this refuge of lies, they are taught to exclaim, "We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righ"teousnesses are as filthy rags." Thus by despair of atoning for the past, or justifying themselves before a holy God, by such unholy services, they' become cordially willing to accept of a free salvation.

They discover likewise, that personal holiness is absolutely necessary; and are taught that "the "LORD can have no pleasure in iniquity;" and that none can be meet for a holy heaven and the enjoyment of a holy God, without conformity to his holiness. Thus they are preserved from that fatal refuge of lies, into which the love of sin betrays vast numbers, of perverting the doctrines of grace into a reason for being satisfied in the neglect of holiness. At the same time they are taught of God their own utter inability to obtain this holiness, except from him; and they learn to prize sanctification by the Spirit, as highly as redemption by the blood of Christ. When such important concerns engross their minds, worldly objects seem diminished, and they learn to count them as nothing in comparison of the salvation of their souls: thus they become willing to deny themselves, to forsake all, and to follow Christ, bearing their cross; whilst others perish in the vain attempt of serving God and Mammon, and reconciling the interests of time and eternity.

In this manner the hindrances, arising from the

pride and corrupt passions of the heart, being efficaciously removed, men readily learn under such a Teacher, the grand lesson without which all others would be useless, and to which all else are subordinate. We must mention one thing before another; but it is not necessary to determine in what order these lessons shall be taught, or whether more speedily, or more gradually. But in his own time and manner, the divine Spirit will teach every elect person, the nature, truth, and glory of the gospel of Christ; and shew him, that in the divine Saviour, in his righteousness, sacrifice, intercession, and grace, all he wants, or can desire, is contained; " He shall glorify me: for he shall "receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you."" Now he feels an ardent longing for an interest in Christ and all his blessings, and fears nothing so much as being rejected. Now he makes, trembling perhaps, his earnest application; "Behold he pray"eth!" As a condemned criminal, a perishing sinner, he comes, he asks, he waits; he persists in waiting and praying; and, giving up every other hope, he says, "Lord, to whom shall I go? "thou hast the words of eternal life." Now he respects every instruction, observes every direction, uses every means, watches against every sin, attends to every duty; yet trusts in nothing but the free mercy of God through the redemption of his Son, whom he desires "to be made unto him,

'John xvi. 14, 15.

"wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, "and redemption." Now he is very apt to suspect that he does not ask and seek in a proper manner, and becomes jealous of himself lest he should be deceived: and though he longs for relief from the burden of his guilt, yet he fears a false peace; and still seeks for more earnestness and deeper humiliation. He will take no denial, yield to no discouragement, and be satisfied with nothing short of ALL that Christ died to purchase and is exalted to bestow: pardon, righteousness, holiness, liberty, victory, and eternal life. Thus all, whom the Father hath given unto Christ, betaught and drawn of God, come unto him, receive him, and walk in him.-But is this our experience, or is it not? It is for substance, though with circumstantial variations, I trust, the experience of all true christians: and yet I fear that very many, who are zealous for these doctrines, continue strangers to this method of coming day by day to Christ for his complete salvation.' I proceed,

ing

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As the godly consideration of predestination and our elec⚫tion in Christ, is full of sweet, pleasant, and unspeakable comfort to godly persons, and such as feel in themselves the working of 'the Spirit of Christ, mortifying the works of the flesh, and their earthly members, and drawing up their minds to high and hea'venly things; as well because it doth greatly establish and con'firm their faith of eternal salvation, to be enjoyed through Christ, as because it doth fervently kindle their love towards God: so ' for curious and carnal persons, lacking the Spirit of Christ, te

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IV. To observe that CHRIST WILL MOST CER

TAINLY RECEIVE ALL WHO COME UNTO HIM.

This is here most emphatically declared," him "that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out;" and the double negation in the original is still more expressive. Had the vilest sinner, who ever trembled with the desperate apprehensions of having sinned beyond all reach of mercy, been allowed to draw up a clause for his own encouragement in coming to the Saviour, he could scarcely have worded it more favourably. Imagine the basest character, which ever disgraced humanity and scourged the world; one grown hoary in multiplied rapines, murders, adulteries, rapes, and unnatural lusts; and breathing out perjuries and blasphemies, as if ambitious of pre-eminence in profaneness: if even this man truly come to Christ, "he will in no wise cast him out." Suppose the most consummate villainy, to the very verge of life, carried on under the broad vizor of designed hypocrisy; or some wretch, emboldened in sin by the very gospel itself, who had given such scandal, that thousands in hell should curse him as the occasion of their perdition; or some vile apostate, some Judas, who had betrayed and sold his Lord. If even such persons really come to Christ, in the

have continually before their eyes the sentence of God's predestination, is a most dangerous downfal, whereby the devil doth thrust them into desperation, or into wretchlessness of unclean 'living, no less perilous than desperation. (17th Article.)

manner that hath been described, he will, he can "in no wise cast them out." He cannot alter the word, that is gone out of his lips. I determine not whether they ever do actually come, or whether it is much to be expected that they should; for" there is a sin unto death," and "it is impos"sible to renew some unto repentance." But did they come, even at the last hour, they should in no wise be cast out; for there is nothing in the constitution of the gospel to exclude them from mercy. Should there then be one present, who is ready to despair, and trembles to approach the mercy-seat, because he expects and dreads a repulse; let him make the trial, and plead the promise, and wait the Lord's time in his way; and he shall find, that neither aggravated guilt, nor strong corruptions, nor inveterate evil habits, can exclude him from this full and free salvation.

No man has the least occasion in such circumstances to enquire previously, whether he be clect, which he cannot possibly know in this stage of his experience. He needs only to ask himself; am I sincerely willing to be saved from sin, and all its consequences, in the humbling self-denying method of the gospel? do I believe that Jesus, and he alone, is able thus to save me? do I apply to him and trust in him for these things? and do I observe his directions, and use the means which he hath appointed for that end? Every approach to a temper and conduct so opposite to corrupt na