nation and death, but raise to dignity and splendour-to consummate purity and everlasting blessedness.

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Flee, then, to this Jesus-this city of refuge. Say, what makes you hesitate? Why let suspense engross the moment that comes winged with mercy? What is there no balm in Gilead, is there no physician there? Yes and such is the benignity of his heart that, when on earth, he went about doing good: healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. The errand on which he came was an errand of benevolence he announced publicly in the synagogue at Nazareth, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord :' and is his arm shortened that it cannot redeem? Know you not that he is exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance and forgiveness of sins?-Ho! every one that thirsteth, is the lan

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guage of the divine munificence: come, and take the water of life freely-If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.'

Should you say, in excuse for not complying with the benevolent invitation, I have nothing to bring that can entitle me to share the inestimable favour; suffer me to remind you, that the invitation extends not to those that are rich, but to them that have no money nothing with which to purchase the divine clemency, or to satisfy the claims of justice. The question in this case is not, 'What I am worthy to receive, but, what has God graciously promised to bestow?' If, therefore, you are among the thirsty and the indigent; Come, buy, and eat; yea, come buy wine and milk without money and without price.' Poverty of spirit, remember, is no bar to forgiveness. For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble,

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and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.' If there be one posture of the soul more lovely and desirable than another, it is when at the footstool of him in whose sight the heavens aré not clean: when it can say, with Jacob, I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast showed unto thy servant: or, with Job, Behold I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth-I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

The language of your heart, Lavinia, speaks poverty of spirit: to whom then should you go but to Christ, with whom there are durable riches and righteousness. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread ? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto me, is the affectionate language of Jesus, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live-Return to the Lord, and he will have mercy upon you; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.'

Would you experience peace of conscience and communion with the Father of mercies ? these inestimable blessings, remember, are only to be enjoyed through the medium of a Saviour's blood. Without shedding of blood is no remission-God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them.' Go to him therefore as wretched and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked; and he will clothe you with the garments of salvation. I counsel thee to buy of me; saith the faithful and true witness, gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see-Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.'

In opposition to the freeness of grace, urge neither the number nor the magnitude of your crimes as a bar to forgiveness. This would be to act like thetimorous passenger who, in a

storm at sea, makes it his only business to tell the waves, and to shriek at the beating of every billow against the ship; instead of imitating the industrious pilot, who hath his hand at the helm and his eye to heaven, and minds more his duty than his danger.' Neither your thinking that pardon cannot be extended to a wretch so vile, nor the depths of your despondency, can be admitted as evidence of your having no interest in divine mercy. Others have known what it is to groan, being burdened; and have cried in anguish of soul, My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God.' No saint, perhaps, ever experienced more painful anxiety on this account, or exulted more in confidence of future glory, than the Psalmist.

Will the Lord, he asks, cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? Doth his promise fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? O my God, my soul is cast down within meall thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. Yet the Lord will command his loving-kindness in the day time, and in the night his song shal