selves like unto men that wait for their Lord: that when he cometh and knocketh they may open to him immediately."

"And may the God of all grace, who hath called us to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you :" and to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, three equally gracious, divine, adorable persons in one Jehovah, be ascribed "dominion and praise, world without end." AMEN.

SERMON II.

LUKE, XIII, 24.

For many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

THE salvation of the immortal spirit is a work at once immensely important and difficult. After the sinner has been convinced of his danger, awakened from his security, impressed in some degree with the rigors of divine justice, and the necessity of a reconciliation, he too frequently has recourse to a refuge of lies; he erects for himself some other" covert from the tempest" of wrath, than Jesus the rock of ages, the true "covert from the storm," devised by infinite wisdom, and there dreams of heaven until he awakes in hell. "Wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadd

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eth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat; but strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Of those who are baptized in the name of Jesus, who are instructed in the principles of his religion, and who afterwards put on the mask of a profession, many, we have reason to apprehend, will be finally disappointed: a small proportion of such, comparatively speaking, are now travelling "the narrow" way, or shall hereafter attain the prize of immortality. Our Master has forewarned us in language explicit and awful," not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. Many will say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity." In the oracles of the living God we read of one who "trembled" under the preaching of the word, but have no assurance that his convictions issued in saving conversion: we read of a second who, charmed with the excellence of divine truth, and the glories of the heavenly world, was "almost persuaded to be a christian," but there is no account that he altogether attained either the character, or the blessing which real religion secures. We read of another whom "Jesus loved;" who possess.

ed many moral excellencies, many amiable and useful qualifications, "but one thing was lacking, and that single defect, for ought that God has revealed, issued in his damnation. In the parable of the ten virgins, and in the chapter from which our text is selected, some are represented as approaching the Saviour, and expostulating, "Lord, Lord, open to us, we have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets" to whom he will indignantly reply, I know you not, depart from me, ye workers of iniquity."

It may not therefore be improper to inquire into the cause of this disappointment: to ascertain the reason why many who fondly dream of happiness now, shall probably come short hereafter?

This, with a humble reliance on the Spirit oftruth for direction, is our present design. Many shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able."

1. It may be remarked that the disappointment of any does not arise from want of mercy in the everlasting God. His grace is infinite as his nature; his mercy is an ocean without bottom, without bounds. He has positively pledged his word; he has confirmed it with the additional solemnity of an oath for the sinner's encouragement, that he "has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked would turn from his ways and live :" He patiently waits, and affectionately expostulates, "Turn ye, turn ye, why

will ye die, O house of Israel." Could the eternal God have possibly exhibited a higher display of good will to men, of compassion towards their miseries, or concern for their happiness than by delivering up, freely delivering up the son of his love as a sacrifice and propitiation for our sins. This interposition in behalf of our world proclaims louder than language can express the tender mercies of Jehovah, and must for ever vindicate his justice in the punishment of the unbelieving and impenitent. "Whom

God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God."

2. Neither can the sinner's inability to enter be ascribed to any defect of merit in the Divine Redeemer. His blood, being the blood of God and his righteousness the righteousness of God, are infinitely meritorious for the redemption of sinners, even the chief. By the obedience of his life, and the sacrifice of his cross, the divinely glorious Immanuel has amply repaired the injuries of the broken law; has satisfied to the very uttermost the demands of vindictive justice, and has rendered the salvation of man eminently glorifying to each attribute of the Godhead.-Jehovah is just, immaculately "just while he justifies the ungodly, who submit to the righteousness of Jesus. He is in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them:"

He no longer charges transgression to their account, but with his own hand draws up and signs and seals their sentence of absolution. The all sufficiency of the Redeemer's satisfaction; its infinite efficacy for securing glory to God, and peace and reconciliation to man is a theme which the great apostle frequently and rapturously contemplated; but he appears to dwell upon it with peculiar elevation of heart, and loftiness of expression in the following passages-"Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth; who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea, rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound; that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord."

3. Neither can the failure of any be ascribed to want of power in the Holy Ghost, either to regenerate or sanctify. As Jesus Jehovah is almighty to redeem to the uttermost, the Spirit Jehovah is almighty to sanctify to the uttermost all who humbly depend on his aid. He can easily raise to life, to the life of grace and glory, "the very dead in trespasses and sins:" With one effort of his arm he is able to knock off the fetters of corruption and introduce the slave of satan into the liberty, the glorious liberty of a son of God: With one ray of his countenance, he

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