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displayed the riches of his goodness, and forbearance, and long-suffering, in order to lead them to repentance. But God, in our present state of probation, deals not with men according to their sins, nor rewards them immediately, according to the real demerit of their iniquities. When the world sat in darkness and the shadow of death, he was graciously pleased to send forth the light of truth from on high, to dispel the surrounding gloom. In times past, he spoke unto the fathers by Moses and the prophets; and hath, in these last days, spoken unto us by Christ and his holy apostles. And what an extensive, what a strong and wonderfully well connected chain of truth runs through the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament! How accurately, how gloriously is the whole building founded, and framed, and joined together, though the workmen have been so numerous, and employed in so many different ages of the world! Here the man of God is thoroughly furnished unto all good works. To establish our belief, miracles are faithfully recorded, and prophecies exactly fulfilled. To enlighten our ignorance, we have clear and comprehensive precepts, a pure and perfect law. To animate our hope, we have great and precious promises. To alarm our fears, there are grievous denunciations of tribulation and anguish. And to quicken all our virtuous exertions, there is the offer of a great reward, expressed in the strong language of rivers of pleasure; a crown of glory; a perfection of joy, of which (under the present infirmities of our nature,) it hath not entered into the heart of man to conceive. These things were written for our admonition and comfort, upon whom the ends of the world have come; and it is expressly commanded in the words immediately succeeding the

text, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit "saith unto the churches." In the sacred Scriptures, God is continually speaking to us; he stands at the door and knocks-he demands our serious attentionhe solicits admission to the purest affection of our hearts. By all the promises of his mercy, by all the threatenings of his wrath, by the most powerful motives that can be brought to operate upon the minds of reasonable beings, he expostulates with the heedless and refractory-"How long, ye simple ones, will ye "love simplicity! How long will the scorners delight " in their scorning! The Lord waiteth, that he may "be gracious unto you. Turn ye at my reproof. Es"tablish a covenant of peace and amity with me. "Become my people, and I will be your God."

That the admonitions of his word may have their full weight and efficacy, our gracious Lord farther solicits our attention and regard, by the operations of his Holy Spirit. This is the peculiar discovery of the glorious Gospel; and it is a doctrine full of consolation and encouragement to infirm and ignorant mortals. The same divine Comforter, who was promised by Christ to the primitive disciples, still continues to operate among the servants of God; he extends his sacred influences over the whole Christian Church; he is given to every man to profit withal; and, whatever our spiritual necessity may be, in all cases he helpeth our infirmities. This great Agent in the kingdom of the Redeemer, enlightens our understanding, purifies our affections, shows us what is really good, and prompts us to pursue it. To stimulate us in the prosecution of our true happiness, he imparts, at proper seasons, fresh and almost irresistible charms to the

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Snative beauties of truth and virtue; and to deter us from the pernicious gratifications of sin, he occasionally disturbs our fatal repose, and adds keener pangs to the remorse of a polluted conscience. But these aids of the Divine Spirit are imparted in such a manner, as not to violate the freedom of our will; and, of course, not to disqualify us for becoming the proper subjects of punishment or reward. He opens our hearts to attend to the truth; but this assistance supersedes not the necessity of our own exertions. He invites by #gentle persuasion, and not compels by resistless violence. He does not drive us, like senseless machines; but in the character of a cheering friend, accompanies us in our way to heaven. Quench not, therefore, the suggestions of this heavenly Visitant. When he persuades, devoutly listen; when he invites, cheerfully obey. They only who are led by the Spirit are the sons of God.

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Again; our Lord calls us to a more intimate communion with himself; to a more habitual acknowledgment of his supreme dominion over us, by the common and daily dispensations of his wise providence. When the children of Israel were journeying towards the land of promise, Moses gives them this exhortation, "Thou "shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God "led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to hum❝ble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in "thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his com"mandments, or no." And this is still the benevolent intention of all his dispensations towards us, while we are travelling to a place of rest. Though we are not so miraculously conducted by the visible interposition of his great power and glory, we are, nevertheless, his

people, and the sheep of his pasture. The man of humble piety, in every object around him, discovers a present Deity: he acknowledges the superintending power of God in all his ways: he has the pillar of a cloud by day, and of fire by night, to conduct him through the wilderness of this world. But they, who perversely harden their hearts and blind their eyes, perceive not the guiding hand of the Almighty. To persons of this sort, our benevolent Parent repeatedly calls" My people are bent to backsliding from me. "How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? How shall I "deliver thee, Israel? Mine heart is turned within "me; my repentings are kindled together. I will not "execute the fierceness of mine anger; I will not "return to destroy Ephraim; for I am God, and not "man." With these compassionate sentiments, he, from time to time, endeavours to awaken our attention, and to prove what is in our hearts, whether we will keep his commandments or not. He tries our pious emotions of thankfulness and wonder, by the common bounties of nature, by the wisdom and goodness which are displayed in every part of the creation, and by the magnificence of the whole design. He proves our patience and resignation, by defeating some favourite scheme, or inflicting some unexpected distress. He solicits our gratitude by some signal blessing, or some unexpected deliverance from impending calamity. This merciful invitation is implied in every dispensation of his providence-"O that my people would hear my "voice, and learn, and perform the words of my law; "that I might do them good in their latter end."

Another observation which naturally arises from the words of the text, is this; in our present state of pro

bation, God deals with us as rational creatures and free agents; not impelling us by absolute authority and irresistible force, but inviting us to happiness, and deterring us from misery, by persuasion and threatening; by promises of reward, and denunciations of punishment. When it is said, "If any man hear my voice, " and open the door, I will come in to him," the words necessarily imply, that there is a possibility of our rejecting the gracious offer of his love; that we may refuse to listen to the calls of mercy; that we may keep the door of our hearts shut against the solicitations of our best friend, who comes to bring us joy and peace. Our disobedience is voluntary, and therefore our punishment is not arbitrary nor unjust.

Some, from early neglect, or an ill-directed education, entertain unreasonable prejudices against all the claims of revealed religion. Some, through long and immoderate indulgence in sensual gratifications, have fallen into a state of inattention, and almost insensibility, with respect to every religious concern. Some are so eagerly engaged in the pursuits of wealth and ambition, that they vainly imagine they have not time to turn, and listen to the gentle invitations of divine mercy. It may easily be imagined, that persons of this sort will find little difficulty in refusing admission to a guest, who would impede their vicious pursuits, and disturb the whole system of their present enjoyment. God sometimes arrests the sinner in his mad career, by miraculously interposing his strong hand and mighty arm. But let not the wicked man presume, and build his hopes of security upon such a deviation from the established order of things. If he will not attend to VOL. II.

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