"If, If, again, ye bring the predictions of the "Prophets to support your belief, these also as

strongly support ours: for we can, by unde"niable evidence, prove, that all those things, "which the Prophets have foretold concerning "the Messias, are exactly fulfilled in our Jesus; " in him is fulfilled that antient prophecy, Thou "wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt "thou suffer thine holy One to see corruption;'

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which some of you indeed falsely apply to "David, though he is long since dead, and his sepulchre is with you: in him too is fulfilled that other prophecy, The Lord said unto my Lord, sit thou on my right hand until I "make thine enemies thy footstool.'

Such was that strength of reasoning, by which St. Peter wrought conviction in the hearts of his hearers.

4thly, To strength of reasoning he added the most awakening reproaches of conscience, by setting before them the barbarities they had exercised against their Saviour, the Lord of life. "Jesus of Nazareth," says he, 66 a man approved of God among you by miracles, and "wonders, and signs; him, being delivered by "the determinate counsel and foreknowledge "of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands

have

"have crucified and slain." Was it possible for them to hear these words without the most bitter shame and remorse? Could they reflect without anguish of heart, that this Jesus, whom they had crucified, was He, who had preferred them to all nations? Could they without horror reflect, that they had inhumanly silenced that blessed voice, which cried out, "I am not sent "but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel?" Could they without the most wounding reflections hear, that He, whose brows they had girt with a crown of thorns, and whose hands they had insulted with a sceptre of mock royalty, was "the mighty Lord, the everlasting God, the "Prince of peace?" Must it not astonish them to be told, that He, whom they had so unrelentingly followed with the loud exclamations of "Away with him, crucify him, crucify him," was the Lamb that was slain for the sins of the whole world? Well, therefore, might they be

pricked in their hearts!" Well might they cry out with terror and astonishment, "Men and "brethren, what shall we do!"

5thly, The Apostle strengthened these terrors, by setting before them the just judgments of God, which awaited their sins. He knew that lenient methods would have little effect on such an audience. He knew that they who had

dipped their hands in the blood of the Son of God, were not to be moved by mildness and persuasion. He therefore sets the vindictive terrors of the Almighty in array against them: he strikes their guilty minds, by warning them of that great and terrible day of the Lord, so often mentioned in their antient prophets, in which God would come to take vengeance on them for the murder of his Son, and fulfil that heavy curse, which they laid upon themselves when he was devoted to the cross, "His blood be upon 46 us and upon our children."

And, to make the deeper impression upon them, he tells them, that the antient prophecies were now in part fulfilled; that the signs which were to precede that great and terrible day of vengeance, were come to pass; that the Spirit of God was already poured out upon all flesh; "the young men saw visions, and the old men

dreamed dreams;" that they might even see with their eyes the forerunners and beginnings of that destruction which awaited their nation: already Herod had by bloodshed fixed the Roman eagles on the portal of their temple: already Pilate had displayed the Roman banners in the heart of Jerusalem, and threatened death to those who opposed it: already the Roman generals had overrun Judæa with a formidable army, and unsheathed

unsheathed the sword of desolation: as their

own

historian tells us, twenty thousand Jews were massacred in Cæsarea, thirteen thousand in Scythopolis, and fifty thousand in Alexandria,' without distinction of age or sex.

These then were surely awakening presages of the great and terrible day which was coming upon them. Well might they, therefore, when they heard these things, be pricked in their hearts, and cry out, "Men and brethren, what "shall we do?"

Brethren, what was then their situation, is now, in some sort, ours. We have not, indeed, like them, with our hands crucified the Lord of life; but by our sins do we not daily crucify him, and put him to an open shame? We have not, indeed, like the Jews, the sword of vengeance hanging over us, to punish us for our sins by temporal death; but the just judgments of God await us, to punish us for them by death eternal. We have not, indeed, like them, the preaching of an Apostle to awaken us by a divine eloquence and an irresistible power of argument; but we have the scriptures of God to instruct us, and the Spirit of God to warn

Josephus, B. ii. C. 19.

us

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us by its silent impulses and internal monitions. Let us then wisely listen to its holy dic tates. It is not yet too late to cry out, Men "and brethren, what shall we do?" but how soon it be so, God only knoweth!

may

Whilst, therefore, we have time, before the door of mercy is shut, let the voice of repentance be heard in our dwellings, and let us prostrate ourselves before the throne of mercy.

And though our sins be great, yet let us not despair of mercy. "Jesus of Nazareth, the "man approved of God by signs and wonders," is still powerful to save. It was not to the Jews alone that he said, "Come unto me all that "travel and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest:" the same rest is still offered to all that truly turn to him in this

and every age of the world. Think not, however, that a slight or hypocritical repentance, that a feeble or insincere faith, that a partial or irresolute obedience, will entitle you to this rest. Remember that the God who pricketh the heart of the sinner, can also search the breast of the hypocrite. We must one day stand before him, naked and undisguised, stripped of all those little arts and flimsy coverings, which hide our secret sins from the view. of man. And even now, there is not a thought