unconverted, though not without the cares of life, are yet enjoying many of its comforts; and some of them at ease and disposed to be contented! Miserable souls! All that now gives you pleasure will perish in the using; all your comforts will wither! all that now gives the least comfort to your heart is fast passing away! Whatever you prize in this life will soon be lost and you will be left wretched and without hope!

Oh, that I could take the most careless, light-hearted, and joyous sinner amongst you and place him before you with a lost soul in hell! Would that I could set, side by side, the levity, thoughtlessness, and worldliness of the ungodly, with the weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth of the damned! Such a sight might stir you up to flee from the wrath to come!

But knowing the terrors of the Lord, I would rather persuade men: and beseech you by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God! O fear the Lord ye people; lest he tear you in pieces, when there is none to deliver: O fear him now with a holy fear, lest you stand with fear and trembling before his judgment-seat and be condemned eternally!

2. The duty of them who fear the Lord. Whoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. It shall be well with you. Well in life:

well in

Goodness and

death: well in eternity. mercy shall follow thee all the days of thy life. When thy heart and flesh fail, God will be the strength of thy heart and thy portion for ever!

If, before this day, you have ever been tempted to doubt the loving-kindness of the Lord; saying in your heart, I shall not see him in the land of the living; from this day forth cast away such a thought and say, instead of it, It shall be well with them that fear God; for surely his mercy is on them that fear him, not only from generation to generation, but also to everlasting.

Let nothing induce you to put limits to the merciful purposes of God toward you for it is written, As the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

Never yield to the suggestion of Satan, that God hath cast you away in displeasure; for it is written, His salvation is nigh them that fear him. In this respect, I say unto you, Fear not, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom; and, therefore, you may lift up your voice with a thankful heart, and say, Oh how great is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee!

Would, my brethren, that all now within this church might take to themselves the comfort suggested by the text!

The time is coming when we shall all

stand in need of it; when Christ will come to separate between the precious and the vile; between them who feared the Lord and them who feared him not! Let me, therefore, once more entreat you, who have not the answer of a good conscience that you really fear God, to make him your fear. Let not the fear of man, the fear of ridicule, the love of the world, or any other consideration, deter you from seeking the Spirit of God, through Jesus Christ, that you may fear him, now, and be happy for ever!

SERMON XIV.

HUMILIATION, PURPOSE, AND DEPENDENCE OF BELIEVERS.

ISAIAH XXVI. 13.

O LORD, OUR GOD, OTHER LORDS BESIDE THEE HAVE HAD DOMINION OVER US; BUT BY THEE ONLY WILL WE MAKE MENTION OF THY NAME.

ON referring to the beginning of the chapter, you will perceive that the text forms a part of a song which is to be sung in the land of Judah when the Jews are restored to their own country, and acknowledge their rightful king Jehovah Jesus.

You will rememher that their rejection of Jesus at his first coming, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us, was the cause of their present dispersion. Had they acknowledged him then, for any thing that appears to the contrary, Christ would have reigned in Jerusalem on the throne of his Father, David, and their dispersion would not have taken place.

But they would not acknowledge his title. Their wickedness was overruled for the accomplishment of God's purposes of grace in

the salvation of Gentile sinners; and their punishment followed in their being wanderers on the face of the earth, and subject to the authority of the rulers of the different lands whither they were driven.

The day, however, is coming, when the Jews shall acknowledge Jehovah Jesus to be their king, and in that day they shall say, O Lord, our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: But by thee only will we make mention of thy name. In which words you will observe three things:

I. REMEMBRANCE OF THEIR FORMER SIN. II. A PROMISE TO SERVE JEHOVAH JESUS

FOR THE FUTURE.

III. AND A DEPENDENCE UPON HIM ΤΟ

ENABLE THEM TO SERVE HIM.

I. By alluding to their subjection to foreign kings, during their dispersion, they call attention to the cause of that subjection; viz. their rejection of Jesus, and their long continued rebellion against his authority. The allusion to their national bondage, brings to memory their national sin. They mourn over their rejection of Jesus, and all the sin that led to it and followed it, when with shame and humiliation they cry out, O Lord, our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us.

And exactly thus is it foretold in the prophet Ezekiel, (xxxvi. 24,) I will take you from among the heathen, and will gather