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 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

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 with 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; they 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

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; 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, without being foolishly vain ; serious, without being sad or cast down; as sober 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; 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, D

and

and glory, and blessing, and thanksgiving, and power, ascribed, by us, and by all his faithful servants, for ever and ever. Amen.

SERMON V.

ON THE DUE OBSERVANCE OF THE SABBATH.

EXODUS XX. 11.

The Lord blessed the Sabbath-Day, and
hallowed it.

THE meaning of these words is this:-The Lord having commanded one day in seven to be kept holy, and having made it a Sabbath, that is, a day of rest from bodily and unnecessary labour, he hath blessed that day: that is, he hath joined a blessing to the due observation of it. How then comes it to pass, that this day is not observed with great strictness, devotion, and thankfulness? Why, because people do not consider either the necessity, or the reason, or the advantage of such a command. I will therefore, before I go any farther, endeavour to make you sensible of the reason and necessity of observing one day in a week according to the commandment.

We are all satisfied, that we ought not to forget the God that made us; that we ought not to forget that we are needy, sinful, helpless creatures.

Now,

Now, it is certain, we should soon forget these things, if one day in seven we were not put in mind of them. To shew you that we most certainly should do so, let us consider, how many things every one of us has forgot, which we ought to have remembered. How many mercies do men receive from God, which they soon forget? How many judgments doth God send into the world, which are no longer thought on, than whilst the smart of them does last? Why, we should as surely forget the God who sends mercies and judgments, if we were not taught continually to remember him by his day which we keep holy.

There are at this day, many nations in the world, which know nothing of the true God. How comes this to pass? They were all the offspring of one man, the righteous Noah, who taught his children and posterity to know God; and to worship him aright. But you may learn from hence, that it is possible and natural for people, for whole nations, to forget the true God; and thus it would really happen to us, if we had not days set apart, and men appointed, to keep up the knowledge and remembrance of God in our minds. How soon do we forget our best friends, our very children, when they have been awhile dead, and out of our sight? As surely should we forget, that there is a God; that we depended upon him for every thing we have or hope for; that we ought to worship him, to give him thanks, and to put our whole