CONCLUSION. 1 COR. vi. 11. -And such WERE some of you. WHEN I reflect upon the life of man, and consider the various changes that happen in it, I am satisfied that by the original constitution of providence, good is intended in every change. I do not indeed see this to be constantly the effect; but well am I assured that such was the purpose of the Almighty, how frequently soever I behold it frus trated by the radical corruption and depravity of man. Under this contemplation I should sink, were it not for the promises of the Gospel. Here a clear arrangement of divine purposes is rendered visible; and I see a recovery as astonishing and complete, as can possibly be imagined to have arisen in the depths of Divine wisdom. I do not indeed see all but from what appears be→ fore me, by means of the rational nature which God has given me, I am enabled to contemplate on what I have not seen by what I have seen; and to judge, according to my limited abilities, of what those writings which I believe to have been inspired, and which I have no doubt are historically true, have promised. On this foundation therefore I do as firmly believe that " he who hath "begun so good a work, will perform "it unto the day of Jesus Christ*," as I do my own existence. Such a reflection, if it does not produce in me the natural fruit of so good a tree, renders me without excuse, and * Phil. i. 6. obliges me to pray-as I do now for this very reason and from the very bottom of my heart-God! be merciful to me, a sinner! A train of religious meditation has brought me to this conclusion and if, by means, one sinner has been converted from the error of his way, if I have restored or improved my own spiritual condition, if I have brought one friend, or one enemy, to Christ, accept, O Lord! thine own gift. As my address has been principally made to penitents, and to those who have been tied and bound with the chain of their sins, I trust that by the divine grace a light may have shined in the prison; that the angel of the Lord, the messenger of glad tidings hath come upon you, and raised you up with this cheering salutation "Arise up quickly;" and that I now behold the chains fallen from your hands*. If I address you *Acts xvii. 7. in St. Paul's words, "such were some 86 of you;" and turn back to see the Apostle's delineation of your characters in the persons of the unregenerate and unconverted Corinthians-" Know ye "not that the unrighteous shall not "inherit the kingdom of God? Be not. · "deceived: neither fornicators, nor "idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effemi86 hate, nor abusers of themselves with "mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, "nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor ex"tortioners, shall inherit the kingdom * ofGod*:”—when I see this description of men upon whom the sentence of condemnation from the Almighty hath passed, I cannot but weep over the dreadful catalogue of sin. But I am revived. in contemplating your change. "Such "were some of you:" happy you, who can join in the expression !— "Such were some of you, but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, * i Cor. vi. 10, 11. "but ye are justified in the name " of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit " of our God!"-If ye have allowed yourselves time for thought in the progress of your spiritual journey, if ye have rested at every stage to examine maturely every change of your condition, if your provision has been plentiful and your viands pure, if your faith has been strong, and your hope stedfast, your strength will be recruited and your passage will be safe. will be safe.-"Enter thou into "the joy of thy Lord." It may reasonably be expected by those who have spent the life-long day in penitence and prayer, and have consumed the night in watching and holy carefulness for the welfare of their souls, who have sought the Lord while, and where, he might be found, that to him "the hour of the redeemed is come." Nor will their expectation be vain; for "behold! your God will come with a recompence; He will come, and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall U |