with publicans and sinners. If it require any explanation, it is given in the words which immediately follow; "I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Men are ever prone to selfflattery, to mistake their real character, either by supposing their sins are not many, or that the magnitude of their guilt is not great. It was thus with those religious professors who said; "We are rich, and increased in goods, and have need of nothing;" but knew not that they "were wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked."

It is of the utmost importance that you have just views of yourselves, and a thorough conviction of your real state. You will not value the physician, unless you feel your disease; nor will you seek the Saviour, unless you know that you are lost. you are lost. And why not know it? Is it not taught in the Scriptures of truth? Is it not evident from your spirit and actions? Is it not confirmed by the verdict of your own conscience? A man that knows not his true condition as a sinner, prizes not the Saviour, has no interest in "the God of Salvation" he is under the power of the god of this world, who blinds his mind, and deceives his heart he is the subject of sinful prejudice and pride; he is under the dangerous dominion of enmity and unbelief. Have you no suspicion that this may be your state? And doubtless it is, unless a Divine change has taken place, unless you have felt the bitterness of sin, unless you have fled for refuge to the hope set before you, and thus found that your God is "the God of Salvation."

2. Learn your encouragement as sinners to seek salvation. It springs from the character which Jehovah bears, and from all that he has done to display this character. Were he ever so great, ever so

glorious, ever so good; what would it avail to a sinner if he were not "the God of Salvation?" Guilty and self-condemned, the awakened transgressor thinks of this character, and has hope: encouraged by this name, he cries, "Lord, save me!" Save, or I perish!" He feels his unworthiness, but this does not hinder his application: he is conscious of aggravated offences, but these are no bar; his concern is with God, and he is "the God of salvation!" Alternate fear and hope struggle in his breast, while he stands before the Lord; fear of justice, and hope of mercy. He draws near, but it is to the Throne of Grace; and, while he confesses his sin, he takes encouragement from the Name of Him by whom forgiveness is dispensed.

And is this your case? Is this the encouragement which you feel? It belongs to you as men who have rebelled against the Most High, but who are favoured with the message of his boundless mercy, the glad tidings of his free salvation. Let this declaration affect your hearts, and be received with all readiness of mind; "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved."

3. Learn your comfort as believers under spiritual trials. These you are taught to expect, but in these you are far from being destitute. His name revives you-" the God of Salvation:" and the promises of his word-" the Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him ;" and do not you fear him? Also, "in those that hope in his mercy;" and is not this your hope? There are seasons in which you cannot rejoice in his mercy, in which you have not full confidence of your special interest in it; but there are no seasons in which you have not hope in his mercy. No! mercy

is the spring of every hope-mercy beaming from the

Gospel of Jesus Christ, and dispensed by "the God of Salvation."--We beseech you, therefore, in all your mental trials, in every time of darkness and distress, to think on the name and promises of your God. When you approach his throne, are your sins a burthen? Do they cover you with shame? Does a sense of guilt fill you with confusion and grief? Remember, your God is "the God of Salvation." Does the corruption of your heart disturb you? Does it assume a new form, or annoy you under some old appearance, and give advantage to your powerful invisible enemy? Forget not, your heavenly Father your Almighty Friend, is "the God of Salvation." Do the dispensations of Providence perplex you? Do you find it hard to bear up under repeated crosses, and painful disappointments? Are you distressed by the apprehension of being overwhelmed and lost in the deep waves of adversity? It might be so if your God were not with you, and he "the God of Salvation." Keep this in mind; he bears the same character in all possible circumstances. However you change, he changeth not: when your fears and feelings suggest the most uncomfortable conclusions, he forbids their indulgence by the revelation of his own name, the discovery of the exceeding riches of his grace. Happy the man who by faith takes shelter in the name of the Lord, and screens himself under the protection of "the God of Salvation!"

4. Learn your refuge in all times of temporal difficulty.--There are such times, there have been in all ages, and they are yet to be expected; but he alone is safe whose refuge is God, "a very present help in trouble!" The Psalmist had this refuge, this help, when he said, "Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be

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carried into the midst of the sea." What is not he able to effect who is "the God of Salvation ?" hold! I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. any thing too hard for me?" If it will serve the purpose of his glory, or the advantage of his people, we know from the testimony of his own word, that rocks dissolve at his presence, the sun stands still at his command; and the stars, in their courses, fight against Sisera. He has all nature, and all the elements of nature, under his controul; and the hearts of all men are in his hand.

The situation of Joseph was one of peculiar difficulty; his case was attended with many trials, and interwoven with great improbabilities, yet God was his deliverer! The preservation of the three youths who were cast into the burning fiery furnace, and of Daniel in the lion's den, was infinitely easy to "the God of Salvation." Think of Peter when in prison: he was bound with a chain, surrounded with a guard, secured by an iron gate, and sentenced to die on the morrow; yet an angel is sent to rescue him: and by whom is he sent? "The God of Salvation." bore this character to Paul, no less when that Apostle was floating, in the midst of the waves, on a broken plank, than when the priest of Jupiter would have honoured him as a god. Truly with Him, nothing is impossible !-nothing consistent with the perfection of his nature, and the advancement of his praise. "Trust in the Lord for ever; for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength."

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5. Learn your obligation to him, and let it be manifest.-Suppose a man in imminent danger rescued by the kind interposition of a friend, does he feel no sense of obligation to this friend? Suppose him to be saved from drowning, delivered from a

dungeon, or rescued from a band of lawless ruffians, does not his heart fill with gratitude to the benefactor who thus saves him? Certainly it does; and he is anxious to express his feeling, to serve and please his friend, in every possible way.

Brethren, this is what we urge on you. Have you tasted that the Lord is gracious, and known something of the energy of his truth, turning you from the error of your ways, from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God? Let your hearts glow with gratitude to him to him devote the remnant of your days in holy, cheerful service. In this way prove your possession of his grace, your experience of the liberty of his children, and your right to their hopes and prospects. Bear this ever in mind ;-the salvation of the Lord is principally a salvation from sin. Evidence your firm belief of this by hating and forsaking all sin; by striving against every unhallowed temper, every unsanctified passion; by abstaining from all appearance of evil. of evil. He who hath "saved" you hath "called you with a holy calling:" walk worthy of it; henceforth serving the Lord that bought you, the God of your Salvation, with all readiness. and delight.