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Las diagrammas sulvants illustrant la mAthoda. <^ #', ^ '"'^V- /■■■ ■. ■'■■■6:- ' -^ ■.■'.'■'■,' KMNUriOM TBT (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2) / 1.0 1.1 t!25 M 1*3 lit • IM LM 3.6 •V' U n 1 1.8 1.6 V /^PLIED IM^lGE ine 16M E» i /" ^. 1 ; % » tn^b^' * '■., \- THE NECESSITY ••^i^->V^!?> ■/■■•I )• i* l'- 1 iV( ' ,.,..., : \ OF •#■ BALVATION; , BE ETEBNALLY LOST. • -■■''i^' 1 ■■^^-^■ X^ ■ ,■•..♦■ v.. •■; ■• ^ ■ - •-• WSAraTTrOR % AU TO Qftifr 5W) P '^ < t V. .;■*■■•. .-^"i-f ■■■■-'■ ■■a:-.'.-;--;..— ^•;*:^,;,. •■■.,. ^^w^ - --'.st^^^sP':; .: . ^.•■jyift « I WBthe Vine, and mv FaHiM tf jji If^ fiitffjmnn » '^^i-- / , "One thing is neediW.'^ V^'l^^^^^ )\ ,^- ■•■■I BY ALEXANDER ALLEN, COOICSTaWN: 1862. ■■ ,■)■■ 1 ■*:•■' . ^, ♦•-»■'■ '4 ■f iis ^3 1 . ■' 1- s*£>^eo Ho\/. 3|^ S^ 6^5' ■V i-- i •. ■ ^Jf.i ■^^i (. f \^ "^t^i PREFACE. . ] ■ ■ This little Addrcsa needs no preraco, yet a few lines maj not be unnecessary. The design of this book is to call the attention of those who may think it worthy of perusal, to the impo/lanco, and also the necessity of decided religion. It is hoped its contents may prove effectual to the strength* eningof true religious feeling in the hearts of those who enjoy ttiaf blessing; but it is more especially addressed to those who have no religion at all. This class of people ro. quire invitations and threatenings to bring them tigilknow- ledge Him, whjjJjM said — " unless you repen^pd be converted," /%^Bkr words, become as little children, ** you cann (AjK^HjIie kingdona of God." The saored truths are tfa||Jppirom whence its lessons and statements are drawn : it wants no refinements of religious truths, but plain scriptural inatruotions. Its readers are addressed not as Churchmen or Dissenter^, but as fallen, undone, and dying mortals, who need eternal salvation. I could humbly follow in the track of those calls and alarms to the unoon- verted, by which Baxter and Allen, and others—being dead yet speak— and have for some 'centuries, under the power of the divine blessing, been useful to the saving of many a man's soul. Suppose but one individual among those 00001-" less millions should by this small volume be led to the Saviour, a great work will be accomplished— sufficiently im- portant to recompense the labours of the writer. Perhaps some readers inay think the subject of this volume is too often written upon, but let us remember that we cannot be ■'.V i .^/ ■^&fe<«s£)iii^4&iii.;^ii£i6d«&u^iii£^i£,^£{^^ i # ' ''.u^uL -UA 4> % it u PRIPAOE. .> too often looking for tho divine teaching of tho Holy Spirit ; but lot such consider how solemn is eternity, and how aw- fully important is its interests. If a person was to spend one minute in a prison, or in any place of punishment, how glad would ho be of a release. Then let us remember that if wo do not come to Christ and get our sins blotted put, we will bo lost through all eternity. The Lord help you, my dear reader, to make this one thing needful your happy choico; through Jesus Christ Amen. / ■^ "> ■/ M ■. ' ■ ■\ f . »■«->. \ mMwm ■^■ 'tho Holy Spirit; ity, aDd how aw- lOQ was to spend punishment, how lis romcmbor that IS blottod put, we •rd help you, my idful your happy THE NECESSITY OF SALVATION, ' lOHAP^^ 1. Advicthjibay^o/ tntrod%iction. '.■'■■ This little work ia addressed to you as a travoHcr to the eternal world : its object Ss your eternal wclfan*, and to pro- mote that welfare, the writer requests a few moments of your spare time, and also craves your attention to a subject which u of deep concern to you when time will bo no more. Thin is worthy of vour attention; in having its blessings the •poorest are rich, but destitute of this the richest arc poor— rithout these blessings riches arc tlie greatest of poverty ; all if earth and earthly things e happv, or die to ik of dying to all led from the smiles him say/ " Come »zplaim, '^ Depart can you bear an jryou masfcif you Remember Uiere nent. Oh reader, Pbet— ' " , I with false hopes, and to end it in h0ll>*to begm wiih dod, , I ilMtoifiiUy offoring his blessing, and the Sav^^ ." ' I be graoious, and er^ it end to m placed beyond the reach of .1; t i^S^Tff^^^f^^^^e^T* [i- 8 ITS OHOtOB IS NIVBB TO BB LAIfENTEO. mercy • yet if yoti slight thid Saviour and die this year, the change jm must know by sad experience. The 'writer would Entreat you again and again ta flee to this Saviour that you may find rest for your soul. Sixthly, I would address you as standing oh the borders of eternity, and would regard you as a dying mortal. Keaderwhen you and I will meet at the judgiAent bar, as i?ieet w« must, you will not think then that you have been too often entreated to give your attention to those things that belong to your peace, before it be hid from your eyes. We are commencing another year ; if you never have been iti earnest set about it now while the lord is waiting to be gracious; work while it is called to-day, the night cometh when no man can work; let us giv« all diligence to make our calling and election sure. This is the time, no more delay. I beseech you to regard this advice and pray without ceasing— pray arid believe. • Seventhly. I now.turn to God in your behalf, praying the Father of all mercies, and giver of all blessings, who desi- rest not the death of the sinner, be pleased to open the hearts'of the readers of this little address. All teaching is useless and vain unless the Spirit opens the heart and seals instruction on the mind. graqious Lord, those who ^re addressed will need a more powerful call than this, nor will they heed a feebler voice than mine. 0- thou that gave thy best beloved for man's salvation, and with whom is the resi- due of the Spirit's power, send that Spirit down and speak with the still small voice, and bring many to welcome the Saviour. Thou that hast died for guilty man, thou that shed that Spirit down that changed thousands of hearts accompany this advice with the Spirit's influence, and mag- nify thv truth, thy love and mercy, by bringing the lost, the guilty, and the ruined, as willing captives to thy feet. 'Amen. -^ tTh >w £rt •sta !me ad ■lav fshi 4thi |h( Itlw Jthi '•ac( ith( de ipei jth( foi an DO i t r ^ T \ ■'*i^»"«l>IPfBP«wi [iAICENTED. d die this year, the moe. The 'writer ee to this Saviour ling Ob the borders IS a dying mortal. judgn^cnt bar, as hat you have been on to those things lid from your eyes, u never have been d is waiting to be the night oometh diligence to make ihe time^ no more e and pray without behalf, praying the lessings, who 4esi- leased to open the I. All teaching is the heart and seals )rd, those who ^re than this, nor will thou that gave thy 1 whojn is the resi- it down and speak »y to wdcome the y man, thou that jusands of hearts, ifluence, and mag- bringing the lost, ptives to thy feet. THE NS0ES8ITT OF KSBPINQ THE WjaOLE LAW. 9' ■,■■•■ ■■ ■■■ .. chapter" II. <^-\'.;' ■■■'.' '^'■':':\[':'y\ tTIie necessity of keeping the whole taw felt and expeneneed I b^ all true Christians. '■ Reader, if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than j/oxxr hearts, and knoweth all things. To you will apply the ^iWful declaration— " thou art weighed in the balance and jfeirt found Wanting": Dan. 5; 27. God examines your •state ; '' his eyes behold, his iM-Uds try the children of imen" : Psalms 11 ; 4. The rmPby which your thoughts, actions, and words are and tnust be tried, is by God's holy ■law — "Thou shalt have none otljier gods but me;' thou ishalt not make unto thee any image, or the likeness of any Jthing," &c. The tenth conimandnient applies principally to |the desires of the heart. This law reaches to the words of ithe lips df our Lord Jesus, when he said—" I say unto you Ithat every idle word that men shall speak they shall give an •account thereof in the day of judgment, for by thy words •|;hou shalt be justified, and by thy words tliou shalt be con-. demned." Matt. 12; 37. These commandments require jjpeifect conformity to it?