through life, and perhaps through all eternity. Jesus has all fulness in himself, in his fulness is all we can want in time or in eternity; he throws it open to us, ceive freely, without price, but we will not.

bids us come and remoney and without Now, if we will not accept of a pardon that is offered us, do we not deserve to suffer the full desert of our sins? If we will not come to a feast, provided on purpose for us, do we not deserve to famish, and be pinched with hunger to all eternity? If we will not enter the fortress prepared for our reception, where we shall be safe from every foe, do we not deserve to be exposed to all the consequences of sin, the rage of Satan, and the wrath of God for ever? If we will not come, and receive out of the fulness of Jesus, which is thrown open to us, in order to satisfy, gratify, and fill us with inexpressible pleasure and de light, do we not deserve to be left in wretchedness, misery, and woe to all eternity? If we perish, who is to blame? God has made provision, but we refuse to accept it. Jesus has called us to obtain salvation, but we will not come unto him that we might have life. The Spirit has striven with us, and produced convictions and alarms, but we resisted the Holy Ghost. The ministers of the gospel have called to us with all earnestness, and with most winning words, but we have refused to hear the voice of the charmer, charm he never so wisely. What then is to

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be done? What did God do with Israel of old? He says, Israel would none of me, so I gave them up." What did God do with Ephraim? He said, "Ephraim is joined to idols, let him alone.' What did Jesus do with the Jews? He wept over them, and resigned them to their fate, saying, "I would have gathered you, but ye would not. If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace, but now they are hid from thine eyes.'

But how is it that we thus harden ourselves against God, manifest such folly, and wilfully ruin ourselves? Just because we have allowed sin and Satan to blind us to our own immortal interests. We have thrown the reins on the necks of our lusts and passions, and have allowed the flesh to rule the spirit, the body to lead away captive the soul. Through the deceitfulness of sin, we become proud, conceited, and careless of consequences, and so we choose the evil, and refuse the good. We grieve God by our ingratitude, give Satan power over us, and God in his just displeasure at length gives us up to believe a lie, and while we cry peace and safety, sudden destruction cometh upon us, and we perish in our own deservings. God bears with us long, like the barren fig-tree we are allowed to stand year after year, but at length, divine justice says, I can bear with them no longer, I can endure no more, let them take the consequences.

Then we are left to fill up the measure of our iniquities, conscience becomes hardened, or seared as with a hot iron, the understanding is darkened, the affections are wholly carnalised, the will runs out after sin and folly, or centres in covetousness, the gospel has no charms for us, the law is neglected and disregarded by us, and we are judicially blinded. Then the fearful words of the apostle are illustrated in us, "If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost; in whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." Reader, perhaps like the son in the parable, who, when his father said, Son, go work to-day in my vineyard," you have said, "I will not." If so, let me beseech you to think better of it, as he did, and imitate his example, for we read, Afterwards he repented, and went." Repent, and turn unto the Lord, so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, so you shall be saved, Seek the Lord, and you shall yet find him. Call upon the Lord, and he will yet hear you. Turn to the Lord, with full purpose of heart, and so will you escape hell, and safely arrive in heaven.

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WHY NOT ME?

MARY —was an amiable, moral, and engaging girl, who won the affections of all around her. For a long time she was satisfied to attend her church, and keep up the form of religion. But at length, the Holy Spirit convinced her of sin, and directing her eye inward, discovered to her the total depravity of her heart. She felt she was under the curse of God, and righteously condemned to suffer his wrath for ever. In vain she strove by her prayers, tears, and good works to obtain peace, for the more she felt her sinfulness, and the deeper she sunk into despondency and gloom. In this state for a long time she continued, until life became almost a burden, and she wished she was anything but a sinner accountable to God. She heard the gospel, but did not perceive its adaptation to herself, nor could she believe or appropriate it promises. But at length, as she was reading the Bible one day, she came to Paul's words, 1. Tim. i. 15. "THIS IS A FAITHFUL SAYING, AND WORTHY OF ALL ACCEPTATION, THAT CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS.

All at once, light shone into her mind, she looked at the words with astonishment, and exclaimed, Great God, can this be true?

As a

of

What glorious news! Sinners! Come to save sinners! Then why not me ? She received the word into her heart, she placed the fullest confidence in it, and she found peace. In one moment guilt was gone, fear fled away, joy and gladness filled the soul, and she rejoiced in Christ Jesus. sinner, she looked to Jesus. As a sinner she exercised confidence in Jesus. As a sinner she committed her soul to Jesus, and she was saved. She thought no more of her works, she was terrified no longer at her sins, for she saw that Jesus had done all that was necessary to save her soul, and had suffered all that her iniquities deserved. Jesus was now her all. If she prayed, she pleaded his name. If she sung, she sung him. If she talked, she talked of him. JESUS ONLY, was the object of her faith, the subject of her thoughts, and the joy of her heart. Yes, he was her ALL IN ALL. Reader, are you convinced of sin ? Do you desire peace with God? Are you seeking it by faith in Jesus, or by the works of the law? If the latter, you will never find it. Works must be renounced, for salvation is alone of grace. "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us." This is the apostle's testimony, and if ever you are saved, it will be yours. Do be saved or no? doubt whether you can For what did Jesus come into the world but to save sinners ?

you

Are