yourselves, you have nothing to do but to say, I accept the grace of God. All the world would accept it and be saved accordingly, if nothing were necessary but to be willing to receive forgiveness for Christ's sake; but all the world will not be saved, nor any thing like it. The question is not whether will be saved by a grace of

you

your own framing and invention, but whether you will accept that grace which it pleases God to offer.

That is a grace which teaches us that "denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world." If you do not make up your mind by God's help to do all this, you refuse "the grace that bringeth salvation;" it" hath appeared unto you as unto all men," but you will have none of it! you like ungodliness and worldly lusts better; or at all events, if you cannot have it without living soberly, righteously, and godly, you will not take the trouble to seek it.

And can we expect to be saved if we refuse this grace-if we do not accept it

even as it is offered ?—impossible! God, who could see nothing in us but sin, might have left us to perish in our helplessness; but it has pleased him to save us in this manner. Thus, then, we must seek salvation, or lose it altogether. The same view is taken, the same truth is taught throughout the New Testament. Why was our Lord called Jesus? Because he should

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save his people from their sins; not from the guilt merely and the punishment of sin, but from sin itself, by changing our unholiness, darkness, hardness of heart, and carnal-mindedness, into " love, joy, peace, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance."

Why did Jesus give himself for us? "That he might redeem from all iniquity, and purify to himself, a peculiar people zealous of good works."

In fact, if we would be made happy by Christ, we must be made holy; for heavenly happiness is only for Christ's "people" and true followers. Now, my brethren in the gospel, "the grace of God which bringeth salvation, hath appeared

one of

unto all men." In the name of my master, Jesus Christ, I offer it to you, to all and each of you. Will you take it as it is given, and be blessed for all eternity; or will you live as if there were no gospel but your own fancy; no law, but your own inclinations? If you will make the better choice, make it instantly. The spirit of God which is leading you to-day to accept his grace, may be taken from you to-morrow, if you resist its motions: pray heartily and without ceasing for larger, fuller measures of the Spirit, that you may be enabled to live "soberly, righteously, and godly in this world;" and, giving up all idea of your own merit, humbly wait for that salvation which is the gift of God, through Christ Jesus our Lord.

SERMON XII.

GOD'S GIFT TO THE GENTILES.

ACTs, xi. 18.

When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

THE gospel of life had been confined hitherto to the lost sheep of the house of Israel; but, warned of God in a dream that the distinction of Jew and Gentile was to remain no longer, St. Peter opened its treasures to Cornelius, a devout Roman soldier, who feared God, and had been directed by an angel to seek instruction at the hands of that apostle. While Peter was yet preaching the word to him and to his house

hold, the Holy Ghost fell upon them, and Peter "commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord." Those however "of the circumcision," that is, those Jews who had become Christians, having not learned the will of the Lord on this matter, were offended, and reproving Peter, said, "thou wentest in to men uncircumcised and didst eat with them." But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, telling his brethren that he had acted throughout by the command of the Almighty, and in conclusion observed, "forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, what was I that I should withstand God?" Upon this, the scruples of the brethren, which arose from a holy jealousy, were removed; they held their peace and glorified God, saying, then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.'

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There is in the last words of this text something which greatly deserves our consideration. The blessing granted to the Gentiles was, that they also should have their share in the redemption which is in