towards sinful men during his abode on earththat which he was, the apostle says, he is, and shall be to all eternity.

II. From what has been said, then we may infer for our comfort and direction what we are privileged to look for at his hands, now and al

ways.

There may be two very different classes of persons amongst us, there may be those who do not love the Lord Jesus in sincerity, and there may be those who do. Let me apply my discourse to each party separately.

1. Brethren, if it be even so that ye know not the Lord yet to effectual purpose, and so love him not; if ye have not in earnest taken him for your Saviour, but halt and waver like that Jewish multitude, who one day were crying "Hosanna to the Son of David," and the next day, "not this man but Barabbas :" if ye be but inquiring concerning him; if ye be but "almost persuaded to be Christians," still I would have you look to those exemplifications which I have set before you, of the mind which was in Christ Jesus towards sinners of every class. Ye read of too many who shut the door of grace against themselves, but where do you read of his shutting it against any man? He did good to all; he preached to all; he prayed

for those who murdered him; he waited for the slow of heart; he had compassion on the ignorant, and on them that were out of the way; he pitied distress wherever he found it, and never cast one suppliant out. Then "why will ye die? for I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God,' * not by word only but by his actions. He that wept over Jerusalem once, weeps over the selfdestroying madness of sinners always. He that never rejected prayer in the days of his flesh, is "nigh unto all such as call upon him" Turn to him at length and he will turn

now.

to you." "Ask and ye shall have," for he is still the same. If ye fear that ye have not faith to ask, recollect how he first helped the poor father's unbelief, and then healed his son. What did he exhibit all his life long, but good will to man, even to those who bore all ill will to him. Remember he is "the Lord, he

changeth not."

If he prayed for those that reviled him, will he not intercede and prevail for those who come unto him? He was the friend of sinners; he received the vilest, and did eat with them; he will therefore assuredly receive you, and provide all things for you of which you stand in need. Seek him who had com* Ezek. xviii. 31, 32.

C

passion on the multitudes because they were as sheep without a shepherd, and he will send ministers to you able to teach you the truth. Seek first, his kingdom and his righteousness, and he that fed five thousand who only seemed to seek him, will not let you want for food and raiment. You have had proof already that he came not to destroy men's lives but to save them, for surely he has not cut you off, though (if you consider it) you have as basely refused to receive him as did those villagers of Samaria. So far, at least, you have had experience, that he is what he was, and therefore why not believe that he will be so still? " Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation."* To-day if ye will hear his voice,"† turn and live. But tempt not the Lord your God too far; though he bare with his bitterest enemies, and prayed for them, and so showed that it was not his doing if they perished; yet he pronounced their doom, if they would go on still in their wickedness: though he spake it with tears, still he spake it, "thine enemies, O Jerusalem, shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, and shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and + Psalm xcv. 8.

* 2. Cor. vi. 2.

they shall not leave in thee one 'stone upon another because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation." *

2. But do you look upon him as the pearl of inestimable price; and hath divine grace made you willing to accept him as your Saviour and your King? Would you do his commandments hearkening to the voice of his word, and renounce for his sake the study of the flesh and of the world? Then consider the history of his demeanour towards those who came unto him whilst he dwelt on earth, and see whether in every act and deed, he does not profess unto you "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." If he is now and shall be ever what then he was; it is his will concerning you, that none shall ever pluck you out of his Father's hand he will watch over you for good and keep you in all your ways; he will accept your services; he will love those that love you, and set himself against all your adversaries. He willed for his disciples once, that they should be cautioned, should be comforted, should be instructed, should be taught of God, should be guided by his counsel here, and received to glory for ever. He bought and paid for these privileges on their behalf: he poured out his soul

* Luke xix. 43, 44.

+ Heb. xiii. 5.

unto death that he might pay for them and when he rose from the dead there was no "shadow of turning," in his dispositions towards those for whom he had already done so much. Then he wills the same things for "I will you. bring the blind (he says) by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them."* "Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning this city-they shall be my people, and I will be their God: and I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them: and I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul." † "Go (says our Lord to his apostles) into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved."‡

* Is. xlii. 16.

+ Jerem. xxxii. 36–41. Mark xvi. 15, 16.