pulpit and offer the righteousness of the infinite Jesus to every sinner in this assembly; it is tendered to all without exception arising from character, or colour, or any other consideration.-The boundless blessings of the covenant; all the treasures of grace and glory are offered to you "without money and without price." They are free as the water which rises in the fountain, or as the dew which distils from the clouds, or as the fight which beams from yonder sun.

"Dear God, the treasures of thy love.

Are everlasting mines,

Deep as our helpless miseries are,,
And boundless as our sins.

Rivers of love and mercy here
In a rich occan join,
Salvation in abundance flows,

Like floods of milk and wine..

Ho, ye that pant for living streams,

And pine away and die;

Here you may quench your ardent thirst,
With springs that never dry."

And now, dearly beloved, are pardon, and grace and glory offered freely through the mediation of the Son of God, what hinders you to receive these unspeakable blessings? Are you sensible of your miseries but unable to believe? Have you no ability to approach the Lord Jesus Christ, and rest your souls on him for salvation? He himself is the "Author and finisher of faith." who brings near this robe of righteousness" in the everlasting gospel is gracious to strengthen the "withered hand," and enable

"

He

you to receive it. That God, who in his mercy provided a Saviour for our world, has also indited the promise, "In his name shall the Gentiles trust: Men shall be blessed in him; in the Lord shall the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory."

Art thou unable to repent of thy past transgressions? Is thy heart obstinate, unrelenting, unmelted by all the dishonors done to a forbearing God, and all the sufferings undergone by a compassionate Saviour! "I will pour upon you," is his divinely gracious promise, a promise more certain than the revolution of the day and night, of sunmer and winter, "I will pour upon you the spirit of grace and supplication, and ye shall look upon me whom you have pierced, and mourn for him." That Jesus, "who gave his life" upon the cross "a ransom for many, is now exalted" upon the throne "to be a prince and a Saviour to give repentance to Israel and the remission of sins." Commit thy soul with all its obduracy, and impenitence to his softening, sanctifying influences. He can make water to flow out of the rock, and the oil of grace out of the flinty rock of the human heart.

Hast thou no real love to God? Is thy spirit "carnal, earthly, sensual," prone to the low gratifications of the flesh without any ardent desires after Jesus, or delight in hin as thy portion? The grace of love is absolutely promised. "The Lord thy God will circumcise thy heart to love him. "A new

heart will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: I will take away the stony heart and I will give you an heart of flesh." Beloved reader, believe these promises to "be yea and amen in Jesus Christ, infallibly sure through his perfect sacrifice, and all prevailing intercession; receive them and Jesus with his salvation presented in them, as made to thyself in particular, as really as if thy name and sirname were endorsed upon them. And "in whom believing," may you "be sealed with that holy spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glory.

2. This passage may also be improved for the admonition and humiliation of the righteous. "Unto whomsoever much is given, of them shall much be required," and therefore indifference with respect to the glory of Jesus and the advancement of his kingdom on earth is more inexcusable in them than in the children of this world, because much more has been done for them. Has a sovereign God, passing by others, imparted to them the blessings of the covenant? has he made over to them the unsearchable riches of Christ, a complete pardon, the adoption of sons, and a title to heaven through his atonement, and righteousness they are peculiarly obligated to love, and serve, and adore him? They are constrained to live to him, and for him, not only from the consideration of his creating

goodness, but from the weightier argument of electing, and redeeming, and sanctifying love. "They are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that they should shew forth the praises of him who hath called them out of darkness into his marvellous light." But, alas! notwithstanding all the blessings which christians have already received, and the incomparably greater mercies which await them in reversion, are they not frequently cold and indifferent in the service of their redeemer and their generation? What a small proportion of their time is employed in holding fellowship with the living God by prayer, or in devout meditation on their exalted privileges and prospects, or in searching the scriptures, this record of their Father's love, this charter of their heavenly hope? How many precious moments are wasted, at their occasional interviews, in talking about their temporal concerns, and the common occurrences of life, but how rarely are they occupied in repeating to each other the promises of the gospel, in conversing about the instructions heard in the sanctuary, or relating their spiritual exercises, their fears, or joys, or hopes?" Even the wise virgins, the children of the bridegroom, slumber and sleep." Where is that fervor in prayer, "watching thereunto with all perseverance, and supplication?" that earnestness and affection "provoking one another to love and good works;" those ar

dent longings for the communion of God in his ordinances, that disinterested zeal for his glory which adorn the christian character, and to which christians in former ages have attained? How must the holy angels, how must the redeemed in heaven be amazed, when they look down from their mansions, and witness our eagerness in grasping after the shadows of time, and our indifference about the great, the glorious realities of eternity? "How long wilt thou sleep?" O believer. "Are the consolations of God small," that thou canst be regardless about enjoying them? Is the advancement of his glory in thy generation a trifling object, that thou art so indifferent about promoting it? Is a joyful, triumphant meeting with thy Saviour in death uninteresting that thou art careless about preparation? Peradventure" at midnight the cry may be made, behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him," and yet will you suffer your loins to be loose, and your lamps glimmering ready to expire?

Surely then, "if there be any consolations in Christ; if any fellowship of the Spirit" if any thing desirable in serving thy generation; if any thing important" in finishing thy course with joy:" if any thing interesting in obtaining " an entrance abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of thy" Saviour and Lord, "it is high time to awake out of sleep. Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye your