-even now our own nature condemns us -our actions, our thoughts are all evil continually, "There is none that doeth good, no, not one." But through the mercy of the Son of God, in whom we have redemption, we obtain forgiveness of our sins, and are made inheritors of the kingdom of heaven. Yes! by redemption the old man is crucified,-the body of sin is destroyed, by redemption we are justified through grace. As by the offence of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation, even so, by the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. Yes, by redemption, we are washed, we are sanctified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God; and being purged from our sins, and having purified our souls in obeying the truth, he will present us holy and unblameable in the sight of God. Here, then, we stand in respect to our state, as it was wrought out by Jesus Christ. But he having accomplished his purpose,— having taken upon himself our sins, and reconciled his offended Father to us, as

for us.

cended on high, still making intercession When he was about to leave this world, he said, "I will give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for

ever.'

Here again was God's mercy shown to fallen man; for this Holy Spirit assists us now in working out our own salvation. Through his assistance, and by his assistance alone, are we enabled to do that, which is well pleasing in the sight of the Almighty. But our evil nature still remains; therefore still is the assistance of the Holy Spirit necessary to root out from amongst us all uncharitableness and ungodliness. For without the working of that mighty influence, what- what are we? Naturally weak-sinful, without hope, without any thing that is good. The fall of Adam made us mortal, subject to the grave and all its dreary appendages; but through the grace of God, we rise from the grave, we become again living creatures, inhabitants of eternity, participants of immortality, accepted sons of the living God.

"Here

then is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and gave us his Son," through whose mercy we might obtain everlasting life. The grace of God is perfected in our weakness; it imparts to us á power from above, which enables us not to be weary in well doing,-which invigorates us all to make our calling and election sure. Our condition is like that of the lost sheep in the parable. The sheep, when once it has strayed from the flock, can never of itself return; the farther it goes, the farther it is lost, and were it not for the shepherd, it would never return. So with man, man has wandered far from God, and had it not been for the Shepherd, the good Shepherd-he would never have returned, would have been an outcast, and doomed to destruction for ever. Christ came on earth, to show sinners the way back to God. He alone is able to deliver us from sin; his Spirit alone can teach us to love God, and hate every thing, that is displeasing to him. "He is not willing that any should perish;" he entreats us to re

5

turn; and if we obey his intreaties, he will rejoice over us more than over ninety and nine just persons, that need no repentance.

What an encouragement is there in this parable for sinners to return unto God. Let none think, that they have wandered too far to return. It was the chief of sinners that Jesus came to seek and to save. Come then unto the good Shepherd, and he will lead you again into the fold; he will number you amongst the sheep of his pasture, even to-day, if you will hear his voice. Your past wanderings will be no more remembered against you, because he has borne the punishment, which they deserve and through his grace you will wander no more, for he will lead you and . guide you "to walk in the paths of righteousness." Come to him soon, for there is but one step between you and death; and if you be unprepared for this sudden change, where shall you appear? The love of Jesus Christ is extended, we repeat, to the vilest sinner; if to the thief upon the cross even in the last hour, forgiveness was vouchsafed, will he not also forgive you?

Will he not hear your prayer, and let your cry come unto him? Oh! yes! never did any go to Jesus Christ in vain, never did any pray with faith, who came not away comforted. Every word, which fell from his sacred lips, was for the benefit of the creature, was to induce him to be saved, was to comfort him in this life, and make him happy in the life to come. It is not the will of your Father, that one of you should perish; if then you be condemned, it is a self-condemnation. But yet stay. You cannot under the blessings of the Gospel be thus heedless as to returning to your Father; ye cannot be unmindful of these things. And if mindful, why should you be cold towards that which concerns your own souls? Jesus is your only guide, your only hope in this life, your everlasting glory in the next; may you then come within his fold, partake of his blessings, and grow in his grace! May we all be one flock, under one shepherd, not subject to wanderings, but under the guidance of Jesus Christ, be found at last among the true Christians, for whom many mansions are prepared and