XXXVII.

IF YE BELIEVE NOT THAT I AM HE, YE SHALL DIE IN YOUR SINS. -John viii, 24.

THERE is something peculiarly impressive in the language of the text. It shows, 1. The moral condition of our race—that we are in sin, destitute of the only requisite for present and eternal happiness. 2. That Christ is our Redeemer, divinely appointed to raise us to the image and favour of God. 3. That unless we believe in him, we must die in our sins, and, by consequence, be wretched. There is no reserve here; the Saviour speaks as ́ God, whose word is to be rejected only at the peril of the soul. Here are no flowers of speech, but the simple annunciation of a fact which will be fully understood in eternity: "If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins." Having made this declaration, Christ leaves men to do as they choose.

I. Every man is free to believe or disbelieve the gospel. This might be proved by an appeal to our consciousness and actions, and also by the Bible, which addresses us as free agents. Other proof may, however, be adduced.

1. We are so constituted that when facts are substantiated by a certain amount of evidence, we cannot disbelieve them without doing violence to our nature. Thus we believe in certain first truths; as, "Two quantities, each of which is equal to a third, are equal to another." "The whole is greater than its part." "The whole is equal to the sum of all its parts," &c. These cannot be made clearer by reasoning; they are self-evident. Mathematical reasoning is based on them; if, therefore, in the demonstration of a mathematical problem the successive steps be correct, we must believe the conclusion

So we believe in the evidence of our senses.

Whenever

we are deceived by them, it is owing either to their imperfection, or to our drawing a wrong conclusion from their testimony. So also we believe in the testimony of our fellow-men, though they sometimes deceive us. In some cases, however, there is no room for doubt; as in the proof of the resurrection of Christ. Here the witnesses had every means of knowing the fact-they could not be deceived-they did not lie-they had no motive to lie. Succeeding events corroborate their testimony; as the descent of the Holy Ghost, the gift of tongues, the miracles wrought by the apostles, and the general belief. Now when such evidence is before us, we must believe, or do violence to our nature. But on the other hand consider,

2. We have the power to exclude evidence, and to weaken its force. We may shut out the light which is afforded us by nature, conscience, the Spirit, and revelation. Many do this, but let them not complain of the consequences. We may weaken the force of evidence by examining it with prejudice, with a wish not to be convinced, or to prove it false. We may do so by paying more attention to objections than to their answers, by looking more on one side than on the other, or by sophistry. This last blunts the mind till we cannot distinguish truth from error; we often see that such is the effect. Now in view of these two considerations you perceive that we are free to believe or disbelieve the gospel.

II. Every man is free to act according to his belief. This will be admitted by most persons, and may be proved by an appeal to facts. It would be useless to dwell on it were it not, 1. That many claim to be believers who are not Christians, and say they cannot be. 2. That the Bible classes all such as unbelievers. Mere intellectual belief is not that required in the text; it has no

saving efficacy; "With the heart man believeth unto righteousness." The Bible takes it for granted that men will be reasonable in regard to religion, as well as in regard to other subjects; that is, will act according to their convictions, live according to their belief. Hence the command, "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth." But sin has rendered our actions at variance with our convictions and belief, and men thus exhibit a strange spectacle of folly to all worlds.

In the present state, then, there is this great obstacle to men's acting according to their belief in religious matters; namely, their wills and affections do not move as reason, conscience, and God dictate. Now to overcome this obstacle, and to make us free, 1. God has set before us motives which appeal to our feelings as well as reason; such as heaven and hell. 2. He has proffered us divine aid to change our wills and affections. To exercise faith in Christ, we have every inducement which time and eternity can offer-every facility which the Almighty Spirit can afford. Therefore you may be a

believer or an unbeliever, a Christian or a sinner, saved or lost. You are maker of your own destiny!

III. We are approaching the period when we must finally decide on the course which we will take.

As experience proves, so might we have expected, if a man put himself in the light it will shine upon him. As he investigates, evidence will increase till it become sufficient for full belief. There is a period when it will be brightest when he will decide. So, on the other hand, if he ridicule and cavil, the light of evidence will withdraw, and leave the mind at last in total darkness. This principle applies especially to investigations of the truths of the gospel. The gospel is the scheme which God has devised for man's moral and spiritual improvement; and he has promised that a constant endeavour to learn the.

truth shall be followed by open vision, while proud selfconfidence shall end in sorrow. John vii, 17; Isa. 1, 11. This principle was illustrated in the case of the Jews when Christ spread evidence before them. They were astonished at his doctrine, they marvelled at his miracles, besought him to depart from them, and finally likened him to Beelzebub. Then Christ uttered that fearful sentence, "He that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation." Matt. vii, 28; viii, 27, 34; xii, 24-32; Mark iii, 29. Then did they pass their crisis, and their eternal destiny was sealed! Then might their guardian angels have left them to their doom!

So if we would secure personal salvation, this principle remains in force. As motives are regarded, they become more powerful and overwhelming; as the Spirit is cherished, his influence becomes more softening, till the heart is changed. On the other hand, when fully convinced, the longer we defer yielding to conviction, the less hope is there that we will yield. Motives disregarded become less moving; incentives to duty unheeded become less frequent and less powerful; the Spirit grieved and resisted becomes less convincing, until we reach the fearful point when he leaves us for ever!

In conclusion, I ask you if these truths have not, at times, deeply affected you? I know they have! Will you wonder that I feel anxious for you when I see you free to believe or disbelieve the gospel, free to act according to your belief, and approaching the period when you must finally decide on the course which you will take? when I reflect that every sermon I preach brings you nearer this period? If a small matter were at stake-if it were the world-I would not weep. But how can I help weeping when heaven itself is to be gained or lost? If your unbelief could alter the case, I would not weep;

but it cannot.

in your sins."

'If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die God's word cannot fail. If you die unbelievers, eternity will open your eyes! You will then, like devils, "believe and tremble”—but not like mourning penitents, believe and be saved. O! do not trifle any longer, but come to Christ.

XXXVIII.

IF THOU BE WISE, THOU SHALT BE WISE FOR THYSELF: BUT IF THOU SCORNEST, THOU ALONE SHALT BEAR IT.--Prov. ix, 12.

In this and the preceding chapter the Saviour is beautifully represented as Wisdom, soliciting the attention and asking the affections of men. In language of unsurpassed beauty he shows his claims to our regard, and the inducements to receive him. In the text you see that he recognises but two classes of men. This may seem severe indeed. Are not those who respect religion and support its ordinances worthy to be called friends of Christ? Him they disobey, neglect, and reject. Surely, then, they scorn him.

I. Every man is responsible for his opinions and actions. Opinions, in all reasonable men, are the basis of actions; hence the necessity of their correctness. Hence the force of the precepts of the Bible, "Ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints." "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God." "Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper." I make these remarks in view of the sentiment, "It is no matter what a man believes, provided he be sincere."

According to the Bible, our means of knowledge, and our power of acting in accordance with that knowledge,