that the ancient Israel of GOD may be brought out of darkness into his marvellous light; that the veil which | is across their hearts when they read Moses and his law, may be taken away from them, and that the law of the gospel, in all its power and blessedness, may spring up in their consciences, and in their understandings, and in their hearts. But if they were thus without excuse, it is of the first importance that we should consider, in the Second place, HOW MUCH MORE INEXCUSABLE we are if we rEJECT CHRIST. For, my beloved brethren, many and great are the privileges and advantages we possess with regard to our eternal salvation. The Jews had many prejudices, many difficulties to encounter, during the appearance of Christ on earth. The same difficulties do not now exist to prevent our application for all the benefits of spiritual life. For example, the Jews had a great and heavy disappointment in the humility of Christ; they had a close attachment to every thing which Moses had commanded, as well as a strong love for the traditions of their elders. The one they saw superseded by the new religion, as it were, the other they heard, they saw condemned and laid aside: and although the works, the marvellous deeds of the Messiah should have banished all those ideas, yet they were doubtless great drawbacks, to their receiving Christ, and leaving all to follow him. Now we have none of these hindrances to contend against: our path, comparatively, is easy. We profess that the Gospel is from God; we profess that Christ's kingdom is of a spiritual nature. We profess that his cross is his glory, and our hope. We behold the completion of the whole design for our salvation. The Jews had only a partial and contracted view, as it were, of the office and the person of Christ. They had many things at the time left in uncertainty, insomuch that the disciples of Christ themselves were unable to account for many things that took place, even after his resurrection. But, my brethren, we have the full meridian blaze of gospel light, we have a written account, and every thing requisite for our salvation-the whole canon of Holy Scripture for our instruction: and we have witnessed, moreover, the accomplishment of many prophecies which were then in darkness, and in obscurity; particularly the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, as expressly foretold by our Lord; and the dispersion of the Jews over the whole earth, which I deem a standing miracle at this very hour. Moreover, the character and the office of Jesus Christ is now made known in its fulness, the great end of his incarnation and death are now effected, and the glory of the Lord, as displaced in the face of Jesus Christ, is now manifest unto all. They had many clouds which darkened their views of the glorious Sun of Righteousness, which to us are taken away. We live, as I have already stated, in the mid-day splendour of the gospel light; for we have seen the success of the Gospel, the power of the Gospel, the beneficial effects of the Gospel. He that was "despised and rejected of men," who was treated as a malefactor, who was nailed to the cross between two thieves, has been, and is, and will be the subject of adoration to multitudes. The opposition of the power of the Roman emperors, and of men of every rank of life was directed against the spread of the glad tidings of salvation, but were all in vain. We see it as a matter of history, and we know it as a positive fact, that the blood of the martyrs was the seed of the church. The contempt of their own people, as well as that of the whole world, instead of deadening their efforts, only gave fresh vigour to their exertions; their very imprisonments turned out to the furtherance of the Gospel. much is given of him shall much be required." Seeing, therefore, the advantages and the privileges with which we are surrounded, I shall, as I proposed to you, briefly advance, and as briefly answer, some of those clokes, those pitiful clokes and excuses which men make for their rejection of Christianity. Now we, I say, have seen how their labours prospered, we have seen the grain of mustard seed become a large tree; we have witnessed how the religion of the humble Jesus has triumphed over the prejudices and passions, and interests, and powers of the world; and we behold this power frequently (oh that we could say more frequently!) in the change it produces in the characters and lives of the most hardened sinners—the drunkard becoming sober, the profligate becoming steady, and conscientious, the thoughtless and the idle raised from their sleep of death, to be diligent and useful members of society; and those who are haters of GoD and of Christ, thoughtless, indifferent to the teaching of the Divine Spirit, becoming lovers of GOD, and followers of Christ, and taught of the Holy Ghost, bringing forth the fruits of the Spirit. These brethren, are standing marks in our own day and generation; and when we see any of our brethren and our sisters thus converted by the power of the Gospel, we have a positive proof of the power and excellency of the gospel of Jesus Christ. But if this be the case, with such full and complete and substantial proofs of the great power of GOD in Jesus Christ, how dreadful will our guilt be if we re-giving? "I have not time to care ject him! Surely our sin must be of a crimson and a scarlet dye; for" that servant, which knew his Lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever Man fallen as he is from his original holiness and purity, has still remaining in his bosom an invaluable faithful monitor. His conscience, though deadened by the artifices of Satan, will still cry out against his evil practices, and at times, but too plainly tell him that such is not the way of happiness, such is not the strait and narrow way leading unto life everlasting. But if the great enemy of man cannot destroy this witness, he will endeavour to lull to rest, to quell this guard of our souls, by vain and foolish excuses. The devil will try every possible means to send our consciences to sleep. Suffer me then to notice a few of these foes to your eternal peace, that you may see and acknowledge their wickedness. And may God, by the power of his Spirit, say to each of us, "Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." measure Now, I ask, when the necessity of your salvation is in a brought home to your consciences, are not some of these poor and pitiful answers, such as men give, such as you, perhaps, are in the habit of about religion." Brethren, for what then, is time given, but to prepare for eternity? What is the value of this world's approbation, if after we have finished our course, we be found Christless and hopeless, dead in trespasses and sins? Woe unto them that cast away the golden shots of time, the opportunities of everlasting salvation. But again, another excuse which | souls, that many are thus become the men make in a childish way—"I prey of your destroyer? Oh no; if am not able; I am no scholar; I am companions will do any thing for us not learned." My brethren, do you in hell, they will enlarge and increase make every exertion in your power? and augment tremendously, our miDo you do all that you can for the sery and our wretchedness. salvation of your souls? If you had a worldly inheritance to seek for, would you leave a stone unturned in order to obtain it? Would you leave your title-deeds unsearched? Certainly not; you would sift and scrutinize to the bottom, to see that you had a well-founded expectation of the right of inheritance, if you only had a shadow of a hope to possess it. Another excuse which men make for themselves is this: when we press upon them the necessity of becoming decided for GOD and for heaven, they turn us aside with such language as this—“Oh, there is time enough yet; there is time enough yet." Oh, are you certain then that you will have this time? You behold around you many suddenly called away to render up their accounts to GOD; have you such power that your case may not be like others? Do you imagine that you can command that grace, that offer of salvation which you slight? and can you be assured that you will have his blessing again proposed for your acceptance in this world? No, my brethren, "What is your life? it is even as a vapour, which appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." But, again, hear another excuse. (I speak in plain terms, that you may not mistake me.) "If I am in the wrong road, there are a great many more in the same case: I have the majority on my side." Are you not, therefore, in the broad road which leadeth to destruction; and will companions, will associates, mitigate the torments and the curse, and the pains of hell? Will it be any relief to your Again, this is a common excuse, a common cloke which men draw over themselves, in order that they may escape personal vital religion. “There are so many professors of religion in this day that are hypocrites, that I cannot join myself to a Christian church. There are so many professors of religion who talk about it, but do no more, and who are empty and hollow in that profession, crying, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which he saith." Alas! it is too true; it has ever been the cause of deep lamentation in the church, that many call Christ " Lord," who give him the reed for a sceptre, and spit upon him; who by their lives and practice deny their Master, and will not have him to reign over them. But, my brethren, is that any reason why you should not be sincere? Is that any reason why honourable feeling, and honourable principle, and honourable conduct should not exist in you? Let that be far from you. Take up the language of the Psalmist, and say, "Let integrity and uprightness preserve me." But, at the same time give up all for Christ, and fear not hypocrisy; for he will give a clear sight of his truth to the humble, sincere, and conscientious enquirer after him. I may mention again another excuse, another cloke. "GOD is merciful," is the general remark of men, when we bring before them the danger of their condition. They say,"GOD is merciful." Now, my brethren, mark," GoD is merciful." Yes; but can he be merciful to the impenitent, and those that know his will, and will not do his will-to those that disregard his commandments, and keep not his ordinances? Such excuses would be considered absurd, if applied in cases of neglect of an earthly master; and how can we expect they can be received by the GOD of heaven and earth? No, my brethren, "GOD is not a man that he should lie, nor the son of man that he should repent," and he has spoken the word, that "Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish." Such excuses, and many of such like nature, may serve to banish thought and reflection, but surely