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Strive to comprehend the heights, and depths, and lengths, and breadths, of my love which passeth knowledge, and let a sense of that love constrain you to walk with me, to depend on me, and to delight also in seeing me."

Now, this I conceive to be the true import of the words "Come unto me.” Come in faith, believing that I am indeed able and willing to save. Come in hope, notwithstanding all that you have ever done amiss, however great it be. Come in love, and be driven not by a fear of condemnation, but by a sense of the excellency of my character, and by all the wonders of my love.

son designated in all your prophecies- and obedience unto death. Farther: the person sent to you from the Father at this very moment. Go not to the vanities of this world to seek rest in thein; for they can never give it you. It is not to be found in them; it is a gift which none but myself can bestow upon any human being. Farther: Keep not away from me, under an apprehension that you can make satisfaction for your own souls, or that you can cleanse yourselves, by any means, from your iniquities; for you never can have redemption but through my blood, nor can you ever subdue your lusts but by my all-sufficient grace; neither delay to come to me on account of your unworthiness, as if it were necessary to bring some meritorious service as the price of My dear brethren, this I affirm to every my favour. No; come to me, every one one who is weary and heavy laden, whatof you, just as you are, with all your sins ever his burden be, that he is to consider upon you-with all your sins upon you. these words as addressed to himself, at Do not stop to heal yourselves imper- this very moment, by the Lord Jesus fectly, but come instantly to the physi- Christ, as much as any of those who cian. Come, and receive all my bless-attended his personal ministry had it adings freely, without money, and without dressed to them. Nay, more, to every price.' Come in faith, believing that I individual soul is it addressed, as though am able to save to the uttermost all that it had been personally addressed to him come unto God by me, and believing that alone. I am as willing to save as I am able. Come, every one of you, in faith. Come, also, in hope. Let your expectations be enlarged. Ye are not straitened in me, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.' Count up all the blessings of time-survey all the glories of eternity-stretch-behold him bowing his head in death, your imagination to the utmost-ask all that eye ever saw, or ear ever heard, or heart ever conceived, and I will not only grant all your requests, but do for you 'exceedingly abundant above all that ye can ask or even think.' Open your mouths ever so wide, I pledge myself that I will fill them. Moreover, come in love. Be not like persons driven to me by mere necessity, and influenced by nothing but the dread of hell; but contemplate my character as the Son of the living God, who has become incarnate for you, and for the salvation of a ruined world. Meditate on my kindness, too, in leaving the bosom of my Father, in emptying myself of all my glory, in order to take upon me all the guilt of your sins, and to expiate them by my own sacrifice

Then let us, my brethren, hear our blessed Lord's address-for it is He who speaks, by the mouth of a poor unworthy preacher-let us hear him, at this moment, saying, " Come unto me." Hear him with his dying breath upon the cross

and, with his dying breath, saying, "Come unto me." Follow him to his throne of glory, and there behold him stretching out his hands, and saying to you all, "Come unto me." Let us all go to him, with one accord, with one heart, with one mind, and that without delay! Let us fly to him, every one of us, "as doves to the windows."

Now, that nothing might be wanting to give efficacy to his invitation, consider,

III. THE PROMISE WITH WHICH IT IS ENFORCED-" And I will give you rest."

The world are glad to see us in our prosperity, and when we can participate in their pleasures; but, in the day of adversity, when want and trouble come upon us, they are but too apt to lessen their regards, and to grow weary of our com

laden soul, are called in Scripture an earnest of our inheritance. You all know what that earnest is yourselves. The peace which he will give is an earnest, is a foretaste-a blessed foretaste-of the felicity of heaven itself.

