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pardon was impossible without satisfaction. to justice, he ordained his only beloved Son to suffer and satisfy in their room; he gives the most solemn assurances by word and oath that he has no pleasure in their death, but is rather desirous that they would return and live, and yet at the peril of everlasting destruction, they make light of his entreaties; they go to their farms or merchandise, as if there was neither a soul to suffer, nor God to inflict.

Be exhorted, fellow sinners, to awake this day from your security; adore that God who is yet sparing you in the place of repentance; it is "of the Lord's mercy that you are not consumed," that the death denounced against your transgression is not already executed, your bodies consigned to the prison of the grave, your souls plunged into the depths of hell, and your condition rendered helpless and hopeless for ever. This is perhaps the desperate situation of thousands, who were not more guilty by nature and practice than you: adore that grace which has pitied your miseries and opened up a door for your escape. "God hath commended his love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. We believe and do testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world." Evil angels were not more daring in their rebellion, against the throne of their sovereign, nor involved deeper in wretchedness than you, yet no mercy is exercised

towards them. "They are cast down to hell, and delivered into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment." Again, while you adore the long suffering of God in sparing you so long, and his mercy in laying "your help on one that is mighty," hasten without any delay to the covert of "How shall you escape, if you

his blood.

neglect so great salvation?" Your indifference another hour hazards your all for eternity: "Your judgment now of a long time lingereth not, your damnation slumbereth not, and that sword of the avenger,' which has hitherto spared, may the next moment be bathed in your blood. A free, a full, an everlasting salvation is now offered, surely you will not choose death rather than life, and the curse rather than the blessing. "Seek righteousness, seek meekness; may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger."

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3. We learn from this doctrine that since all are spiritually dead, those who are saved must obtain salvation altogether of God; they are incapable of contributing either in whole or in part to their own recovery. The man who is naturally dead, cannot possibly restore himself to life; he cannot, by any effort of his own, either live, or breathe, or move. All outward means are utterly insufficient for the recovery of a lifeless corpse; food may be offered, but cannot afford any nourishment; medicine may be administered, but cannot heal or produce any

desirable effect. It is the prerogative of Jehovah to impart natural life; "he breathes into the nostrils of man the breath of life, and❞ renders "him a living soul." It is no less his prerogative to impart spiritual life; to raise the sinner from the death of corruption to a life of holiness and glory. "It is not by

might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts: Not by works of righte ousness which we do, but according to his mercy he saves us by the washing of regeneration, even the renewing of the Holy Ghost." The exceeding greatness of that power, which was exerted in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus from the dead, is no less exerted in the regeneration of the soul:That almighty One who at first, and who, every day, "commandeth the light to shine out of darkness, must shine into the heart, giving it the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." The sinner may search the scriptures; the authority of the living God binds him to that duty: He may pray, earnestly asking mercy of the Lord; the command of God binds him to the performance of that duty: He may meditate frequently on his own ruin, and the remedy brought in by the everlasting Surety; he may attend the gospel purely preached, and all the other means of salvation; but he cannot by any power of his own give efficacy to these ordinances or command the blessing: He is "without strength; his understanding is darkened;

he receiveth not the things of the spirit of God, they are foolishness to him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." While I would earnestly press you to "work out your own salvation. with fear and trembling; to give all diligence to make your calling and election sure," I would entreat you to attend every means under a full impression that you must be "drawn of the Father;" that HE "must work in you both to will and to do of his own good pleasure." Are you utterly insufficient of yourselves; unable either to commence or maintain this spiritual life? Despair not of relief: the Lord God waits to be gracious by infusing this immortal principle; "he is exalted in shewing mercy, by perfecting strength in your exceeding weakness. I will put my SPIRIT within you," is his promise of love: "I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David: I will put my laws in their minds, and write them in their hearts: I will be to Ithem a God, and they shall be to me a people." Encouraged by these and innumerable other promises, believing that he who hath promised is infinitely faithful, draw near and supplicate in the language of the publican, "Lord, be merciful to me a sinner; breathe mightily on my slain, that they may live; only speak the word and thy servant shall be healed; the slave of corruption shall become a child of God and an heir of everlasting life: Whatever else thou

art pleased to withhold, deny me not the assurance of thy love, and an interest in thy great salvation: Seeing thou hast not spared thine only Son, but didst deliver him up for our guilty, polluted, perishing world, wilt thou not with him freely impart all that I need for enriching me both in time and eternity."

4. Let those, who have some scriptural evidences of being alive to God, be taught from this doctrine, that to his rich, unmerited, self-moving grace they are indebted for this unutterable blessing. To such I may repeat the language of this apostle to the believing Ephesians, "God, who is rich in mercy, for the great love wherewith he loved you, even when you were DEAD in sin, hath quickened you together with Christ." Are there not multitudes of your own ac quaintances; some that were perhaps nur tured at the same breasts, trained up in the same family, educated in the same school, instructed under the same ministry, who enjoyed equal opportunities both publicly and privately, that are to this day DEAD? They are yet lying under the accumulated guilt of their nature and lives: The wrath of God hangs over them, and they are, notwithstanding, "at ease in Zion;" devoted to the pursuits and pleasures of a perishing "Who hath made you to differ" from such? Who taught you to see, while they remain spiritually blind, and raised you to life, while they continue dead? "He that

world.

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