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child of God, there is and can be no reason to conclude that you never shall be for, how awful soever your present state may be, it is God that says, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isa. i. 18.) And He means what

father of lies may

Here then is abun

dant provision made for the salvation of the whole world, and abundant encouragement for all the sons of men to "seek the Lord while He may be found." If they perish, the fault must be entirely their own. As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die." Ezek. xxxiii. 11.

'But (you will say) all are not saved, and why should I think that I shall be saved when so many perish?' I might answer, 'Why should you not be saved, when so many are ?> But (2) Consider that, though you cannot say

that the fulness of Christ, or the abundant provisions of the Gospel, afford any special encouragement to you, more than to any other, yet the call of the Gospel, which is come unto you, certainly does. For there are thousands and tens of thousands, not more sinful and unworthy than yourself, who have never heard the tidings of Salvation. It is therefore a special mercy to you,-the first manifestation of distinguishing grace,-that to you God has sent the Gospel; by which He calls, entreats, encourages, and commands you (as much as if He spoke to you by name from heaven) to seek His face, and to accept the offers of His love. And in thus calling and inviting you, He is sincere and earnest. When He says "Incline your ear, and come unto Me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you," again I say, He means what He says. Here then is special encouragement vouchsafed to you; and your heart should be melted in thankful acknowledgement of it. But (3) Have you not some knowledge of the Gospel, which distinguishes you from many who

merely hear the sound of it, and (what is more) from yourself at a former period, when you evidently knew nothing about it? Have you not some convictions of its importance, to which you were once a stranger? Some serious impressions of your guilt and danger, your need of the Gospel, your lost and hopeless condition without it, which lead you to desire an interest in Christ, and to use the means of Grace with some regularity and diligence? I will allow that in all these respects there are many and great deficiencies and imperfections: yet you will not and cannot deny that such convictions, impressions, and desires are to be found in you. And whence are all these? Whence but from the special mercy of God, which has made you to differ from multitudes around you, and even from yourself at a former period of your life? Again-is it not the settled and deliberate conviction of your judgement and conscience (amidst all the corruption and perverseness of your heart) that the favour of God is better than life itself, that Christ is your only Refuge and Salvation, that all things are but loss in com.

parison of the knowledge of Him,-that holiness is happiness, and sin misery,-and that the portion and inheritance of the people of God, in Grace and Glory, is to be preferred to all that this world can offer? And whence is all this, but from the teaching of the Spirit, who has thus far guided you into the knowledge of Truth? For you cannot suppose that such views arise naturally in your own corrupt and sinful soul, or that they proceed from the delusions of Satan. Your own proud heart would teach you other things. The father of lies

would blind you, if he could, against all such convictions, and keep you ignorant and careless. You then have reason to thank God, not only for the outward call of the Gospel which is preached to you, but also for an inward call, which is yet more distinct and personal; for it is the dawn at least of spiritual illumination in your soul. And has He thus taught you,-thus spoken to your soul,-thus enlightened you to know the things of your peace,-only to deceive and forsake you at last? Far be from us such blasphemous thoughts of God! No. Howso

ever perverse and unthankful you may have been, or may hereafter prove,-God in all this is still sincere and earnest; and all that He has done, has been done in faithfulness and love; for which your very soul should bless and praise Him. Therefore thank God and take courage. But (4) Have you deep convictions of sin, awful views of your own corruption and pollution, very painful experience of the coldness and hardness, perverseness and ingratitude of your unbelieving heart,—and therefore, in all this, dreadful discoveries of the depraved and sinful condition of your soul, and inward conflicts with horrible temptations? Those views and discoveries are indeed distressing and appalling: but let it still be remembered that they are unspeakably important; and that you have reason to thank God for the discovery, however you may need to be humbled for the facts. It is His method to give you an extensive knowledge of your disease (the more extensive and distinct the better) that He may afterwards make you more fully to understand, and more thankfully and joyfully to receive, the Remedy.