ed God, and has deeply incurred his wrath; and now what shall he do? How shall he escape the sentence of his righteous law? Whither shall he flee? What shall he do to be saved? Is there a person here, who feels, who thinks, who inquires thus; who condemns himself who cries for mercy? Let it be said to this distressed, but contrite soul, "there is joy in the presence of the angels of God, over one sinner that repenteth.". Be of good cheer. The salvation which thou. longest after is at hand. A way of escape is open to thee. "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." He has found a ransom, and will keep thee from going down into the pit. He is more ready to save thee, than thou art to be saved. He came from heaven and died on the cross, on purpose that he might save every humble and contrite soul. He cries aloud, "Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden."; Flee then to Him for safety. Because thou condemnest thyself, He will not condemn thee. Because thou comest unto him he will save thee with an everlasting salvation. May His grace teach, persuade, and help thee to come, so shalt thou find rest unto thy soul. 6. There is yet one other person, who demands our notice, the established Christian; the man, who hav-. ing fled to Christ for refuge, from the guilt and power of sin, has found peace and joy in believing; and being now professedly devoted to the Lord's service, is living in hope of the glory that shall be revealed. "There is a message from God unto thee.". "Be faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." j Luke, xv. 10.-xvi. 31.-Matt. xi. 28. "Thou art a city set on a hill, which cannot be hid," therefore let thy light shine before men." Walk worthy of the holy calling wherewith thou art called. Abound in good works. "Be not weary in well doing." "Grow in grace," and "let thy profiting appear unto all men." Bear in mind the many dangers which threaten thee. Within, is a treacherous and a deceitful heart. Without, is an ensnaring and a tempting world. On every side, are innumerable spiritual enemies, which seek thy ruin. "Be sober, therefore; be vigilant." Be not high minded, but fear. "Walk humbly with thy God." "Quench not the spirit." "Pray without ceasing."k Above all things "look unto Jesus." Live by faith on Him. Draw out of his fulness a supply for all thy wants. Trust to him in every time of "Go forth in His strength, make mention of His righteousness only," and doubt not His power and faithfulness, to keep that which thou hast committed to him, against the day of his appearing. need. Rev. ii, 10.-Matthew, v. 16.-2 Peter, iii. 18. SERMON XII. JESUS, THE GREAT SUBJECT OF CHRISTIAN PREACHING. ACTS, VIII. 35. Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same Scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. THE whole circumstances connected with this passage of scripture, are of a very interesting and instructive tendency. Philip, not the apostle so called, but another of the same name, who was a preacher of the Gospel, had been directed by an angel of the Lord, to go into a particular part of the road, which led from Jerusalem towards the South Country. No sooner was he arrived there, but a person came travelling along the road. He was an Ethiopian, a man of great consequence in his own country, possessing a place of considerable authority and trust under the queen his misThis man, from motives of piety, had left his own country for a time, and regardless of the length. and danger of the journey, had gone up to Jerusalem, for the sake of worshipping the God of Israel. He was now returning home, and as he travelled in his chariot, was employed in studying the word of God. Philip, through a secret suggestion of the spirit on his mind, has tress. tened up to the chariot ; and finding that the book which the Ethiopian had open before him, was the Prophecy of Isaiah, he enquired of him, Understandest thou what thou readest ?" The man instead of being offended at this question from a stranger, with great modesty and humility answered, "how can I, except some man should guide me?" He acknowledged his own ignorance and weakness; and far from being too proud to receive instruction, he desired Philip to come up and sit with him and teach him. Now it was so ordered by providence, that the passage of Scripture, which at this time engaged his attention, was that remarkable prediction of Christ detailed in the 53d chapter of the book. The place which he read was this; "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb, dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth. In his humilia tion his judgement was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? For his life is taken from the earth." The Ethiopian saw that there was something remarkable in this passage, and that it related to some extraordinary person; but he was unable to discover its meaning. He said therefore to Philip, "I pray thee, of whom speakest the prophet this; of himself or of some other man?" "Then," (as we read in the text) "Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture and preached unto him Jesus." We are not told the particulars of bis discourse; hut we may readily conjecture what they were. He doubtless took occasion to shew how exactly and circumstantially this prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth. He would shew, how He was led as a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb dumb before his shearers, how He opened not his mouth. How in his humiliation his judgment was taken away; for He met with no Justice from his accusers and judges; but "his life was taken from the earth," by a cruel and an iniquitous sentence. At the same time, "who shall declare his generation?" His wonderful generation as the only be gotten of the Father; his miraculous conception and birth, as the Son of a pure virgin at once David's son, and David's Lord: the son of God and the son of man: God and man in one Christ. These were the particu lars, which Philip, we may conclude, would take occa. sion from this passage of Scripture, to set before his attentive and listening bearer. But he would not stop bere. He would add many other truths, to which the other parts of the same chapter would naturally lead. He would not fail to state the reasons of this wonderful transaction. Why so extraordinary a person had submitted to so signal an humiliation, and had suffered in so remarkable a way. He would shew in the words of the Prophet, that Jesus, in undergoing these sufferings and indignities, had borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; that he had been wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities; that all we like sheep had gone astray that we had turned every one to his own way: but, that the Lord had laid on Him the iniquity of us all." This humiliation and obedience of the Son of God unto death, even the death of the Cross, bad been designed as an atonement, a sacrifice, a propitiation for the sins of mankind: that So "the chastisement of their peace might be upon him, |