wisdom and knowledge." Col. ii, 3. He is perfectly acquainted with our sinfulness, weakness, frailty, and temptations, and with the best methods of delivering us from all these evils; so that we may safely depend upon him, as an infallible guide to heavenly glory.

His power is equal to his wisdom. He made and preserves the world: "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." Col. i, 16, 17. This power, blessed be God, is employed in saving a lost world. Well might the apostle to the Hebrews say, "He is able to save them to the uttermost, that come unto God by him." Heb. vii, 25. Let us commit ourselves wholly to him, remembering that he is able to keep that which we commit unto him against that day: That great decisive day, which will determine the everlasting state of all mankind.

Our Mediator is perfectly holy. "Such an high-priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens." Heb. vii, 26. On this account, sinners can have no union with him, till they are saved from their sins. But his people are saved; and in reference to this, the angel of the Lord said to Joseph, "Thou shalt call his name JESUS; for he shall save his people from their sins." Matt. i, 21.

Christ, our Mediator, is full of compassion for the human race; yet, such is his regard for the honour of God, that he will not save them who obstinately live and die in sin. Possessed both of Divinity and humanity, he regards the one as much as the other; and it is as much his plan to secure the Divine glory, as it is to save the world. This should never be forgotten, lest, while we view his unbounded love, we should indulge ourselves in those things which will ever be hateful in his sight.

These things duly considered, lead us to conclude, that he is in every respect a fit person to mediate between God and men. Have we to do with God? He is God. Are we men? He is man. Are we igno

rant? He is wise. Are we weak? He is strong. Are we polluted? He is pure. Are we miserable? He is compassionate. We now proceed to consider,

II. HIS MEDIATORIAL WORK.

Our Lord, as Mediator, fulfilled the law, and made it honourable. His obedience was perfect. In all his works, the precepts of the law shone peculiarly bright. Every command appeared in its native beauty and grandeur; and the world beheld what God designed man to be at first, and what he actually was, while he remained in a state of inno cency. The following prophecy was remarkably accomplished in his holy conduct The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness' sake: He will magnify the law, and make it honourable." Isa. xlii, 21.

By his death he made atonement for sin. Man was guilty and condemned. God required satisfaction; and a sacrifice of infinite value must be offered up, before guilt could be removed.

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No sacrifice was of sufficient value but that of Christ. The blood of bulls and goats could not take away sin. They were offered God, under the ceremonial law, as types of the great Redeemer, who had mercifully undertaken to atone for sin; and they directed the Jewish Church to him, as the only foundation of hope to man. In the fulness of time He came, and "suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. He was wounded for our transgressions. Isa. liii, 5. "He redeemed us to God by" his "blood." Rev. v, 9. He tasted "death for every man." Heb. ii, 9.

By his resurrection, he conquered death, and opened the grave. The sentence pronounced upon man when he first went astray, was, "Dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return." Gen. iii, 19. But by the resurrection of Christ, a way is opened to a blessed immortality. Death yielded to his superior power, and the dreary grave was opened. What cause of thankfulness to us! What glorious prospects are before us! We also shall arise from the dead, and heaven will be our final home!

Before his ascension he appointed a Gospel ministry. Chosen men were sent out into all the world, to preach the gospel to every creature. Having fulfilled their mission, they died, and others were raised up to fill their place; and able ministers will be raised up by Jesus, as long as the ministry shall be necessary. The men whom he chooses, are not always furnished with vast stores of human learning; but, what is far more important, they possess the spirit of their Divine Master. With zeal and perseverance they warn men of danger, and direct them to the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. By their instrumentality, sinners are awakened, mourners are comforted, believers are edified, and backsliders are restored to the favour and image of God. After the ascension of our Mediator into heaven, he sent the Holy Spirit down, to carry on his gracious designs towards the children of men. The influences of the Holy Spirit are either extraordinary or ordinary. On the day of Pentecost he communicated extraordinary gifts to the holy apostles, to qualify them for an extraordinary work; but those gifts were not continued long. There are other ordinary gifts of the Spirit, which are communicated to all men in all ages, because they are absolutely necessary to salvation. Without his sacred influences, we have neither inclination nor power to return to God. But he enlightens, that we may repent; he quickens, that we may live to God; and he cleanses, that we may be happy. To deny these influences and operations upon the human heart, is to deny all genuine religion; for there is nothing good in man, until he has been renewed by the Holy Ghost.

