from day to day. And, supposing that you have given yourselves to him, have you been faithful to your engagements, so that in the last day, when the time for your everlasting union with the heavenly Bridegroom shall come, we may "present you as a chaste virgin to Christ?" Have the world and the flesh so far lost their ascendant over you, that you no longer comply with their solicitations, or yield to their temptations? Finally, Can the heart-searching God attest, that, as far as respects any wilful sin, you are blameless and harmless, and shining as lights in the midst of a dark world? These things are indispensably necessary to any well-grounded expectation of the heavenly glory: and if, whilst destitute of these essential marks, you buoy up yourselves with the hopes of heaven, you do but deceive your own souls to your eternal ruin. I even appeal to yourselves: would you who have never touched a harp be able at a moment to accompany with it a band of music, and to join harmoniously in the sublimest strains? How then shall you, if undisciplined and unprepared, accompany the heavenly hosts in all their songs of praise? Their song, as you have before heard, is one which none but the sealed can learn and were you admitted there in an unconverted state, your harp would yield nothing but discordant sounds, nor would a single note of your voice be in unison with the heavenly choir.

But I would hope and trust, that there are many here who on good grounds are expecting a portion among the saints in light. To such then I would say," Press forward, forgetting the things which are behind, and reaching forward to that which is before." And, if at any time the thought occur to your mind, Can such a sinner as I be saved? then look into heaven, and see who there are already around the throne: do you not see there a Manasseh, a Mary Magdalen, a dying thief, and a whole host from the Church at Corinth? Then there can be no reason for you, or any other person, to despond. Only seek to be interested in the redemption that Christ has wrought out for you, and every thing else will follow. Through him you shall be justified; through him you shall be sanctified; "through him you shall be presented unto God without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, yea, as holy and without blemish:" for to all who seek acceptance through him, "he is made of God, wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption."]

q 1 Cor. vi. 10, 11.

MMDXVI.

THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO ALL NATIONS.

Rev. xiv. 6, 7. I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come.

ON many occasions we find angels employed by God to execute his purposes respecting men. Sometimes they have been sent as executioners of his judgments; but most generally as dispensers of some special mercy; for their more appropriate office is, as ministering spirits, to minister unto the heirs of salvation."

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In the passage before us an angel is sent, not to an individual, or a family, or a single nation, but to the whole world; having received a commission to "preach the everlasting Gospel to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people upon the face of the whole earth." His mode of executing this commission also is made known to us; and the whole account will afford us very valuable instruction, whilst we consider,

I. His commission

It is here manifestly intimated,

1. That the whole world need to have the Gospel preached to them

[We are apt to imagine that every man may be saved by the religion which he professes: and to intimate the contrary is deemed a libel even upon the Deity himself. But on this subject we can know nothing except as we are informed by God himself: and we must not set up our opinions in opposition to his revealed will. We must receive with implicit faith the declarations of his word; and whether they accord with our preconceived views or not, we must rest satisfied, that the Judge of all the earth will do right. I am far from saying that God may not save some from amongst all nations, even though they have not a distinct knowledge of the Gospel: for God may do whatsoever seemeth him good; and we are no more at liberty to limit the exercise of his mercy, than we are

the rights of his justice. But "secret things belong to him; and the things which are revealed belong to us and to our children:" and the uniform testimony of revelation is, that men are all in a lost and perishing condition; that they all need a Saviour; and that "there is no other name given under heaven whereby any man can be saved, but the name of Jesus Christ." This then is the testimony which we must bear, without presuming to be "wise above that which is written." Indeed the very circumstance of an angel being employed to preach the Gospel to the whole world, is itself a proof that the whole world needs to be instructed in it in order to their final salvation; for we cannot suppose that God would use such means for the information of the world, if the information itself were not greatly needed. We shall do well therefore to fix this as a settled principle in our minds, that as Christ has offered himself "a propitiation for the sins of the whole world," the whole world needs to be directed to him as the only ground of a sinner's hope.]

