often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not," Matt. xxiii. 37.

ter.

Set yourself, then, now to realize aright this vast responsibility. The "form of godliness" is "not the power.' The name of Christian does not necessarily imply the privilege or the characHesitation to think and act in compliance with the instructions of God, is positive disobedience. Delay is insult to the grace of the moral governor, as well as continued trifling with the interests of your own soul. Presumption upon future opportunities is renewed and perpetuated rebellion. All excuses are sins. There is nothing to wait for. Your advantages for knowing the gospel, and your motives to obey it, cannot be increased. Every thing is more favourable now than it can be at any future period. Procrastination hardens the heart, and sears the conscience. "Will you revolt more and more?"

Let the character of God win you to consideration. He is not an arbitrary despot, "reaping where he has not sown, and gathering where he has not strawed;" but an equitable ruler, "holy in all his ways, and righteous in all his works,' Psa. cxlv. 17; whilst he is also a God of love, "who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth," 1 Tim. ii. 4. Is it not wisdom to obey his voice?

Your own condition is one of aggravated guilt, and fearful exposure to punishment. Its effectual relief is provided for in the gospel plan; and this by the free favour of God, entirely irrespective of even a wish or a prayer on your part. All that is required of you is to take the benefit "without

money, and without price," in the spirit of sincere contrition, and with grateful faith, as an act of submission unto God who rules over all.

If obedience be not reasonable under these circumstances, tell me what could make it so. As an intelligent creature, is it not your duty to consider the claims of this gospel? As a guilty creature, is it not your privilege to do so? Is it not a

strange infatuation that prevents you from seizing at once, with a thankful heart, and with entire confidence, the relief which is thus graciously brought nigh unto you?

The consequences involved are the most interesting and solemn. They connect themselves with your immortal destiny, with "the judgment-seat of Christ," and the issues of the great last day. Nothing less than the salvation or the destruction of your soul; everlasting happiness with God, or everlasting separation from him, are to be considered here. Your present decision may fix your final condition. You know your Lord's will; if you do not prepare yourself, nor act according thereto, with what stripes shall you be beaten? "Submit yourself unto God;" for "he will bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil." "The Lord grant unto you that you may find mercy of the Lord in that day!"

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V.

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THE DEFECTIVENESS OF MERE NOMINAL

CHRISTIANITY.

Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, and knowest his will, and approvest the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law; and art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them who sit in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, who hast the form of knowledge, and of the truth in the law." Your professions bring you into visible association with the disciples of Jesus. Your character presents, at so many points, a close resemblance to the will of Christ, that it commands amongst men the respect and esteem which are due to genuine piety alone, and you, perhaps, think that all is right; but, in God's estimation, you are radically defective. You are still a stranger to the sanctifying influences of the truth, and to its spiritual authority and dominion. Your religion does not rule you, but you rule it. The gospel has come to you in word only. Your religion is a shadow without the substance, a mere phantom without the reality. "Thou hast a

name that thou livest, and art dead." The vital principle is wanting. All the external beauty and decoration is that of a corpse; it looks like life, but it is cold and motionless. This is a startling thought, but it is the truth. "Be not deceived, God is not mocked." You had better wake up from the slumber of carnal repose now, than have

to learn your true condition at that day when "the righteous Judge" shall say to you, "Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting;""depart from me." Is not your soul of infinite worth? Does it not demand the most serious and supreme attention? Let me earnestly beseech you to examine carefully the truth which affects your salvation. "The form of godliness is not the power." "What will it profit you," though you have all the commendable qualities of the youth whom "Jesus loved," and though you excite in the Saviour's breast the same emotions of benevolent regard, if he should say to you as he said to him, "One thing thou lackest ?" That one thing" was a fatal deficiency. It led to separation from Christ. One point short of salvation is condemnation; one step short of heaven is hell. Be persuaded, therefore, to "search and try your ways." Let the light of sacred truth find now a ready access to your mind. "A promise being left you of entering into God's rest,' why should you come short of it?"

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Do you ask, then, What is the point of deficiency? I must answer this question by asking you another:-Dost thou believe on the Son of God? Be not offended at the simplicity of this inquiry." If the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather, then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean ?" " Believe, and be saved." "Submit yourself unto the righteousness of God," and inherit eternal life. 66 Come, follow me, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven." Do not turn aside because of the repetition of this inquiry. "Faith towards the Lord Jesus Christ" is the one

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point on which the affair of your everlasting happiness turns. This is the vital principle of religion, and you are dead," if destitute of it. There is no entrance upon "the path of life," but by this gate. There may be a thousand valuable -and, in your own account, redeeming qualities in your case, but, "without faith it is impossible to please God;" without this, there is no true obedience to God, and consequently no wellfounded hope of interest in his mercy. Take not my word for this. Hear again the words of the Lord Jesus: "He that heareth my words, and believeth on him who sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life," John v. 24. "This is the will of him that sent me, that every one who seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day," John vi. 40. "But he that believeth not shall be damned," Mark xvi. 16; yea, "he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God," John iii. 18. What, then, do you say to these things? Do you believe? Do you, from the heart, obey that word of doctrine which is delivered unto you? The question will force itself upon you. This is "the mark, for the prize of the high calling." You may have all knowledge: you may attend on all ordinances; you may enjoy all advantages; you may be the subject of strong convictions; your moral character may be blameless, and your temporal charities abundant; you may even take your place among the professors of religion, and be joined with them in the most sacred ordinances,