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they allay the disordered, irritated passions of the mind : they cleanse the soul from all unrighteousness, from the foulest stains of pollution and sin. Happy are you who are personally acquainted with the influence of the Gospel, the sovereign efficacy of these waters of salvation!

Again: the Gospel is represented under the instructive emblem of "wine and milk."-Here is something nourishing, cheering, exhilarating; and surely the blessings of the glorious Gospel are all this, in the highest and best sense. By "the unadulterated milk of the word," the believer grows and is nourished unto eternal life. By this "feast of fat things," these "wines on the lees well refined," the heart of the believer is made glad: he is strengthened in weakness, revived in languor, encouraged when cast down. He enjoys, in the inestimable salvation of the Gospel,

A sovereign balm for every wound,

A cordial for his fears.

But observe the freeness with which these blessings are exhibited; the gracious liberality with which they are dispensed. They are proposed not to a few favoured individuals only, but to mankind in general. What else can be the meaning of the expression,

every one that thirsteth, come?" This thirst intends, not exclusively a desire after spiritual blessings; for, observe the remonstrance, verse the second: "Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread; and your labour for that which satisfieth not?" The subjects of spiritual desire are certainly not chargeable with this folly. These are included; and there are two substantial reasons why they should be particularly entreated: such persons are most likely, from a sense of guilt and unworthiness, to exclude themselves; and such only will eventually be induced to comply. The

proclamation of the prophet, however, is to mankind at large; to man thirsting for happiness, but finding it not; the subject of uneasy, restless wishes. And surely there are multitudes of this description. Are not some of you in the number? You have sought satisfaction from the world, but have not attained it. You have long been saying, in the fruitless pursuit of vanity, "Who will shew us any good?" This good you have not found, nor can you find it till your desires centre in this point: "Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us*.?

And these blessings of the Gospel, observe, are not merely proposed, or proclaimed; they are most kindly recommended, earnestly pressed, and liberally dispensed. "Come ye, buy, and eat; yea come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." We cannot enter into the full meaning and import of this language: you see something of its beauty, you feel something of its force. Let a man be ever so worthless and unworthy; let a man be ever so sinful (and we are all exceedingly sinful in the sight of God); to him are the blessings of this great salvation" most generously proposed; on him are they most affectionately urged. And these good things are affectionately urged on us; the blessings of the everlasting Gospel are exactly adapted to our case: they meet our wants. These are what should interest every feeling of our souls, and excite in us the warmest wishes, the most sincere concern, that they may be personally our own.

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II. The REGARD which this message demands. "Hear.”—There can be no impropriety in understanding this literally; and, in this view, it condemns

*Psalm iv. 6.

such as do not hear the Gospel when it is brought to them, and they have the opportunity of hearing it-the many, who carelessly and sinfully turn away from it: all these are in a most dangerous condition! It also reproves such as only occasionally hear the Gospel; persons who are slothful in the concerns of religion; and are kept at home on Lord's days, and at other times, by the weakest excuses, the most trivial and unjustifiable engagements. This charge, possibly, may not rest against several of you: public worship is what you may love to frequent: you may attend it with commendable regularity, and may press through difficulties in doing so. If, however, the charge of negligence does apply to any, take the admonition kindly'; profit by it; and, in your improvement, let " your profiting appear to all."

But more is meant by hearing in the text, than your presence in the place where the Gospel is preached.

1. Hear with attention. Thus the expression is varied, both in this and the preceding verse: "Hearken diligently unto me"-"incline your ear," as persons peculiarly and closely attentive. Some marks of inattention, under the sound of the Gospel, are obvious enough. The vacant countenance, the wandering eye, the bowing head, the lolling posture of the whole body: these are plain indications of an absent mind. But we cannot always judge of attention by outward appearances: the eye may be fixed, the head erect, but the heart wandering to the very ends of the earth: amidst all the external solemnities of religious worship, a man's thoughts may be engaged in some scheme of worldly business, his whole soul immersed in some secular concern. Let each one take heed to himself! Then, my friends, will you hear with attention, when you are deeply convinced of the truth of

what you hear; when

you feel its vast importance;

when you are thoroughly satisfied that the word of the

Gospel is indeed the word of God; which are announced to you are "Thus saith the Lord."

that these things sanctioned with

2. Hear with affection.-It is a great thing to love the Gospel; but many hearers have no such attachment. Their minds may be sufficiently awake to its message, but their hearts do not inwardly approve and fall in with its requirements. If you ask, How do we know this? we answer, By the failure of its genuine effects. When the Gospel is heard affectionately, there is an earnest concern to enjoy its invaluable blessings: but in how many is no such concern found! When the Gospel is heard affectionately prejudice falls before it; it appears "altogether lovely;" the heart is captivated with its unrivalled excellency, as at once worthy of God, and every way profitable to man; but, in numberless instances, strong prejudice still abides? When the Gospel is heard affectionately, there is a growing conformity to it. Love produces likeness. When a man loves the Gospel, you may soon perceive it, more or less, by his increasing resemblance to its holy requirements; but, alas! this resemblance is not perceived in many who listen to its external sound. And how is it with you? Try yourselves by this test; and know, that there is a serious defect in your regard to the Gospel, unless, beholding here "the glory of the Lord," you are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord*."

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3. Hear with believing application.—We believe the word which we hear, when we receive it, not as the word of man, but as the word of God. And we * 2 Cor. iii. 18.

you

apply it, when we take it home to ourselves. Several of you know what this means: you are not only amused and pleased with the message of life, but feel its sacred energy on the heart. You need no long train of argument to convince you that the Gospel is true: you feel its truth by its evident adaptation to your personal benefit. As when a man is hungry, we need not reason with him about the importance of eating; he feels it already, and appetite is a sufficient inducement as when a man is weary, he needs no lectures on the desirableness of rest; he lies down, and enjoys it.

There were some of old, whom "the word preached did not profit;" why?" not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." And do not you know" faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God?Ӡ Remember, therefore, that the Gospel recommends itself to your faith: it demands the believing application of its blessings to yourselves. Its great Author not only says, "Hearken diligently unto me," but " eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness." Yes; these "waters" are good; the "milk and wine" are good: the blessings of salvation are exactly adapted to your case, and suited to your wants. Do not put them from Think not they may be you. well enough for others, but are not needed by you; nor imagine they may be obtained by others, but cannot be obtained by you. Receive them as your own; as generously set before you for your good. Lay hold of them, as the free gift of a covenant God, and give this God all the glory.

4. Hear with obedient compliance.-This, indeed, is nearly allied to what has last been mentioned, yet it includes something farther. Thus it is said, "Incline. * Heb. iv. 2. + Rom. x. 17.

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