ture as profane, a despiser of his birth-right, and an example of one who repented not till it was too late; and he is proposed as a warning to us, not to despise or abuse the mercy of God, lest our doom should be irreversibly determined.† Proud contempt of a free salvation, idolatrous love of earthly objects, and profane disregard for spiritual blessings, are the real motives of men's rejecting the gospel; and therefore no unknown purpose of God is allowed as an excuse. It is true, the Elect were of the same disposition, and had they been left to themselves, would have made the same choice: thus "boasting is excluded;" and God appears glorious in justice in condemning sinners, but more glorious in grace in saving believers.

"No man can come to me," saith our Lord, in the discourse from which our text is taken, "except the "Father which hath sent me draw him."-"They "shall be all taught of God; every man therefore, that "hath heard and hath learned of the Father, cometh "to me." We are here informed how this otherwise insurmountable hindrance is removed. Men are drawn by rational inducements, not forced by external violence: and this drawing is effected by the' communication, not of new faculties, but of new dispositions and discoveries, which give a new direction to the judgment, desires, and affections. They are taught of God, and learn of the Father, who both opens the eyes of their understanding, takes the veil from their heart, and causes his light to shine upon them, and within

Heb. xii. 17.

SERMON.

549

who repented not till it was too late,

despiser of his birth-right, and an

as a warning to us, not to despise

God, lest our doom should be
Proud contempt of a free
of earthly objects, and pro-

gospel, and therefore no
lessings, are the real mo

owed as an excuse. 17

disposition

to part with every forbidden indulgence,
the world and deny themselves, to take
and follow Christ; and without this
cannot be his disciples. This is the
hindrance. Were they once will
and God would give them, all t
Do they not come because
intended for them? No man
know this respecting hims
think it. God's secret pr
perfectly coincide; "F
"the LORD our God
"ed, to us;" (a di
to:) the former ar
conduct, but the
but such as wi
birth-right for
did not inter

yet this, n

formed pr

at their ke warning

Their terror is

a penitent remorse,

them the odious nature o, and vileness of their own . then every kind and degree mendment proves utterly insuffieir disquieted consciences. While akenings, take shelter in this refuge of taught to exclaim, "We are all as an .hing, and all our righteousnesses are as filimplies." Thus by despair of atoning for the past, ture fying themselves before a holy God, by such any services, they become cordially willing to acyet of a free salvation.

t

Ther

They discover likewise, that personal holiness is bsolutely necessary; and are taught that "the LORD can have no pleasure in iniquity;" and that none can be meet for a holy heaven and the enjoyment of a holy

God, without conformity to his holiness. Thus they are preserved from that fatal refuge of lies, into which the love of sin betrays vast numbers, of perverting the doctrines of grace into a reason for being satisfied in the neglect of holiness. At the same time they are taught of God their own utter inability to obtain this holiness, except from him; and they learn to prize sanctification by the Spirit, as highly as redemption by the blood of Christ. When such important concerns engross their minds, worldly objects seem diminished, and they learn to count them as nothing in comparison of the salvation of their souls: thus they become willing to deny themselves, to forsake all, and to follow Christ, bearing their cross; whilst others perish in the vain attempt of serving God and Mammon, and reconciling the interests of time and eternity.

In this manner the hindrances, arising from the pride and corrupt passions of the heart, being efficaciously removed, men readily learn under such a Teacher, the grand lesson without which all others would be useless, and to which all else are subordinate. We must mention one thing before another; but it is not necessary to determine in what order these lessons shall be taught, or whether more speedily, or more gradually. But in his own time and manner, the divine Spirit will teach every elect person, the nature, truth, and glory of the gospel of Christ; and shew him, that in the divine Saviour, in his righteousness, sacrifice, interces. sion, and grace, all he wants, or can desire, is contained; "He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine,

them. Frequently after long patience with them, and preserving them during their ungodly course of life; in some cases, when they are grown more determined in wickedness than ever, and it might be supposed they were nigh unto destruction; by his Holy Spirit he shews them his glorious majesty and holiness, their relations and obligations to him, and the authority, extent, and reasonableness of his law. Thus he "con"vinces them of sin, of righteousness, and of judg"ment;" and lays open the eternal world to their view in all its tremendous importance: till alarmed at their danger, they tremble at his word, and take warning "to flee from the wrath to come." Their terror is accompanied by humiliation and penitent remorse, when the Holy Spirit teaches them the odious nature and dreadful tendency of sin, and vileness of their own conduct and character: then every kind and degree of reformation and amendment proves utterly insufficient to appease their disquieted consciences. While others, after awakenings, take shelter in this refuge of lies, they are taught to exclaim, "We are all as an "unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." Thus by despair of atoning for the past, or justifying themselves before a holy God, by such unholy services, they become cordially willing to ac cept of a free salvation.

They discover likewise, that personal holiness is absolutely necessary; and are taught that "the LORD "can have no pleasure in iniquity;" and that none can be meet for a holy heaven and the enjoyment of a holy

God, without conformity to his holiness. Thus they are preserved from that fatal refuge of lies, into which the love of sin betrays vast numbers, of perverting the doctrines of grace into a reason for being satisfied in the neglect of holiness. At the same time they are taught of God their own utter inability to obtain this holiness, except from him; and they learn to prize sanctification by the Spirit, as highly as redemption by the blood of Christ. When such important concerns engross their minds, worldly objects seem diminished, and they learn to count them as nothing in comparison of the salvation of their souls:, thus they become willing to deny themselves, to forsake all, and to follow Christ, bearing their cross; whilst others perish in the vain attempt of serving God and Mammon, and reconciling the interests of time and eternity.

In this manner the hindrances, arising from the pride and corrupt passions of the heart, being efficaciously removed, men readily learn under such a Teacher, the grand lesson without which all others would be useless, and to which all else are subordinate. We must mention one thing before another; but it is not necessary to determine in what order these lessons shall be taught, or whether more speedily, or more gradually. But in his own time and manner, the divine Spirit will teach every elect person, the nature, truth, and glory of the gospel of Christ; and shew him, that in the divine Saviour, in his righteousness, sacrifice, intercession, and grace, all he wants, or can desire, is contained; "He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine,