powers? why do evil passions agitate our breasts? why are our bodies weak, sickly, and continually liable to dissolution and the grave?

In addition to what has been stated on the subject, it may be observed, that the fallen state of man is plainly supposed by the gracious appointments of God relative to man. If man be not fallen, where was the necessity of a Saviour? Why should God promise to our parents in the garden, that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head? Why should He inspire holy men to prophesy "beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow?" Why, when the fulness of time was come, should He send forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law? Why should Jesus live a suffering life, and die an ignominious death? Why should He commission his Apostles to go " into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature," "testifying both to Jews and Greeks repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ?" Why are ministers in our day appointed to warn every man and teach every man in all wisdom, that they may present every man faultless in Christ Jesus?" For these and similar appointments of God's mercy there could be no necessity, were it not that man is fallen and guilty.

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Here, reader, pause and reflect. Bring this subject home to your bosom. Endeavour to feel the force of this solemn truth. You are a fallen creature, and as such you have forfeited the Divine favour. Such is the constitution of heaven, that a person cannot forfeit the favour of God without incurring his displeasure. Know then, unhappy creature, that the wrath of God rests on you. The law of God which you have broken denounces against you its curse, "Cursed is every one who continueth not in all things written in the book of the law to do them." Should you live and die in a state of sin, you will hear the Judge at last say, "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels."

From this dreadful state of misery how will you get free? how will you escape the devouring fire? You cannot escape unless you be justified from every charge of sin. But how can you be justified? Will you attempt to justify yourself? The attempt will be folly. You are a sinner. You are continually sinning. Your very "righteousnesses are as filthy rags." The defects of that righteousness form a part of the charge which the law brings against you. If after you have done your utmost,-if after you have done a thousand times more than an angel could do, you have no better righteousness than

your own, you must make your bed in hell, and lie down in sorrow. The word of God declares that" by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight."

Do you see, do you feel your misery and danger? Do you trembling cry, "What must I do to be saved?" O poor sinner, there is a Saviour provided for you. You require to be justified. The Gospel exhibits a righteousness sufficient to justify you and procure you acceptance with God; a righteousness which brings glory to God and safety to man; the righteousness of Jesus, "For God has made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." "Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." "Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness; that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."

Do you ask, how can this righteousness become yours? You must apply to Jesus for it. Be not afraid to do this. There is nothing terrible in the Lamb that was slain to a sensible sinner. Think not that before you apply to Jesus you must make yourself better. Alas! such is your condition, that you never can be made better but by Him who made you at first. You can never be formed anew but by Him by whom all things were created. Go just as you are. Let not the number of your sins affright you and keep you back. With Jesus there is pardon for offences infinite in number and magnitude. He is qualified to save the worst sinners that earth, heaven, or hell ever saw. Think not that Jesus is unwilling to save. His heart is love itself to dying men. Yes, sinner, love free, unspeakable, infinite love, became incarnate, and died on Calvary for you. Look to Calvary and see love to men, and pardon for the worst of crimes, written with pointed steel and streaming blood. O flee, flee from the wrath to come! The law curses you, vengeance is armed against you, death aims the deadly stroke at your heart, hell extends her jaws and awaits your fall—

"But Jesus ready stands to save you,

Full of pity joined with power."

DISCOURSE II.

THE GIVING OF THE LAW.

THE appearances of God in this world have partaken of a twofold character. They have sometimes been glorious and terrifying; and sometimes glorious yet gracious.

The divine appearances have sometimes been glorious and terrifying. When God appeared to Moses in the burning bush, and when He appeared to Elijah at the cave in Horeb, his appearances were of this description. Hence, in the former case, we are told that "Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God;" and, in the latter case, that "Elijah wrapped his face in his mantle, and stood at the entering in of the cave," struck with solemn awe, and in a posture of fixed attention and reverence.

Sometimes the Divine appearances have been glorious yet gracious. When God appeared to Moses to proclaim his name, and when he was