"These are the joys that satisfy
And sanctify the mind;

Which make the spirit upward fly,
And leave the world behind."

But time obliges me to come to the IM

PROVEMENT OF THE SUBJECT.

Let me, then, my friends, inquire, Does this agree with your experience? Have you learned this lesson, that, "if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature?" Can you say, ' My heart has gone along with you? You have been only describing my faith, my desires, my pleasures: there was a time when I was satisfied with a mere formal testimony to the truth of Christianity, when my desires were earthly and my pleasures carnal; but I can now say, I am a new creature: old things are passed away.' If it be thus, my friends, let God have all the praise. This change in your sentiments, in your desires, in your pleasures, is only the fruit of that great change which the Holy Spirit made in you when you were created anew in Christ Jesus. This was the act of his free grace. Oh, then, let your heart now ascend in silent praise and adoration. Whilst the angels magnify his name around his throne, do you, in the silent chambers of your soul, realize the riches of his grace. But rest not here. Shew forth his praise, by seeking, in all holiness and

godliness of living, to recommend this new creation. Shew to the world, that it is the meekness of wisdom that has been imparted to you. They, you are aware, will ever watch for your halting; but do you be constantly walking with your Saviour. Shew that there is nothing in your principles, your spirit, or your behaviour, but tends to advance the glory of God and the true felicity of man.

If, however, you know nothing of this new creation, beware of deceiving yourself by the outward forms of religion: these will never bring you to eternal glory. You mark the Apostle's words, "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature." A change has taken place upon him: "old things are passed away; behold, all thing are become new." Except in those instances when it pleases God not only to impart his Holy Spirit at baptism, but in very tender years to bring the seed then sown to early fruitfulness--a case which comparatively rarely happens-it is as impossible for a person not to be conscious of a change in his faith, his desires, his pleasures, his conduct, as it would be for a blind person not to be conscious of his eyes being opened, or a deaf person of his ears being unstopped: and, therefore, if you have no consciousness of this change, but have gone on from your earliest years in the same formal course,

you have reason to believe that it never has taken place; that God has done no more than give you natural birth, but that spiritual birth has not yet been imparted. Still remember, that the Lord is perfectly willing to make that change; that one grand end of his directing his Gospel to be preached is to proclaim that willingness. Yes, blessed be his name! as freely as he communicates vital air to whomsoever opens his lips to receive it, so freely is he willing to communicate the Holy Spirit to all who ask him. How large and full of grace are his words! "If any man thirst, let him come to me and drink. This he spake," we are told, "of the Holy Spirit." And again, "Whosoever will, let him come." Yes; if there is any desire in you to receive that blessing, he is willing to fulfil that desire: it is the offspring of his own grace, and that grace he is willing still further to communicate. There are those now in this church who were as far off as you, and they have applied to this Saviour and have obtained the blessing. Let me therefore entreat you to ask the Holy Spirit: for, remember, unless you do become a new creature, you never can enter into the kingdom of heaven. On the last Sabbath, you know, you turned from the table of the Lord and partook not of this ordinance, without any compunction of conscience: that was

your own voluntary act; but when the marriage supper of the Lamb is ready, you will not have the power to partake, for you will not be invited you will then be cast out "into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of truth." Yes, my friends, you and I must then part: the Gospel day will be closed, and the offers of mercy be no more.

I speak thus plainly, that you may not misunderstand me. I fear that, in my unwillingness to declare heavy tidings, I may not have been sufficiently plain in speaking out; for it grieves my very heart to think of the separation that must be between you and me, if you are not a new creature, and therefore I can scarcely bring myself to mention it. And yet it must be the Lord will not receive any into his kingdom but those who are new creatures: into his blessed abode nothing enters that defiles. Once more, then, I beseech you, apply for the Holy Spirit. Oh, may the Lord incline your heart to seek his face, and give you to know indeed, that, "if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are past away; behold, all things are become new."

96

SERMON VI.

THE DANGER OF NEGLECT.

HEB. ii. 3.

How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?

THE Epistle to the Hebrews was the last effort of the inspired Apostle St. Paul to save his countrymen. Written just before the Roman armies approached to Jerusalem, it was given by the mercy of God as a most impressive warning to this unhappy people. If you read it with attention, you will see that it is an Epistle peculiarly calculated to inform the mind and to affect the heart. On the one hand, it gives the most sublime view of the person of the Saviour, and of the excellencies of the Gospel: on the other, it shews, in most striking language, the danger of a departure from the faith of Christ, or neglect of the proffered mercy of the Lord Jehovah.

And well, my friends, might the God of all