possess a desire to ask for forgiveness; but when the mind becomes convinced of sin; when, in addition to the knowledge of sin, the fear of consequences takes possession of our bosoms, we immediately fly to the sacred oracles for instruction and comfort; anxious to know the extent of the divine mercy, we explore with avidity the page of Revelation. In those oracles-oracles so lightly esteemed by the thoughtless-we are comforted with the assurance that the Almighty delights not in the death of a sinner, and that the door of mercy is open to every applicant. We there perceive that the Lord Jesus tasted death for every man ; that he is the propitiation and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world; and that whoever perishes, perishes because of his own perverseness. We there perceive that the blood of Christ possesses sufficient efficacy to remove the guilt of every transgression; and that "although the sins of the penitent have been like scarlet, they shall be white as snow: though red like crimson, they shall be as wool." It is not past transgression which can separate the convicted penitent from the reach of mercy; the forgiveness of God is as fathomless as the ocean, and as unbounded in its nature. It is the want of humility of heart, the want of genuine penitence alone, which can prevent the restoration of the sinner to the favour of God.

The publican, for aught we know, had never before presented himself in the temple; he had lived, perhaps, totally unmindful of God, or of his own responsibility; still the moment he advanced in humility, and plead for mercy, his plea was heard, and he obtained the object of his supplication. The terms of the covenant of grace, consist in "repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ." The moment in which the penitent complies with those principles, that instant his request will be granted, and he will stand justified and acquitted before God. Study the Sacred, Volume, and you will find that the Saviour is spoken of as the Saviour of sinners. "I came not," said he, "to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." "The Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost."

"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners."

Various are the instances in which the aid of the Redeemer was solicited during his earthly ministry, and in no one case was the applicant dismissed without a blessing. To Mary he said, "thy sins, which are many, are forgiven thee, go in peace;" and to the poor malefactor, he breathed the same tenderness and compassion, "This day shalt thou be with me in paradise."

The Saviour was not influenced by what men would say in justification of themselves; he looked at the hearts of those who sought his favour, and, when he perceived them filled with humility, he assisted and relieved them. The Pharisees, who fancied themselves possessed of every virtue, and who trusted to their own righteousness, uniformly met with his disapprobation. They who despised others, went empty away from the presence of Jesus, while humble penitents were filled with the evidences of his love and compassion. If we wish to obtain access to the throne of heaven, let us advance before that throne in humility; appear before God in our genuine character, which is that of poor offenders. Let not a spirit of contempt for others enter into our minds, but, filled with a conscious knowledge of our own personal demerit, let us come to the Pool of Siloam, and wash and be clean.

Is there an individual, possessed of the spirit of the publican, in the presence of the living God this morning? Is there an individual, whose heart is bleeding under the conviction of sin? who dare not lift up his eyes to heaven, and whose cry is, "God be merciful to me a sinner?" I would say to such an individual, banish thy fears, thy supplication will be heard. "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but the promises of God," to a sincere inquirer, "cannot pass away." "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." Never do we stand higher in the divine estimation, than when we are lowly in our own eyes. Never are we so much in the way of exaltation, as when

humbled before God under a feeling sense of our own unworthiness.

The character of the Pharisee is sometimes applied by the world to those whose delight it is to follow Jesus in the way, who separate themselves from every pursuit inconsistent with their profession, and who endeavour to walk in the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. This charge, my beloved, cannot be just, as every true Christian in his daily devotions, instead of trusting to his own righteousness, acknowledges himself a sinner; and as a sinner he supplicates God for pardon.

The Pharisee, who is embraced in our text, trusted in himself that he was righteous: recapitulated, in the presence of Jehovah, the peculiar features of his character; plead his conformity to the law; justified himself, and relied upon his own performances for the salvation of his soul. He thought himself prepared for heaven by virtue of his own works; he felt no need of a Saviour; wished for no interest in the atonement; there was neither confession of sin, nor supplication for pardon, in his address.

Until a man can plead a uniform obedience to the moral law; until he can say with truth, that he has never violated its injunctions, a dependence upon his own righteousness would certainly be the height of folly. One crime proved against an offender in a court of justice, will involve him in punishment; and it is upon the same principle that St. James observes to the professors of Christianity," Whosoever offendeth in one point is guilty of the whole law." To plead that law for our justification, which we know we have violated, would be contrary to the analogy of reason. The offender must put in another claim, provided he expects to escape punishment, and that claim must be made upon the mercy of his judge. As offenders against God, let us, therefore, acknowledge our sins, fly to a throne of grace, and, in the spirit and language of the publican, solicit forgiveness. There is pardon and forgiveness for all-" the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin." Let no indi

vidual leave the house of God this morning under an impression that salvation is not attainable. Let him not say that no atonement has been made for his sins, and that no Saviour has been provided for him. Christ Jesus is "the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world." He has said that " he will have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth."

The moment that we assert the impossibility of salvavation to any of Adam's posterity, we charge the destruction of the sinner to the Almighty, and dispute the veracity of a merciful God. When Jehovah asserts, and swears to the truth of the assertion," That he taketh no pleasure in the death of a sinner," it is the height of impiety, nay it is more than impious, to question the principle, or to doubt of its truth. It is the fulness of the offer of mercy, that inspires the mind of a preacher with affection for all men ; it warms his heart with love to God, and excites his compassion towards his fellow-creatures; it inspires his heart with a hope that his message will be attended to; that the overtures of God's compassion will obtain a grateful reception, and that the creatures for whom the Saviour died upon the cross will listen with gratitude, and take refuge in his bosom. See the Redeemer, as he is suspended upon the cross; behold him in the act of his sufferings on Calvary, and you must confess that "God is love." Hear him in his last agonies, praying for his murderers, "Father, forgive them," and can you doubt his tenderness for you? To resist such affection seems impossible. "How shall we escape," said Paul, "if we neglect so great salvation?" What apology can we offer for our sins? What plea can the transgressor make, to arrest the judgment threatened against iniquity? Yes, brethren, salvation may be obtained by all who will seek it. Such is the conviction of your preacher, and if it was my last breath, I should wish to die with the declaration of St. John upon my lips, "God is love."

MM

SERMON XI.

When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee; and when through the rivers they shall not overflow thee."-ISAIAH, xliii. 2.

BEFORE I enter on the discussion of the subject before us, I should consider myself greatly delinquent in duty, were I not to mention the gratification I experience, in being restored, after a protracted and dangerous illness, to the bosom of my family and parishioners.

'The letters I received from some of you, during my absence, sensibly alleviated the distresses incident to a sick room, (and hushed into silence the gloomy emotions of my mind,) and entitles my kind correspondents to the tribute of my unfeigned gratitute and respect; and the affectionate welcome, with which I have been greeted since my return, have made an impression my mind which language is too feeble to express. May the Almighty impress my heart with a due sense of his goodness towards me, and render my labours a blessing to the people committed to my charge! May that same God, whose loving kindness cheered the chamber of disease in which I was confined with the light of his countenance, be with you and your families in every distress, and conduct you in safety to the mansions of eternal peace and joy!

Adversity is the season in which the Christian reflects, with peculiar satisfaction, upon the sacred promises of Je