made of a woman. He who was in the form of God, enthroned in heaven, and at whose feet archangels cast their crowns, on the earth was of no reputation; was numbered with transgressors, and suffered as a malefactor.

Surely then your soul is a pearl of great price, and above all estimations; and it cannot be bartered away without the greatest folly. You can receive no return which is worthy of a comparison. "What shall a man give in exchange for his soul ?" Or what man will by a sinful, careless life, despise that treasure, for which the God of mercy has this gracious concern? Shall we trifle away in fleeting vanities that inestimable birthright which was purchased at the immense price of a Saviour's blood? Though we were to obtain the whole world, how foolish would be the exchange! Consider then for how small a part of the world, and indeed for the very worst part, they who are living in their sins, give up their hopes of immortality! We hope and we pray God, that of those who are here present, none are of this description; but supposing that such were here, reflect, I entreat you, for what worthless toys you may be consigning your immortal spirit to irretrievable perdition. God gave his own Son to purchase your soul; and for what price do you sell it? Perhaps for the pleasure of swearing; for the satisfaction of using vile and wicked language; of profaning that sacred name, at which angels bow the knee; of deriding those mercies, for which the whole host of cherubim and seraphim are at this blessed moment praising God! Or it may be that intemperate drinking, that he sweet comforts and the pleasant fruits of intoxi

cation, are the noble price which you obtain in exchange for immortal blessedness! And some too there are, who think that the pleasures of slander, of debauchery, or other dissipation, are better than all the promises of God in Jesus Christ.

These are samples of what men get for the loss of their souls; and are any here willing to make the exchange? For this mean mess of pottage are you willing to alienate for ever your heavenly birthright? Magnify as you will the pleasures of the world; suppose the joys of sin to be more and greater than mortal man has ever yet enjoyed; and view through a microscope your scanty span of life; and for all this, little and mean at best, are you content to be for ever wretched? Suppose, (as sinners view it,) that the practice of religion is painful, and its ways unpleasant; is it as painful as "suffering the vengeance of eternal fire ?" Or which of your favourite amusements will you compare with the joys of heaven, and willingly receive in exchange for endless beatitude?

How dreadful then is the reflection, that millions of our fellow mortals are, as we must believe, at this time making this foolish exchange! Is not this a strange infatuation? If the Lord, to correct our faults, or to exercise our faith and patience, takes from us, but for a short time, some few of his many blessings; if one season is less propitious, and the earth less fruitful; if our friends forsake us, or our business is unsuccessful, we incline much to murmur and to feel impatient. Are we prepared then, and are we able to bear the loss of every blessing and every hope? If we cannot bear the frowns of his

chastising providence, how shall we endure his wrath?

Infinitely then does it concern us all, faithfully and truly to examine ourselves, whether such may not be our folly. Each of us has an immortal soul, of far greater worth than has been, or by your present preacher can be described, which must be saved or lost, and that soon. A few years at farthest, a very few, and the fearful result will be decided; our doom inevitably be fixed. It is, we hope and pray, your purpose and intention, not to lose your soul; but remember, that to save it is not a small thing; the righteous are scarcely saved. It is a great work, and should be the chief business of our life. It is a great salvation which you are to work out. The enemies of your soul are many and powerful; there are fleshly lusts which war against it; there is a pit dug to ensnare it; there is an enemy fierce and mighty as a roaring lion continually going up and down to devour it. And within, we are drawn by corrupt affections, and by an evil heart of unbelief, to depart from the living God. The Lord in his mercy grant, that we never neglect the one thing needful; though we should be neglectful of every other thing, may we never neglect this great salvation. May we ever estimate the soul at its true worth, and never forget the price it cost, nor cease to render thanks and praise to the author of our salvation.

SERMON XXVII.

REPENTANCE BLESSED.

1 Kings, xxi. 29.

Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? Because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days; but in his son's days will I bring the evil upon

his house.

"To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against him." It is one of the distinguishing and most essential doctrines of the blessed gospel, that they who have sinned against God, may obtain pardon. Not however, as making the law of none effect; not as impeaching the truth, or relaxing the justice of God; but because "if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, who is the propitiation for our sins." The doctrine, that pardon and life may be obtained through the merits of a Redeemer, reflects "glory to God in the highest," and is good tidings of great joy to all people. It is the only doctrine we can conceive of, which, consistently with the moral attributes of the Deity, could save those who have sinned; those whom

divine justice condemns. Of all doctrines, it is in its effects the most salutary and excellent. Its powerful tendency is to reclaim men from all manner of evil, to produce amendment and holiness of life; to make men better and happier in this world, and to prepare them for a blessed immortality. It is a doctrine perfectly pure, allowing no manner of indulgence to sin; revealing the wrath of God against all unrighteousness, and all ungodliness of men. And yet, it offers pardon and justification so free and gratuitous, that the vilest sinner is not excluded, except by his own obstinacy. God's mercy is such, that it produces a holy fear; his goodness and long-suffering are calculated to lead men to repentance. Mercy in men, though it is amiable and godlike, and much to be commended, may (such is our imperfection, that it may) lessen our authority and encourage others in evil. Were you to overlook the faults of your children, and freely forgive them, as oft as they behave ill, it would be likely to ruin them. But such is divine wisdom, such are the perfections of God, so wonderful is the scheme of redemption, preached in his gospel, that his mercy produces holiness; it engages men in his fear and service; it is the only doctrine which ever has reformed, or can reform mankind. God's mercy perfectly accords with his truth, and while it gives peace, it promotes righte

ousness.

In the text now before us, the blessedness of repentance, God's merciful goodness, and his willingness to receive a humble, contrite heart, are most wonderfully exemplified. Who has ever sinned against God and abused his patience, more than Ahab, king