the fiftieth day after the great feast of the Passover. Early on the morning of that day the disciples were "with one accord in one place," when the Holy Spirit descended, and enabled them to speak in all languages of the known world. Accordingly the apostles immediately began to preach salvation. through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, the Holy Spirit accompanying their exhortations with his powerful agency, and the same day there were added to the disciples, by the preaching of Peter the fisherman, three thousand souls. Here then we have another decisive testimony to the truth of the Redeemer's assertion, "It is finished."

Every one of the evidences that has been mentioned is sufficient of itself to convince the unprejudiced, of the fidelity and truth of our Lord's last saying; but all united, form an overwhelming mass of testimony, calculated to confound the infidel, and to establish the faith of every sincere inquirer after the truth. To the whole it may be added, that every soul since the day of Pentecost, converted from sin to holiness, and "delivered from the power of darkness, and translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son," is a demonstration of the completion of Christ's work, and an evidence that every convinced and returning sinner may have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.

III. Let us consider, thirdly, the consolation which our Lord's saying affords.

1. First, here is a solid ground of hope for the sinner.

This is evident, because Christ has made a sufficient atonement and satisfaction for sin. Do you know that you are a sinner? Do you know that the wages of sin is death,-death eternal, as well as temporal? But do you desire deliverance from the consequences of sin? Are you willing to accept salvation in the way of God's appointment? Then I can set before you the glad tidings of the gospel. “Then is mercy and forgiveness with

God."

The divine justice has been satisfied; and the God of justice, as well as of love, has appointed the means of your deliverance. He looks for no satisfaction from you, because satisfaction has already been made by Jesus Christ his beloved Son. "By his stripes you may be healed. His blood cleanseth from all sin. He has made an end of all sin; and all who believe in him, are justified from all things, from which they could not be justified by the law." Whatever your past sins may have been, however numerous, or however aggravated, you are not yet shut out from the hope of forgiveness. "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Here then is encouragement for repent and believe the gospel," and if you repent and believe, you everlasting salvation.

you to "

"shall be saved with an

Do you say that cannot

you

repent and believe of yourself? It is replied that Jesus "is exalted as a prince and a saviour, to give repentance and forgiveness of sins," and that "faith

is the gift of the God of grace."

And these bless

ings are refused to no returning sinner. Look then to Christ, and be saved. Do not, O do not, judge yourself unworthy of eternal life. "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."

:

2. Secondly, here is encouragement for the desponding and fearful.

Some persons, after they are awakened to a sense of the importance of religion, and are desirous of the blessings of salvation, fall into a desponding state of mind. Though they have clear views of the free and unlimited offers of the gospel in respect to others, they are fearful that its mercies will not be conferred on them. They are apprehensive that there is something peculiar in their case, which excludes them from the offers of pardon and eternal life. Are there any such desponding souls in the congregation? If so, let me ask you what you would desire, to remove your fears? Has not every thing been done for you that could be done? A complete atonement for sin has been made, perfectly sufficient to satisfy the divine justice. The debt is paid to the last unit. For its remission on your part, therefore, you have only to depend on the satisfaction made by the Surety for sinners. Christ has paid the ransom for you, and you cannot perish if you come to him as your Redeemer. He has brought in everlasting righteousness, and it is ready to be imputed to all them that believe.

!

He has procured and sent the promised enlightener, sanctifier, and comforter; and has assured us that "God will give the Holy Spirit to all them that ask him." Why then should you despond? why should you cherish doubts and fears? All things are ready, why then should you hesitate to accept the proffered mercy? You are required to bring nothing; you are invited freely to receive the proposed benefits of the gospel. And what are these? The promise of victory over Sin, Satan, Death, and Hell, and the assurance of glory, honour and immortality. Salvation is not only rendered possible, but it is promised to every believer. The door of mercy stands gates are not shut by day or night." Jesus has taken away the bars and bolts by which the law had shut us out from hope. Do not, then, replace them again by your unbelief. Cast away your despond

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open;

its

ency, therefore-throw it to the winds, and "be not faithless, but believing." Redemption is finished; and the Redeemer has said, "Him that cometh unto me I will in nowise cast out.'

3. Thirdly, here is consolation for the believer. There are some among you, I trust, who feel an interest in that great transaction which took place on Calvary nearly two thousand years ago, when Jesus exclaimed on the cross, “It is finished." You, my brethren, have accepted the proffered salvation, and you may now rejoice in Christ Jesus, and triumph in his cross. You may say with the apostle, "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." You may make the triumphant chal

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lenge by faith, "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth; who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God; who also maketh intercession for us.' Christ having made a full expiation for all your sins, you are no longer under condemnation. For," says the apostle, there is no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus." He does not say there is nothing deserving condemnation in believers; for as long as they live in the body, sin will cleave to them. But though there is enough in the believer to merit condemnation, yet the guilt of sin and the curse of the law are taken away. The Christian's ground of rejoicing, therefore, to the last hour of his life, will be in the finished work of Christ, and the satisfaction for sin made by him on the cross. "We rejoice in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom we have received the atonement." Christ is all in all in our salvation. The apostle calls him "the author and the finisher of our faith." As far, therefore, as you have reason to hope that he has begun the good work in you, you may confidently expect that, in the use of his appointed means, he will carry it on to its completion. If he persisted in the arduous work which he undertook to do for you, till he could say "It is finished," can you doubt that he will finish the work which he has undertaken to accomplish in you? The hand which has laid the foundation of the spiritual temple, will also finish it: "he will bring forth the head-stone thereof with shoutings,