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of GOD. This was his meat, his pleasure, and his joy: and here, especially, he hath left his ministers "an example that they should follow his steps." This was the business of his life: still more, this was the end of his agony and death. "All we, "like sheep," (says the prophet, above seven hundred years before the Saviour's birth,) "All "we, like sheep, have gone astray; we have "turned every one to his own way; and the LORD "hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."—" He แ was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearer is dumb, so he opened "not his mouth." In like manner another prophet, in the name of GOD says, "Awake, O

sword, against the Shepherd, against the man "that is my fellow, saith the LORD of Hosts; "smite the Shepherd." And thus CHRIST, taking these prophecies as belonging to him, says, "I am the good Shepherd; the good Shepherd "layeth down his life for the sheep." View then, the incarnate Word and Son of GOD, IMMANNUEL, agonizing in the garden, and expiring on the cross; not for sinners as already repenting, but to make way for their repentance and salvation! Oh, the depth of his condescension and compassion! the riches of his liberality! the greatness of his self-denying love!-words fail, and even imagination is lost on such a subject. -But can we suppose, that he stooped so low, and laboured and suffered so much, for

sinners, while impenitently rebellious; and then that he will, after all, reject any of those, who in consequence are brought humbly to seck his salvation? Consider him as stooping, and bleeding, and dying, for the vilest of rebels and enemies: and then conceive him, if you can, sternly rejecting the humble requests of the poor supplicant who with tears and confusion, and deep contrition, intreats his mercy, and determines to know no other hope.

Before we proceed, let us not forget to think of this gracious Saviour, weeping over ungrateful Jerusalem and the miseries to which it was devoted; and praying when nailed to the cross for his murderers; "Father, forgive them; for they "know not what they do." Nor let it be lost sight of, that "JESUS is the same, yesterday, to'day, and for ever."

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The commission and instruction given to his apostles, when he sent them forth to preach the gospel, were perfectly coincident with these encouraging representations of his personal ministry. "Other sheep," says he, I have, which are not "of this fold: them also I must bring, and they <? shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold, "and one Shepherd." "Neither pray I for these "alone, but for them also which shall believe in "me through their word.” "Go ye into all the 'world, and preach the gospel to every creature, "he that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved;

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"and he that believeth not, shall be damned."". Indeed, what is the commission of CHRIST to his ministers, in every age, but that expressed in the words of our ordination service? To seek for 'CHRIST'S sheep that are dispersed abroad; and 'for his children, who are in the midst of this naughty world, that they may be saved through 'CHRIST for ever.' This we all most solemnly promise to do, when we are admitted to our sacred function; and this must form one grand object of all our subsequent ministrations, if we would fulfil the vows of GOD that are upon

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And what are our instructions in this great concern? We are commanded to preach, "Repentance, "towards GoD, and faith towards our LORD "JESUS CHRIST:" to assure our hearers, of every character, that "all things are ready;" to invite, persuade, expostulate, instantly, in season, out "of season;" and even "to compel them to come "in;" certainly, by no other compulsion, than that of convincing arguments, urgent persuasions, and reiterated exhortations. "Now then, we are "ambassadors for CHRIST; as though GoD did, "beseech you by us, we pray you, in CHRIST'S "stead, be ye reconciled to GOD."-" We also, "as fellow-workers together with him, beseech you also, that ye receive not the grace of GoD

"in vain."

'John x. 16. xvii. 20. Mark, xvi, 16.

We are instructed, not only to inform you of what God has done for the salvation of sinners, and of what CHRIST has suffered for sins, and of his prevailing intercession for all "who come to "GOD by him;" not only to propose these blessings to you: but also to urge most earnestly your acceptance of them; to take no denial; to renew our invitations and expostulations; to venture your displeasure and contempt, in seeking your salvation; and never to remit or cease from our endeavours, till you forsake our ministry, or either you or we are called to the tribunal of GoD.

And what is that peculiar work of the Holy Spirit, of which so much is said in the Scriptures, especially in the New Testament, and of which, alas! so little is heard from many pulpits in this Christian country?"He shall convince the world of

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sin, of righteousness, and of judgment." "He "shall glorify me; for he shall receive of mine, " and shall shew it unto you."-His first work, as proceeding from the Father and the Son, consists in quickening the dead in sin, bringing the prodigal to himself, humbling the proud heart, subduing the stout spirit, awakening the careless conscience; and shewing the criminal his guilt, the justice of God in his condemnation, and the future judgment, with all its solemnities and awful consequences. When this has been effected; and the convinced transgressor is brought to despair of salvation, except through mercy by faith in CHRIST

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JESUS: the same effectual Teacher glorifies the Saviour, shews the suitableness, fullness, and freeness of his salvation; and brings the desponding penitent, to" count all but loss for the excellency "of the knowledge of CHRIST," and his atonement and righteousness.

This then is the fact referred to. The sinner hears the gospel, is brought to repentance, to submission, to earnest desires of salvation, to a cordial acceptance of CHRIST, according to the degree of knowledge already attained; and to diligent search after more competent instruction in the truth and will of GOD.

The persons, thus humbled and earnest, may have been of divers previous characters, some morę and some less moral; the degrees of their capacity or information may widely differ; and also their rank and station in society: but they now all understand the apostle's language, which before they either overlooked or disliked, "There is no dif"ference, for all have sinned and come short of "the glory of God."

When Peter addressed the Jews, on the day of Pentecost, and thousands embraced the gospel, even of those who had concurred in crucifying the LORD of glory: then this joyful event took place in numerous instances. The good Shepherd found and rejoiced over his lost sheep. When the poor jailor began, trembling, to cry out, "What must "I do to be saved?" and gladly welcomed the

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