these his conduct agrees. In this way he arises and goes to his Heavenly Father. lie in his way. Many things Shame often stops his Many difficulties indeed help to keep him back. prayers; and sense of guilt a weighs down his spirits. At times he is full of doubts, and ready to give up all as lost. He fears that God will not receive him. The Lord has inercy for others: but has he any for so great a sinner? Then hope once more revives; and the gracious promises of Scripture excite him to fresh exertions. "Perplexed, he is not in despair; cast down, he is not destroyed." He waits upon the Lord in all the appointed ways; and while he trembles before him, yet hopes and trusts in his mercy. Let us now proceed to the third point remaining to be considered, namely, III. The Readiness of God to receive and pardon the penitent offender. This we are taught in the reception of the 'Prodigal by his Father. We read, that "when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, aud ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said unto him, father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee, and am no more worthy to he called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet, and bring hither the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and be merry. For this my son, was dead and is alive again, he was lost and is found." Every circumstance here mentioned shews in the clearest manner, the mercy and kindness of his tenderhearted father. He sees his returning son, when yet a great way off. He no sooner sees him, but forgetting all his guilt, he only feels compassion for his present sufferings. Regardless of his own age and dignity, he runs to meet him, and instead of upbraiding him with his faults, falls on his neck and kisses him. Yea, when the son was proceeding, as he had said he would do, bitterly to condemn himself; the father stops his self-reproaches: and notwithstanding his mean appearance instantly owns him for his son, and by every possible and appropriate expression testifies the joy which he feels at his return. Thus God receives the penitent offender, who comes to him in the name of Jesus Christ. He sees far off the first relenting of the heart, the first disposition of the soul to relent and turn to him; and he sees it with favour and delight. "He looketh upon men; and if any say, I have sinned and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;' he will deliver his soul from going into the pit."a When he hears" Ephraim bemoaning himself thus, Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke : turn thou me, and I shall be turned, for thou art the Lord my God. Surely after that I was turned I repented; and after that I was instructed I smote upon my thigh I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth." In what language did the Lord notice this self-condemned peni : a Job xxxiii. 27, 28. tent? Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he a pleasant child? For since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still therefore my bowels are troubled for him, I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord." The divine conduct, as displayed in this passage, is a direct counterpart to that of the father's in the parable. The Lord deals with repentant Ephraim, as the father deals with his returning prodigal. He gives him a name and a place among his children. And so he deals with every repentant sinner. He receives him graciously. He forgives him freely. He puts him among his children. When the heart is broken and contrite, when it cries for mercy, and pleads nothing but the blood of Jesus Christ in its favour: then the controversy between God and the sinner is over. The sinner submits to the righteousness of God: and the Lord, who delighteth in mercy, can then shew mercy to him, consistently with his other glorious perfections. The breach is healed. Peace is restored. The sinner is pardoned and accepted in the Beloved : and all the glorious blessings and privileges of the Gospel, the children's portion,' are conferred upon him. "The Lord is merciful to his unrighteousness: his sins and his iniquities be remembers no more. What gracious, what comfortable, what encouraging words to every penitent sinner; to every soul, which, convinced of its guilt, and feeling its distance from Ged, longs to be forgiven, to be brought nigh to God, and re stored to his favour. b Jeremiah, xxxi. 18, 19, 20. VOL. II. If there be any among us, who answer this description, who through God's grace, have come to themselves; who find their sins their burden; who are praying for mercy and acceptance through Jesus Christ; O, let them rejoice, and be exceeding glad for there is joy on their account, in the presence of the angels of God. The Lord, whom they are seeking, is nigh unto them. He doth not despise their broken and contrite heart. He sees their tears he hears their sighs; he witnesses their self-condemnation; and with open arms, he is ready to receive them. Let them remember that "the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin." Let them plead the merit of this blood in prayer. Let them rely with faith on its cleansing efficacy and in due time, they shall find rest unto their soul. : But while the subject, which we have been thus considering, gives this great encouragement to penitent and humbled sinners, what does it say to such as still live in sin, and serve the world and their lusts? Surely, it says to them, "awake ye that sleep, and arise from the dead." How long will ye continue to resist the grace of God, to abuse his long-suffering and tender mercy, and not consider that his goodness leadeth you to repentance? Be ashamed and confounded. When your heavenly Father is so willing graciously to receive you, freely to forgive all that is past, will you be backward at returning to Him? Shall he call in vain, "Turn ye Backsliding children?" Think of the ingratitude of such a conduct. Think of the aggravated guilt of it. "Seek the Lord while yet he may be found," lest he swear in his wrath that you shall never enter into his rest: SERMON XXIII. THE DANGER OF PARTAKING OF OTHER MEN'S SINS POINTED OUT AND APPLIED. 1 TIMOTHY, V. 22. Neither be Partaker of other Men's Sins. Keep thyself pure. ST. PAUL had been giving Timothy several directions respecting the discharge of his ministerial duties. Among other things, be warns him not to be negligent or hasty in that importaut part of his office, the appointment and ordination of ministers. Lay hands suddenly on no man." Admit no one to that sacred function without due and deliberate enquiry into his fitness and qualifications for it. To which the Apostle adds in the text, neither be partaker of other men's sins. Keep thyself pure:" thereby intimating, that if through Timothy's carelessness and inattention improper persons should be admitted into the ministry, he would in some degree be answerable for the evil consequences which might ensue. The mischiefs which these men might occasion in the Church, and the disgrace which they might bring on it, would be partly owing to him, who would thus "be partaker of their |