it takes its mansion near the throne.' Suppose that there were, in a certain room of your house, a company of angels who were waiting to convey you to heaven, and you knew it. What manner of persons would you be in all holy conversation and godliness? We ought to live, continually, seeing that we look for these things, in such a manner that we may, at any time, “be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless."

It is also true that sinners are, in like manner, living on the very brink of hell. A blow, a fall, a sudden sickness, may launch them forth into eternity, and all is over with them forever. We are dividing, every day, or week, or month, like the two on the cross, on either side of Christ; and each of us will follow one or the other of them, to his paradise or to his punishment. Some are crying, "Lord, remember me"; some are perishing at the side of Christ. He who hung at Christ's side, but reviled him, will think forever: 'What an opportunity I had, with my fellow, to be saved, at the very side of Jesus.' Like him, some one who reads these lines may often have said, with a complaining feeling, If thou be the Christ, save me; why have I never found pardon, when I have asked for it so long? "Dost thou not fear God, seeing thou art" justly "in a state of condemnation?" When you feel this, you will acquit Christ of all blame at his delay, saying, This

man hath done nothing amiss; but this man (smiting your breast) hath done every thing amiss.

Finally, it would be doing injustice to the subject, if the closing impression should not be made by the truth illustrated so strikingly by this narrative, namely:

V. CHRIST IS ABLE AND WILLING TO SAVE GREAT

SINNERS.

He illustrated this in three remarkable ways:

On the cross, while making the atonement, he manifested his power and willingness to save great sinners, by saving a dying thief.

After he had risen from the dead, he told his disciples to offer pardon to men in his name, 'beginning at Jerusalem.' Go, first of all, to my crucifiers ; tell them that I loved them, and gave myself for them. This was actually done; and many believed, and were saved. Once more:

When he selected an apostle to the Gentile world, he chose one who was a persecutor, a blasphemer, and injurious, and made him a pattern of what he was able and willing to do in the case of great transgressors. We hear that convert say, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. Howbeit, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ

might show forth a pattern to all who should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting." The greatness of guilt, then, is no reason, in itself, why it may not be forgiven. "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing that he ever liveth to make intercession for them."

We shall each see a time when the prayer of the penitent thief will seem to us the most appropriate to our case. Christ is coming into his kingdom; coming, in his own glory, and in the glory of the Father, and of the holy angels. Every eye shall see him.' While the heavens are on fire, the elements melting, the graves opening, the risen dead preparing to ascend to judgment, and the Son of man is throned above the clouds, is there a petition that you would love to have answered more than this-Lord, remember me? Could you, by any means, induce Christ to remember you at such a time, and obtain from him a token of favor, what would you not give? You can secure a remembrance of yourself then. The way to do it is, to remember him now. Remember him, in the midst of your follies, and worldliness, and sins, and give yourself to him. Remember him, while you ask, What must I do to be saved? and commit yourself to him, like this thief. Remember him at his table; for he has said, 'Do this in remembrance of me.' Remember him in your temptations, and keep his word.

Remember him always, as your Example, Guide, Friend, and Saviour. "FOR EVERY ONE THAT SEETH THE SON, AND BELIEVETH ON HIM, HATH EVERLASTING LIFE; AND I WILL RAISE HIM UP AT THE LAST DAY."

SERMON XI.

THE RELENTING CRUCIFIER.

MATT. XXVII. 48.

AND STRAIGHTWAY ONE OF THEM RAN, AND TOOK A SPONGE, AND FILLED IT WITH VINEGAR, AND PUT IT ON A REED, AND GAVE HIM TO DRINK.

AMONG the friends of Christ, we find a relenting crucifier. In companies where we should least expect it God secures witnesses for himself; and in hearts which appear to be the most unpromising soil we find the work of the Spirit.

The act performed by this partner of the crucifixion was so very slight, and evinces so little interest in Christ, that his claim to a place among the friends of Christ may naturally be questioned. It is not with the expectation of proving his claim, by any argument founded on his cursory act of kindness, that he is here included in the number of the Saviour's friends; but for the purpose of showing that the infinite condescension of the Saviour, in recognizing a cup of cold water given to one of his