* directions, and to all times; and ithe words of the lips and its lanuuaj^o is— do this and live, for less than this you will die. Have you come up to what (jrod's holy law requires, and to love him with all thy heart aad mind, and strength, and love the Saviour with supreme .fiffection, and love your neighbour as yourself? You dare Dot declare that yoii have ; .then you are found Wanting. Secondly. Well may I quote the words of the poet— ; V "Love divine, how sweet thou art, I ■ . When shaH I find my willing heart ■ * AH taken up, by Thee? I tbirat, I faint, I die to prove • . The greatness of redeeming love, The love of Christ to me." Reader, for your encouragement, I will tell you when 'and low the Spirit of the Lord wrought upon my heart and- ^ind, Iii the year 1826 I weut to hear a " swaddling^ Treacher," as we called them ; he preached for two years in /pur neighbourhood, £nd I raised the hymns for him ail that iime; and when he was about to leave he preached his last isermon, and his text was—-" Teach us to number our days ihat we may apply our hearts unto wisdom": Psalmd 90 ; 12. ■--■■. i I 10 EXPEftlENCB. i .! . * After he had done pre^hing lie went through the large con- gregation to hear their experience, and I was the last he oame to. After all his pre^hing I was no more reconciled than before. I was for him, and there was a good old man beside mc, and he told his experience, and by so doing he took all prejudice out of my mind. The thought struck me, , why can't I tell the same as you can, am I not a sece'der as wefi as you? I had a great deal to tell him when he would come to me ; but the enemy was disappointed by my older brother speaking before me. When he came to me I could say nothing but God be merciful to me, a sinner; and I went homo under deep conviction and continued in that way for six weeks. I felt the Lord precious to my soul while praying in my family, and thanks be to God that union has never broken up since, and I trust that that grace that has kept me so far through all ihe quick-sands and storms win bear me all the way through until! meet with all the blood-washed throng. Hoping reader this will be your hap- py lot among the blessed. Amen. "Iron sharpeneth ifOtt ; so the countenance of a mim sharpeneth his friend." Thirdly. They that fear the Lord speak often one to the other. What do they be saying to each other ? Why the true christian will be telling about what God has done and is doing for him, and how he has changed his or her heart, ^ and how good God was to their souls in giving them heav- enly light, and how he has banished that hellish darkiaesis |» away from them and bid them go free. When true chris- tians meet they rejoice how, when, and where they were set at liberty. But it behooves us to be careful lest we build on another man's foundation, for other foundation can no man ; lay than that which is laid— Christ himself being the chiiBf corner stone. This is no old wives' fable ; wherever this doctrine; is wrought it prompts the possessors of it to tell what they know of God concer;|iing him or herself; but let us be careful lest We deceived, for Satan appears as an angel ^^tjf light. The true chnMiaM^ their shieldsj they are always on guard ; they do not be saying one thing and thinking another, they let their light shine by being in charity and love with^one ahother; for how can we love Ood, whom we have not seen, when we don't love dur u\ ther and sisters that we do see. Fourth l y. Reader be apt deceived , for whatjamai 4 ^ ■Yfm^f^'^ff .J ii the large oon- vras the last he more reconciled a good old man by 80 doing he igltt struck me, lot a seceder as when he would [jd by my older i) to me I could . sinner; and I uod in that way my soul while that union has :hat grace that nds and storms 3et with all the ill be your hap- larpeneth irott ; friend." often one to the er ? Why the 1 has done and is or her heart, ing them heav- lellish darkiaesis '^hen true ehris- e they were set lest we build on (on can no man; being the chiief wherever this urs of it to tell Ksrself ; but let ears as s£n angel »ff their shielded, lying one thing ine by being in )W can we love 't love dur b! BALYATION IS NO FABLZ, it IS fUtL ASSURANCE. 11 cth that shall he also reap ; he that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption, and he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting ; so it becomes us to be immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that our labours wiU not be in vain in the Lord. Reader, God says that all mankind by nature is un- der sin and condemnation ; the sinner on the contrary thinks Lhimself too good to go lo hell. God says man has a bad 'heart; the sinner thinks he has a good one. God says if the sinner does not repent and be converted he will go to hell; the sinner says in his heart that sin is pleasant and religion unpleasant. God bids the sinner repent to-day, the heart deceives him with the hope of repenting hereafter. God says to man, turn or die, then the sinijer flatters him- self tliat he may live as others do, and be saved at last. J Fifthly. Reader, sin is not to be sported with, or tcTbe made a toy of as some make it. When every sin deserves God's wrath and Curse, how rtiuch of God's anger hav© we deserved since our first arrival into this world? If God was strict to mark our sins against us, we would be in hell ac- cording to the law, but he still loves the sinner, though he includes all under sin. Paul says, "By one man sin en^ tered into the world," and death by sin, so that death has passed upon all men for all have sinned": Rom. 5 ; 12. The christian is one that can say "I am the Lord's": Isaiah 4; 5. His by solemn surrender, and his by devotedness, his for^ time, and his for eternity. There are;somc who have desires after religion, and he hath them too, but in the strength of one superior to himself ; some for.sake sin, and he forsakes it too, but stops not with forsaking, for he is up and working ; he has the love of souls at heart i^he does not take it in fits and starts as time permits, like some y he, is. always pressing towards the mark of the prize. Paul says, some -sire near heaven but never reach it, they halt when " almost persuaded to be christians ;" true piety leads its pos- sessors beyond all these— it brings them to the Saviour's- feet. I ask you in love, were you ever brought there ; if you were, you can say my heart is fixed, my heart is fixed; I see the vanity of time, I now feel the love of my Saviour^ my heart is fixed— for !g!od, my Saviour and for heaven- Lord I am thine; these hands and these feet and eyes are thine ; this soul is given up unto thy care, this body is not ^ ill I 4. : !^I ■ /■ ■■.•*■■, 12 OF god's lovi in the heart. .'! my own, it is bought with a price and to be employed for thee. A religion that leads to this more than BatisficB many. Reader, you may talk about religion, but it is one thing to have it in possession, and it 'is another thing to want it. The having it is heaven and happiness forever, an^ to want it is hell and banishment forever from the presence of God and the Lamb — a dreadful thought, to be banished (from that Saviour's pres(bnce who is now inviting you to come to him, and by not doing so we make our o#n .hel forever. Sixthly. Where religion is, it shows itself by precept, and by your actions and words. When God sows the good seed of grace in the heart he compares it to that which fell on good ground an^ sprang up and bore fruit an hundred fold. The true believer cannot hide the work of grace in the heart ; it is compared to a lighted caudle put on a candlestick that all may see the light ; the true christian cannot hide the light that is given to him, because He that gave it com- mands it to be shown; let your light so shine that others seeing your good works may glorify our Father which is in heaven : Luke 8 ; 8. The believer that hM this grace is compared to a leav^ that was hid in three measures of meal till all was leavened ; by receiving those christian ^aces in the heart, he or she is become a new creature in Christ Jesus — zealous of good works, not by any works you have done or can do, it is all of ^ace ; you are saved by faith in the promises, " that not of yourselves, it is the ^ft of God; not of works, Jest any man should boast.'" The true christian can say with the poet^^ "Grace, 'Us a charming sound, harmonidus to the ear." He has to bless God that ever he heard that ^und, it cheers the heart and gives strength to the soul, and enables the christian to goon his way rejoicing : he is enabled to say with the poet— ' ; ««My God, thie sprinjf of all my jovB, # ' The life of my delights, The glory of my brightest days, And comfort of my nights." No matter what employment he is in he has the true light at heart, aud speaks with utterance or with silence— my Jg^s has done all things wel| ; or in other words, he will uever leave nor forsake them ^hat put their trust in him. ^yfflPJfWSg'^'^w*?' bo employed for re than Batisfies on, but it 18 one another thing to iness forever, an^ rpmthe presence t, to be banished inviting you to ke our o^ri .hel itself by precept, Dd sows the good that which feU on an hundred fold, 'ace in the heart ; ^ candlestick that cannot hide the bat gave it com- shine that others a^her which is in hki this grace is measures of meal iristian ^aces in eature in Christ '' works you have saved by faith in » the gift of God; IS to the ear." t ^Und, it cheers and enables the is ena^bled to say oyB, :#v ./;"' ■' las the true light fith silence— my er words, he win THE CHRISTIAN UVKS BY aRACKTriROrailKArTIf. 13 . ■ , ■ • 111 - Keadcr, there Ih nothing here to flutter our stay, wo tiro but strangers and pilgriuiH while lioro, but if wo liuve the Lord on our side, aU will be well. For my ipurt, I would be lonely and lonesome only for the cheering prcHouce of God; it is ivery thing that concerns nio. I find him ix present help in hetiuie of need— a God not afar off", but always ut hand. the What would I do now in my old age and among strangerH, without such a Saviour ? surely he will guide me by his counsel, and afterwards_briiig me to gloiy. I ljr»pe the words ■of the poet will be aU our (uippy lot. ..nJ^Nrr^ii^^i^ , " I shall behold his faefc, I shall his power adore, And sing the wonders of bis grace forever nioie."