forbid that this sentence of eternal banishment should await any of you, my brethren. "Suffer then the word of exhortation." It is yet in your power to avert this fearful doom. The Judge of all the earth "stands at the door and knocks," -not with the sentence of condemnation which we have all so justly deserved,—but with the gracious offers of pardon and reconciliation.The Saviour who has died for us,-invites, even supplicates us, to repent, and believe, and be saved. The Sovereign of the universe knocks at the door of the sinner's heart-by his mercies, and his chastisements,-by his word, and his ordinances, by the "still small voice" of conscience -by the operations of his Spirit,-by the labours of his ministers. And will ye ungratefully shut out "the King of Glory," through whom alone ye can have life,-while ye freely open your hearts to the "Prince of this World," who cometh not but to deceive, and "to kill and to destroy?" When Christ himself declares,* by his Spirit, "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;"-will "ye turn a deaf ear to your only Redeemer, and refuse to entertain the Lord of life? And when the Holy Ghost is waiting to purify and sanctify you,-to help your infirmities, and lead you into all truth,”—

* Revelations, chap. iii. verse 20.

will ye "grieve the Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption?"

your

Oh! as ye prize the salvation of your immortal souls, prove from henceforth that " ye have not so learned Christ." To you, to all, I would say, let your lives be a commentary on your profession. In a word, "let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: " "Receive Christ into your hearts by faith;""Be zealous and repent:"-so shall he "blot out as a thick cloud your transgressions, and as a cloud sins:" So shall he acknowledge you as his "faithful servants:"-and at that day when the "Lord of Hosts maketh up his jewels," and shall separate "between the righteous and the wicked," when he shall command them on his left hand-(the impenitent, and the hypocrites) to "depart into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels," he shall say unto you,and may it be the joyful welcome of every individual amongst us-"Come ye blessed children of

my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you, from the foundation of the world."

SERMON XIV.

ON THE MARKS WHICH DISTINGUISH A REAL

CHRISTIAN.

GALATIANS v. 24. 66

They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”

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IN the Scripture of Truth, those persons, in all countries, to whom the Christian religion has been preached, are divided into two classes those who are Christ's, and those who are the world's. These two classes are also distinguished by other marks which bear the same meaning:-Thus those "who are Christ's," are said to be "born of the Spirit ;"—" walking as children of God and the light;"—"heirs of the kingdom of heaven." Those who are the world's, are described as walking in darkness"-the servants of Satan-and heirs of eternal death. Consequently, it is obvious, that all who are here assembled, must belong to one or to the other of these two divisions of the human race. If we

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"are Christs," and if, through the blessed influence of the Holy Spirit, which will assuredly attend earnest prayer and zealous exertion, we continue Christ's unto the end, we shall be received after death into the kingdom of heaven, through the atoning blood of Christ. If we are not Christ's-if, with hearts still unconverted—still unpurified-we seek not to be reconciled to God through him-but wilfully "continue in sin," and go down impenitent to the grave, we must expect our portion in that place "where the worm dieth not, and the fire is never quenched."

Now, if this statement be just, surely every person who has any serious concern for his soul, must feel how inexpressibly important it is, to satisfy himself whether, in his existing state of heart and life, he is "Christ's," or not. And there is one sure method by which we can learn a true answer to this question: "Search the Scriptures:"-they contain ample descriptions of the persons who "are Christ's." If, on deeply examining your heart and conduct as in the presence of an all-seeing God, you discover adequate grounds for belief that those descripin any degree, be applied to yourself, you have reason humbly to trust, that, "by the grace of God which is given you,"-you

tions may,

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are Christ's." If, on the contrary, you perceive, that they cannot fairly be applied to yourself, however you may be blinded by "the

Ꮓ

deceitfulness of sin,"-however unwilling you may be to admit the humiliating truth,-you cannot but conclude, that at the present moment you are not "Christ's."

Among the many passages relating to this important enquiry, perhaps there is not one from which you may collect the true reply more easily, than from the verse immediately under our consideration :-"They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and

lusts;" And, consequently, they who have not "crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts," are not Christ's so that, brethren, by carefully scrutinizing your own hearts and lives --and submitting them to the test here afforded by St. Paul, every one of you may judge of his own state for himself.

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The love of Christ," says the Apostle on another occasion, "constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead :"—we judge that if Christ died for all men, it is a proof that, but for his death, all men would have fallen short of pardon and eternal life: "and he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him who died for them, and rose again.' This "living unto Christ," is denominated in the text, "crucifying the flesh with the affec

* 2 Corinthians, chap. v. verses 14 and 15.