GoD will not be deceived. What cloak will you have, then, for your sins, when you are called to "Give an account, for the deeds done in the body, whether they be good, or whether they be evil?" Will you plead want of instruction? Will you plead want of evidence? Will you plead want of warning? Will you plead want of encouragement? Know, that in that day you will be speechless. It is your love of sin, my brethren-it is your delight in the ways of iniquity, and your hatred of the light (if you are still strangers to the light) that are the true causes of your not receiving Christ; as St. Paul expresses it of those in his day-they were "Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of GOD; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof." My word of counsel then is-Fly, fly, for your life, before it be too late; from such an empty profession of Christianity: be assured such will not avail in the awful day of retribution. Your advantages as possessed of the Bible, and the means of grace, instruction, warning, discipline, threatening: all the powers of grace will aggravate and increase your wickedness; therefore, fly as for your life to the blessed Jesus; look to him for forgiveness; look to him for acceptance with GOD; look to him as the only cloak. The | only covering for sin which you can possibly effectually have, is-"The Lord our righteousness." His garment of salvation can alone screen man from the vengeance of a heartsearching GOD; his robe of righteousness can alone hide us from the offended justice of Deity. I pray you, then, to close with these offers of mercy and salvation, to-"Lay hold of the hope set before you in the Gospel," and no longer to palliate your sins, but to receive the offers of your Saviour in all the power and preciousness of his redeeming grace. But I believe, brethren, that I am addressing many whose chief desire it is to put on the Lord Jesus Christ as their robe of righteousness. If there are any indeed here present who desire to obtain a saving knowledge of Christ (and I pray our heavenly Father that there may be many so disposed; that he will abundantly increase and multiply the number)— let such be aware, that it is a great and special mercy to possess such a wish. Let not then the heavenly spark be blotted out by this world's occupation-by the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches and the lust of other things entering in, and choking the word, and rendering it unfruitful. Let not the happy flame be extinguished, but persevere in prayer, persevere in the diligent use of the means of grace. 66 'Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain. "Be ye also patient; 'stablish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh." But beware again, I intreat you, of cloaking or of lessening your sins; call to mind that awful denunciation of Scripture— "If we say we have no sin, we de To those of my dear brethren who have submitted to the righteousness of GOD, who have accepted the robe of Christ's salvation-the only covering to hide us from the wrath of an ceive ourselves, and the truth is not | grace, and you shall find that He has in us; but if we confess our sin, GoD not invited you to seek his face in is faithful and just to forgive us our vain. sin, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Confess, therefore, your sins to GOD, with all their aggravations; and however vile and sinful you are, however far you may have gone astray in the paths of un-offended GOD-to them I would finally righteousness, there is a virtue, a healing balm and remedy-the blood and righteousness of Emanuel-to cleanse you from all your sins, if you will only make application to the cross of the Saviour. Oh, brethren, if you desired it, could you frame for yourselves more sweet and precious, more free and more full, more satisfactory invitations than are recorded for us in the Gospel? Can you desire any greater security than the blood of Emanuel, and the oath and the covenant of Him that liveth for ever and ever? Do you wish to know that other great sinners have succeeded in their application to the Saviour? Search the Scriptures, and see for yourselves, how he saved Mary Magdalen-how he saved the dying thief upon the cross-how he saved the common jailer-how he saved the persecuting Saul of Tarsus -and how he saved many of those who were actually engaged in nailing Him to his cross. Wait on Him, then, in prayer and supplication, and all the means of say, Beware, my beloved friends, lest you make the grace of Christ a cloak for sin, lest under the plea of exhibiting the name, the merits, the work, and the office of the Messiah, you continue in sin that grace may abound. This design of Satan I have witnessed in the church, is most subtle and most dangerous; if Christ has come and spoken unto us, no more complete account of his doctrine can be given us than this "If ye love me, keep my commandments." Christian love is the fulfilling of the law. Love is the evidence of our discipleship to Christ. Love is the test that we are walking with GOD, and not unto ourselves. And if you have a knowledge of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, it is an universal and eternal truth, that where there is much forgiven there will be much love. Shew forth your love, then, in your prayers and your (conduct, and glorify God your Saviour in your bodies and in your spirits which are his. |