these truths to you, and to set before you your own deep and individual interest in. them. With you, then, my brethren, it is now "the Acceptable Year of the Lord." It is the period of the Lord's mercy and longsuffering towards you, the season of His grace, the day of His salvation, in which he waiteth to be gracious, and maketh all his goodness to pass before you. The Gospel, that joyful trumpet of the jubilee, is now sounding in your ears, and proclaiming aloud the wondrous blessings, which it is employed to dispense. Let me remind you what these blessings are; deliverance from bondage, and restoration to your forfeited inheritance. Let me remind you how rich, how glorious these blessings are in themselves, how suitable, how seasonable, how necessary for you. The Gospel finds you (whether you will own it, whether you know it or not,) in a state of spiritual bondage; the wretched slaves of sin and Satan; prisoners to the justice of God, shut up unto condemnation for the many sins which you have committed; and bound to appear before his Judgement-seat, from which there lies no appeal, and at which no evasion will avail. But though the Gospel finds you in this state, it is not willing to leave you in it. It proffers to you deliverance. It proposes to set you free. It offers to break every

yoke, and every chain, and to grant to you a full release from all the pains and penalties of sin. It proclaims to you in the name of the Almighty, the great God of heaven and earth, Redemption, through the blood of Jesus, even the remission of sins. Are not these joyful sounds? Are not these tidings of great joy? They would be so, if you really felt your bondage. They are so to those who really feel it. May the Spirit of God enlighten all our hearts to see and know our danger, that we may flee from the wrath to come! May He open all our ears to receive and welcome these glorious truths!

But hitherto I have stated only a part of these truths. It is a small thing with the God of all grace and goodness, whose mercy endureth for ever, to deliver you from the bondage of sin and death. He designs also to translate you into his own immediate presence, and to exalt you to the throne of His glory. The Gospel proposes, not only to save you from punishment, but to make you the sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty; to give to you a name and a place among his children; to clothe you with the robe of righteousness; to adorn you with the graces of His Spirit; to make you meet for partaking the inheritance of His saints in light. In short, God offers to you His Son Jesus Christ:

offers Him to be your Surety, Mediator, and Redeemer, your Prophet, Priest, and King and with Him freely gives you all things; all things necessary for life and godliness, for your present peace, and for your everlasting happiness. He says to you, This is my beloved Son; hear ye Him," receive Him: believe in Him: rely on Him: give yourselves to Him: serve, obey, and love Him: and then I am reconciled unto you. I am at peace with I will be a Father unto you. ' will save you; I will rejoice over you with joy; I will rest in my love!" I will cause all things to work together for your good. I will be myself your portion, and your exceeding great reward!'

you.

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Such, my brethren, are the blessings, which as a Minister of the Gospel I proclaim to you. I assure you, in the name of the Almighty, and on the authority of His word, that if ye be willing and obedient, all these blessings shall be yours. They are secured to you by two immutable things, the promise, and the oath of God, who cannot lie. May I not hope that there are some, who thankfully receive these gracious truths; who know the joyful sound; and who, while they are listening with admiration and delight to the glad tidings of a salvation, so full, so free, so glorious, are humbly say,

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ing in their hearts to God, Be it unto thy servant according to thy word! Lord I believe; help thou my unbelief. I thank Thee for thy unspeakable Gift. I desire to serve Thee with my spirit in the Gospel of thy Son. I accept Him as my Saviour, my Lord, and my King. I consecrate myself to his service and Glory: and I rely on thy promised Spirit to work in me both to will and to do of thy good pleasure.' May He who has put these words into your heart, bless you according to the full meaning of them! May He inspire you with wisdom, courage, and strength to fight the good fight of faith, and to lay

hold on eternal life!

When I know

But on the other hand must I not fear that there are others present, to whom these tidings are tidings of no joy: who hear with indifference the proclamation of the Gospel; and care not whether the trumpet sound forth deliverance or not? Should I say, that I have no fears of this kind, I should greatly dissemble with you. in how many ways mankind neglect or abuse this great Salvation, I cannot but strongly fear that some of you may be too justly chargeable with all the folly, and with all the guilt which such a conduct involves. Are you so closely occupied with worldly cares or worldly pleasures, as to have no time for

serious thought and religious meditation? Or, are you so indisposed to spiritual and heavenly things, as to listen to the mention of them with impatience and disgust ? Or, are you so lifted up with pride and selfconceit, that you will not own yourself à sinner, nor will humbly call on Christ for mercy? Or, having some convictions on your conscience, are you trifling with them, and deferring your repentance to a more convenient season? Or, professing yourself the servant of God, are you satisfied, like the Pharisees of old, with an outward form of Godliness, with the performance of some moral duties, with the mere observance of religious ceremonies; while you are inattentive to the state of the heart, are indulging evil thoughts, and lay not the axe to the root of the tree? Or, calling yourself a Christian, do you not depart from iniquity, but allow yourself in some known and habitual violation of the law of God, putting evil for good, and darkness for light? With all, with every one of you, whose heart pleads guilty to any one of these charges, I must be very plain. I must tell you, without any palliation or apology, that you are neglecting, or abusing the great Salvation of the Gospel. You are slighting "the Acceptable Year of the Lord." You are trifling with His grace and mercy,