With great faithfulness he admonished this sinner of his state and danger and in so doing has reminded us of a very important truth; namely, that whatever a man's religious profession may be, yet if his heart be not right in the sight of God, he is in reality no Christian, nor has any share in the blessings and privileges of the Gospel.

Perhaps there is no truth more generally admitted than this. Most persons, when pressed on the subject, are ready to allow that in religion the state of the heart is every thing. But how few are there, who make a practical application of this truth to themselves! Where shall we find the man, who puts this question to himself, Is my heart right in the sight of God? Or if he go so far, how rarely does he go any farther. How rarely does he enquire what is meant by having his heart right in the sight of God! If conscience at times remind him of the danger of not having it right, yet how soon is he satisfied with his state! How quickly does he conclude that he has nothing to fear! What little pains does he take to examine himself; to discover what the state of his heart really is, and what it ought to be!

Possibly, my brethren, this may be the case with ourselves. It may be, that we have never seriously enquired into the state

of our own heart: but have rather taken for granted that all is right, than have proved it to be so by a close and careful examination. It may be that we have never attentively considered, when a man's heart is right in the sight of God, nor wherein the necessity of its being so consists.

These are two points which the text of fers to our notice; and which with the view of leading you, through God's blessing, to a profitable consideration of the subject, I shall endeavour to explain,

I. By a man's heart we are to understand his prevailing views, dispositions, and desires. When these are such, as his situation and his circumstances require them to be, then his heart is right in the sight of God. What then are the situation and circumstances of man? He is a sinner under a dispensation of mercy. By sin he has lost God's favour and ruined his soul. But by grace he is placed in such a situation and under such circumstances, that he may recover God's favour and save his soul. The offers of Salvation are made to him. The way of Salvation is laid open to him. He is called on to accept these offers, and to walk in this way. When therefore he obeys this call, when his prevailing views, dispositions, and desires are such as in this situation, and under these circumstances, they

ought to be, then his heart is right in the sight of God.-Let us see what are the particulars in which this state of heart consists.

1. When the heart is in a right state, it is deeply humbled before God on account of its sinfulness. God abhors sin, and condemns the sinner. The sinner then must abhor sin, and condemn himself, or his heart cannot be right in the sight of God. How can things be otherwise? God sees that all men are great sinners; that sin is a dreadful evil; that no excuse can be made. for it; and that all attempts to justify it are vain and presumptuous. When a man then esteems himself to be a little Sinner, or perhaps hardly a Sinner at all; when he thinks lightly of sin in general, and still more lightly of his own sin in particular; when he endeavours to excuse, or even to justify whatever he has done amiss: it must be clear, that so long as this is the state of his heart, it cannot be right before God. While his views of sin and of himself are so widely different from God's views: while he favours his sins, and God abhors them; while he justifies himself, and God condemns him; while such is the proud and impenitent state of his heart, how is it possible that it can be right in the sight of God? In order to be right, it must be greatly changed.

He must see things as God sees them. He must think of sin as God thinks of it. He must confess and feel his own depravity. He must take shame to himself because of his impurity, in the sight of a holy God; and must lie utterly confounded and abased at the recollection of his own vileness, contrasted with the Divine Glory and Majesty. Such is the humbled state of heart which becomes man as a Sinner; and such, therefore, is its state, when it is right in the sight of God.

2. Another mark of a man's heart being in a right state, is that he thankfully believes in Jesus Christ for the pardon of his sins. God, who is rich in mercy, is not willing that Sinners should die eternally. He hath, therefore, provided for them a way of Salvation. He has showed them how their sins may be pardoned; what they must do to recover His favour; and by what means they may obtain eternal life. So long then as a man refuses to comply with this gracious purpose; so long as he rejects these offers of pardon and peace; so long as he wilfully continues at enmity with his Maker; how is it possible that his heart can be right in the sight of God? It cannot be right. It must be in a state displeasing and offensive to Him. It never can be right till he obey the Gospel, and comply with the terms

of it. And what are these terms? "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt bé saved." "Come unto Him, and He will give you rest." "Take His yoke upon you, and you shall find rest unto your souls." These are the invitations, the Commands of the Gospel. These are the Terms with which it calls on us to comply. In other words, God in the Gospel speaks to us thus.

. Sin

ners, I have seen and pitied your lost ⚫ condition. You have broken my holy law, ́ ́and incurred a dreadful punishment. I wish not your destruction: but without some sufficient satisfaction to my Justice and Holiness, I cannot pardon you.

You ⚫ can never find such a satisfaction; but I ⚫ have found it for you. I have given my only-begotten Son to be a Sacrifice for your sins. I have set Him forth as a propitiation through faith in His blood, for the remission of your sins. I have given Him to die on the Cross. I have raised Him from the dead. I have set Him at my own right hand in heavenly places; that whosoever believeth on Him shall not perish, but shall have everlasting life. Look then at Him by faith. Receive Him for your Saviour. Believe on Him with the heart. So shall you be justified from • all things. Your sins shall be forgiven:

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