His

1. Thou hast neither part nor lot with the true believer in the benefits of the death of Christ. blood was shed for the remission of thy sins; but it hath not cleansed thee from thine iniquity. The Son of Man was lifted up, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life;' but thou believest not after a spiritual manner. Look unto me,' exclaims the Redeemer of Men,- Look unto me, and be ye saved; but thou lookest not with faith; and so the serpent's bite is uncleansed, and the wound is poisoned still!

2. Thou hast neither part nor lot with the renewed man, in the influences and operations of the Holy Spirit. God will give his Holy Spirit to them that ask him; '-so the promise runs; but thou askest not, regarding not the gift of God, but resting in thine own strength, although the Saviour reveals himself as the way, and the truth, and the life,' and declares that none can come unto the Father but by him.'

3. Neither hast thou part or lot with the sons of God in the promises of his word. In thy present state the threatenings alone are thine; all the curses to the full, but not one of the blessings. The promises are addressed unto the spiritual seed of Abraham, even to as many call.' But art thou

as the Lord our God shall

a child of Abraham in thy present condition of hypocrisy? If thou hadst the faith of Abra

ham, as a true son of his, thou wouldst have his faith, and be like him whose heart was right with God.

4. But besides all this, what lot or part hast thou with the saints in communion with Christ and

fellowship one with another? Thou art not a member of the mystical body; and what canst thou have to do with the head? Thou art not in the vine; how then wilt thou call thyself a branch? Thou dwellest not in Christ; is it, then, possible to be one with him? Thou wast never yet ingrafted into the family of the Lord, and where is thy title to be called a son? Thou hast no evidence to produce of belonging to the church of the first-born who are written in heaven,' and yet dost thou consider thyself meet to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light?

O thou false professor, when will thine eyes be opened to the wretchedness of thy soul's state? Oh! that thine heart were melted into sorrow, for thine own state, as my soul is touched with pity for thee! Hast thou any hope? any real joy? any true peace of mind, solid interest in Christ, or well-founded confidence towards God? Alas, no! Thou art still unrenewed, still in thy sins, still guilty and condemned, still as far from God as one who makes no profession, and more offensive in his sight. Let me shew thee out of the scriptures thy perilous condition. 'What,' asks Job, is the hope of the hypocrite, though he

H

hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?' xxvii. 8. Hope in this life thou hast none, while continuing in thy present state; and hereafter, in the world to come, shame and confusion of face await thee before the judgment-seat of Jesus Christ. For when thou shalt begin to say to him in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?'-then will he profess unto thee, and others like thee, saying, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity.'

Oh! learn, then, to tremble now in time, that thou mayest not be plunged into despair in eternity; be humbled whilst it is called to-day, and thou shalt not be disgraced for ever hereafter. Seek to possess, though late, a real and vital interest in the Saviour; come at length to the foot of his cross, in believing dependence upon the power of his blood. Ask of God his effectual grace, that thou mayest henceforth walk indeed in the Spirit, have power to come out decidedly from the world, to adorn the gospel in thy life, to abound in the fruits of holiness, peace, and love, and glorify the Lord in all things! Then will God's people receive thee with open arms; give thee the right hand of fellowship, and call thee a brother. Then will the angels in heaven rejoice over thee in the presence of our Father; while the Lord Jesus Christ will claim thee for his own, and write upon thee his new name, the name of

love. Then will God the Holy Ghost make thee a child indeed, enrol thy name in the Lamb's Book of Life, keep thee safely all thy journey through, and crown thee at the end with an eternal weight of glory!

SERMON VII.

HARDNESS OF HEART;

OR,

THE AWFUL CONSEQUENCE OF NEGLECTED

WARNINGS.

EXODUS IX. 34.

And when Pharaoh saw that the rain, and the hail, and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart.'

IT is much easier to make resolutions than to keep them. Many of those, who most sincerely desire to serve God, and walk in the ways of his commandments, find it very difficult indeed to persevere in well doing. For, in making a resolution, the will alone is consulted, and can act independently for itself; but, in putting that purpose into effect, both body and soul, both flesh and spirit, must act together. But what is more rare than this union of effort? The true reason of its infrequency, the apostle to the Galatians