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of God, can refufe to take this ftep, amongst others, evidently neceffary for averting his threatened vengeance? And who that loves his Redeemer's name, but muft defire that it fhould be adored from the rifing to the setting fun? The boldness and activity of finners in fpreading every fpecies of corruption, fhould excite an emulation in believers not to be behind hand in the fervice of a much better mafter. Have we not feen much profane zeal difcovered in fupport of the most pernicious and criminal amufements, which confume time, enervate the body, and pollute the mind? And fhall there not be a like concern to promote knowledge and holiness in the uncivilized parts of our own country, and to carry the glad tidings of the gofpel of peace to thofe who now fit in darknefs, and in the region and fhadow of death? Are there not many to whom the name of a Saviour is precious,

even as

"ointment poured forth;" who burn with defire, that the riches of divine grace, which can never be exhaufted, may be more largely diffufed? And will not all fuch chearfully and liberally contribute to extend the bounds of their Redeemer's kingdom, in the profpect of that bleffed time, when the knowledge of God fhall cover the earth as the waters cover the fea? Or of that ftill more glorious period, when every veffel of mercy, from the eaft, west, north and fouth, fhall be gathered together, and fit down with Abraham, and Ifaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of their Father?

I fhall now conclude my difcourfe, by preaching this Saviour to all who hear me, and intreating you, in the most earnest manner, to believe in Jefus Chrift; "for there " is no falvation in any other." This is far from being unnecessary or improper, even in an audience of profeffing Chriftians. Wherever there is a national profeffion of the gospel, there are always many who, though they retain the name of Chriftians, are ftrangers to real faith in Christ, or union with God through him; nay, who in their hearts are enemies to the truth in its fimplicity and purity. It is in vain to attempt, by reafoning, to bring men to an acknowledgment of the truth of the Chriftian doctrine in fpeculation, unlefs we alfo bring them to fuch a

perfonal conviction of their guilt and wretchednefs, as will make them receive the information of Chrift's character and work, as glad tidings to their own fouls. No other converts receive any benefit themselves by the change; nor are they of any fervice to Chrift and his caufe, except fo far as they are over-ruled by the fovereign providence of that God who only can "bring good out of evil."

Wherefore, my beloved hearers, be perfuaded, from the word of God, which you profefs to believe, from the state of the world, which you may fee, and of your own hearts, which you may feel, that you are by nature wretched, and miferable, and poor, and blind, and naked. You are fo

far from having fuch a conformity to the pure and perfect law of God, in your thoughts, words, and actions, and the principles from which they ought to flow, as can entitle you to his favor, that the imaginations of your hearts are only evil from your youth, and that continually. Whatever imaginary schemes of a virtuous character you may reft or glory in, you are wholly unable to ftand the trial of God's impartial judgment. Oh! how hard is it to convince men of fin, even while the earth groans under their guilt? Would but those who are most apt to boaft of the dignity of their nature, and the perfection of their virtue, make an exact regifter of all the thoughts that arise in their minds; there remains still as much of the law of God writ ten upon their hearts, as would judge them out of their own mouths. Inftead of being able to bear that fuch a record fhould be expofed to public view, they could not even endure themselves to perufe it: for felf-flattery is their ruling character, but felf-abhorrence would be the effect of this difcovery. Ought you not therefore to be ready to acknowledge, that you are altogether as an unclean thing, and unable to ftand before God if he enter into judgment? But whether you acknowledge it or not, I bear from God himself this meflage to you all, that whatever may be your character, formed upon worldly maxims, and animated by ambitious and worldly views, if you are not reconciled to God through Jefus Chrift, if you are not clothed with the fpotlefs robe of his righteoufnefs, you must for ever perish.

But behold, through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of fins. There is a fulness of merit in his obedience and death to procure your pardon. There is no fin of fo deep a dye, or fo infectious a ftain, but his blood is fufficient to wash it out. This is no new doctrine, or modern discovery, to gratify a curious mind. Perhaps you have heard fuch things fo often, that you naufeate and disdain the repetition. But they are the words of eternal life, on which your fouls' falvation abfolutely depends; and therefore, though this call fhould come but once more to be rejected, it is yet again within your offer; and as “an "ambaffador from Chrift, as though God did befeech you

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by me, I pray you in Chrift's flead be ye reconciled unto "God." You have heard the danger of all who are without Chrift; but I befeech you remember the aggravated guilt, and the fuperior danger of those who continue obftinate under the gofpel. All the mercy that is fhown to finners in the offer, fhall inflame the charge against them in the great day, if they are found impenitent. Mercy and justice are never feparated in any part of the gofpel plan. They illuftrate each other in the contrivance, they fhine together on the cross, and they fhall be jointly manifeft in the day of judgment. Shall not the blood of Chrift, which is fo powerful in its influence for taking away the guilt of thofe who truft in it, greatly add to the guilt and danger of those who defpife it? "Be wife now, "therefore, O ye kings," and all of every rank; "be in"ftructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with "fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kifs the Son, left he "be angry, and ye perifh from the way, when his wrath "is kindled but a little: bleffed are all they that put their "truft in him."*

* Pfal. ii. 10, 11, 12.

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SERMON,

Preached at the opening of the Synod of Glasgow and Air, October 9th, 1759.

MATTHEW vii. 20.

Wherefore, by their fruits ye shall know them.

VERY one who hath any acquaintance with the writings of infidels, muft know that there is no topic on which they infist at greater length, or with more plaufibility, than the innumerable fects and parties into which the Chriftian world is divided. With what apparent triumph do they enlarge, on the contradictory tenets, which different perfons profefs to found upon the fame fcriptures, their violent oppofition one to another, and the great difficulty, or rather impoffibility of discovering truth, among fo many, who pretend each to have the entire and exclufive poffeffion of it.

Having gone thus far, it is eafy and natural to proceed one step farther, and affirm, that the great plurality of every denomination, do not embrace religion in general, or the tenets of their own fect in particular, from rational or perfonal conviction, but from a blind imitation of others, or an attachment to one or a few diftinguished leaders, whofe authority is ftronger than all other evidence whatever. Thus is religion, at once, fuppofed true and yet deftroyed; that is to fay, it is at one stroke, as it were, annihilated, in almoft all who profefs it, their opinions, what

VOL. I.

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