we by any means wash away so much as one sin that we have ever committed. Rivers of tears would be insufficient for that. Sinners therefore we must be even to the end.] Yet is there in a scriptural sense an innocency to be attained [Our Lord said of his disciples, "Now ye are clean. through the word that I have spoken unto youa.' And we too may be clean, yea so clean as to be "without spot or blemish," if only we use the means which God himself has appointed". There is" a fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness";" even the Redeemer's blood, which is able to "cleanse us from all sind" -The Holy Spirit also will renew our souls, and make us "partakers of a divine nature," and "sanctify us throughout in body, soul, and spirit',"--and enable us, in the whole of our life and conversation, to approve ourselves “ Israelites indeed in whom there is no guile" This is scriptural innocency: and this every sinner in the universe may attain. It is freely offered to all — — — and has actually been vouchsafed to the most abandoned of mankindh Nor shall it be withheld from any one that will seek it at the hands of God — — — God himself pants, if I may so say, to give it us: "Wilt thou not be made clean? When shall it once be?" Those to whom it was offered in my text were wicked idolaters1: and therefore we cannot doubt but that it will be granted to us also.] II. The expostulation respecting it— Long has God borne with us, even as he did with his people of old [Who amongst you has not harboured idols in his heart? and whom has not God followed with warnings, exhortations, and entreaties, even to the present hour? And how much longer must he bear with us? [Have we not already provoked him long enough? Or do we hope ever to enjoy his favour if we attain not to innocency?- -O! delay not to seek this inestimable gift. Is it so small a matter to possess the forgiveness of your sins through Jesu's blood, and the renovation of your souls by the influence of the Holy Spirit, and the entire conformity of your lives to the mind and will of God, that you will not set yourselves to seek them in the exercise of faith and prayer? How long shall it be ere you begin to seek these blessed attainments? Will you wait till old age, and give to God only the dregs of your life? Or will you put off this necessary work to a dying hour? Believe me, that is by no means a fit season for so important a work as this: and who can tell whether time for it shall be allowed you then, or grace be given you for the execution of it? The attainment is difficult in proportion as it is delayed: and what bitter regret will you feel to all eternity, if the season afforded you for the attainment of this blessing pass away unimproved, and you be called with all your sins upon you into the eternal world! I would address you all in the very spirit of my text, and say to every one among you, "Seek the Lord whilst he may be found: call upon him whilst he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and unto our God, for he will abundantly pardonm."] ADDRESS 1. Those who think this blessing unattainable [Were this innocency really unattainable, God would never have so pathetically expressed his concern respecting it. But perhaps you think that the infirmities which of necessity cleave to our fallen nature are inconsistent with it. This however is by no means the case. If the heart be upright before God, then shall we be accepted of him in Christ Jesus, and "be presented before him faultless with exceeding joy."] 2. Those who desire to attain it [Be sure you seek it in the appointed way. Seek not forgiveness only, nor renovation only, nor holiness only; but seek them all in their proper order, and in harmonious operation. First, your sins must be blotted out through faith in the Redeemer's blood: next, must your soul be renewed after the Divine image by the power of the Holy Ghost: and lastly, must these blessings manifest themselves in holiness of heart and life. No one of these can be spared. And though we have placed them in the order in which they must be sought, yet will they all be vouchsafed to every one, who believes in Christ: His sins will all be cast into the depths of the sea, and the moral change also be begun, which shall issue in everlasting happiness and glory.] 3. Those who through mercy have attained it— [Is it true that any one in this life is authorized to conceive of himself as "innocent" before God? Yes surely; else our Saviour would never have declared his own Apostles m Isai. lv. 6, 7. "clean." Not that any attainment, however great, will supersede the necessity of continued watchfulness: for St. Paul himself felt the need of "keeping under his body, and bringing it into subjection, lest, after having preached to others, he himself should become a cast-away:" and the proper use of all the promises is, "to cleanse yourselves by means of them from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, and to perfect holiness in the fear of God."] MCLXIV. THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN. Hos. viii. 7. They have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. MISERY is attached to sin as its inevitable conThis connexion does not always appear sequence. to a superficial observer. On the contrary, transgression often seems productive of happiness; and obedience, to be a source of much affliction and trouble: but, whatever conclusions we may be led to draw