But we must extend our thoughts yet farther, even to the rest which remains for the people of God. Now that was, doubtless, most eminently in the Saviour's mind; nor can any thing short of all the glories and felicities of heaven be the portion of those who come to him aright;

plaints. Not so our blessed Lord; his conduct is altogether different. He bids as come to him in the time of trouble. He, instead of turning a deaf ear to our requests, assures every one of us, "I will give you rest." I will give you rest: how suitable his promise! What do the weary and heavy laden desire? I will suppose them to be bowed down under temporal afflictions; what do they desire, what do they wish for, but something to soothe the anguish of their minds, and something to be a support to their fainting souls? Now, my brethren, the Lord-never shall you have less than all the Jesus Christ administers this to every glories and felicities of heaven. person that comes to him-administers it by the aid of his grace, and by the communication of his Spirit. Are their sorrows altogether spiritual? He speaks peace to the wounded conscience, and says, "Be of good cheer, be of good cheer, I am thy salvation." O what is it that he hath spoken to the soul! Yes, brethren, he discovers to the wounded soul the sufficiency of his blood to cleanse it from the guilt of sin, and the efficacy of his grace to subdue and mortify our lusts. Yes, he gives to all who wait upon him what nothing in all the universe besides can ever supply—a firm and stable hope of pardon and peace, of holiness and glory. Whatever other blessings should be offered to the soul, they would be all despised in comparison with these. That which I offer you in the Saviour's name this day is bread to the hungry, water to the thirsty, and health to the sick. They are exactly suited to your necessities the very thing that you need.

And now, I ask, can any thing be`more precious than this to the believing soul? You see how suitable it is. Mark how precious the word which is used in my text, "I will give rest." This means vastly more than a mere exemption from labour and trial. The true import of it implies refreshment-that kind of refreshment which a strong and sincere belief affords. How sweet is peace to a believing penitent! It is peace that passeth all understanding; it is joy that is unspeakable and glorious. My dear brethren, the communications of his Holy Spirit, which he will impart to the weary and heavy

I now farther add, that this is a true and faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation. Was there ever one person, from the beginning of the world, who ever came to the Saviour in vain? Was there ever one that did not experience his truth and faithfulness? It is true, many perhaps come to him without experiencing this rest and peace, and all these promises below. But why! They did not come in faith, hope, and love, and have been only impelled by terror, and would never think of the Saviour if it were not for hell. They listen to the suggestions of despondency, and they live under the reigning power of unbelief. No wonder, therefore, that they do not find that rest which their souls desire. But if they only go to him aright, there is no guilt, however great, that shall not be removed from their consciences, nor any earthly trouble which they shall not be able to support with comfort; yea, to rejoice and glory in it. If, under any cloud whatever, they go to the Lord, as the apostle Paul did with the thorn in the flesh, and cry repeatedly and earnestly to him, they shall, like the apostle, be enabled to rejoice in their trials and tribulations, and glory in them. They shall certainly find that the keenest of their sorrows are in fact sources of triumph. You remember what St. Paul says, "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then am I strong." Then I say this to all of you; if you will but go to the Saviour in the way he requires, you shall find all this Y

rest to your souls-rest in time, and glory in eternity.

On the other hand, many are tempted to seek rest in their duties, in their per

Now let me address myself to two or formances; but remember, I beseech you, three descriptions of persons.

I fear there are many present who have never felt aright the burden of sin, and who are ready to congratulate themselves upon it. An exemption from earthly trouble is a ground of self-congratulation, but not so an exemption from the sorrows of a contrite heart. You remember that it is the broken and the contrite heart which God will not despise; but he will despise every other. We may think that we have no need of this; we may, like the pharisee, boast of our own goodness, and, like the elder brother, refuse to join with the poor penitent. But, if so, like the pharisee, we shall go without pardon, while the publican is accepted; and, like the elder brother, be excluded, while the returning prodigal is filled with peace and joy. Dear brethren, I tell you from Almighty God, that you must sow in tears if ever you would reap in joy: you must go out weeping, bearing precious seed, and then you shall come at last rejoicing, bringing your sheaves with you.

