Lord thy God with all thy heart, and thy neighbour as thyself;" and the obligation to suffer for duty omitted, or for sin committed, is as strong and binding as that which demands the most devoted homage and unremitting exercise of love and obedience. Considered in this light, the doctrine of man's responsibility brings him into a very serious and awful condition indeed. Here we behold him doomed to hell, and bound as a guilty creature to suffer the bitter pains of eternal death, as the just wages due to his sins. And what adds to the solemnity of this consideration is, that God is as righteously bound to punish for sin committed, as man is to suffer; by that very law which proclaims the one the maker, and the other the work of his hands. For if God were to permit sin to pass with impunity in any of his creatures, it would argue either that the original law of creation were not good; or that more were enjoined than was meet; or that its observance were indifferent; or that his nature is become changed, and, consequently, that he is now no longer the being to be feared he once was. But such a supposition never can be allowed; for were this once found to be the case, such a licence would be afforded to every kind and degree of impiety, that no limits could be

assigned for the point where it should stop; and, O dreadful thought! God himself might be charged with it all! Man's responsibility, therefore, as certainly extends to the just punishment of sin, as to his equitable duty to love and serve the Lord.

(iii.) The same truth equally applies, although in a still stronger point of view, to the state and condition of man as a sinner, placed under a dispensation of mercy. Although he is not thereby released from the responsibility, in either respect, before specified; yet that obligation runs now in another channel, but in reference to them both. The condition in which he now stands, or the law under which he is now placed, regards the means or method by which he may be delivered from the awful consequences of failing in the performance of the duties previously enjoined; whilst at the same time that very method has respect to those claims, and honours them all. Now, as he values the life of his soul and the favour of God, he is bound to "repent of his sins and believe the gospel;" he is bound to confess his guilt, and "flee for refuge to lay hold of the blessed hope set before him;" he is bound to strive to enter in at the strait gate,"

and to "give all diligence to make his calling

and election sure." Such is the nature of this obligation, and the power of this responsibility, that it is at the peril of his soul if he spend another hour in sin, or waste another moment in forgetfulness of God, or neglect of the blessed Redeemer. Nay, to such an extent ought it to be carried, and such a supreme dominion should it possess, that he must not only "give the more earnest heed to the things which he hears, lest at any time he should let them slip;" but take care above all things, that he neither disregard the remedy which God has provided—the mediation of Jesus Christ-nor cherish a single hope, arising from any consideration whatsoever, contrary to the Saviour's love, or disparaging to the grace and glory of his salvation. In all these respects the obligation is as binding as in any of the former, and even vastly increased. If the sinner repent not of his sins, he shall perish. If he believe not in Christ, he shall die in his sins. If he believe not the gospel, he shall be damned. In either case, the law of his responsibility is clear and binding; and as nothing can release the sinner, so circumstanced, from the necessity of attending to it; so nothing can avert the consequences arising from either procedure. For as "the wages of sin is death," so he that is not

saved from his sins, must suffer the penalty due to them; and as "there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved but the name of Jesus Christ, so he that does not come to, and receive, and believe in, that Saviour, must perish for ever, according to his deserts; while, on the other hand, it is equally clear, that he who does repent of his sins, and does flee to that Saviour, shall never perish, but shall have everlasting life. The law of man's responsibility, which enforces the one, does also ensure the other. We are not now shewing how this is to be done, but why it should take place. We all know that it is "by grace we are saved through faith, and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast;" but at the same time we ought also to know why it is we should prize that grace, and what it is that shews how greatly we stand in need of it. Man, therefore, as a sinner, under a dispensation of mercy, is bound, at the peril of his soul, to repent and believe the gospel.

(iv.) Again, if you consider man as a happy believer in Christ, pardoned and accepted in the beloved, brought nigh to God, washed in the Saviour's blood, and clothed with his perfect

righteousness, you must still regard him in a responsible condition; not merely as a creature bound to love and serve the Lord and his fellow-beings, though grievously failing in his duty; nor merely as a sinner, under the curse of the violated law, and the wrath of the Almighty, due to his sins; nor merely as a sinner, under a dispensation of mercy, and bound, at the peril of his soul, to repent and believe the gospel; but as a dear child of God in the faith of Jesus Christ, released from the guilt and condemnation of all his former crimes, and now engaged in a new and higher manner to bless and adore the God of his salvation; while the very mercy he has received not only lays him under the fresh claims of gratitude and love, but evinces the equity of his previous obligations, and honours and fulfils them all! This is the great glory of the gospel salvation, the grand climax of all penal obligations fulfilled, and the blessed source of all grace and salvation bestowed! Out of Christ, sin reigns over the whole guilty race of man unto death; but in him, and to all that truly believe in his name, 66 grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord." Now

* Rom. vi. 23.