"Hearken

for I am God, and there is none else." unto me, ye stout hearted that are far from righteousness: I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry. Incline your ear and come unto me, hear and your soul shall live, and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David." "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life." "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins." Oh, my brethren! let me congratulate you, and shall we not congratulate one another, that such a voice as this is heard from heaven? Ten thousand dreadful thunders might have proclaimed thence the vengeance of inexorable Majesty, and have ushered in the great day of his wrath. But justice is satisfied, mercy reigns, and the heavens resound with the sweet anthem, "Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good-will towards men." Alas! that such grace should ever be despised that such á Saviour should be left to weep over any of us, in such language as he once used to lament Jerusalem's guilt and ruin!" O Jerusalem, Jerusalem! thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and

ye would not!" This reminds me of a melancholy truth contained in our text..

II. It is possible that men may reject the offered grace of the Redeemer, and turn away from Him that speaketh from heaven.

It might have been expected, when so glorious a person condescends to speak from heaven, that every eye should be fixed upon him, every ear attentive, and every mind obedient to the intimations of his will: especially when he comes to proclaim salvation to a lost world, and to pour down, not vials of deserved wrath, but invaluable blessings; such blessings as a God can give; blessings purchased with his own. agonies and blood. One would have expected that eager multitudes would havé pressed around him, and have fallen before him in submission and grateful joy, crying with united hearts and voices, "Behold we come to Thee, for thou art the Lord our God!" And is this the

case? Is such the temper and conduct of the multitude around us? A soul impressed with the consideration of the vast importance of eternal things will ery, "O that there were such a heart in them!" But observation tells us, it is possible men may turn aside from Him that speaketh from heaven.r

It is possible men may neglect the word and ordinances of Christ, by which the speaks, and treat the written and the preached Gospel with equal contempti, in

It is possible men may indulge in a trifling behaviour under the word. And while the great God and our Saviour is by his ministers speaking of things which relate to their souls' everlasting interests, it is possible they may be totally senseless and unconcerned, and go their way, making light of these things.

Nay, such is the awful depravity of the human mind, and such its apostacy from God, that it is possible, even when the most solemn and interesting truths are delivered, and life and death set before them, some men may indulge not only in inattention, but in levity. They may sport on the verge of eternal woe-they may treat that Gospel with derision where their salvation lies, and lose in senseless mirth those moments of sacred time which the riches of ten thousand worlds cannot recal.

Shall I go a step further, and say, that under these solemn circumstances, it is possible some may indulge in sleep? I do not mean, that nature may not be so frail and exhausted,, under particular circumstances, as to be compelled to involuntary sleep. In such a case the Saviour himself will find an apology for his friends, though it be on the mount of his transfiguration, or in the garden of his conflict. But what I mean is, that even in the more immediate presence of God, and while he speaks from heaven of things that concern our everlasting peace, it is possible, some may allow themselves in sleep, may compose themselves for it, with folded

arms and heads reclined, as if it were with a deliberate and desperate purpose to stop their ears, that they might not hear.-And are these the offerings, my brethren, which any of you bring to the Most High God? And can you expect that with such sacrifices he will be well pleased? "Offer it now to thy governor" (is the just reply of Heaven: appear in the presence of thy Prince in such a disrespectful posture; and when he speaks, treat him with as much contempt), "will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person?" We are informed (Judg. iii. 20), that when the artful Ehud came from the land of Israel to the king of Moab, Israel's enemy and oppressor, and said unto him, "I have a message from God unto thee;" notwithstanding Eglon's dignity as a prince, notwithstanding his unwieldy corpulence as a man, and his estrangement from the true God as an idolater, "he rose out of his seat,” in token of his reverence of the Deity. And do you, my friends, bear the Christian name; do you profess to know God, and not revere and worship him as God? Can you dare insult his dreadful Majesty in his presence, and while he speaks, by a trifling unconcern and invited slumbers? Is this your care for your souls, your zeal for your salvation? Surely, did you know the worth of your souls, you would be not thus "slothful in business, but fervent in spirit," seeking and "serving the Lord."

Once more:-I am afraid there is too much reason for this melancholy remark: It is possible

men may, with haughty insolence and contempt, refuse Him that speaketh from heaven. It was the inso

lent language of Pharaoh, I should obey his voice? neither will I let Israel go."

"Who is the Lord, that I know not the Lord, We read of some who and it is an awful truth

are called "haters of God;" which the Apostle teaches, when he declares (Rom. viii. 7), "The carnal mind is enmity against God, and is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be." Hence it is, "the fool hath said in his heart, there is no God," and is ever labouring to erase every impression of the Divine Image, and every idea of the Divine Being, from the mind: and hence it is, that when God condescends to speak by his providence, or his word, the impious sinner resisteth His Spirit, suppresses conviction, and turns away from him that speaketh, in haughty scorn; joining in the language of those who " say unto God" Most High, "Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways?" Oh, dreadful impiety! Can devils go further?

Let me add one more to this mournful train of ideas, and observe; It is possible men may seem by their profession and outward deportment to give attention to Him that speaketh from heaven, and yet their hearts may not be with him. Such a case as this is in the highest degree melancholy; and, alas! how frequent is it! Fellow-creatures may be deceived; but of what avail is the deception, while the Lord looketh on the heart? Ezekiel, who was God's