come and share the instructions and counsels which they give to their own families. I have known cases in which this has been done to great advantage, and this mode of pious charity brings with it no neglect of aught that is incumbent at home. A man's family is his first care; and his duty in it must neither be 'neglected nor abridged for any appearance elsewhere. Where our Lord stations us, let our judge find us. In these situations let us labour much in the Lord, and he will support us under all our discouragements. How beautifully is this spirit and the regard of Heaven to it illustrated by the following incident !—A West Indian planter sent his son to Britain for his education, and the youth, while in this country, was made acquainted with the Saviour, and returned to his father, not only liberally educated, but richly imbued with the spirit of the gospel. He looked with pity on his father's slaves, and began to speak to them of the grace of Jesus. His father rebuked and prohibited him, but without effect. At length, he threatened to disinherit him, and to banish him from the island, and the ship was ready to receive this outcast; as he was about to step into the boat, he turned about to take the last look of his father's house, from which he was thus driven for the name of Jesus, when his father relented, fell upon his neck, and cried," Return, my son, I will never oppose nor interrupt thee more." Most delightful it was to him to resume his task, to lighten the burdens of the wretched, and to see his father's heart melting at the idea of the Saviour's mercy, and longing for that grace which had been so abundant to his son ! Finally, Let those yet strangers to the Saviour now cast themselves on his compassion and power. You require the exertion of his power, for you are in a state of subjection to sin and Satan, from which Christ alone can rescue you. The devil may now employ his influence over you in a manner soft and pleasing; he may present to you nothing but his flatteries and enticements; but ere long he will assail you by suggestions and charges, and terrors the most agonizing, and by them he will endeavour to seal your perdition. You ask if Jesus will pity you, and employ his power in your behalf. Yes; his pity for wretched sinners may be read in his entreaties and seen in his blood. Would he weep for the sinner's danger if he was indifferent about his fate? Would he urge his acceptance of his grace if he had no desire for his salvation? Would he have died for the ungodly if he felt no solicitude to deliver them from the wrath to come? The most loathsome wretchedness cannot exclude you from his pity, nor can the most atrocious guilt exceed his power to save. Though a legion of devils, though an host of corruptions were in your heart, he hath power to cast them out; and though the sorrows of death compassed you about, and the pains of hell had taken hold on you, his mercy can pluck you as a brand from the burning. O cast yourselves, then, on his power and compassion, as the weeping infant does on its mother's bosom, or as the repentant prodigal throws himself at his father's feet! May this be the testimony with which you leave his house this day," I came to it careless, but his grace impressed me; I came to it the slave of the devil, but the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and death; I came with my heart set on the world, but I leave it devoted to things eternal." And may all of us be monuments of that grace which reigns through righteousness unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Finally, Let those yet strangers to the Saviour now cast themselves on his compassion and power. You require the exertion of his power, for you are in a state of subjection to sin and Satan, from which Christ alone can rescue you. The devil may now employ his influence over you in a manner soft and pleasing ; he may present to you nothing but his flatteries and enticements; but ere long he will assail you by suggestions and charges, and terrors the most agonizing, and by them he will endeavour to seal your perdition. You ask if Jesus will pity you, and employ his power in your behalf. Yes; his pity for wretched sinners may be read in his entreaties and seen in his blood. Would he weep for the sinner's danger if he was indifferent about his fate? Would he urge his acceptance of his grace if he had no desire for his salvation? Would he have died for the ungodly if he felt no solicitude to deliver them from the wrath to come? The most loathsome wretchedness cannot exclude you from his pity, nor can the most atrocious guilt exceed his power to save. Though a legion of devils, though an host of corruptions were in your heart, he hath power to cast them out; and though the sorrows of death compassed you about, and the pains of hell had taken hold on you, his mercy can pluck you as a brand from the burning. O cast yourselves, then, on his power and compassion, as the weeping infant does on its mother's bosom, or as the repentant prodigal throws himself at his father's feet! May this be the testimony with which you leave his house this day," I came to it careless, but his grace impressed me; I came to it the slave of the devil, but the law |