But I trust there are some who are seeking rest-some who have begun to pray in secret some who have smitten on their breasts like the publican, and are crying for mercy. Now, then, if there be such a one here present, let him in particular attend to me. My brother, my afflicted brother, there are two things against which you have to guard-the one is against self-righteous hopes, and the other is against desponding feelings.

my brethren, that it is Christ alone who can give peace to a wounded soul. From him you must receive it as a free, unmerited gift.

And then I would say to the weary and heavy laden soul, only do you draw nigh to Christ in his appointed way, and the Lord and Saviour will draw nigh to you, with all his promised blessings, and he shall pour them in rich abundance into your weary and heavy laden souls.

I trust that, in this assembly, there is a third description of persons-those who have obtained rest, and can set their seals to the truth of what I have said, and can add, "I was a weary and heavy laden sinner, bearing the wrath of God. I came to the Saviour; my burden has fallen off at the foot of the cross, and I have obtained peace to my soul." O that that may be the state of every one amongst you!

Now to each person I would say, you must remember that this, so far from exempting you from an obligation to watchfulness, should bind you to tenfold diligence in the ways of God. Look at the words immediately following my text, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you," (and then he confirms it again,)" and ye shall find rest unto your souls." Mark! by this he shows that submission to his holy will, and obedience to his commandments, is as necessary to the rest of the soul as an affiance in his name. You cannot come to him for pardon, and neglect the sanetity of your soul. You cannot have peace in a way of sin; and the finding of peace in the Lord Jesus should bind you to the utmost possible exertion in the ways of holiness.

Now, there are many persons who are apt to despond. They think their burdens are too heavy to be removed, their guilt too great to be forgiven. But I ask of you, whom it is that our Lord invites? The weary, and the heavy laden. Whom does our Lord except? Not one-not one! "Come unto me, all ye that are And then I say, if there be such a one weary, and heavy laden." I pray God-and I trust there are many-who enthat every one of you, my brethren, may joys the peace of God-I say, my dear be included in this number. "Come brother, let this be your daily care, to unto me, all ye that labour, and are heavy laden," and whatever be your sins, whatever your burdens, "I will give you

rest."

take Christ's yoke upon you, and to conform yourself in all things to his mind and will. Even supposing his yoke were ever so heavy, it would be reasonable

Can we conceive of a more exasperated

that you should take it upon you, when I should the more readily take the cautions he has delivered you from the yoke of we give; and that, in commending to sin, and all the weight of that yoke which them the great interests of their salvation, you deserve. But I tell you, and I tell it should be endeared to our own affecyou from sweet experience-I tell you tions as above all price. that his yoke is easy, and his burden is light. There is not one of his command-case of folly and of crime than the reverse ments that is grievous-" his ways are ways of pleasantness, and all his paths are paths of peace." If any of you will come to the Saviour, and walk with him in obedience to his holy will, you shall find that in a dying hour it shall be verified in you—“ Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace." Follow the soul into the climes of bliss, and there you shall be found in Abraham's bosom; yea, in the very bosom of God!

Now I have endeavoured to spread before you, with the utmost possible simplicity, what I conceive to be the entire gospel, having opened it, as it were, in all its parts. I speak as a dying man, looking soon for my own departure; and I speak to you as dying men. I pray God that the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ may be poured out upon you, as upon the day of Pentecost; and that you may come to him this day, and believe in him, and experience salvation come home to your souls; that thus you may live in holiness, die in peace, and reign in glory for

evermore.

The Lord grant a blessing to every soul amongst you, for Christ's sake! Amen.

of this? A man who, by profession, is denouncing the world, but, in heart, making it the object of his idolatry:—A man who is pressing on others the importance of their redemption, and is knowingly neglecting his own :-A man who ostentatiously avows himself to be the servant of God, but who, in fact and in principle, is only serving himself; and professes to serve God only that he may serve himself the more effectually. O, if demons laugh, if angels tremble, it is at such a sight!-Reed.

USE SCRIPTURE LANGUAGE.