- Reader, some will have rcaaOu to bless God all their days> yes, and through a never ending elerjiity, for rcet iving that » light tlujt lighteth every man that comcth into the wi)rld-r- ' by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, even tJib forjiiveness of i sins. Says out Lord^ " By faith that is in uie^'v Header, ' has ever this been your experience; if not, I woiildenireat' ' you in the warmest manner, and with all the lea(|in^ priiv ' ciples of the gospel of our Lord Jesus ChristyV to comtU boldly to the Throne of Grace, that yOu nuiy find mercy and grace to hdp you in every time of need. Jicader, how ' do you think to escape if you neglect so great a sulvution i? . To come to Christ is N^o CQjue out from the world, and thfe things of the Vrorld, hiving no fellowship with tho wicked ;^' [such as evil speaking, i^r anything that would present itsejf? I as evil before your-eycs, -filthy talking or jesting, which is - not convenient. The Apostle says, and Christ says, *' conie out froni among them and be separate." God does iiot mean us to be idlers, but to be up and doing ^iiat our h«nds i find needful in securing the love of Jesus in the soul, ^korc jthe night of death -overtakes you, and you are unfit to ^Jotn^ ^ -into his holy presence. Let us remember, there is no ktiow- [ ledge Or device in the gl-ave to whicb we are hastening. Oh ! ^^readful thought, to fall into the hands of an angry God, and to hea* him say, "bind him hand j|^hf*:^all s^, ^hen saw we all these things and done themWo Thee? And He shall say, " inasmuch as you did it uhto one of those my hrethren, you die it unto mc.*' Reader, if ymi he the meek and lot^rly follower of Jesus, Ho must be 'your all and all, the vanity of this world must be rooted out, Christ roust be to you the bread of life; here the christian rests— Ho gave himself for me. 3Iight I ask you what pica have you to ward oflF condemnjition ? the reply is, the Lord Jesus has died. Why are you forgiven^ the Lord Jesus has died. Why do you hope for mercy? the Lord Jesus has died. Why do you expect heaven ? the Lord Jesus has died' — ^^and I have fled to him. No works of righteousness have we of, our own to atone for sin that is past, but the Lord Jesus has died. Let us remember we can bring nothing ta this Ood and Saviour, but the Lord Jesus has died: on this- foundation the christian centres all his trust and hope ; his hope is a crucified Saviour, and salvation the free gift of <}od. • There are many in the world that make this grace an occasion for sin, and careless of the very holiness in which this wonderful grace, should render them anxious daily to excel. If you are ever tempted to indulge in such a thought, consider that it is one of the vilest and most Un- grateful and infernal that exists out of the pit of perdition. " Without holiness no man shall see the Lord." The prin- eiple that denies the necessity of christian holinet^ is the worst of heresies, dnd the man or woman that puts off their prospects of heaven, and their confidence in Christ, and turns the grace of God into licentiousness, and the slave of sin, appears more the dupe of the wicked one. Reader, there is no object here worthy of drawing our attention or ouf hearts from God for a moment. I know not one— He alone is worthy of our hearts, and ought we not to love him with pure hearts fervently, and be enabled to say with the '.poet— . v _ . "Away then all you objects which divert Nor seek to draw from my dear Lord my heart." lUOH FAITH. i' DO 'meat, I was and ye clothed w we all these 1 He shall say, se my hrethren, e the meek and r all and all, the Christ must he I rests— Ho gave >lea have you to Lord Jesus has Jesus has died. Jesus has (died. IS has died— and sness have we of, the Lord Jesus ; nothing to this las died : on this- st and hope; his the free gift of make this grace very holiness in lem anxious daily idulge in such a !st and most un- I pit of perdition. 3rd." Theprin- n holiness is the hat puts off their } in Christ, and , and the slave of id one. Reader, our attention or low not one— He e not to love him 3 to say with the my heart." CHAPTBB III. : Religion more fully described. t5 / I hope the Lord will enable vou and I to see how short lived and insignificant all wordly pleasures are, I hope he has or will.j^all your nobler purposes to bo put into action ; ^it is your privilege to be holy in heart, in life, and in all godly conversation — to be one with Christ as he is with the Father, and daily to rejoice in the hppe of the glory of God,, that glory that shall be given to every true believer, iviay you and I be in the Spirit, and us(e faith and jfraycr, and improve the time that heaven hath already imparted ; for to him or her that hath shall be given. It is no matter what comes in our way, or what trials we may be subjected to, whether poverty or riches, sickness or health, the believer in Christ is enabled to be resigned to His will in all things. Grace never robs the 'christian of his feelings, but rather imparts a keener edge thereto ; it enables the possessor of it to bow with resignation to the will of God, his heavenly Father. Many a way the Almighty adopts to gain our worthless hearts : from some he takes a father or mother, a wife or a child— all to bring the sinner to himself, lest iire should have our affections on them more thail on God ; but oh, how hard it is to keep the christian in his right place. T^e must say with the poet— *< 0, the infinite cares, and temptations and snares, Which His hand has conducted me through ; His blessings bestowed by a bountiful God, And His mercies eternally new," Secondly. Let us consider whence spVings all your hap- piness; the answer might be God. God loves us. QpukI you put the same question to the spirits of the just, the reply might be, God loves us. You might enquire, and can he love me ? I will answer for ybu-r-He can : such are his boun.dless mercies ; he can, Ue will. He has never turned any away that has sought all Itheir happiness in' him* He ^ died for our offences, and rose again for ^ur justification. ' If you receive what the weird \telte you, anch^ield yourself to that God who has provided'^^Uch a remedy as the gonpel of oui^ Lord Jesus Christ; ancl if you make 1^^ of that j go s pe l, you m a y i n t ruth sa y , *^^ how can I escape^i flyn e ^ e e t so great saivation" ? There loe a great many in tho^orld !] II !'•• V ii LET U.^ HK WATOHFUti AfMINHT tllT. BNEMT. who think that this .salvation is not forgotten when thoy ac- knowledge that gospel to bo the word of God ; and if thov read a cha|itcr now ui\d again as it suits themselves, it will bo a gre;it work. But let us remember that God requires the heart; nothing shoft of tho liteart will jjletwc God. He •says, '' son give luu thine heart." God wanti. the spirit Ukowlse, for he .says, " they that wjDr.ship me must worship nic ill s|>irit and iii truth," for such ho sceketh to worship him. There aiNiv many professed christians who think if thoy pr.iy every .Sabbath morning 'and go to their place of wortiliip all is well; and on their return honie the convcrsn- tion of many that are called true christians, is about tire world :ind the thiiYgs of the world; They forget the com- nuinilment— '' Kemember the Sabbath day to keep it holy." When We do all tliese duties we have not come up to what is ref[nired, f • « How lovely ia Thy dwelling place, Lord of hosts to me, The tabernaeleg of Thy £pT^, ly grace is uuf- ade perfect in How pleasant Lord they be." bS :.^ .1 : ■.■:■■■,-.} • , ■•■^■ .■••■■■. ■ ■■ . • ■ . ■\ [ ■ ''■'.■'..■■' /' ■ ■' 18 rni oniLDRiN ov aon ar« happy in oiiaitiT, / So it Ih with every true child of God ; tlioy would winh all to coino to th« Haiuo tountaiii and Houroo of hnppinoMi. BIcMsed bo (Hod, ho iiovor pnrdonn u Houl, niid Icuvoh it one of Satun'H hIuvch: Uc sayH, ** I will nevor louvo you. nor forHuko you." Ho then I invito you Miuncr to come to that Saviour, He is able to Have to the utternioHt all that will rcfKmt of their hIuh and tuni to CJod, for ho is tlio Hinnor'n refuse ; there \h no other way, no other name : " I am the vi(ffy to the Father, and none can come to the Father but by nieJ^Vi»ayH JeHUH. '* I am the way, Ihe truth, and tholifo; come Binnors, conic to nu^, doubt no more, f«u' in me all true happineH6.1icH, and in me all fullncBsdwell?*''— all for >Yretcljiod lunn. Sixthly. Header, what more buautiful cnCourai^emimt can bo explained to you than haH been already Ht.ited in the above lines; nothini,' can be Ktronp,er than ChriMt himself Hayinjr, '* none who come unto me I will in any way "east out;" but you mu.st remember that you niuHt come as you aij^c, you cannot make yourself better ; Tiord help you to eoi^ie boldly to the throne of jirace, and you will lind nicrey ai)d graico to help in every time of need. We have all need to come, we arc still wantiuir new jrraee for luir new duties; the more we have of that <:,raee the morowe want to htwc-i' of that blessed manna that we will n»*-liWrty. I fiiid him lifting; up iny head,. ' He brings salvation near ; . "'. : His presence makes me free indeed, , And ho will soon appear." 