out of heaven, and have their portion in a place where there is nothing but weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth. And whatever may become of those who have never had the Gospel preached unto them, they who have had salvation offered to them, and mind it not, must not expect to escape a severe judgment. And, lest we should think ourselves safe, because we have embraced the Gospel, let us always remember, that the Gospel requires Faith and Repentance of all that expect any benefit by it. We must not only say, we believe the Gospel, but we must live like men that do so; like men that are in the midst of enemies, with fear and care, lest we should miscarry; like those that have escaped eternal misery, with thankful hearts; and like those who hope to go to heaven, where no impure thing can enter. But if, instead of doing so, we lead a careless or a wicked life: if we neglect the means of grace, the ordinances of God, and turn our backs upon the Word and Sacraments; if we confess we are sinners, and yet take no care to amend our ways; if we are taken up with the business or pleasures of this life, so as to forget that there is another to come; why then, in truth, we are not of the number of those who shall be saved; neither will it be any blessing to such, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. And now, good christians, you see what a merciful regard God has had for His poor creatures in this dispensation. The most ignorant may know what God expects from them. The greatest sinner may be sure of pardon, if he repents, and brings forth fruit answerable to amendment of life. The weakest christian may depend upon all necessary assistance. The meanest servant of Christ may be sure not to be overlooked. Lastly, every christian may be confident, that his labour will not be in vain, but that he may be for ever happy, if it is not altogether his own fault. These are certain truths, and worthy of all men to be received. How comes it then to pass, that we so often hear these truths without being affected by them? Why, the truth is, we are not well convinced of the danger a sinner is in, without the help of a Redeemer. If one talks to a sick man about the cause of his illness, and gives him good hopes that his distemper is curable, you need not use many words to persuade him to hear you, because his life is at stake; but if you tell a man that thinks himself well, of a remedy, it is a thousand to one but he forgets it. This is our case-the case of the generality of christians. We, in obedience to our Lord's command, preach faith, and repentance, and obedience; we publish in His name a free pardon to all who are willing to comply with the terms of salvation. They that lay things to heart, that know they are sinners, and the danger of being such; these gladly hear, and receive, and remember, and obey, the terms of salvation; whilst others are as unconcerned as if they had nothing to fear. From whence you see, christians, that your faith and salvation depend very much upon that disposition with which you hear the Gospel. If you are serious and concerned in good earnest for your salvation, it will be no hard matter to persuade you to look upon the Gospel as the greatest blessing. But without these dispositions, the Gospel will be a burthen to you; Jesus Christ Himself no blessing; nor heaven worth caring for. You see who they are, who ought to rejoice upon every return of this festival; who ought to take comfort; by whom this truth is worthy to be received; even by all such as are sincere, such as resolve to serve and to please God to the best of their power. Such may be sure of pardon and acceptance, though they have been never so great sinners. All such may and will receive the terms of pardon, and him who has obtained them, with open arms, and with a glad heart; admiring the great goodness of God; adoring the love of their Redeemer; resolving to live worthy of such mighty favours. And these passions will make us all cheerful, with XV. SERM. out being foolishly vain; serious, without being sad and cast down; as sober as christians, though our hearts are full of joy. Now, unto Him Who had mercy upon us when we were in darkness and under the power of Satan; Who took our nature upon Him, was born an infant, became subject to the law made for sinners, offered Himself a sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, and raised up sinful men to the honour of being the children of God: to Him be all honour, and glory, and blessing, and thanksgiving, and power, ascribed by us and by all His faithful servants, for ever and ever. Amen. SERMON XVI. THE DISPOSITION NECESSARY TO MAKE JESUS CHRIST AND HIS MALACHI iv. 2. Unto you that fear My name, shall the Sun of Righteousness arise See Luke with healing in His wings. I MAKE choice of these words, from amongst many other texts of Sacred Scripture declaring the same thing, to shew you,-What dispositions are necessary to make Jesus Christ and His Gospel appear to be, what they really are, the greatest blessings that God ever bestowed upon mankind. It is true, all christians are ready to own this, and pretend to rejoice, and to be thankful, for so great blessings; when, after all, it is utterly impossible, that any man should from his heart be glad, when he does not feel his own misery; who does not truly apprehend the misery of mankind, without the blessing of a Redeemer. It was for this reason, that the Spirit of God, before Jesus Christ took our nature upon Him, expressly foretold, who they were to whom the Messiah should preach; who would, and who would not, receive Him and His doctrine. 4. 18. For instance, it is said that God anointed the Messiah "to Isa. 61. 1. preach good tidings to the meek," for they only would receive His message; "to bind up the broken hearted," for such only would be glad of His help; "to proclaim liberty to the captives," for they only who were sensible of their bondage would be glad to be set at liberty. Accordingly, when our blessed Saviour came amongst men, He invited such only to be His hearers, to whom He knew His doctrine would be acceptable: "Come unto Me all ye that labour and Matt.11.28 are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." And when He was blamed for conversing too freely with publicans and |