HOLD up your face, my brethren, for the truth and simplicity of the Bible. Be not ashamed of its phraseology. It is the right instrument to handle in the great work of calling a human soul out of darkness into marvellous light. Stand firm and secure on the impregnable principle, that this is the word of God, and that all taste, and imagination, and science must give way before its overbearing authority. Walk in the footsteps of your Saviour, in the twofold office of caring for the diseases of the body, and administering to the wants of the soul; and though you may fail in the former-though the patient may never rise and walk, yet, by the blessing of heaven upon your fervent and effectual endeavours, the latter object may It is your privilege to find in your pro- be gained-the soul may be lightened of fessional duties every thing conducive all its anxieties-the whole burden of its to your particular salvation. Unlike diseases may be swept away-it may be other men, your very vocation is to of good cheer, because its sins are forprayer, to watchfulness, to heavenly con- given-and the right direction may be templation, and spiritual exertion. It impressed upon it which will carry it formight well be expected, that while we are thus exercised for the benefit of others, it should be beneficial, in a superlative degree, to ourselves; that in teaching others, we should become the wiser ourselves; that in warning others, we

THE MINISTERIAL OFFICE INCREASES PERSONAL
RESPONSIBILITY.

ward in progress to a happy eternity. Death may not be averted, but death may be disarmed. It may be stripped of its terrors, and instead of a devouring enemy, it may be hailed as a messenger of triumph.-Dr. Chalmers.

SERMON XXVIII.

FIDELITY TO CHRIST ENFORCED.

PREACHED IN THE RELIEF CHURCH, EDINBURGH,

BY THE REV. ALEXANDER HARVEY.

“Be thou faithful unto death, and 1 will give thee a crown of life."-Rev. ii. 10.

The first scene in the vision exhibits the glorified Redeemer arrayed in all the overwhelming splendours of Divine majesty, and walking in the "midst of the seven golden candlesticks." This attitude denotes the minute inspection he takes of his church-the tender care he exercises over her-and the rightful claim he has to the supreme regard of every one of her members. The unrivalled dignity of the Saviour, and his high title to the supreme adorations of men and of angels, are demonstrated by the authority which he possesses over the visible and invisible worlds, the minute knowledge which he has of every circumstance connected with the personal history of the humblest of our race, and the awards of judgment, by which the changeless condition of every order of rational intelligences shall be fixed.

THE visions unfolded to our contemplation in this book of sacred prophecy, are of the most sublime and captivating description. The curtain which conceals futurity from human inspection is lifted up, and the persecuted apostle, in his lonely banishment, has a magnificent disclosure made to him of what was to be hereafter. The dispensations of Providence, which relate to the church, are minutely unfolded. The trials she would have to encounter, and the sea of tribulation through which she should have to pass before she should enter on her millennial rest, are distinctly foretold. The revelation is not indeed given in plain language, but under the more striking form of hieroglyphical symbols. Like a panoramic exhibition, one scene after another comes in rapid succession into view, and one symbol after another arrests the attention of the astonished apostle, till In the epistle to the church in Smyrna the revelation is complete; and each he describes himself as the "First and scene unveils a portion of the history of the Last," as he who "was dead and is the church till she is seen far in futurity alive." He assures her members that completely triumphant over all her in- he was well acquainted with their "works veterate foes. Then the curtain drops. of faith and labours of love"-that he Divine revelation closes. The heavens knew the sacrifices they had made for are shut, never to be opened till the Son his sake-the violence with which they of man shall come to judge the world in had been assailed by the emissaries of righteousness. The symbolic writing is Satan-the bloody persecution they had not destroyed. It is in our hands. And endured-and the accumulating trials to it becomes us attentively, and in the ex- which they would yet be exposed. But, ercise of fervent prayer, to watch the instead of shrinking back from the thickevolution of events, under the firm con-ening conflict, he encourages them to viction that the amazing realities, of hold fast their integrity, retain their couwhich these were but the types, either have been, or shall be unfolded, on the theatre of the world.

rage, and dismiss their fears. And he urges them to unflinching steadfastness in the course on which they had entered,

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