0) that He may keep you and. I at his feet as humble chris- tians, that in all things we may be reconciled to his will— in all things not our will but Thine be done ; so keep looking unto Jesus until he becomes the finisher of your faith. Let us beware of false ropentanco, it springs solely from the fear of hell and rtvin forever. The sailor in a storm, or the ■4- -n^ IN OliaMT, hkwarr or DKLiniiolf; 19 y would wuth all 30 of hnppinoHfi. 1111(1 IcitvuH it one .T louvo you. nor I' to coiiio to that iioHt all tluit will lie iH the Hintior'H uiiic : " I am tlio lie Father but by ith, and the lifo; for ill me all true —all for wretvlliod • ■ ' ■ ! ■ ■ ■ ' [ eucouraj^oiiKiut udy stilted ill the I Christ hiiuHulf ly way "cast out ;" :pmo U.S yrtu uij^c, lelp you to coi^ic liiid mercy ai)d have all need to our new duticel ; a want to 1k\vc-U luii'rer after, anlj after. We have •ety of fialvatioii, that a.-iHiifanco of hat they pan sjiy man or woman on a Hiek bed, eriuH out for meruy booauHo death and hell Hcoin at hand. The beiiev<'r that han truly rejiented of his Hinn and become a follower of the [iord .Jesu< Christ, ha.s another feeling; the Hin« he formerly loved he now hates, dob miid, " I abhor myMelf in diiHt and a.^hes." Falw repentance puts a cloak on the mind uml make-* sin not to bo (Mt or acknowh'(l^'(»d : the penitent hat has truly I'olt the Lord to be ^nicious, h;i.< nothinjj; to recommend him or her to (^)d, and the confesfuon of hiHor heart nceord with the prayer of the Psalmist — " Ifavo nicr- . ^ ey on me fjonl aeiordiu'r to Thy loviii'X kindnesH,ftoeord- . ing to the mnllitudji' of 'I'liy t( 'ider m(Tci(^s blot oiit my trans;iressions": *' IJclioM I was clitpen in iniV|iiity, and in sin did my mother concoivo nui": l's;ihnH 51 ; 5. Seventhly. " Dq it kiiown tinto you thv'rel'oro, men and brethren, this man is preached unto ymt fur the t(ir:;iv'ene.SM of .sins": Acts ll) ; !iS : And by lliui all that bjievo are justified froui all things, fiom which \ou could not bo jus- tified hy the law of Moss. Let us bmvaro and hold fast, / lc:-t that sentence ndl on ii«<, " IlehoM ye (le«pi;'cra. and wonder and perish, for 1 wo:k a work in your d.iys. a work which you shall in no wise believe, though a m-ui declare it Unto you." Header, there is a pos-ibility of putling off your day o? grace ; and as he rcnsuned of righteousness and judgment to come Felix tiombled and s;iid, '• (jio thy way for this time, and when 1 have a conveuiiint season 1 will cull for thee": Acts 24 ; 25. IJut we never r«)ad of a more proper time, that only one was given him and ho neglected it, and we do not read of any other tiniiy since. So you see j. j that delays are dangerous, and time uncertain. When the Lord said to the man with the withered hand, "stretch it forth," ho did not consult whether it was right to do it or not; ho was so glad to hear the word, he did not reason with flesh and blood, but evidently obeyed the word, and it was restored as the other. So it is with the wilful sinner ; '^» 1 f while he disobeys and puts off his day of grace till a more coprenient time, that is likely never to come, so there is noth- ing like obeying' when Christ commands, coming in time, . - l! 10 Wl OAMl(bT LOri QOD AND K||P SIN, Balralloit." ' There It no putting off in the word of Qod, there are no to-morrows in the llible— it ie all to-dajr. " If jou will hoar my Toico harden not your hearta ;" oomo now^ the oall it, '« tarn ye, turn yo, why will ye die " Hndc I would again entreat you to pome to thia Joaua and HM him, but you muiit oomo as you are, and oomo by /fith,b lieving that He it the rewarder of all them that dUigently took him. ''.•"''■ ■ ^^'. ■ Eighthly. Let us bewaro of hypoorisy, it behooves ut to bo on our guard, for tho onomy is waiting for our halting^ and if you huvo not yot oomo up to or near what Qod Ve- SuiroM, do not rest, but.tako tho Fsalmist't view of it. " He id not give sleep to his eyes, or slumber to his evelids till he would find a plaQ^J^r tho mighty Qod of Jacob to dwell in": Psalms 8; 2..«^)jloador, wo sliould bo on sentry, bo do not sleep as others do says Paul. It takes beliovors and unbelievers to be on their guard; to the unbeliever the enom^ will strive to keep him from looking formeroyor salvation ; ho will be putting him off with to-morrow ; he will lay every net and snaro to oatoh tho poor straggling soul and make a proy of it. Tho believer will meet many on the way that will strive to turn him back, and they will tell him it is but a poour peevish thing to be religious or to be weeping under a sermon, or reading lll||uript|ires, or to be dead or stupid; 1^,, tiie true belie^M|^w|^cd to sajm what his Master suid^' Get thee bohiDflKflpH| for t^RF savourest not of the things that be oWW^^S> that the true boliover is always able to say, •' tho Lord is my strength ' and my shield": no weipon foriried against uie shall prosper, 1 am," saya Jesus, '' at lliy hand to deliver thee, so fear I thy God." "Oh, the depth of tho riehes both of om ftiid knowledge of God ; ho\f uyiscarohable are T?«ac^te|S^pd his ways pafst findingx)ut"; Romans 11 ; /♦'For ^5 hath known the mind of tho I^rd, or .0 hath beon his counsellor." And that knowing the iva^G — *• that now it is high time to awake out of sleep, for now is our salvation nearer 'il^ian when we believed": Romans 13 ; 11. " Let us watch and be sober, and let us beware of the enemy, for he goeth about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.'* At we have the truth let us live by the truth, and let us watoh lest we be deceived, for as we read that Satan appeareth as an angel of light, it takoa us in particalar, who profess the faith of Christ to r^ij^ifik!^ ' <'• .^. ... IP tlN. '«., > he word of Qod, I all to-dftj. •' If trU ;" oomo now e die " IU«d< J08UI and IK" lomo bj /fith, - m that duigently ■ ^4: ■■ it behooves us to ; for our haltlpg^ ar what QodVe- I view of it. " He k> his evelids till 9f Jacob to dwell bo on sentry, bo kkcs beliovors and B unbeliever the ing for meroy or 1 to-morrow; he poor straggling will meet many 3k« and they will be religious or to IpifitoB, or to "^ "*"ed to o that the d is my strength nie shall prosper, ivpr thee, so fear he' riehes both of ui^scarohable are It"; Romans 11; of the Tjord, or lat knowing the ,kc out of sleep, !n we believed": sober, and let us :e a roaring lion, ave the truth let we be deceived, 1 UllT MKKVK WITH KKAU AND I.OVlt. 21 angel of light, it lith of Christ to ■ou His triumphs to prove, ill u dark plaoo ; So let u* glvo ut dlli- in Hoajtoii and out of scuiiou ; iet UA lonpj sufTuring and lovo. ^ _ ]y. Reader, wo must hold the truth in Mincority, hvij nrtiijt all bo as lights. By our workn wo hIuiII be known, hihvfn Ho«;iiig our good works will glorify their Father wliieh Jb in heaven. Wo must bo against every known «lu and «om|)tation that may como in our way, Hii«h as some call nliom, Uttio «ius, Htorie.s to m.iko things look large in tli« eves of otiiors, to make sport and taunt others to lau^'h, and folHO breaking the Sabbath ; such little xlns n« blacking boots, jshaving, and all such work us can bo done the di.y before or doferrtll (ill the day after. Ood'n wrath is proclaimed , against all such professors as hold the truth in unrighteous- ness. Tenthly. Keep thy heart with all (lili-oneo, H.r out of it arc the issues of life ; create a clean heart God, and re- new a right spirit within me. Lot us therefore feirr lest a promise being loft us of entering into that rest, any of you ihould scom to como short of it ; look.to yourselves that you |oso not thoso thing.^ uliieh we ii/no wrought; but that we rccoiVo a full reward": Prov. 4 ; 2:i. We must nut live in $ny known sin, having any sinful infirmity wliicli is not >M» known lamented, and a concern intiintaincd that it may be corr; ck'd and subdued. «' In that Ito jlied ho died unto sin onco, but in that ho livoth ho livoth unto God." Through our Lord Jesus Christ, now being undo free from •in and become servants of God you haye your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life; having therefore, these promises dearly boloved, let us cleanse ourselves from ♦Hfiltbincss of th© flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in %U fear of God; fi^t the good fight of faith, lay hold on ftornal life": Rom. (>; H), ll, 22. '* For sin shall not lavc dominion ^vor you, for you aro not under the li^w but indcr grace, biit now being made Irco from sin and become lervants to God, you have your fruit unto holiness and the "^nd everlasting life; for the wages of sin is death, but the ift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." You neighbours and friends to Jesus draw near. His love condescends by titles so dear, -To csU ainti' " ™P ' And fully delight you in Jesus' love. »: Sty^i*Bli«^^1'«f5 22 BIWARE OF VAIN RILfOION. ^ /^ *' Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and ii doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when He shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is": 1 John 3 ; .23. " And every man that hath this hope puri- fieth himself even as he is pure; marvel not my brethren if the world hate you, we know we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren : he that loirath not his brother abideth in death, whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer, and ye know that ho murderer hath eternal life abiding in him": 1 John 3 ; 17. • ' Biit whoso hath this world's goods and sfautteth up his bowels of compassion from him how dwellest the love of God in him." Reader, if we are born again of the Spirit wo must love one another ; love worketh no evil, therefore let us loVe in wordi and in deed and in truth ;'Let us follow on more fully to know the Lord. ''Except ye abide in mej" says Jesus,- " you can have no part ill me, for without me you can do nothing of your- ' selves." Are ye in Christ Jesus, who of "^od is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption-— ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God. " When Christ, who is our life shall appear j then shall ye appear and be like unto him iu glory": 1 John 3 ; 2. The true christian ](ias his heart and mind settled alto^ther on his God : it is not a wavering mind-^he has chosen mercy's seat and he; has chosen it for life— it is not for a day or a month or a year, but while here and hereafter. ,"i shall behold His facie, I shall His power ador^ . And sing th§„praises of His grace foreTer more." ■ '■■ - ' ■ . ;' . -:. ■ ■' I' .