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sult? When the sickle of death cuts you down, what will become of you? You hope for heaven; but is your hope well founded? Is it rational? Is it scriptural? You pray, "Gather not my soul with sinners;" but are you careful not to stand in the way of sinners? You dread the doom of the ungodly; but are you sure you are not walking in their counsel ? What is your character? What is the true cast of your spirit and conduct? Remember, you will not enter heaven when you die, unless you have both a title to it and a meetness for it. Is this title yours, by faith in Christ as "the Lord your righteousness," and as "the propitiation for your sins?" Is this meetness yours, in a holy resemblance to him, in a growing conformity to his image, and participation of his spirit? If you would have your prospect of heaven clear, see that your title is good, and your meetness increasing; then, whenever you are called to leave the world, you "shall come to your grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in, in his season."

SERMON XVI.

CALUMNY REFUTED.

MATT. xxvii. 42.

He saved others; himself he cannot save.

THESE words were spoken in a bad spirit, yet they are interesting and instructive. They were uttered on a very memorable occasion. We see Jesus--the holy and innocent Jesus-tried, condemned, and nailed to the cross. We see Him, with wicked hands, crucified and slain: and over his head this accusation written, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews." His enemies meant it in derision, but it expressed a glorious truth. "Then were there two thieves crucified with him: one on the right hand, and another on the left." Thus was fulfilled the prediction of the prophet; "He was numbered with the transgressors." And notice the behaviour of the people; hear their language: "They that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, and saying, Thou that destroyest the Temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross." What insolence was this! Who could have endured it but the Lord Jesus, whose meekness and patience were unparal

leled! From the common people one does not much wonder at such behaviour; that the ignorant unprincipled rabble should have used such language, does not greatly surprise us; but the priests did the same! "The chief priests, with the scribes and elders," forgetful of their character, their office, and education, joined with the lowest and the rudest in their insolent abuse. Hear them casting their taunts and scoffs at the compassionate, bleeding Saviour"Likewise also the chief priests, mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save."

We must have the worst opinion of the spirit of these men, yet their words may be improved to useful purposes. Observe: They stated a FACTThey uttered a FALSEHOOD-They conveyed a most important TRUTH, which they did not think of, nor understand.

I. They stated a FACT: "He saved others.". They referred doubtless to the miracles of the Lord Jesus; the wonderful displays of his healing and saving power which he had given in his converse with men; yet there is something in the contemptuous manner in which they spoke, which evinces the incredulity of their hearts.

Shall we glance at the history of the life of the Lord Jesus? You see confirmed, in every stage of it, that precious declaration: "The Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." And again; "The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." He accomplished his kind design, in more respects than one-" He saved others."

See Jesus, after the commencement of his public

work. He was Benevolence itself. He went about continually doing good. He moved from place to place, as the sun appears to us moving in the firmament of heaven, diffusing light and life in all directions.

What did he not that was kind? Whom did he not regard and relieve? The poorest, the meanest, the most wretched, were among the suppliants of his favour, and the objects of his tender compassion"He saved others."

Behold him as the great Physician of the body, as well as of the soul. With such grievances as the people felt, they came to him, and he never failed to do them good. He healed "all manner of sickness, and all manner of disease among the people." The lame he restored to perfect soundness. He gave hearing to the deaf, and speech to the dumb; and on several occasions when he did this, those whom he restored "followed him, praising and glorifying God." He gave sight to the blind, even to such as were born blind; delivering them from all the gloom of their afflictive state; and exhibiting, in such miracles, an illustrious proof of his saving power, in opening the eyes of the understanding, and shining into the heart. He cast out devils; demonstrating his authority over the invisible world, the Almighty energy of his grace in saving the soul from the dominion of infernal spirits. He raised the dead to life; declaring his dominion over the grave, and his ability to quicken and save the soul, "dead in trespasses and sins." He fed "five thousand men besides women and children," with a mere morsel of provision, to shew that means are just what he makes them, and that he gives " "the bread of life, whereof, if a man cat, he shall live for ever.' He not only thus pre

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served multitudes in the desert, but also mariners on the sea, commanding the waves to rest, and the violence of the tempest to be still; in this way demonstrating his power over the elements of nature; and that he can appease the fury of man, the most turbulent passions of the human breast. All this, and much more did Jesus in the days of his flesh. These things his enemies knew, who said, as in the text-" He saved others."

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But salvation was his work in the best sense, as in the case of the woman recorded by the Evangelist. Her name is not mentioned, but her character is described---" She was a sinner," but she was also a penitent believer; and Jesus not only vindicated her from the ill-natured cavils of the proud pharisee, but said to her; "Thy sins, which are many, are forgiven" -"Thy faith hath saved thee: go in peace." What did he effect for the woman of Samaria? Her character had been notoriously bad; but Jesus convinced her of sin: he changed her heart, he saved her soul. You. recollect the Saviour's call to Matthew the publican, and what passed between him and Zaccheus the chief of the publicans: these men he called with "a holy calling:" he saved them with an everlasting salvation." "This day," said Jesus when he accompanied that chief of the publicans, now a penitent believer, to his home-" This day is salvation come to this house." Nor would we omit to mention that memorable instance, the thief on the While one of those malefactors was hardened in his sins, Sovereign Mercy touched the heart of the other. He said, with a feeling which cannot be expressed, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." Jesus saved him! Though bleeding and dying on the cross; though loaded with infamy.

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