Those who are saved will unquestionably strive, through divine grace, to do their best: but, always conscious that they fall short, they will never trust in any thing that they do. The most holy will still cry, "God be merciful to me a sinner!" Thus they are justified, and all others condemned.

IV. THE WAY OF UNCOVENANTED MERCY appears to others the right one; yet the end of this also is the of death.

way

The persons, to whom I now allude, own that they are sinners, deserving of punishment. But they speak peace to themselves, by saying-' God is merciful. Surely he is too good to inflict upon me the everlasting torments!' Thus they talk in health, when we endeavour to rouse their fears of "the wrath to come: thus they speak on their death-bed-' hoping that the Lord will take them to his mercy.'-Now it is very true, that by mercy alone can we be saved; and that "with the Lord there is mercy, and plenteous redemption." 1 But it is equally true, that there is a particular way in which alone that mercy is offered to sinners. God has never said that he will spare the unconverted the impenitent - the unbelieving - the ungodly. If such be your character, you are "without Christ" and then, all reliance on God's mercy is but leaning on a broken reed; which will ere long give way, and let you drop into woe eternal.

your

V. THE WAY OF GOOD INTENTIONS is the last

that I shall name. It seems right; but it often ends in "the ways

of death."

A man may appear to escape all the other dangerous paths, and yet finally perish in this. On every other

1 Psalm cxxx. 7.

point the faithful preacher and he are agreed: and at length he resolves-yes, he resolves to seek God; and that, too, in God's own way, by true repentance, by faith in Christ, and by a life of holy obedience. But alas! having attained thus far, he begins to look on himself with satisfaction, as if his work was more than half done. He intends to begin soon, very soon; tomorrow-or as soon as some particular hindrances are removed. Nay, he kneels down in his closet, after some awakening sermon, and vows that he will begin to be religious directly. And all these intentions, promises, and resolutions prove his ruin !—not because they are, in themselves, wrong; not merely because they remain unfulfilled; but because they delude him with the idea that he is doing something toward his salvation, when he is actually doing nothing at all. Ah, brethren, is it not the case with some of you? Oh that I could awaken you from your fatal slumber, and make you see that the very path, which you think to be a right path, may itself be conducting your steps down to the pit of misery. Well was it said by an old Christian writer Hell is paved with good intentions !'

Remember, in conclusion, that there is a way which to many seemeth wrong, and yet the end thereof is the only way of life. Saul the Pharisee persecuted it1— at Ephesus there was no small stir about it? — the Jews spake evil of it.3-It is the way of faith in Jesus; opening the eyes-saving freely-transforming the soul. It is the way of holiness; in which the Spirit of Christ is the Teacher, Sanctifier, and Comforter. Will you not seek after it? will you not cry, with David, "O God, lead me in the way everlasting?"

1 Acts xxii. 4.

2 Acts xix. 23.

3 Acts xix. 9.

SERMON XXXVIII.

REVELATION iii. 20.-Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

NOTHING can equal the condescending grace of our Lord Jesus Christ! It appears in every part of his dealings with sinners. We have a specimen of it in my text. Here was a set of people calling themselves Christians-and thinking that they were very good Christians too-whom the Lord informs, that their character was utterly loathsome to him. And what then would you expect to be the conclusion of his message, but a sentence of final rejection? Yet it is not so. This glorious Being is found waiting at their door, to give them further tokens of condescending kindness! And such is still his conduct towards a wicked and thoughtless world. There is not one among you, to whom he is not saying-" Behold, I stand at the door and knock !"

From these words, I shall endeavour to shew you,

I. THAT, IN THE DISPENSATION OF THE GOSPEL, CHRIST IS THE UNINVITED GUEST, PLEADING FOR

ADMISSION.

In the case of the Laodiceans it is evident, that his presence had not been sought for. They were saying, "I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing." No need, even of Christ !

but he came, nevertheless. He came, indeed, with a rod-" As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten : but that was only to gain attention to his words of man hear my voice and open the door,

"If any

grace-
I will come in."

It has ever been thus, my brethren. Whatever acquaintance any of us may have with Jesus, the acquaintance began on his side: by him are the first overtures invariably made.-Let me give you some proofs of this.

1. The written Gospel is a proof of it.—When the Son of God offered himself up on the Cross, as an atoning Sacrifice for human sins, a deed was done which filled the heavenly hosts with astonishment. · Angels desired to look into" it.' And surely man, the most interested party, might be expected to pay a most inquisitive and anxious attention. But no such thing! Christ was "to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Greeks foolishness." Had not some means been adopted for perpetuating the story, it would by this time have been forgotten. Christ therefore sent forth his written Gospel: "these things were written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ." 3 So long as that book is in your hand, he stands at the door and knocks," asking admission into your hearts.

2. The Christian Ministry is another proof.-Few, in those days, could read-some, even among us, cannot read-the written Gospel. Yet neither by them, nor by us, would any remedy have been sought for this defect. Here again, Christ furnishes the remedy. From the beginning he chose certain Ministers, to preach his Gospel-to proclaim the glad tidings. They have a twofold message: for their commission is, first, Cry

3 John xx. 31.

aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins; "1 secondly, "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God." It is added" He that heareth you, heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me." Therefore it is "as though God did beseech you," when " we pray you in Christ's stead, Be ye reconciled to God." Invisibly-yet reallyhe is at this moment standing at your door, an unbidden, unsought Guest.

3

3. The Strivings of his Spirit are another instance of this.—In the two former cases, his approach can more easily be avoided. But what think you of those burning thoughts that sometimes come into your mind; thoughts of Heaven, with an anxious wish that you were sure of going there-thoughts of Hell, with a guilty foreboding that it may become your portion-thoughts of Repentance, with a solemn conviction that you are lost without it-thoughts of Pardon, with doubts whether it be within reach, after all the evil that you have done? Whence these thoughts? Did you seek for them? Did you take pains to encourage them? Nay, have you not resisted them, as so many unwelcome intruders ? Now I tell you, that all such thoughts are the voice of an unseen friend, the Spirit of Christ. By them, he is probably just now knocking at your door. Before you expected or desired it, he is speaking to your conscience. This indeed is no proof that you will certainly become religious- much less, that you are already such; but it is full proof that Christ is the first Mover in the work of your salvation, if ever you be saved. Before you knock at mercy's gate, your heart.

he asks admittance into

1 Isa. lviii. 1. 2 Is. xl. 1.