-. ■' • ■ „ This is experienced by all true christians in every land.' Where God rules the heart Christ is loved above eveiything, and his word is prized and regarded, heaven is sought, prayer is loved, all sin is hated, their hopes and their feelings, their sorrows and their joys, are all connected wilh religion ; they have their trials, but die best of christians have their con- flicts : that is no mane of God's displeasure, it rather en- ables us to go on our way rejoicing. ** Though he slay me yet will I rejoice in Thee," says Jaco"b. Eleventhly. True religion is a blessing to its possessor ; there are many satisfied with what the scriptures call a Tain religion, a false religion : as yoi| value your souls, or should value them, be on your watch against such deliision, a decep- jtio n that would spread its bl a ating influence s over a whol e Ito thii ♦ bu . th< . tui to I nd it) doth not yet lat when He shall Bee him as he is": ith this hope puri- not my brethren passed from death he that loirath not lateth his brother lerer hath eternal ut whoso hath this f compassion from Ueader, if weare me another ; love rordi and in deed to know the Lord, you can have no nothing of your- -God is made unto md redemption— I Christ in God. )earj then shall ye John 3; 2. The ttled altogether on has chosen mercy's not for a day or a after. ; tower ador^ jrever more." ns in every land.' I above evei^thing, n is sought, prayer ^heir feelings, their yilh religion ; they 18 have their con- sure, it rather en- rhough he slay me igto its possessor; riptures call a vain nr souls, or should I delusion, a decep- ence s over a whoV RELiOION NEBDFUL TO ALL. 93 #■ eternity. Life is no blessing without Christ, an^ the loss of any thing in this world is not to be oompare'd to the loss of that affectionate Saviour; death is eternal gain if Christ is ours : but religion without a change of heart is deception beyond measure. A religion without a change of heart will utterly undo the soulj for the Saviour says, " you must be "-orn again." Where Christ is slighted for wordly objects, hen these interfere with God's service, where there is not a prayerful spirit, where there is no joVC to the family and I cause of God; where sin is trifled with, and little sins, as some term them, and beloved sins, if we may so call them, are tolerated and allowed— wherever these principles are, you may be sure of a vain religion. " Sinners, ^lelieve the gospel word, Jesus is come our souls to save ; . Jeflitai is come, our. common Lord, ■. . iPardon you sfll rtWough Him may have ^vi V ' May now be saved whoever will, ,.,i^"''*;'" > This Man receiveth sinners still." The Lord will not be put off with anything short of the ) heart. Some regard what is called the particulars of God's commandments,, while they know nothing of the faith which works by love. Where Christ is felt it prompts him : or her to follow universal holipess. Let me ask you have you become a subject of that kingdom over whicli the Sa- viour rules ; the man who thinks liimsclf almost a christian^ then might say, I would give all I have, and all I am to God, but I am not determined to make Such a sacrifice ; T am willing to countenance religion and to acknowledge its usefulness, but not prepared to embrace it. I am willing to give some. trifle now and again to the support of the gospel, but not {j^uite willing fo give up the world, nor to make a universal surrender to God of body and soul and spirit. |Unto the Saviour the sinner while he continues in sin might aft well say, I do not mean to go to heaven ; or in other I words, I will not have' this man to reign over me, 1 will go \to the house of prayer on the Lord's day and will slight "ihim all the week; I will strive to use some form of prayer, ♦ but when uttering the words my heart will not go with V them: Well what are you determined to do ? poor sinner . turn to God, flee from sin to that loving Saviour who is able tosave to the uttermost; come at once and do not let your day of grace pass away. No, thejrorld shall have my II a THC 1«E0E8SITy OF RELIOION. :-.-;i| !l . heart and thoughts, I will call Him Lord and God, but I will neithei|yBeck his favour nor care for his displeasure, nor dye him tneglor)', nor heed his commandments. Who' would dare to say that? Well you might as well speak it with your lips as in your daily conduct of Jifo. Where the * heart is not humbled, where sin is not hated, Christ is pro-ji fessed in vain. Where, instead of humility^ pride gets the uppermost seat in the heart, that religion is a, vain religigi practical piety showeth itself to be connected with thew< of faith and labour of love, and in the hope of ourt^ Jesus Christ in the sight of God the Father": 1 Thl^C:' 3, Where religion is not the chief concern, we have eve^ reason to believe it is a vain religion.. He said to some of old ^' I know thy works, that thou hast a name, that thou livest and art dead, be watchful and strengthen the things that are ready to die, for I have not found thy faith perfect before God ; I know thy works that thou art neither cold nor hot, because thou art luke-warm I will spue thee out of my mouth - because thou sayest I am rich and increased in ' goods, and have need of nothing, and knoweth not that thou artWretched and miserable, and poor and blitid and naked;" the advice' to all such is, " first seek the Idngdom of God and His righteousness": Rev. 3; 15. It is too true there is more anxiety about the things of the world than the wel- fare of the soul. Header, don't' think you can gain God's favour by your own works, it is already obtained. The Lord Jesus Christ has gained it, thework is already done, Jesus has suffered upon the cross, and his blood can wash all your sins away. His righteousness can clothe your soiil and sup- pljr all your want of rigHteousness ; though you are far from liim and art nothing, lii him is all you want; he now invites you to cometohiiu andreceive the blessings of the SayioUr's grace; you may have it freely and fully. He wanjts no pre- vious preparation, he wants you only to feel your need of him— this is evident from his own words. Consider the parable of the Prgdigal—he went tohis father in wretched- ness and misery, but at once received pardoning mercy ; look also at the history of the Publican, when he prayed God be mercifyl to me, a sinner. It was the weight of guilt uponhisconscience that made him so humble that "he would not 80 n^uch as lift up his eyes to heaven, but he went down t^ his house Justified": Luke 15; 3. Think of the case of the multitude whose conversion . is recorded in the second A T^*» w If - ? • - 'S^JiwjiSiB^i ON. - ' ■■?'- ■ 3rd and God, but Dr his displeasure, aandments. Who^ ;ht as well speak it rJife. Where the ited, Christ is pro-, lity^ pride gets the is a, vain religigi jted with the hope of ourti her":.l Thi^' jrn, we have eve^ [e said to some of a name, that thou tngthen the things d thy faith perfect rt neither cold nor ue thee out of my and increased in ' veth not that thou blind and naked /' I idngdomof God t is top true there o'rld than the wel- DU can gain God's tained. The Lord ready done, Jesus can wash fill your rour soiil and sup- 1 you are far from it; he now invites ?3 of the Saviour's He wanjts no pre- feel your need of is. Consider the ither in wretched- ardoning mercy ; when he prayed he weight of guilt lethat "he would but he went down link of the cage of led in the second THE jailor's conversion. 