ing world from nothing, must he therefore redeem a guilty world from misery? Though he justly bạnished fallen men from paradise, can he be expected to exalt these men to glory? Though he has driven apostate angels into the place of perpetual torment, what but love can induce him to raise apostate men to those seats of bliss, which angels had occupied ?

O the height and the depth of the redeeming love of God, through our Lord Jesus Christ! Trace back this love to its first manifestation in planning our redemption, and laying our help on One almighty to save. Look forward to the perfecting of this scheme of love, in the glory to be revealed, in the complete, uninterrupted, and everlasting happiness of ten thousand times ten thousand fallen sinners, whom law and justice condemned, and whom the supreme Sovereign of the universe, with infinite honour to his government, might have doomed to unutterable and unending wretchedness, but whom he has resolved to save with an everlasting salvation. Above all, contemplate the glorious One,

, who deigned to be the Redeemer of man

kind. He is none other than the Son of God, and brightness of the Father's glory, Emanuel, God manifested in the flesh, seen of men, and crucified on Calvary. An universe could be created with infinite ease, by the word of omnipotent power ; but mankind cannot be redeemed from destruction, be saved from their sins, be restored to favour, or be brought to glory, without the shedding of blood, the blood of him in whom dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead. Death is the just, but direful penalty of the law we have broken ; and if this

penalty is not endured by an all-sufficient substitute, the criminals cannot be released. Therefore Jesus died, the just for the unjust, to bring us to God.

" The Captain of our salvation was made perfect through sufferings, to bring many sons and daughters to glory, He became poor, that we, by his poverty, might be made rich.”

Finally, contemplate what the redemption, which he purchased with his blood, includes ;—pardon of innumerable and infi

;nitely aggravated transgressions ; recovery from wretchedness, which must have been eternal ; reconciliation and peace with the

God

God of heaven and earth, against whom we had lifted up the arm of rebellion ; restoration to purity and holiness, without which man becomes his own tormentor; advancement to happiness of the noblest kind, a rational, sublime, and lasting happiness, which is begun in the day of regenerating power, which grows with

every growth in grace, and is perfected in the heaven of heavens. For all this bliss, and all these hopes, thou, O man of God, standest an eternal debtor to the riches of redeeming love! Well, therefore, may the ransomed around the throne, and the saints and sojourners below, unite in one harmonious song, “ God is love."

' Having reminded you that God is love, in his nature, in his dispensations to mankind, and in his method of redeeming perishing sinners, I only add further in the

Last place, That the truth of the asserțion in my text appears with peculiar evidence, by tracing the dealings and methods of his grace towards every individual now hearing me, who has interest in the Saviour. Your experience, O believers in Jesus,

testifies

You lay

testifies that God is love. Once

you were wandering in forbidden paths, and unwilling to return; once you were lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, and minded only earthly things; once you had only the form of godliness, but not its power, were deceiving your own souls, were speaking peace to yourselves, were righteous in your own eyes, were saying, “ Soul, take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.” You asleep in security, and dreamed of glory, though the heirs of wrath.

But, when the time of favour came, your God awaked

you

from the fatal delusion. He said unto you, Live. He called you from darkness to his marvellous light, and taught you to choose the things which belong to your

By wonderful, yet most gracious methods, he has carried on the spiritual and divine life in your soul.

Often has he contradicted your selfish desires, and given you most mortifying disappointments in all your hopes of applause, and wealth, and honour. Often has he sent you sickness, oppression, and unkindness, when you looked for strength, success, and friendship. Often has he per

future peace.

mitted you to be tossed with tempests, and not to be comforted by any creature, Yet all is in love, though you think not so ; in richest love to your noblest interests, to prove and humble you, to make you cast your cares on God, to bring you to cleave to him with full purpose of heart, and to lead you, amidst sighs, and tears, and grief, to lift up your eyes, and look beyond time, and see your redemption drawing nigh.

On the other hand, often has he helped you, when laid very low, has brought you from darkness and depths, and has made you joyful, according to the days wherein you had seen grief. Mountains of

Mountains of difficulty have been levelled, fears averted, prayers answered, and

you constrained to own, that the Lord hath done great things for you.

Divine love has furnished you means and ordinances for increasing your faith, enlarging your hopes, and enlivening your souls. Perhaps you have not all the means which others enjoy, or which you expected, nor all the continuance of health which would enable you to reap the full comfort of religious ordinances ; yet infinite love sends you the means which you most need,

and