crifice of his beloved Son, so vast, so spacious, so comprehensive, that all the tribes, and kindreds, and tongues, and languages, of mankind have room to press forward along it? The way of Christian holiness and duty, indeed, is strait and narrow, but the sinner's way to Christ is broad as his soul can wish. Is there any stumblingstone, and rock of offence, to be found, except those which an evil heart of unbelief casts down, for its own fall and destruction? Behold the thousands of your fellow sinners, convinced of their danger, and hastening to the Lord Jesus Christ, as the city of their sure and eternal refuge. Have they occupied the highway to your exclusion? They have not. Yet there is room-room enough for you. Enter upon the road; traverse it in earnestness, simplicity, and fervour, looking to Jesus, as to the tower and strong hold of your salvation. Be assured, that unchangeable mercy and truth, infinite and eternal compassion formed it; and that, like the illimitable love which fills the heart of your Saviour, it can readily receive all who come to God through him.

Were waymarks set up, at all obscure or uncertain parts of the way, pointing to the city, and inscribed with its blessed name? And what is our office, as the ministers of the gospel, except to direct the ignorant, and them that are

out of the way, unto him, who of God is made unto them wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption? To what more constant or more worthy employ can we aspire, than to cry aloud in your ears, This is the way, walk ye in it when ye turn to the right hand or to the left? Be not seduced from the straight forward course. Convinced of your offences, and anxious to flee from the wrath to come, go forward by prayer, by the studying of God's blessed word, by hearing the terms of mercy from the ambassadors for Christ-Go forward thus, in the appointed track of repentance towards God, and faith in his Son. Forget not, that danger and death, and eternal woe are pursuing your flight; and, that if ye turn aside from that road, which alone conducts you to the Redeemer's cross, no other ransom in earth or heaven can buy off the forfeiture of your souls. The avenger of blood will seize them, and the loss will be hopeless and eternal.

Did the gate of the city stand open night and day to afford its gracious shelter to every fugitive? And are you not encouraged to hasten toward him who extends wide the arms of mercy to embrace you? Have you not a fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness, freely gushing forth to all, as the light or the air of heaven? Not more universal is the dreadful contagion of

human sin, than is the gracious invitation to those who feel and mourn its burden, Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Who shall set bounds to that mercy, which, like its almighty author, fills and pervades the universe? Shall one of you, shall the meanest among you, who is this day striving for the salvation of the gospel, fail to obtain it,—fail to find entrance through the gate of the city of refuge, and to be enclosed within the pale of Christ's acceptance? Then must that saying fall to the ground, Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out: but, until divine truth shall deceive, that saying is firm and stable as the foundation of heaven, or the dominion of God. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass away. When the manslayer stood in the gate, and declared his cause, he was received by the elders, and took his part in the privileges of the city; and had a place that he might dwell there. Come thus to him who waits to be gracious, and who, as he stands forth in the fulness of the appointed redemption, beckons you to approach him, to state your case, to throw yourselves upon his mercy, and to fear no denial.

Was the city of refuge engaged by its very charter and constitution to afford support and nourishment to every one who came within

its hallowed walls? In the city of the living God, which extends wide the gates of its compassion for you, there is bread enough and to spare. There is no blessing which a servant of God can need, no mercy which can form the object of his prayer, no prospect of future good that can mingle with his brightest hopes, which the comprehensive fulness of the gospel does not include. Among the sanctuaries of heathen superstition, the wretched supplicant was often left to perish with hunger, and merely mocked with the shadow of an asylum. Not so within the gracious enclosure of the Redeemer's gospel. There is within that consecrated city the flesh of the Son of God, which he gave for the life of the world. There is that river of the water of life, of which whosoever drinketh shall never thirst. Those who have reached the refuge may live by faith on him, "whose flesh is meat indeed, and whose blood is drink indeed."

Was the city expressly set apart to be a universal refuge for the stranger, as for one born in the land? In the gospel there is no respect of persons. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female. No claim is established upon the Redeemer's love beyond the general misery and woe of unpardoned sin. There is no cause of exclusion, except infidelity or love of iniquity in

him who professes to seek the refuge of the cross of Christ. That soul lives not, which is free from the imputation of iniquity, which deserves not the infliction of divine wrath, and which is therefore independent of a Redeemer's death and passion. That soul lives not, which is prevented from casting its hope of salvation in simple faith upon the Son of God, and of being received by him into life eternal.

The cities of refuge were placed within the lot of the tribe of Levi, and appertained to them, in virtue of their sacred office. The sacrificial system alone gave efficacy to their appointment, which was made to depend upon it. So, the plan of salvation, the mercies of the gospel, the whole process of the love of God to man is attached to the Redeemer's priesthood, and derives its power of justification unto life from the virtue of that full and entire oblation which he made upon the cross for the iniquities of men. If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and he is the propitiation for our sins.

Mark then the man, who with every affection of his soul and every impulse of an awakened Spirit, is pressing toward the city of refuge in Jesus Christ. By whom is he pursued? By the violated law, by the injured holiness, by the outraged justice of Almighty God. How if