25 chapter of the Acts of the Apostles ; tlicy arc charged with the inhuman guilt of having taken and by wicked hands crucified the Lord of glory ; but they were pierced to the heart, and enquired svhat they liiust do to be paved. At once they arc directed to the Saviour, and the same day which saw them broken hearted penitents, bfelield thcni re- joicing disciples. Consider the history of the Jailor ^ ho Vas a heathen -and a persecutor over night, and during the night he felt no co^ifort in- sleep by the earthqujike that shook the prison, but his soul was filled with ahirni from a sense of his state, he came with trembling and enquired, " what must I do to be saved ?" The answer was, believe the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be siivcd. He on welcomed the glad tidings; and he who was a heathen and a great persecutor over night was a trcViibling penitent before the morning ; he had received the gospel mcssagcV and rejoiced in the Lord as his salvation. You sec that in all these cases there was no preparation to come, but a fccl-^ ing of their want and guilt— a joy to welcome the. Saviour and their Lord. In like manner is salvation for you j and to be received in the same way — by-faithwluehiiitnibll re- lies upon Him, and includes the surrender of soul and body to Him. Accordingly with those views, the Loid Jofeus is put forth as saving, and the Fj^ther as justil'ying— f«ot the righteous nor the worthy] but the ungodly. ^'^ Tlicy that are whole need not a physician, but they that ;arp siek ; I come not to call the rightcjous -but sinners to repentance": Matt. 9 ; 12. " The Son lof man is come to sebk and to., save that which was lost": jLuke 19; 12. "All ^javcTsin- ned and come short of tli^ glory of God." The christian says, my desire is not merely to hear of His excellencies or think of his love, or talk of his glories, but to win Christ, to «all him mine while T am his. May this be your expe- rience. Amen. ' ' - ' yf f t\'t <^ 1 - # JUSTlFlCATIOfyBY FAlTfl. > ''\/'^^J^\ ^ ^ CHAPTER I¥. '.'^-'-^y.-'-^^-^- Aitill closer union with Godly f^p^hin Jemi. Ji>it^-' Being justified freely by His grace through Ae reddmp- tion that is in Christ Jesus, thcJreTare wc C(Mioiude that a man is justified^ by faith \fK&o«t the d|jjp. of^the Ijtilr. " To him that woirlccth not but bclicvetyffi^#Mn that j , tifieth the ungodly, his faith is coui^d^ rShteQUspcss Rom. 3 ; 23. When we were enemies f^^fr re^nciled to God by the death of^Bis Son. Read[#, the ^ath of Christ cannot be a matter of unconcern tia Jfou after ^hat: has already been said ; it will prove ^her a blessing :^a curse. Jesus died to atone for^jTrnf^, and if you slight him you will be banished further from God than if hchad n^ver unto lia\ „ , ^ you want. »You have forced that blessed SaviougtO- say, « What could I have done more for you than iHiave done, and still you will not come to. nic that you miglitJiave life."^ Again he says with the poet— - ,: ^_^. "Sinners turn, whywill' you tlie,r,' ' /^*' : God yoiu* Maker asks you why?" Sinner, think, oh think what a gracious work you have been invited to l;akc part tii— to be with Gocliw glory. I hope . the language of the poet will bo yours. " Jesus Thy boiindloss love to me, _: - No thought can reach, no tongue declare ; , Oh knit my thankful heart to Thee, ■ J^:,^:.:/-' "'[... And reign Without a rival thpvfi.'' ; "^aT^ -ft- '-. !' ./ ^ rec( mere • and i blosst lad psahr ,tfel I>sali great and - thron their our ( [jtlSe.se wash Lam] serve he tt shall the s in> th the*] ^w we ci that Son whej You would then be completely , nappy and blessed forever ; you would know the Lord Jesus Christ as your all in all, and you would have peace. You might then with the hap- py Apostle exclaim—'' I know in whoiu I have believed, aiid am persuaded; that he will keep what I have committed unto him agalnj^t that day." Header you may expect temp- tatifln ; you m;ty 'expect the' solemnities of a dying hoiir ; but amidst theur ill •' He will keep what I have 6^ommitted to him." He cm uphold you when your flesh and heart are tailing together ; He can receive y«nr departing spirit ; Ho can present ^ou faultless before the presence of His And ine € in m ling! ■-/• ■/■ <**-■ ^'*^:* r — ^ !' TEE OBBAlS LO^ C^f' jC«RI8TT0 SINNERS. .^ '2t. 'n *7(i;8u«* i^ ,^^. h %e rcderap- ►ndfude that a ^ orthc liiSlr. ill! that jia^ ihteQUspess"! rdrfr f Qfi^ncikd , the dpath of fott aftet ^hatv k blessing ^pr a. ^ou slight limi f hehad n^ver Ration to come er all that you anything "^at 5avi(MUjJo. say, n i^have done, ii>ht.have life." c you have been gloiy. I hope jclare ; ; \^ -"■ ■ ■ ,-, ■■ ^ ' )lessed forever ; your all in all, sn with the hap- ; have believed, have committed lay expect temp- a dying hoiir ; have 6bmmitted flesh and heart lepartinjr spirit ; presence" of His" lorjf^j with ej:ceedin^ joy. 'M e can say, ^atber^this spirit firjll : receivo into the'nja«siona of glor^, jsfhere Thy love ai^d meroyhath ptepajpcjT; an» . descHbed to you by aii inispired pen : v' 1 behold, and lo a great .multitude which^^jd^'man can nUinber, of all ;i>-n:iti>ns, and rkindred><, tintl people, aiid tongues. stor)d 4ie'^>re tlit^ throne an^ tlicffei^b, clot]ied%ith white robes uiid palms hi their haii^.^ and cfied with x\ loud voice saying, salvaUon to our God^hich sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb ; jti^so are they wj^li came outof gvea| tribulatiun and have.- washed their robes u)id inade tlieuK U'hite in the blood of the Lamb; therefore'are they before the throne of God and serve hiin day and night in his tempio": Kcv. 7 ; 14. "' And ' he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them; they shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more,jieithcr .*hall the sun light on, thejin m' any heat, for the Lamb which is in* the midst of the throne, He shr.Il feed thenr and lead theinlihto livin« ^fountains of water, and God shall wijWj;" awa^^all te^g from their eyes": Kev. 7 ; 0, 12. Eeador, if' wis qould but see the countless thousands that are hai)py vfi that heavenly home; if you could but see and beholdilie Son of l^pd, crowned with glory and heavenly, brightness, where— »,^>'./%'/ .Kept by a Father's hand, love ^k^ot ilie; "^ ' ? On then to glory run, be a crown and kingdom won, Bright, bright, above the sun we reign for aye."* « And hear Him inviting others to that heavenly place of rest fnd saying, "I love them that love nic, and they that seek ine early shall find me, and him that conieth unto me I will in no wise cast out." Would you not like to hear that lov- ing Saviour speaking in such language to you ? I am sure you would, and like to be one of that happy multitude ; then if^ou— wauht,- ymir mu^^t sttrrender-yourselft-botli bedy-aac' / ^ ' •,■•■.■ m '■:* } 28- QOD'a LOVB UPHELD BV FAITH IM CHRIST. ; ; soul to aim a«a J)0 l»w fbr etornity.^1)^ you ^J^ink th^t it would be too much for you to humble yourjolt untoh s carr Porhaps yon do. If, on the^thcr hand, you shsUt Mm uffU Kalvation, wlW too late you wiU^wish S.Cl received those bWuj^s you « 'f^f ^'^ ^^^;^ on a Hick bid or in a dyin- hour ; you would^ desire to hoar ?nm ^i^^thiH soufis^mi.;^: and I am sure when you i^ull^L Idln on hi. judgment sO^t ymrwould wish to nieet CI . .ions welcome that awaits the Immbk followers ol J^i Will you, at^er all that has been said, come or wil vol ot I say will you be his ? If you would enquire ot tCdyin^ tli worth orilis^^l^^ . t'hopoet— ■' ' ' /',■ \-:-'-': .-^t^--' ■\,--.. \ '; u What hath th(5Worl4« to etiuttl tlu^, • The solid peaccy the ;hea.vculybhs3, 1 The joys iunnortal, love divine, , . -The love of Je3U3,c vet mine ^ ■ ■ ■• Greater joy3 I am bora t.oknoW|f , ^ ; .• From terestial to celestial, ; * • , i. When I up to Jcsas gov' < -i Reader if you are a happy partaker ^ ^^}^'''^'^> this will prepur.^ you tor all events ; thp^ul then has re-, ceivcd pard(^ and peace and happinesTs^^G^d, ^.r^V^\. tion andheavenas your home; llfehas no longer its charms,* nor deutii its terrors; you need not ^ear paiy nor sickness not'd^atirnor jud-ment, nor Satan nofe anything else ; you S^ welcome y^ur^ying hour-thebl(^fApo^ county aU things but as dross so that he might wm Christ It Ohrlitbewon by you, if you have^hrist yo« ^f "«^^^^ poverty, and the Lord will bless in affliction, and^the believ- er in Christ will ere long be a conqueror in death, and in a fcw years aKnJbst, be made a glorious P^^^l^er of lieavmf there evcrySsTsing awaits you,>cre your friends tbat have received the Move of God on "Carth welcome you. It w possible you may have worldly riches, they will deave you £id your dearest and best friends must die, but if you have the Saviour as your friend He will be near when aU^others are remote ; though you may die alone, the Lord wiU4elivcr YOU and preserve you to his heavenly kingdom. Are you ihen his, or do you mean to be his? I hope you aredeter- «ined to leave all earthlytBares behind to gain a crown on high D ear re ade r, g et w ij^dftm, and with all t hy getti ng get iSrstiSngTtliat you may be able to understand the RI8T. NEOLECT OP CHRIST. 2!) u think that Molt' unto hU d, you slight )u will wish itcd. When dosire to hoar are when you I wish to meet i\ tbllowcra of ,C')Uio or will lid, einiulrc of )uld suy with I iS, ■. ■■ :'i ■ 'v-^'i aN'iour s i;Face,^ irthen has re-| J, as your per- ^ igeritsoharms,':] 111 nor sickness, hiii'g else ; you ^poi^tle counted ^n Christ. K you ire rich in andthebeliev- leath, and in a ker of heaven; lends that have ne you. It is will leave you, but if you have when all others jord will deliver ;dom. Ar«yott »e you are deter- gain a crown on 11 thy getting get -underatand the ■I things that concern your ctornal peace before ib be eternally: hid from your eyew. May the Lord enable you to be in earnest and watehiiil until you find that union. Secondly. The love of uod is an everlasting love ; as to this world, theMicarost and dearest" must part and bo no more, It may not be long till you'havo to lament the death gf a brother, a.