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has actually come down from heaven, and "died for us, the just for the unjust, that he may bring us unto God." Repent then and believe the gospel. However numerous or aggravated your sins may have been, there is forgiveness with God, that He may be feared, and loved, and served by you. Now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation to-morrow may be too late. to accept the overtures of

Delay not then and grace. mercy

Look

to Jesus and be saved. Come unto him and he

But how shall you

will in no wise cast you out. escape, if you neglect so great salvation? Escape? You cannot. For there is no other method of deliverance. Jesus is the only Saviour; "neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must or can be saved." If you embrace him by faith, and receive him as your prophet, to instruct you; your priest, to make atonement for your sins, to intercede for you in heaven, and to bless you; and as your king, to reign over you in righteousness, to subdue your sins and to conquer your enemies, you will then belong to the family of God. Your faith in the Saviour will be an evidence that you are numbered among his adopted children. This I trust, brethren, is the happy case with some of you. If it be so, remember your high alliance, and consider whither you are going. "You are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-heirs with the saints, and of the household of God." Rejoice in your connexion and your prospects; and

by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." From what has been said, is it not evident that the law should have a prominent place in the preaching of the Word of God? Yes, it is of the utmost importance that every preacher of the Word should faithfully declare the nature, the extent, the obligation, and the sanction of the law, in the same manner as it is exhibited in the Holy Scriptures; and in the Articles, Homilies, and Liturgy of our Church, especially in the Commination Service. Let us then, my reverend brethren, preach the law; but be careful that we preach it lawfully. Let us state it, in conformity to the Word of God, and to the Church of which we are the ministers, not as the ground of our acceptance with God, not as the instrument of our justification; but "as our schoolmaster, to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith.

(3.) The next essential doctrine of the Word, proper to be noticed, is, that the universal transgression of the law of God proceeds from that universal depravity and pollution of nature, of which man is a partaker in consequence of the fall.

That every human being is a transgressor of the law of God, is evident from scripture, observation, and experience. But whence proceeds man's sinful conduct? Undoubtedly, from his sinful nature. "A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit." The beneficent Creator originally made man upright: He formed

of Jesus, we have hitherto been spared to hear the offer of his mercy renewed. Oh let us redeem our remaining time from the service of sin and the world, and devote it to him who died for us, and rose again. Let us be anxious to make our calling and our election sure. Let us look to the Saviour to grant us repentance for our sins. Let it be our object to live a life of faith upon the Son of God; and let us pray for grace to enable us to obey his blessed will. Thus all will be well with us, whether the period of our life be of a longer or a shorter date. And then, when we are called to give up the ghost, if the inquiry be made respecting any individual among us, "Where is he?" What answer would be made?

If the question be asked in hell-of Satan the adversary of God and man, who goeth about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, what reply would be wrung from his disappointed malignity? "He has escaped from our hands; he was made acquainted with our devices; he resisted our temptations; he has been rescued from our society and torments; he has obtained an inheritance in that state of glory from which we miserable have been cast down for ever."

If the inquiry should be made on earth-of a fellow Christian, an heir of the same promises, "He has given up the ghost, and where is he?" might he not with confidence answer, "He is gone to inherit a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens; to enter on the mansions prepared for

him by Jesus, who has saved him with an everlasting salvation; to participate in the felicities and glories of that inheritance, where there shall in no wise enter in anything that defileth; but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Should the question be asked in heaven, and one of the innumerable company of angels should be addressed, "where is he?" "He belonged to our society; he was predestinated to be made equal to the angels; he is now come to dwell with us and unite in our songs. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever."

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And finally, imagine the question proposed to one of the spirits of just men made perfect, He hath given up the ghost, and where is he?" "He is come to our Father's house, to rest in the bosom of his Father and his God; to see the Saviour whom he loved and to be made like him; to serve God day and night in his temple; where he will hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on him, nor any heat. For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne shall feed him, and shall lead him unto living fountains of waters, and God shall wipe away all tears from his

eyes.

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Christ. Yes, my reverend brethren, we are required to make him the great end of our preaching, for the glory of Christ is the ulimate end of the Gospel; “all things are for him as well as by him." He is to be also the grand subject of our ministry. It behoves us to exhibit him in all his divine dignity and loveliness, as "God over all, and blessed for ever:"-to place him before our hearers in all the beauty and glory of his mediatorial character, as Immanuel, God with us. Jesus must be preached as the great Prophet of his people, who instructs them by his word and his spirit as their Priest, who has made atonement for their sins, and who ever liveth to make intercession for them as their King, who subdues their sins, and reigns over them in righteousness :—as their Shepherd, "who gathers the lambs in his arms, and carries them in his bosom, and gently leads those that are with young:" -as the "Captain of their salvation, who brings many sons to glory :"'-as their Advocate, who pleads their cause, and is the propitiation of their sins." These are doctrines which ministers must preach, because they are absolutely necessary for their hearers to know. They are as essential for the welfare of their souls, as food for the support of their bodies. But I add, if we would preach Christ, making the Apostles our example, we must have a continued regard to him when we treat of any of the subjects of his word. Would we speak of the perfections of God? They must be displayed as shining forth in his Son, and as exemplified in his mediatorial work. Would we exhibit gospel blessings, and

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