judgment." THERE, they were driven to despair of any help, or hope in themselves, and were led to the covert of the Redeemer's blood as their only, and everlasting refuge. Suffer no opportunity of waiting on the sanctuary to be neglected. Thomas was absent at the first interview of our Lord with his apostles, and therefore was permitted to continue eight days in unbelief. Thus, if we are the children of election, by deliberately neglecting this means of salvation, we may be left days, and weeks, and months "to blindness of mind" and impenitence of heart. Again, pray; frequently, fervently pray for the sealing influences of the Holy Ghostwithout his co-operating grace, all your reading, and hearing, and meditating must be utterly unprofitable; they will neither avail to the glory of God, nor your spiritual edification. When, therefore, you cast your eyes on the sacred volume, look up by earnest supplication in the name of Jesus that he would "open your eyes to behold wondrous things out of his law;" that he would render it an effectual instrument of imparting light to your understandings, and holiness to your hearts. When the Sabbath draws near, let it be your prayer in secret, and as you approach the holy temple, that the steppings of Jesus Jehovah may be seen in his sanctuary; that he would graciously direct the speaker to seasonable truths, and powerfully apply his message to your own heart, and the hearts of all.

May the Lord God enable you “so to run," that ye may at last "obtain the prize;' so "to strive," that ye may finally "enter his everlasting kingdom."

"Come from the four winds, O breath," thou Spirit Jehovah, who hast engaged in the eternal counsels to apply the salvation of Jesus, "and breathe upon our slain that they may live." And to thee the Holy Ghost, with the Eternal Son, and ever blessed Father, "the God of all grace" shall be ascribed thanksgiving and praise, in time and through eternity. AMEN.

This is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

A MAN tossed upon the billows, and liable each moment to be overwhelmed, eagerly snatches the first object which promises relief. A man long afflicted with the gout, or gravel, or any other exquisite disorder, doomed to restless days and restless nights, anxiously improves each probable method of cure. To one who had languished in some loathsome dungeon; who had been shut out from the society of men, how cheering would be the light of natural day, or the pleasures of social life! To the wretch

who had pined days and months and years in abject servitude; who had been the sport of unfeeling oppression, and tortured with its iron chain, how reviving would be the prospect of liberty! To the man who stood convicted of some capital crime, and hourly expected the execution of the sentence passed upon him, how animating the message of pardon for his offence, and restoration to the privileges of a citizen! Inconceivably more cheering and reviving is the proclamation of peace and forgiveness to the guilty, self-condemned sinner; to him who feels in his conscience the forebodings of damnation, and is afraid every moment of "falling into the hands of the living God."

Sinner, is this thy condition? art thou by nature and practice an heir of the curse? does thy heart occasionally tremble, through fear of the execution of this curse? "Behold, I bring thee good tidings of great joy; unto thee is born a Saviour, even Christ the Lord:" for thee a full redemption is provided; to thee this redemption is freely, unconditionally offered. "This is the record that God hath given to us ;" what? to be arrayed in scarlet; "to fare sumptuously every day:" to bear the palms of victory, or wear upon our heads the crown of royalty?—“ A record" infinitely more precious is presented thee, "that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son,"

On the last Lord's day, I endeavored to detect those false, unscriptural refuges to

which the awakened sinner too frequently has recourse. I attempted to point out the principal reasons, why many, "who seek to enter in," are finally disappointed. It is my present design, relying on the same grace for assistance, to direct your eyes to Jesus Christ, the true "covert from the storm," that "city of refuge," appointed by Jehovah, where the "avenger of blood" shall never overtake. "This life is in his Son."

This subject naturally suggests 1st, a privilege bestowed, life; or, as it is expressed in the preceeding clause of the text, "eternal life:" and 2d, it represents our Lord Jesus as the only medium through which it is bestowed, "this life is in his Son."

And may the Spirit of the Son descend graciously on every heart and seal our title to this "eternal life," while we are employed in proclaiming, and hearing the gospel of his salvation.

The life mentioned implies,

1. Justification through the righteousness of the Son, by which we become legally alive: by which act of the Father, imputing the atonement of Christ Jesus the Lord, we are acquitted from the sentence of condemmation, and entitled to future glory. The truth, beloved brethren, is alarming, but it is not less certain than alarming, that our condition is naturally a condition of wrath; that, as the offspring of fallen Adam, our representative in the covenant of works, we also have fallen from our original righte

ousness; and are therefore exposed, justly exposed to all misery both temporal and eternal. This is my condition, this is your condition, this is the condition of each individual of the human family without union to our Lord Jesus Christ the second Adam, and forgiveness through his blood.

"By

all

the offence of one, judgment came upon men to condemnation. There is none righteous, no not one. What things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God." But Christ Jehovah, the second Adam, as our surety, and substitute, has expiąted our guilt: he has with his own blood cancelled "the hand writing that was against us, and, nailing it to his cross," has rendered it void for ever. He has by his vicarious death "abolished our death, finished transgression, made an end of sin, made reconciliation for iniquity, and brought in everlasting righteousness. How reviving is the testimony of the Holy Ghost concerning Jesus, and the perfection.of his satisfaction! This heavenly Witness multiplies language: He uses argument upon argument to convince that, in the Saviour's blood, there is eternal safety; a reconciliation which never can be broken. "There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. He is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. By him all that believe;" who improve his sacrifice for remis