Our blessed Mediator ever lives to make intercession. He appears for us in the presence of God, and pleads the merit of his death. It is on this ground alone, that a sinful world is not destroyed. When a guilty sinner returns to God, Jesus pleads for pardon and peace; when a poor tempted and afflicted saint looks up, he pleads for delivering grace. Through him the choicest blessings of heaven are sent down upon us; and through him our prayers, praises, and duties ascend, and

meet with Divine acceptance. We shall now hasten to the last thing proposed.

III. THE HAPPY CONSEQUENCES OF HIS MEDIATION.

By his mediation God is glorified. The plan of mediation will reflect everlasting honour upon God, because it both secures his glory, and the happiness of his creatures. Here we see all the attributes of Deity graciously employed, and sweetly harmonized, in the salvation of men. Justice is satisfied, truth is vindicated, purity is displayed, the channels of mercy are opened; and both the wisdom and power of God are made manifest, in the contrivance and execution of this wondrous plan.

A sufficient remedy is provided for guilty man. His guilt may be pardoned; he may be reconciled to God; his nature may be cleansed: And lost happiness may be fully recovered. Shall we, then, refuse this remedy? Are we determined to perish in our sins? God forbid! Blessed be the Lord, for offering salvation to us upon Gospel terms! O, may we accept his offered mercy, and live for ever!

A way is opened into the kingdom of glory, by the mediation of Christ. The vilest sinner upon earth may become a glorious saint in heaven. The crown of glory, and the palm of victory, are freely offered; for the grand design of Christ, in all his undertakings, has been to "bring many sons unto glory." Heb. ii, 10. Lord, grant that we may be of the happy number!

Upon the whole, let us unite in praising God for the gift of his Son; let us love the Lord Jesus in sincerity; let us thankfully accept the gracious offers of the Gospel, and follow on to know the Lord. Hereafter may we join all the glorious saints in heaven, in singing the following song of praise to our Redeemer: "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing." Rev. v, 12. Amen.

ners.

SERMON IV.

THE NECESSITY OF REPENTANCE.

Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. LUKE xiii, 5.

THE greatest sufferers in this world, are not always the greatest sinWe have clear proofs of this in the case of Jacob, and in the two cases mentioned in the preceding verses. "Suppose ye," says Christ, "that those Galileans whose blood Pilate mingled with their sacrifices, or those eighteen upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: But except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.'

From these words we shall consider, what is implied in repentance, and then prove the certainty of perishing except we repent.

I. WHAT IS IMPLIED IN REPENTANCE?

True repentance implies a knowledge of s.n; a sorrow for it; a turning from it; and a turning to God.

True repentance implies a knowledge of sin. A man sees no need of repentance, till he sees himself a sinner. "I came not," says Christ, "to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Mark ii, 17. A thoughtless sinner, ignorant of himself, imagines all is well, when, perhaps, a cloud of Divine vengeance is ready to burst upon his devoted head. We see this illustrated in the common affairs of life, in which a man sees no need of repentance, till he is convinced of some impropriety in his conduct. Thinking his whole conduct right, he goes from one error to another, till ruin comes upon him as an armed man. The true penitent before God, is fully awakened from the sleep of sin. With open eyes he sees what the law requires, and wherein he has deviated from its holy precepts, both in heart and life, and he humbly acknowledges himself guilty. Viewing the law on one hand, and his conduct on the other, his sins appear more numerous than the hairs of his head. He did not before conceive himself guilty of so many crimes. With his eyes partly opened, he thought he had sinned only in a few instances; but he is now fully convinced that his whole life has been sinful; that his best works have come short of God's requirements; and that he deserves to suffer all those dreadful punishments, which God hath threatened in his holy word.

