In further discoursing on this passage, I shall proceed to illustrate two important Truths suggested by it.

I. That nothing will inspire us with joy, and confidence in the Day of Judgement, but a real Interest in Jesus Christ.

II. That none will in that day have a real Interest in Jesus Christ, and consequently will rejoice in His Salvation, but those who are now waiting for His coming.

I. I am to show that nothing will inspire us with joy and confidence in the Day of Judgement, but a real Interest in Jesus Christ. I might go further, and say, that nothing but a good hope of an interest in Christ can give us real, abiding, exalted enjoyment in this life. Whatever takes to itself the name of happiness, where this hope is not included, has no just pretensions to the name. But on this point, as not connected with the present subject, I shall not now insist. Let it be admitted that men, who are living without Christ in the world, yet possess some sources of present enjoyment. The pursuit, the management, and the success of their worldly affairs; the acquisition of wealth; the prosperity of their families; the possession of power; the gratification of their selfish, or sensual desires; the flattery and applause of their fellowcreatures; all these are things in which men

find some pleasure in this life. Far, indeed, from having any hope of an Interest in Jesus Christ, He is not in all their thoughts. Yet they are not decidedly unhappy. They are at ease, and comparatively enjoy themselves. Wholly occupied with delights of an earthly and a carnal nature, and knowing no better pleasures than such as this World can yield, they feel no need of Christ, nor deem Him necessary to their happiness. But will this be the case in the Day of Judgement? Will they "in that Day" lift up their heads with joy? Will any of those things in which they have here placed their happiness then afford them any pleasure? When they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with power, and great glory; when they shall hear the sound of that aweful trumpet, which shall awake the dead; when they shall perceive the earth passing away from beneath their feet, the Heavens departing like a scroll, and the elements melting with fervent heat, will they experience any delight in reflecting on the wealth which they amassed, on the power they possessed, on the applause which they gained, on the pleasures which they enjoyed, during the short period of their lives? Will they then rejoice in thinking how greatly they raised their families; how successfully they managed their affairs; how pleasantly

they passed their days? Alas! such thoughts, such reflections will then yield them no delight. All these enjoyments will have ceased for ever. One grand, one important, one interesting idea alone, will then fill the mind.. One subject infinitely momentous will then press with invincible force upon the thoughts. The solemn Day of account is come. How shall I abide it? Are my sins pardoned? Am I at peace with God? Without an assurance of forgiveness, and reconciliation, how shall I lift up my guilty head? How • shall I endure the presence of my heartsearching Judge?' But whence, my brethren, can this assurance be obtained? It can be obtained only from an Interest in Jesus Christ. In Jesus Christ alone is pardon for the Sinner. In Jesus Christ alone, through His blood and righteousness, is God a merciful God. By faith only in Jesus Christ, can an interest in His blood and righteousness be procured. These are truths, which are now frequently denied, derided, or virtually rejected even by those who make some profession of religion. Even such persons have oftentimes low thoughts of Jesus Christ. They see not His value nor His Glory. They feel not their sins, nor their need of Him. Puffed up with pride, and darkened in their foolish minds, they make to themselves Saviours. They think to atone

for their sins by their charities. They think that their virtues will overbalance their vices. They depend for acceptance with God, on their own fancied merits, on the usefulness of their lives, on the sweetness of their tempers, on their outward performance of religious duties. They flatter themselves that they shall be saved, because they have not run into the same excesses with many others, whom they see around them; or because, if they have been guilty of some violations of God's Law, yet their hearts are good at the bottom. On these grounds, or on such as these, men now promise to themselves safety, and trust that in the Day of Judgement they shall lift up their heads, without shame or terror. But when the Day of Judgement actually comes, how will they then feel? Then these delusions will continue no longer. Then the vail of selfconceit will be torn from their eyes. The truths which they have here refused to see, will flash upon their consciences with irresistible conviction. The emptiness of their ungodly hopes, the vanity of those false foundations, on which they have here relied, will then be clearly unfolded to them. Then will they distinctly see, what they never could see before, that "Christ is all, in all;" that "there is Salvation in no other ;" and that an Interest in Him is worth ten thou

sand worlds. Had we this interest in Him,' they will then cry, with what confidence might we now have stood before • Him! Assured of our acceptance in this glorious Saviour, with what joy might we now have lifted up our heads! Washed • in His blood, clothed in His righteousness, instead of trembling at His presence, and/ dreading His approach, instead of being overwhelmed with unspeakable horror at His glorious appearing, we might now have hailed His coming with Songs of triumph, and have rejoiced in Him as our Redeemer and Deliverer!'- Thus, "in that day," will the impenitent and the unbelieving be compelled to bear testimony to the truth before us. Thus will they reluctantly unite their voices in declaring, that nothing can inspire us with joy and confidence, in the Day of Judgement, but a real Interest in Jesus Christ. I proceed, then, to show,

II. That none will in that Day have a real Interest in Jesus Christ, and consequently will rejoice in His Salvation, but those who are now waiting for His coming.

This expression of waiting for Christ, or other expressions of a like meaning, are frequently used in the New Testament, as descriptive of the character of Christians. They are said "to wait for the Son from Heaven :"