heart will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: I will take away the stony heart and I will give you an heart of ficsh." Beloved reader, believe these promises to be yea and amen in Jesus Christ, infallibly sure through his perfect sacrifice, and all prevailing intercession; receive them and Jesus with his salvation presented in them, as made to thyself in particular, as really as if thy name and sirname were endorsed upon them. And "in whom believing," may you "be sealed with that holy spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glory.

2. This passage may also be improved for the admonition and humiliation of the righteous. "Unto whomsoever much is given, of them shall much be required," and therefore indifference with respect to the glory of Jesus and the advancement of his kingdom on earth is more inexcusable in them than in the children of this world, because much more has been done for them. Has a sovereign God, passing by others, imparted to them the blessings of the covemant? has he made over to them the unsearchable riches of Christ, a complete pardon, the adoption of sons, and a title to heaven through his atonement, and righteousness they are peculiarly obligated to love, and serve, and adore him? They are constrained to live to him, and for him, not only from the consideration of his creating

goodness, but from the weightier argument of electing, and redeeming, and sanctifying love. 66 They are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that they should shew forth the praises of him who hath called them out of darkness into his marvellous light." But, alas! notwithstanding all the blessings which christians have already received, and the incomparably greater mercies which await them in reversion, are they not frequently cold and indifferent in the service of their redeemer and their generation? What a small proportion of their time is employed in holding fellowship with the living God by prayer, or in devout meditation on their exalted privileges and prospects, or in searching the scriptures, this record of their Father's love, this charter of their heavenly hope? How many precious moments are wasted, at their occasional interviews, in talking about their temporal concerns, and the common occurrences of life, but how rarely are they occupied in repeating to each other the promises of the gospel, in conversing about the instructions heard in the sanctuary, or relating their spiritual exercises, their fears, or joys, or hopes?" Even the wise virgins, the children of the bridegroom, slumber and sleep." Where is that fervor in prayer, "watching thereunto with all perseverance, and supplication?" that earnestness and affection "provoking one, another to love and good works;" those ar

dent longings for the communion of God in his ordinances, that disinterested zeal for his glory which adorn the christian character, and to which christians in former ages have attained? How must the holy angels, how must the redeemed in heaven be amazed, when they look down from their mansions, and witness our eagerness in grasping after the shadows of time, and our indifference about the great, the glorious realities of eternity? How long wilt thou sleep?" O believer. "Are the consolations of God small,” that thou canst be regardless about enjoying them? Is the advancement of his glory in thy generation a trifling object, that thou art so indifferent about promoting it? Is a joyful, triumphant meeting with thy Saviour in death uninteresting that thou art careless about preparation? Peradventure "at midnight the cry may be made, behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him," and yet will you suffer your loins to be loose, and your lamps glimmering ready to expire?

Surely then, "if there be any consolations in Christ; if any fellowship of the Spirit;" if any thing desirable in serving thy generation; if any thing important" in finishing thy course with joy:" if any thing interesting in obtaining " an entrance abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of thy" Saviour and Lord," it is high time to awake out of sleep. Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye your

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selves like unto men that wait for their Lord that when he cometh and knocketh they may open to him immediately."

"And may the God of all grace, who hath called us to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you" and to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, three equally gracious, divine, adorable persons in one Jehovah, be ascribed" dominion and praise, world without end." AMEN.

For many,

I say unto

unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

THE salvation of the immortal spirit is a work at once immensely important and difficult. After the sinner has been convinced of his danger, awakened from his security, impressed in some degree with the rigors of divine justice, and the necessity of a reconciliation, he too frequently has recourse to a refuge of lies; he erects for himself some other" covert from the tempest" of wrath, than Jesus the rock of ages, the true "covert from the storm," devised by infinite wisdom, and there dreams of heaven until he awakes in hell. "Wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadVOL. 4.

eth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat; but strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Of those who are baptized in the name of Jesus, who are instructed in the principles of his religion, and who afterwards put on the mask of a profession, many, we have reason to apprehend, will be finally disappointed: a small proportion of such, comparatively speaking, are now travelling "the narrow" way, or shall hereafter attain the prize of immortality. Our Master has forewarned us in language explicit and awful," not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. Many will say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity." In the oracles of the living God we read of one who "trembled" under the preaching of the word, but have no assurance that his convictions issued in saving conversion: we read of a second who, charmed with the excellence of divine truth, and the glories of the heavenly world, was "almost persuaded to be a christian," but there is no account that he altogether attained either the character, or the blessing which real religion secures. We read of another whom Jesus loved;" who possess