Hence follows a sorrow for sin. A sight of sin is so grievous and distressing, that it leads the penitent to weep and mourn bitterly; like Peter, when he reflected upon his base conduct towards his Master. Sin is now a heavy burden, which the penitent can neither bear nor remove, and it remains upon him day and night. He often cries out, "O wretched man that I am!" Rom. vii, 24. No sorrow is like his sorrow. "The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?" Prov. xviii, 14. With this wounded spirit he sighs and groans, as one without hope. Many think he is going mad; but it is certain he is becoming wise. Thoughtless men direct him to company, amusement, and sensual pleasure, as the best cure of melan choly and dejection; but wise and good men direct him to a throne of grace. Ask him the cause of his sorrow. Does he give you the answer of a madman? No: he says, I have sinned against the Best of beings: I have destroyed myself: I am under a curse: And, continuing in my present state, hell will be my portion!

The next thing in repentance is a turning from sin. Sin now appears hateful. The penitent abhors and detests it, and flees from it as from the face of a serpent. God has said, "Let the wicked forsake his way." Isa. lv, 7. The penitent obeys this command. He quits at once both sin and sinful companions, resolving never more to offend a holy God. We do not suppose he has absolute power over sin at present; but he endeavours to conquer it. Death appears less dreadful to him than sin; and he had rather die than yield to its baneful influences. If this be

not the case, he is not a sincere penitent. He may profess to be a penitent before men; but God, who sees the heart, will not approve. It is an easy thing to deceive men, and we may deceive ourselves; but God cannot be deceived. We never read of a penitent, in the word of God, who did not forsake all his evil ways. The thing, indeed, will speak for itself. What we pursue we love. We cannot pursue sin without a love for it; and if we love and pursue it, how can we be said to repent? Another important part of repentance is a turning to God. This is preceded by self-examination. Then "let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord." Lam. iii, 40. The penitent returns with an humble, broken, contrite heart, confessing his sins to God. He comes, as the publican in the temple, saying, "God be merciful to me a sinner." Luke xviii, 13. The justice of God appears dreadful; but there is hope in his mercy. The penitent goes boldly to a throne of grace, through Jesus his Mediator and Advocate. He seeks the Lord in all the means of grace, and joins himself to the people of God. He returns in his affections, desiring God above all things. He returns to his duty, saying, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" Acts ix, 6. Such a one is not far from the kingdom of God. His sorrow will soon be turned into joy. The gloomy, dismal state of penitence, will vanish as clouds and darkness before the rising sun; and the glorious Sun of Righteousness will arise upon him, with healing in his wings.

II. THE CERTAINTY OF PERISHING, EXCEPT WE REPENT.

It must be allowed that all men have sinned and come short of the glory of God. "They are all gone aside; they are altogether become filthy: There is none that doeth good, no, not one." Ps. xiv, 3. What an awful picture of human nature! Every soul of man is guilty before God! Some may be less guilty than others; but if we select the best men upon earth, and survey their whole conduct, we shall discover many sins, both of omission and of commission.

Every sin which men have committed, must either be pardoned or punished. Sinful man must fall either into the hand of justice or of mercy. This is a necessary consequence of our probationary state. God has placed us here, in a state of awful trial for eternity; and we must soon appear before a righteous Judge, to give an account of the deeds done in the body. If our sins be not remitted, the Judge must condemn our souls to everlasting fire.

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Pardon cannot be obtained without repentance. Impenitent sinners persevere in sin, and harden their hearts against God. Every day increases their guilt. They neither see nor feel a need of pardon. this wretched state, they neglect all the means which God has appointed for their salvation. A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished." Prov. xxii, 3. Who can blame God for punishing such men? Would it be right for the King of heaven to pardon hardened rebels with weapons in their hands?

It must follow, then, that those who neglect repentance will perish. They will perish, body and soul, for ever. Sinner, be alarmed! Tremble before God! He will not be mocked. "Whatsoever a man