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from comparisons with those who are profligate? Are they not too often offended when told, that they must be indebted for falvation to Grace perfectly free and unmerited; that they must be accepted upon the fame terms with the most vile; and that however excellent thefe things may be in themfelves, they afford them no ground of dependence, yield them no claims whereof they may glory before God? An attempt to couch the eyes of those who say of those who say we fee; an offer of pardon to the innocent; a communication of alms to the wealthy would only exafperate and difguft. But would this be the cafe with the blind, the guilty, and the poor? It is comparatively eafy to convince the more criminal; how can they deny the charge? to alarm them; how can they deny the danger? Having no armour of defence, they can fooner receive a wound which will make them cry for mercy. Confcious that they have no righteoufnefs of their own, they more readily admit that if faved at all, it must be by grace. Having no fhelter in which to hide, when they see the storm approaching, they willingly flee for refuge to the hope fet before them in the Gofpel.

Nor are fuch trophies of divine grace unusual. We can appeal to the page of history; and we can refer to our own age. We have seen the most unlikely materials fubdued by divine agency to holy purpofes; and finners called from courses the most ungodly, whofe conversion has awakened not only the joy but the astonishment of their pious friends. Let this encourage our hope; let us confider none of our fellow-creatures as defperate, and dropping our endeavours and our prayers abandon them.

Reformer!

let it animate thec. "Be not weary in well doing. "In the morning fow thy feed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knoweft not wheth"er fhall profper this or that,or whether they both fhall "be alike good. Brethren, if any of you do err from "the truth, and one convert him; let him know that " he who converteth a finner from the error of his 66 way, shall fave a foul from death, and fhall hide a "multitude of fins." Minifters! let it encourage

thee.

"Can these dry bones live? Prophefy upon "these bones; and fay, Come from the four winds, "O breath, and breathe upon these flain, that they 66 may live." "Is any thing too hard for the Lord ?" Parent! let it animate thee, though means have hitherto proved ineffectual, and inftructions and tears have been in vain ; "I fay unto you, that God is "able of these stones to raise up children unto Abra"ham !"

Men and Brethren, let me ask you, Which of these two fons did the will of his Father? You fay, and you fay justly, Both of them were culpable; the one was rude, and the other falfe. But which on comparison do you prefer? You fay, and you fay truly, The first. On what principle? Because his actions were better than his words, and his latter end fairer than his beginning. Yes; better is a late penitent than an old formalift. Yes; more defirable is the condition of this returning finner, trembling at God's word, broken-hearted with a review of unprofitable years, and refolving to redeem the time by future zeal, than the state of yonder profeffor who has fat under the word till he is past feeling, honouring God with his lip while

his heart is far from him, having a name to live while he is dead, faying perpetually by appearances I go, but never actually taking one step in the ways of godlinefs.

But I have another question; Which of these two fons do you at this time refemble? It is undeniable that you have had calls from God. Your duty, and the confequences of inattention have been plainly fet before you. He has fpoken by his creatures. He has addreffed you by his providence. Afflictions have had a voice. Fire has rushed out of the brambles to which you repaired for fhelter. The gourd, whofe fhade refreshed you has withered away. It was a broken reed upon which you leaned; it difappointed your hope, and pierced you through with many forrows. Sickness told you that you were mortal. The death of others reminded you of your own; and loud spake the filent grave. Many a remonftrance, many a warning you have had from confcience. From fabbath to fabbath you have heard the Gospel. Ministers, fome in harsher accents, and fome in milder language, have laboured to perfuade you. No, you cannot plead ignorance; you do not want motive and encouragement. Suffer me then to ask you, Which of thefe fons defcribes you?

Are you faying with the first-" I will not?" What irreverence! "A fon heareth his father, and a fervant "his master: If then I be a father where is my hon"our? and if I be a mafter where is my fear? faith "the Lord of Hofts." What ingratitude! "Hear, "O ye heavens, and give ear, O earth for the Lord "hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me." "Da

se

6c ye thus requite the Lord, O foolish people and un"wife? Is he not thy Father that hath bought thee? "hath he not made thee and established thee ?" What madness! If you abide by this determination you are undone; "because of these things cometh the wrath of "God upon the children of difobedience." Have you duly confidered the work you decline? It is a service the most reasonable; the most honourable ; the most pleasant; the most profitable: it is "profit"able unto all things, having the promife of the life "that now is, and of that which is to come." Here we cannot labour in vain. The reward is fure; the recompenfe is glorious. Nor are we called to labour without affiftance. He who employs us has engaged to make his strength perfect in our weakness, and to render his grace fufficient for us. To which we may add, that it is a work the most indifpenfable; it is the one thing needful; and it is at the peril of thy foul and thy eternal happiness to fay, "I will not." But I HAVE faid this, and lived accordingly. "O that

my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of "tears." Returning finner, there is hope in Ifrael concerning this thing. There is forgiveness with Him, and repentance fecures it.

Raise thy downcast eyes and fee

What forms his throne surround;
They, though finners once like thee,
Have full falvation found.-
-He has pardons to impart,

Grace to save thee from thy fears
See the love that fills his heart,

And wipe away thy tears.

Thy prefent diftrefs is a pledge of a preparation

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for the discovery of his forgiving love. He repented and went. Go and do likewife, and encourage thyself under every gloomy fear by reprefentations the most appropriate and tender. "I have furely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus. Thou haft chaf"tifed me, and I was chastised as a bullock unaccuf"tomed to the yoke; turn thou me, and I fhall be "turned, for thou art the Lord my God. Surely af"ter that I was turned I repented and after that I "was inftructed, I fmote upon my thigh: I was afham"ed, yea even confounded, because I did bear the re"proach of my yoke. Is Ephraim my dear fon? is "he a pleasant child? for fince I fpake against him "I do earnestly remember him ftill; therefore my "bowels are troubled for him; I will furely have mercy upon him, faith the Lord.” "And he faid, "I will arife and go to my Father, and will fay unto "him, Father, I have finned against Heaven and be"fore thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy "fon: make me as one of thy hired fervants. And "he arofe and came to his Father; but when he was

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yet a great way off, his Father faw him, and had "compaffion on him, and ran, and fell on his neck, "and kiffed him—And faid to his fervants, bring forth "the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on "his hand, and fhoes on his feet. And bring hither "the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat and be merry. For this my fon was dead, and is alive again; he "was loft, and is found. And they began to be merry."

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Are you faying with the fecond-" I go, Sir ?” This is well; but, O beware of infincerity. Confider feriously the folemn profeffion you make. I go, Sir!

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