vation is limited. Will all men partake of it? Will all be saved? Will all be delivered from wrath? Will all be received into heaven? The Scriptures answer No, to these enquiries. The text points out to us the Persons, to whom this salvation will belong, for whom it is intended, to whom it is limited, even Believers in Jesus Christ. God hath given "His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life." This indeed is that one qualification, which the Scriptures uniformly lay down as indispensable to salvation, Belief in the Son of God. "He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not, is condemned already." "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him." "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: he that believeth not (whether he may have been baptized or not) shall be damned." * But there is no occasion to multiply texts on a point so plain as this. The Salvation of the Gospel is designed and prepared for Believers in Christ; it is promised and limited to them. And who are meant by Believers in Christ? Those who receive and welcome Him as their divine Lord and Saviour; who * John, iii. 18. 36.- Mark, xvi. 16.

flee to Him for refuge; cast themselves upon His mercy; trust in his merits and promises; and submit to Him as their Prophet, Priest, and King; those who, renouncing their own righteousness, seek only to be found in His; who feeling their own weakness, lean only on the hope of His heavenly grace; who denying themselves, their own corrupt and evil inclinations, take up their cross and follow Him: those, in whose estimation He is precious; in whose affection He dwells; in whose heart He reigns; in whose lives He is manifested.-Such are Believers in Christ. Such are the Persons, to whom the salvation of the Gospel is limited. To these only it is promised. These only are the Persons who shall not perish, but shall have everlasting life." And what then, my brethren, what, as a minister of the Gospel, as a preacher of Salvation, as your best and sincerest friend, what have I to do, but to invite, to urge, to entreat you thus to believe in the only-begotten Son of God? And on this subject what arguments can I adduce more powerful, more persuasive, than those which the very discussion of the subject has suggested.

Hath God so loved you as to have given his only-begotten Son, that you might not perish, but may have everlasting life? And will you perish after all? Will you not have

everlasting life?

of mercy?

Will you reject these offers Will you disregard this wonderful exhibition of Almighty love?

Consider what you are, and what you have been doing. Think of all your rebellion against God; of your many sins committed against Him; of the opposition and enmity, which there are in your heart to his holy will and holy ways; and then reflect with yourselves, whether, it is not very wonderful that God should have provided you with any Saviour at all, but especially with such a Saviour. Is it not a very convincing proof how deeply He pities you, how earnestly He wishes your happiness, that of his own accord He gave up his only Son to suffer and to die for your salvation; and will it not be as convincing a proof of your ingratitude and determined hostility against Him, if you persist in rejecting this salvation? Love ought to beget love and the heart which is not won by kindness and goodness, is hard indeed.

Consider also more particularly, what is the return which God requires of you for all this love. It is to believe in His onlybegotten Son; to receive Him for your Master, who is the kindest of all Masters; to submit to Him as your King, who is the best of all Kings; to follow Him for your Counsellor, who is the wisest of all Counsellors; to take Him for your Friend, who

is the firmest of all Friends; to trust in Him as your Saviour, who is not merely a great, a sufficient, an Almighty, but the only Saviour. Is there any thing in all this requisition, which is hard, which is grievous; any thing to which you can reasonably object?

Consider further, why this return is demanded of you; to what end you are required thus to believe on the Son of God. Not for His benefit, but for yours; not to profit God, but yourselves. It is your own personal salvation which is at stake. It is your own individual misery or happiness which depends upon your compliance with this requisition and remember, it is your happiness or misery for ever. If you believe not, you perish; and you perish for ever. The wrath of God will abide on you eternally; and will abide on you the more heavily, because you have rejected his love. If you believe, you will have life, even life for ever and ever. You will be safe and secure in the hour of death. While your body sleeps in the earth, your spirit will be happy in paradise. At the last day, when the trumpet shall sound, you will have a joyful resurrection. Your body will be raised incorruptible. Your soul will be united to it in glory; and both will live together in heaven for ever and ever.

My brethren, can I say any thing more to induce your compliance? If these things will not convince, will not persuade you, the reason is plain; you do not give credit to them. Your heart is shut up in unbelief. You do not really believe one word which I have been speaking to you: nay, (of what moment is it, that you believe not what I say, you do not really believe one word which Jesus Christ Himself has said in the text, has said to you in the Gospel. You hear his sayings, but do not receive them in faith and love. They sound in your ears, they float in your heads, but they do not sink into your hearts. There other things have possession, and not the word of Christ. There pride, or lust, or the world, or sin, in some shape or other, occupy the chief place, and shut out the things which belong to your real peace: for while any of these works of the flesh have rule within, Christ will not enter, and you cannot believe. Pray then for strength to resist and to overcome this strong man armed. Pray that a stronger than he may come upon him and cast him out. Pray that you may have the will and the power to receive Jesus Christ.

If you have once decidedly the will, it will not be long before you have the power. He, who giveth the will, will give the power. He, who entered into the world to purify and to