from present appearances, we are sure that the wicked are not happy; nor have they any reasonable expectation of happiness in the eternal world. The Israelites had forsaken the true God for idols, and God warned them of the judgments which would ere long come upon them: but the declaration in the text may be understood as a general position. We shall take occasion from it to shew, I. Who may be said to sow the wind To "sow the wind" is a proverbial expression for labouring in vain. It is applied to idolaters, because the silver and gold lavished on idols was unprofitably spent, and it may well be applied to all who seek happiness in a way of sin : 1. To sensualists [They expect to find much comfort in the indulgence of their lusts. Hence they yield themselves up to all the gratifications of sense. But they find that such pursuits can afford them o real happiness. While they forsake the Fountain of living waters, they hew out to themselves only broken cisterns that can hold no water. Solomon, with the amplest means of enjoyment, confessed this. And we may address that appeal to all the votaries of pleasure -.] 2. To worldlings [The lovers of this present world seem to follow something substantial. They hope to obtain, not a momentary gratification, but solid and lasting benefits. They promise to themselves the acquisition of ease, and affluence, and respect. But riches are justly, and on many accounts, termed " uncertain d." No dependence can be placed on their continuance with us. Our cares are also generally multiplied by means of them; but if they were more conducive to happiness now, what shall they profit in the day of wrath? What advantage has he now, who once took such delight in his stores? or he, who placed his happiness in sumptuous fare, and magnificent apparel? Surely all such persons will find ere long, that they "sowed the wind."] 3. To formalists [The performance of religious duties seems more calculated to make us happy. It is certain that no one can be happy who disregards them. But a mere round of services can never satisfy the conscience. "The form of godliness without the power" will avail little. It will leave the soul in a poor, empty, destitute condition. Some indeed delude themselves with an idea that it will secure the Divine favour; and, under that delusion, they may be filled with self-complacency'. But if God send a ray of light into the mind, these comforts vanish. A sight of sin will speedily dissipate these self-righteous hopes. Nor will any thing satisfy an enlightened conscience but that which satisfies God. There was but one remedy for the wounded Israelites in the wilderness'. Nor can a wounded spirit ever be healed but by a sight of Christ.] 4. To false professors [Many wish to be thought religious, when they are destitute of spiritual life. They perhaps are zealous for the doctrines of the Gospel, and for their own particular form of Church government. But they are not solicitous to live nigh to God in holy duties; nor do they manifest the efficacy of religion in their spirit and conduct. Yet, because of their professing godliness, they think themselves possessed of it, and buoy up themselves with expectations of happiness in the a Jer. ii. 13. g Luke xii. 19. b Eccl. ii. 1, 10, 11. i Luke xviii. 11, 12. k Rom. vii. 9. 24. • Rom. vi. 21. 1 John iii. 14, 15. world to come. Alas! what disappointment will they one day experience! What will it avail them to "have had a name to live, while they were really dead?" or to have "cried, Lord, Lord! while they departed not from iniquity?" The pains they have taken to keep up a profession will all be lost. Nothing will remain to them but shame and confusion of face.] From the seed which they sow, we may easily perceive, II. What they may expect to reap "A whirlwind" is a figure used to represent extraordinary calamities." And such is the harvest which they will reap in due season. Their calamities will be, 1. Sudden [The corn ripens gradually for the sickle, and its fate is foreseen; but the destruction of the ungodly cometh suddenly and at an instant. They indeed have many warnings from all which they see around them; but they put the evil day far from them, and think it will never come°. Thus it was with the whole world before the Deluge. Though Noah preached to them for many years, they would not regard him; and were taken by surprise at last, as much as if no notice had been given them. Thus also it will be with all who reject the Gospel salvation. Solomon has expressly declared it in reference to those who sow discord. And St. Paul has asserted it respecting all that live in a neglect of God'.] 2. Irresistible [Sinners of every description can withstand the word spoken by their fellow-creatures; but they will not be able to resist God when he shall call them into judgment. Then, if the whole universe should enter into a confederacy to protect one sinner, they would fail in their attempt. There is not any thing more irresistible to man, in some climates, than a whirlwind. Yet far less power shall the ungodly have to avert the wrath of God. They will be carried to destruction as the chaff before the wind"; and call in vain to the rocks to fall upon them, or the hills to cover them.] 3. Tremendous [Nothing can be conceived more dreadful than the desolation made by whirlwinds. m Matt. xxv. 11, 12. s Ezek. xx. 49. Yet this n Prov. i. 27. a Prov. vi. 14, 15. suggests a very • 2 Pet. iii. 4. |