us, to shed his own blood for us on the cross, that by his stripes we might be healed, that by his sufferings our peace with God might be made. This was the price of our redemption, the precious blood of Him, who was God as well as man. What love must He have had for sinners to redeem them at such a price? How great must have been his compassion for our lost and miserable state, that while we were yet enemies, He should be content to die for us! how aggravated then, how immensely great must be the guilt of rejecting such a Saviour; of returning enmity for so much love; of refusing to submit to Him, who laid down his life for us! Not to obey the Gospel, is, in fact, to crucify the Son of God afresh, to put him to death a second time. And what wickedness can be greater than this? Who can conceive the ingratitude and the guilt of such a conduct?

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And

Having thus set before you the two points which I proposed, let me now remind you of the Apostle's question in the text, “ What shall the End be of them that obey not the Gospel of God?" What will become of those persons of whom we have been speaking? What do you yourselves think will be their End? Having seen the great and aggravated guilt with which they are chargeable, are you not in your own conscience

convinced, that their End will be dreadful; so dreadful, that it would have been good for them never to have been born? In truth, though St. Peter does not himself answer the question in the text; yet St. Paul furnishes us with the most plain and explicit reply to it. He expressly says, in his second Epistle to the Thessalonians*, that "the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven, with His mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ," (take notice of the words, "that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,) who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power." How indeed can it be otherwise? If God be, as He certainly is, the Just Avenger of Sin, what vengeance must He not have in store for the greatest of all sins, for the punishment of his most incorrigible enemies; of those whom neither threatening could subdue, nor mercy soften; of those who would not obey his Gospel; who slighted his message, despised his love, and crucified his Son? From the vengeance reserved for such sinners, may the Lord deliver us! May we never know it by experience. But may

* 2 Thess. i. 7, 8, 9.

He so dispose and prepare our heart, that we may now take timely warning, and may flee from the wrath to come!

My brethren, what is the great aim of all which has been said to you, or can ever be said to you on this subject, but that you may be stirred up to a deeper and more lively concern for your immortal souls? Why is the Gospel preached to you, but that you may obey it, and be saved? Why was the blood of Jesus shed, but that you, by receiv ing Him, may escape eternal condemnation ? May the Holy Spirit of God incline you to lay these things seriously to heart, and to attend with earnestness to the One Thing needful! May He take of the things of Christ, and show them unto you! May He stir you up to seek his salvation, and to obey his Gospel-Then will your End be glorious. Then, when the unbelieving and the disobedient shall be ovewhelmed with everlasting shame and misery, you shall shine forth as the stars in the firmament, and shall be blessed for ever and ever.

Yes; such will be the glorious, the triumphant End of all those who now obey the Gospel of God, who having fled for refuge to the Lord Jesus Christ, and daily depending on his grace and promise for pardon, wisdom, and strength," are now living the life which they live in the flesh, by the faith

of the Son of God," and are bringing forta fruit to his praise and glory. There is a salvation prepared for them: even the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. "There is an inheritance reserved for them, even an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away." When the world, with all its fleeting riches, pleasures, and honours, shall have passed away for ever, they will be put in possession of a treasure, a joy, a glory, which will be substantial, and everlasting. My brethren, set before you this glorious End. Contemplate that crown of righteousness which, though invisible to human sight, and disregarded by the carnal mind, is revealed to the eye of faith, and realized to the believing soul. Contemplate it with seriousness, with attention, with steadfastness. See the heavens opened, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, ready to receive your departing spirit. Hear these gracious words proceeding out of his lips, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."-Set these things, I say, before you. Realize them by faith: and derive from the contemplation of them all the encouragement and all the consolation, all the motives to patience, to exertion, and to renewed obedience, which they are so fully calculated to inspire. Is the way of Religion

a narrow way; is it thorny, difficult, painful? Bear in mind the End to which it leads. Are you called to suffer for righteousness' sake; to endure reproach, opposition, or hard usage, from the world, because you belong to Christ? Have respect unto the recompense of reward. Are you harassed with trials and temptations, afflicted with sickness or poverty; neglected, forsaken, oppressed? Set before you that Rest, which remaineth for the people of God. Let none of these things move you, so that you may finish your course with joy. Be patient; be diligent: "not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." In due time you shall reap if you faint not. faint not. Be faithful unto death, and you shall receive a crown of life. Above all things, my brethren, pray for wisdom and strength from heaven. Ever remember how ignorant and weak you are in yourselves. Without help from above you will neither know what you ought to do, nor will you have courage and ability to perform it. Pray then for grace continually. Be earnest and instant in supplication. Seek to walk more closely and humbly with Jesus Christ. Be more simply dependent on His Spirit. Be more entirely directed by His word. Be more decidedly devoted to His service. So shall you more truly obey the