^sister, u luusband, a father, a mother, a wife or a child- — the heart thut never was cold before is now fro- zen by the chills of death ; but you would never have to say that the Saviour's heu^-t is cold, or that his hand has lo.st its power to save or to bless. As one of His disciples most divinely exclaims, " Who shall separate us from the love of God ; shall tribulation, or persecution, or distress, ©r famine^ or nakedness, or piril, or sword T' Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that liath loved us» The Apostle Paul had his confidence!; fully placed on these words— " Tor I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor principalities nor powers, northings present nor things to come, nor lieiglit nor ilepth, nor any other crea- ture shalibe able to scpariitc us from tlie love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" : Kom. 8; 35. That loving Saviour while in the world said, " the foxes have holes and the birds of the ilrii' have ncst.^,t;|ut tlie Son of inaii hath not where to lay|iis^te?id.'' Siuibr, what faith and confi- dence ought \fG not toliavo iasueh a loving Saviour ? After' all these, sufferings ^nd all these invitations, will you make light of it? you may, but you are sure of your reward. May the Lojd open your eyes that yo\i may see to come to him with humble reliance upon him as j'our all ; you will never lament taking Christ as your all. I hope you have done so ; if not, believe me there are limits to his patience and mercy. If yOu delay He may swear in his wrath that you shall not enter into his rest. I hope you will be his ; COine to him now and consecrate yourself to this Lord of glory. Oh! reader make your choice, choose life that you m{^ live. Notwithstanding air the beautiful invitations of that loving Saviour, invitations so full of blessings, it is ared there ar« many who read the word of truth^ and who lay read this little address, neglectors of this compassionate Son of God. Reader perhaps you may be of this number, if so, be entreated to reflect on the guilt and evils of your ^ife and condu(^t, and also look carefully at what it may by eglect bring you to. The Lord Jesus in two parables .K-. I illi ,/ ■■'/ 1-i ! ; (■ . I I .)»■■ j-f <.: 30 WB MUST BB DICIDED OR BE ETERNALLY LOST. roproHcntod ilia ncpitcdt of himaelf and Ws^salvation iw the most omrtitiou of hiiis. ^ Koader it is poasiblo, too po9»i- %lo, fur poor sinful man to neglect this one thing neodtul-- 1i,fe^ Buving interest in the Son of Gods love; IvitUout having him iu our hearts we cannot but bo neglect- ok of this great. salvati(m. llemcmber you must be bora again or perish to all eternity. Thirdly. Showing the conduct of all mankind in rofe- rcnco to that glorious and heavenly mercy, IIo saya they mado liglit of it, " tliey all with ono consent began to make cxeuHo"T Luke 14 ; 18. This awful neglect is amongst all , classes of people but one; that is "/' ^"if 'J a '?fc There aresomc sins more hemous in the sight of God thau others, but the neglect of Christ is supposed to be the great- ost III the first place, when wc leave undone that which wd^ought to have done, and d^ that which we ought liot to ha?o done, we neglect Iliiu; who ought to be our chief conecrn. To secure and also td bestow this sa vation, our ble>sed S-iviour came down froi^i heaven and laboured and died for your Suis, and still you sli-htor disregard this great s-ilvation. AVe might believe tji^ro are millions in heaven enim-iu^ these blessings, and tli'rc arc millions in hell who bowailliie want of thorn ; and ..till we trifle away our i>re- . cioasmoniontsaiid.disreg,irdtlidse blessed invitations^ Pool wretclicd creatures, what are yof doing, inaking liglit ot the ^Saviour wlio hath loved you anc| given limiselt tor you. l)lil sinner how can you dwell in eyerlastmg' burnings ? Look up and observe Uis dying cry,i bis atoning blood,^nd alsc» his living care and all the promises of the blessed gospe^ , and :ill 1^ has done and is stiU^ doing lor you. Oh ! think what will befall you if you still' harden your hearts against such proSercd blessing.. I w6uld s^r to you, awake out of sleep and behold the puce !suft\jj;ing and now glorified Saviour." :■■ ■ ■. j' y.' / . Fourtlily. I hope^ijou^are 4<« ' unbappy creature r LOST. CONTINCBO INVITATIONS TO COMIJ TO CHRtflf. 31 salvation titi >lo, too possi- ijj; neodiul— God's lovo; it bo neji;loct- luust bo bom ikind ill rote- Ho says thoy c<^du to make is amongst all itcd disciples, i of God thau ) bcthogroat- iic that whieli WC OU}^llt *iiot be our chief salvation, our laboured and ;ard this great ions in heaven HH in hell who uwuy our pro- itations. Poor n-^ light of the ftoryou. Oh! nings? Look )looii, and also blessed gospel, u. Oh ! think hearts against rou, awake out 1 now glorified )t«to slight him t at your hands, in he has done ; fcieSj and in re- is he willing to till neglect him? my heart. Re- ihappy creature to think you can fight against God. He would bless you, but you refuse to be blessed ; you are a most cruel enemy to your own soul. That blessed Jesus would bless you, but you wilftilly will destroy your own soul forever. O poor sinner, thAt word eternally to be cursed or blessed; oh think liow would you stuJid everhsting burninis, but s^tand ii you niua^jf you do not receive this salvation. Header, you inay isay with the poet-*- • "What could your Redeemer do More than Ho hfis done for you ; . To procure your peace with God, ^ . Could He more. ttiau shed his blood ?■' Reader, what greater encouragement could you have than is expressed in these lines; that blessed Jesus himself tells you and I to " watch ye therefore and pray always that you may tie counted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Bon of man": Luke 21 ; 3G. He also tells us to take h/ed that ye ho not de- ceived, for 'many shall come iu my i)txn>o and shall .«ay I am Christ and shall teach other doctri^/es.. Wo are warned every "where in tiie glorious truths to beware of fal.ky for /that line. If you I ajid suffer- fiayo another I niim spoken it m in vain ; lYould not bo uthoHty that vhoTO wo will be converted y ^0 loi>f*er, Knt will soon ing. Lord )f life. You ?ork for eter- 1 yourself, for ve, and none im again and but plead for )f life, freely, iraits your re- rise and go to have sinned ore worthy to ed servants." cperience and ins fall on us, ise thing in a CO 23; 30,31. THE OUSTINATcWnNER DOOMED TO ETERNAL SUIN. 83 /Render the cause of this wlokod nep^tcot 11g« In yo«r own unwillingness to be truly llin. So He said of wnio of old, /' Vou will not conio to uio that you may have life." The chiirgo Ho had ngufiiist them was their unwillingno>4s to be liiH; you will iiot/como, you are Htill hulling on tho way. Whilo you arc onA-ok'Hs about receiving the go> us remember, by neglecting this Saviour you bind all your sins upon you. and it will incroasoi ton fold more tho anger of God a'jrainst you. By putting off religion the poor soul is in awful danger, for God says, the soul that^smneth shall die. Reader, it is impossible to be in compAHV. delight, or pleasure, or keep close fellowship with the ungodly and walk with the self-denying Jesus at the same time in the way to heaven. According to His own words, " HV any man will come after me, let him detiy himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" : Luko 9; 23. "Enter ye in at tho straight gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be that go in therein ; but straight is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Seventhly. It appears that these travelers to an efcrnal wor ld, while they take different ro^ds :^nd have suc h differ- ent pursuits tn View cannot be united one with the other., The followers of Christ guard against and have tio fellowshif ■■'I •■'^«-!f,.. 'il ';. I. ".