requires, and which alone can be safe for them, until they are brought to see, and feel, that their destruction is as certain, if God does not stretch out his sovereign arm to save them, as if they were already in the pit of wo. Nor is there any thing that can so readily bring them, operating in the way of means, to see and feel this, as the exhibition of the character, perfections, and government of God. It is with God's character and ways, that they are at enmity; nor will a sweet and heavenly peace ever be concluded between God and their souls, until they are brought, most unreservedly, to submit to the disposal of his sovereignty.

There is a soul, destroying fallacy, in the sentiment, but too common, alas, even among those who profess to love both God, and the offensive doctrines of the gospel, that it is imprudent, and unadvised, to exhibit these doctrines, and press them home upon sinners. I apprehend satan has never employed a more successful instrument than this, to multiply the subjects of his dark empire, and to bring ruin and death eternal upon the souls of men.

4. We may see then, finally, that there is no hope for sinners, but as they are brought to the cordial and affectionate belief of those truths, which are offensive to their carnal hearts.

The great point to be determined, is, whether God, or they shall submit. And whilst they are at variance with their Maker, on this point, they yet know, that he alone can save them. But, can they hope that he will save them, when they withhold from him, his rightful authority, and would disrobe

him of those distinguishing perfections and attributes, both of his nature, and government, that maintain the purity of his character, the majesty of his throne, and the glory of his reign?

No, my dear impenitent friends, you have no hope but in God. If he leaves you to your own chosen way, you will as surely be lost, as if you were now lifting up your eyes in torment. The enemy with whom you have to contend is the Lord God of hosts. He is mighty in battle. If you resist to the last, you will be overthrown, with a dreadful overthrow. But God is waiting to be gracious. He is yet, even to-day, in the place, and on the throne of mercy. He has given a name, as the medium of our salvation, that is precious to all heaven. Jesus Christ, is his well beloved, and our Saviour. How often have we listened to the song of angels, announcing his birth to the peaceful shepherds on the star-lighted plains of Bethlehem. Born to be the hope of Israel, and the Saviour of the world, he is carrying on, by the agency of the Eternal Spirit, the great work of saving sinners. But remember, I entreat you, that the accomplishments of his grace, will end with your season of probation; and that if you die without an interest in Christ, henceforward, in the prison of your wo, not a moment of ease shall light upon the eternity of your being.

SERMON XIX.

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth, it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." ISAIAH IV, 11.

WHEN God sends the rain and the snow upon the earth, it is not, merely, to make an exhibition of his power and wisdom to the children of men, without accomplishing any other valuable purpose, by means of these natural agents. When he created man, he designed the earth as the place of his abode, and the means of his subsistence. He orders the changes of the seasons, and the varieties of weather, with a view to render the earth fruitful, that it might "give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater." It is to accomplish his purpose, in the original creation of the earth, that, under his direction, "the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud."

Now, as he uses these natural agents, to fulfil his designs with regard to the natural world, and as no other reason

PP

can be assigned for their producing the effects they do, than the purpose of God that it should be so; so also, has he purposes to accomplish in the moral world, through the instrumentality of means adapted to the proposed end. The connexion, between the means, and the end, is as infallible and fixed in the one case, as in the other; and in both, for the same reason, because, it is the purpose and pleasure of God, that it should be so.

As he designed that the rain, and the snow, and the changes of the seasons, should make the earth fruitful, and yield her increase, so does he design, by the instrumentality of his Word, to accomplish the good pleasure of his will in the mor al world.

To illustrate and enforce this truth, we remark

1. That in every manifestation of himself, God has a fixed and settled plan, or purpose in view, which he designs to accomplish. He has purposed that the earth shall yield her increase, for the comfort and sustenance of man. To accomplish this purpose, he sends down the rain, and the snow from heaven, and orders the varieties of the seasons. When he made man, he made him for his own glory. This was his purpose. To accomplish this purpose, he extends towards him a moral culture, or the use of means, adapted to his condition, and endowments. It is to accomplish his purpose, in the creation, of moral agents, that he employs means. His word is the instrument he has selected for this end, and he has declared that it shall not return unto him void.