sickness, trouble and disappointment, are evils which every day may break in upon your whichevery earthly comforts, and spoil all your sensual enjoyments. And is it for these comforts, for these enjoyments, that you slight and reject the grace of God, which, if heartily received, will make you truly happy here, as well as hereafter?

For, in the last place, consider what must be the certain end of persisting in this rejection of the Gospel. You will assuredly wish at last, that you had not thus received the grace of God in vain; for the consequence must be unavoidable destruction. No hope, no way, no possibility of escape remains. They who reject the Gospel of God, or, which is the same thing, receive his grace in vain, must perish; for nothing but this grace can save the body and soul from everlasting death. Without it there can be no pardon for sin; no renewal of the heart; no fitness for heavenly happiness, no victory over sin and Satan; no triumph over death and the grave; no title to eternal life. aud glory. All these great blessings are contained in the grace thus offered to you. If you receive it in vain, you lose them all, and you lose them all for ever. There is no way, in which you can be pardoned, sanctified, and

glorified, but by the grace of the Gospel. What then must become of you? Rejecting the counsel of God against yourselves,

66

nothing remains for you but a fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall destroy the adversary.' Having neglected to improve the opportu nity vouchsafed to you for working out your salvation, you must be left to the consequences of your sin. You must be condemned as incorrigible enemies to God, and cast into that lake of fire which he has prepared for the devil and his angels.

Let me then, as a worker together with God, beseech you, brethren, by the riches of divine mercy; by the love of Christ; by the value of your never-dying souls; by the hope of glory; by the weeping and gnashing of teeth which awaits the slothful and wicked servant, "that ye receive not the grace of God in vain." Use the means, embrace the opportunity, improve the privileges so freely, so graciously bestowed upon you. Let not the Lord "spread out his hand all the day unto a rebellious people." Let him not say of you, "I called but they refused. I stretched out my hand, but no man regarded." Close with his offers. Accept his grace. Yield yourselves to him as

willing subjects. Delay not to do it. Take notice of the words which follow the text. "Behold now is the accepted time: behold now is the day of salvation." May this be the accepted time! May this be the day of salvation to us for his mercy's sake in Jesus Christ!

SERMON IV.

THE GRAND DIRECTION AND PROMISE OF THE GOSPEL.

ACTS, xvi. 31.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.

THIS was the answer which St. Paul gave to the affrighted jailer at Philippi, when under a sense of his guilt and danger he anxiously inquired, "What shall I do to be saved?" The question, we must allow, was most important. It was, in fact, the same as if he had asked, How shall I escape the dreadful punishment, which my sins deserve? My brethren, have we not all need to ask the same question? Surely, if we know aright our guilt and danger, we shall every one of us inquire as anxiously, as this selfconvicted sinner did, "What shall I do to be saved?" And to every one who asks this question the same answer must be given, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." These words, indeed con

tain the sum and substance of the Gospel; and therefore demand universal attention. We may consider them as setting before us two things.

1. The Grand Direction of the Gospel, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ."

II. The Grand Promise of the Gospel, "Thou shalt be saved."

I. The Gospel is à covenant of mercy. Man when he was first created, had no need of mercy; for he was not a sinner. He was then under the covenant of works; that is, he was promised life upon his obedience: "This do, and thou shalt live." But when he had once broken the divine commandment, this covenant was at an end for ever. He was no longer promised life on his obedience; because obedience was no longer in his power. He was become wicked and unwilling to obey God's law. And indeed, if this had not been the case, if he had still. been capable of doing his whole duty for the time to come, yet future obedience would not make amends for past disobedience. He was now a sinner: as such he had lost the promise of eternal life; and by no doings of his own could recover it. But then it was, that mercy interposed