2. That the office of a preacher is one which even an angel from heaven may well affect

[Think you that this angel counted his office an indignity? or that he regretted even his absence from the throne of God, whilst he was occupied in the discharge of it? No surely: a regard for God's honour and for the welfare of mankind would carry him forward with exquisite delight, whilst flying through the vast expanse of heaven. And let me say, that the office, by whomsoever discharged, if executed with fidelity and zeal, is as honourable as any that can be sustained on earth. We justly account it a great honour to be an ambassador from an earthly monarch, and especially if for the purpose of effecting peace between contending nations. But how infinitely more honourable is it to be an ambassador from the court of heaven, and a representative of the King of kings, to proclaim to a rebellious world the terms on which they shall be restored to his favour, and receive all the benefits which Omnipotence itself can confer upon them! Let none then think lightly of this office; let none imagine that talents of the most distinguished kind can be employed in any service more worthy of them, or that in any line whatever the most strenuous exertions can be more richly recompensed: for if a preacher be made an instrument of saving only one single soul, he has already gained that which is of more value than the whole world.]

Let us now turn our attention to, II. His execution of it

There are many who imagine that the Gospel consists merely in an exhibition of Christ as crucified for the sins of men. That this is the point to which all must lead, I readily acknowledge: but it is necessary that men should be awakened to a sense of their guilt and danger, in order to prepare their minds for a due reception of the Gospel salvation: "The whole need not a physician, but they that are sick:" and, unless people feel their malady, it is in vain to speak to them of a remedy suited to it. The true mode of preaching the Gospel may be learned from the angel, in our text, who first calls men to a state of humiliation on account of sin; then exhorts them to embrace the salvation offered them in the Gospel; and then enforces his exhortation with a consideration calculated to stimulate them to the utmost care and diligence.

1. He calls men to a state of humiliation, on account of sin

[The whole world are asleep, or rather "dead, in trespasses and sins." All fear of God, yea, all thought of God, is cast off; and men are as unmindful of their accountableness to him as if there were no God in heaven. To awaken them from their slumber, he opens his commission, by saying, and "saying with a loud voice," "Fear God." And in like manner would I "lift up my voice like a trumpet," yea, if I could speak, as the angel himself, like thunder, it would be no more than the occasion calls for, if peradventure I might awaken one single soul to a consideration of his lost estate. I say to you all then, "FEAR GOD;" whatever be your age, whatever your condition, whether ye be old or young, or rich or poor, I say to every one of you individually as well as collectively, "FEAR GOD:" for he is "a great God, and of terrible majesty;" and ye have all greatly offended him, and are obnoxious to his everlasting displeasure. In the view of this, even a heathen monarch issued 66 a decree that every man in his wide-extended dominions should tremble and fear before the God of heaven." And well may this be inculcated on every human being: for "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." The inculcating of this too is a very essential part of the Gospel: for so was the Gospel ministered by the forerunner of our Lord, and by our Lord himself, and

a Dan. vi. 25, 26.

by all his holy Apostles: they all preached "repentance towards God" as preparatory to "faith in our Lord Jesus Christ" and he neglects a very essential part of his duty who does not make repentance a preliminary requisite to a due reception of the Gospel salvation.]

2. He exhorts them to embrace the salvation offered them in the Gospel

[God has in his tender mercy sent his only dear Son to die for our redemption; and has told us, that through him he will be reconciled unto us, and that all who believe in him shall be justified from all things. This Gospel then we should receive with the profoundest reverence, and the most lively gratitude. In so doing we "give glory" to all his glorious perfections. We glorify his wisdom and goodness, which have devised such a plan for the salvation of a ruined world: we glorify his love and mercy, in accepting it: we glorify his truth and faithfulness, in expecting the accomplishment of his promises in the appointed way. It is said of Abraham, that when a child was promised to him in his old age, he "staggered not at the promises of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God." Believe ye then, brethren, that this way of salvation through a crucified Redeemer is both suited to your wants, and sufficient for your necessities. Believe that, if you "look unto Jesus, you shall be saved;" and that "those who come unto him he will in no wise cast out." Do not dishonour him by any doubts either of his ability or willingness to save you. Do not for a moment assign limits to the mercy of your God, or to the power of Christ, who is "able to save you to the uttermost." If I may use such an expression, take God at his word; embrace his promises; rely upon them; plead them in prayer; expect the accomplishment of them to your souls: and know that sooner shall" heaven and earth pass away, than one jot or one tittle of his word shall fail."]

3. He enforces his exhortation with a consideration calculated to stimulate them to the utmost care and diligence

But

[It is probable that there is some reference here to the judgments which will be inflicted on the anti-Christian powers, to make way for the more rapid diffusion of the Gospel. that will be only a prelude, as it were, to the general judgment, when all the enemies of the Lord and of his Christ shall be finally destroyed. Of that period the Apostles often speak, with a view to detach our minds from present things, and to

b Mark i. 4, 14, 15. Luke xxiv. 47. Acts xx. 21.