That all appeals to the absolute mercy of God, unconnected with his holiness and his justice, are not only fallacious, but impious in the extreme, and as inconsistent with the first. principles of justice as they are repugnant to the oracles of truth, is demonstrable. If sin be really hateful to God, and incompatible with the perfect purity of his nature; if it be inimical to the happiness of the universe; the source of all the misery felt on earth or expeienced in hell; and a transgression of a law that is denominated holy, and just, and good; surely it cannot be unjust to punish it! The penal sanction of the law, as recorded by an apostle, runs thus: Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things written in the book of the law to do them.

sanction is just, or it is not:

Now this awful

if it be just, it cannot be unrighteous to enforce it; if it be not perfectly equitable, it was an act of injustice to appoint it. One of these consequences must follow.

Was the divine Lawgiver sincere, I ask; did he or did he not mean what he said when he prohibited sin, and annexed a penalty to the

precept? If sincere, if really in earnest, his truth, in case of transgression, stands engaged to inflict the punishment incurred.

'If God, like man, his purpose could renew,
His laws could vary or his plans undo;
Desponding faith would droop its cheerless wing,
Religion deaden to a lifeless thing:

Where could we, rational repose our trust,
But in a power immutable as just?'

To suppose, that he who is emphatically, styled the true and faithful witness, should bear testimony to a falsehood-should be guilty of such duplicity as would stamp infamy on the character of a man, is shocking-is blasphemy. 'God is not a man, that he should lie ; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne: he will judge the world in righteousness, and the people with his truth.'

That the mercy of God is great, even from everlasting to everlasting, upon them that fear

him, is a delightful truth. But this mercy is not manifested in a way that has the least tendency either to countenance or to extenuate the malignant nature of sin; but in a way that exhibits the infinite wisdom and benevolence of God-that evinces the purity of his nature and the rectitude of his government. 'God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto him- self, not imputing their trespasses unto them.' The saints are said to be blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ; in whom they have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace, and are made accepted in him the beloved.' In the cross of Christ, mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Here we behold, with astonishment and with gratitude, the just God and the Saviour! and he that shall hope for mercy in any other way, will find that he has deceived his own soul; 6 for there is salvation in no other, nor any other name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be sa

ved.'

This, however, is a way of saving sinners that mortifies the pride of man. It implicates him in extreme depravity, and abominable guilt it strips him of all his supposed excellency, and in the grand article of justification before God, places him on a level with harlots, publicans, and profligates. It attributes nothing to great natural abilities, shining talents, eminence in science, philosophy, or literature-to the possession of immense riches, extensive influence, or the pomp of princely magnificence: these are adventitious circumstances that have no influence in the momentous transaction. Though charity have founded a thousand hospitals, erected a thousand edifices for benevolent purposes, and supplied the wants of millions, she cannot commute for one sin, nor by these acts of splendid munificence, contribute any thing to facilitate acceptance with God. No moral worth, though the only thing that stamps intrinsick value on any character, and one grain of which is ten thousand times more excellent than all the elegant accomplishments, or the useful acquisitions ascribed to man, can plead a right to

share the inestimable blessing. These are not actions, nor qualities for which apostate men are raised to the dignity of sons of God, and made heirs of an everlasting kingdom. Honours and privileges like these, claim a divine origin; nor will he that shall happily experience the unutterable felicity, either here or hereafter, hesitate to sing with the church triumphant' Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.'

Salvation is a gift freely bestowed on man, not as deserving it not as being merited by the performance of certain duties, but as a grant of absolute grace through Christ. The praise, the honour, and the glory belong to him not to the sinnner: and the invaluable blessing must be received, if received at all, as that for which the recipient has paid no equiva lent, performed no stipulations-as a gift gratuitously conferred on a wretch that deserves to perish.

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