■i> 1 ^ TftUB aSLIOIOM BBUfOBTa LOVft. vith tho unfruitful works of darkAoufi, unlowi tn opportu- nity bo afforded them in any way of doing good ; or m • tho worldly pursuits which wo niu«t trannaot in a ic«ij or moro dcRroo one with tho othej^^ilo aojourncrs horo ; but in every othor case wo nmst Bhun tho appearnnce of evil or daniror : it tries tho ohristitin thr.t is under divine teaching to beware. The Apostlo^ays, " Couio out from amonMhom and bo ve Honanite." tho nioro you love Qod and dcsiiro after holiness, your anxiety for the htippinoss of others will still more incroaso; you would also wish to bnn;,' them to Christ and to tho Huviour's foot, hut noither you nor I qaa hardlv "ot about it: wo would wish to bring them there so tint they ini«4ht through divino teaching receive bencht. I iiope reader you will come to this fountain that makes tho wounded whole ; blessed bo His name, he has a place pre- pared for all hi« fi»llowers to moot beyond tho grave, where )ain and parting will bo no more forever, [laving this hope and confidence in the full assurance of faith m Christ, you can say with tho psalmist— * V. «• I mercy will nnd jiidprmont slnjr, , Lord I will sing to Thco ; Willi wisdom in a perfect way, Sliall my belmviour bo. ^ ^' ■-■■■■■ ; •■ ■ , «;v ■ ■ ■■• when in kindness unto mo . , *■ Wiidt^^oii be ideased to corao? X with a perfect licart will wnlk ' . ' Within my liousd at home.' " And you can also eing with tlve poet— «« There all the ship's companji meet " ^ That Bailed with the Saviour beneath, /^ With shoutinu each other they greet . And triumpi J oer trouble and death. . , Oh I that all bitterness and clamour about religion were done away with, and I Itopo through divino mercy it soon will. Christ says, " this one thing I command you, that you love one another." May you and I my dear reader, and all we love obey tho voice of Him that speaketh m never man ^ spake. Love is the fuiaUing of the law, and it is of Jitt e .consenu(5nce I believe whatever else we possess, if destitute of loA-e. I feel inclined to love all who love my Master in ^sincerity and stand up to the truth. For this 1 get a eoW shoulder and a cold go by among people called christmtis; if thoy were all that they profess there would be nothing TO WANT RELIGION 18 ETERNAL RUIK* 35 tn opportu- ;ood; or in in a IcM or 8 lioro ; but 30 of ovil or ino tcacliing nmonp; tliom 1 and desire f otliers will rinj^ thcra to )u nor I Ctttt loin there bo oivo benefit. xt iua!'on. This is • the finishing erinioofhunran guilt ; it is the most infernal, the most inhumiiti of all other slin if wliich vou can bo guilty, and when persisted in {ills up the moasnro of the fin- . ner's iniciuities : his other sins might I c all hkfted out, but- this sin of cruel ingratitude to that loving Saviour exceeds all the other guilt and makes the cup of the wicked run over— it is in reality the finishing act to the soul's damnation. Irfo long us ybu-livc without receiving the I^ord Jesus Christ you are living in extreme" guilt, and your danger is bryond appBchension. Do you laugh— it i>< on th.c edge of hell, an^ while unconverted your state is dangerous; do you rejoice, your joy will soon be turned to mourning. Sinner what aye you sibout to do, will you choose doath'.jather than life? oh! . surely not ; you would not be so cruel to your own soul as > wilfully to go into hell. Well you inight as well, as to live without Christ. I advise you to put on Christ, for while ;,you a:re neglecting him your life is; sin and your years a ' curse, and your death will bo perditibn ; neglect is that sin ' which the lost will have to remfembcr with infinite remorse j whil e e ternity e ndur e s the despairing soul will be tormented with the thought, I would not conro to Christ, had I have came to him the sins that have undone me would all have 1 I- > • I ■• .■■|; pGlfe... # I"* • ,11: i ■%'.■ THE rUNISHMEKT OF SlNNEBS. 86 < have caused the Lord ^^^^J^ yTas a hL doth her "how often would 1 1^'^^'^^,^"*^^^^^^^^ not." Oh! reader, brood under her ^^"S^' ^"^ ^''^ "J^^/iAe hearing the andoh! sinner, these wor^siuajr^n^nU^hr^ lost soul through all eternity. ^^^^^'^^^^^.^ i ^ould not forever and ev^r--I am out of h««^««^^°J ^i„„,,, you will sinavsav with the poet— . ^ . I inay...> ..Infinite joy or cpdlessw^e Attend our every breaUi^^ ^^ \nd yet how unconcerned we go . -"; ' Upon tl\e brink of death. Reader, «hQ«itthat^oaWWul^^ and ffia Winded slaves. ,f n^™i^,^;"i „, e„™pletely as if „te its If «"tU';:„taS; iJie devil, "^eth you could sell il to > our a j^ l,e«iay devout r, about as a 5^78 ''™ '„Sr vou .0 say. I «iU "ot serve 1 Peter 5; S. >' '^ "■.,, '.™f»ll «->v~vou will serve the] : the wieked one, but you nn^t^w^^a^^^ wicked one aslong as you will "« ,»;y j^^,„ ^f Him, nor be the foUower ot ^^^"^^-^.^^^'^il^him ; I will live give him my heart, nor commit iny ^^^^^ ^^t will Jvecareless^h^^^ - not give liim my h««^j i^oif from him nor receive blef^- tude andwilUotto para^n _^^^^^ ^^ you wouW ings iVom his ^^«'j^'4J'^iJ^t as well say, come Satan not like to say this, ^f J^^, ^^^ . 'b„t vou would not utter and take me, as *« "^S^^^'^^'k^'^^^t as well say it as such a hard sentence as ^^ ^^Snunpardon^ fiom 'tothinktosett;>h^^^^^ all sins. I^ea?.«tv^V'^\,'^,Sv Eternal death is amosti all eternity or living to ale^ri^.>t^ ^ ^ ^^ : ; awM thing ^tr''?ri^'^\^r^te sinner if ^<^ pT^:;:^'^T;:rps:^^^^^ may so speaK ,,*". .^^ ,, .1 . „„tions that forget bod. I rr tot* i: nst*l intohell, .ha* fake of firJ THE BLi88El)N«88 OF RBLlOtOK EXPERIENCED. 37 M Stand that a^ful pttfiishment. Well then this you must iTtf you do not^rom your hearts embrace tha offered S^?4 Lt k ^-W out to you in tje^^^^^d g^^^^^^^^ T nrd Jesus Christ. The word oi God tells us that lie tl^af beUmth not shall he damned." What clearer state- mrnts crt have of that place of punishment than is in G^sownword. It tells us in several places that the^sm^ .. ner shall be banished from the presence of the Lord and the linb fomer and ever. Oh 1 think of the change, and he^ gS difference J^etween those two «!««««« ^W^^^^^^^^^ believer and the unbeliever : to one He will say^ depart ^SJ^nto everlasting fire, ^p^^^^^ f^^^^i^^ his angels" ; and to the other, " co^"^ y^^^^^^^l^V ,^^^^^^^ inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of?heS'' Look^ ll\Se made the happy choice ; behold him enjoy|ng . Ke blessings of eternity in those mansion^^^^^ Vmnnv country, those rivers of pleasure at God s right hana S^Sl^ihose cro^^^ ■ ^d aU the tranquil peace and serene dfebght of one un> Wedeternal^ayif happinessv to^t^^ SSt be sorry that he has 'f e»^«f *^l™i^"/^fe bitten " Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of We, he ^ii^leth to me shaU never hunger, and he that^^^^^^^^ on me shall never thirst": John 4 ; 14. Oh what glory . Sod^^ught ftr those that love him ^}^^^ m^r^nts; Sow glorious it is to them that ^earbim say, ^Verily, verily, lV«»to you, the W cometh and nOVr is when the dead shall hear the voice of thfe Son of God 'and they that hear shall live^V John 5 : 25. You see that it is hearing and receiving those truths into our hearts, and practising them in our lives by a Imng faith m thejon of Ld, whais always saying unto us m his own word "Verily, verilv you must be bom again ; the wind hloweth where it listeth and ye heareth the sound thereof ; so is every one that is bom of God." Reader, I hope you have your confi- dence in that God that spake a world from nought ; trast in God and you wiU never be disappointed.^ Let us remem- her that this is the tme light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world ; walk in that light as He is m the ^^Nlilhly Remember the blood of Christ eleanseth from all sin; God is love alsoarwell as light, and in him is no ••■•ii m m 3^ TBSRl JS NO HOP* BUT IN CHRIST, [ - : 1' 1 1 •-" M\ darkness at $11, and WesBcd be to Him he wilteth not the death of the Binner. He eays, " Ho ! eyeiy one that thirst- eth come ye to the waters; whosoever cometh nnto me I wHl in no wise cast out." Let us remember it is God th^t speaks thus* to us ; should we not believe, for he is truth itself, arid he is also faithful to perform his gracious word, i hope you will be resigned to His will in all things and not be afraid; while Jesus is your shepherd you need not fear him being your advocate with the Father. may, we ever cleave to him and know none besides, desire nothing, esteem nothing but Jesus crucified. Ohl keep looking unto Jesus. I can write with comfortable feelings when it leads us to Him who bore our sins and carried our sorrows, and still invites his poor tempted followers here, and knows how to bring them to glory. Reader, I hope you will embrace the encouragement given in the aforesaid lines, "if not, the name of God has been proclaimed to you in vain ; you are left now without excuse, and it were better for you that you never heard that name than to neglect the invitation of the Saviour. Oh ! could you be so cruel to your own soul as to loose by wicked neglect that love which gladdens the hearts of the redeemed ; the love of God has been revealed to you in the clearest light, and if you neglect those , entreaties, though the Father has done so much to bless you, and the Son has suflFered for you, you are still lost while you remain unforgiven wd unconverted, yoU are still in the gall of bitterness ana in the bonds of iniquity; though Christ has died and done so much for you that he was forced to say, "What could I do more than T have done," you may say with the poet— ; _ ; > " Sinners tarn whik Ood is near,1 Dare not think Him insincere ; Even now yonr Savtonr stands All day long Bedspreads His hands. Cries you will not happy be, No you will not come to me ^ Me who none to life deny, . Why will ye resolve to die.*' " If you let all these gospel opportunities pass by, remember they never can be recalled. I trust you will receive the invitations given in these lines. Lord help you to choose the better part, and to choose it now, for now is the accepted — tlBrer"gpd~n o w is the day df salvation ; com e now to that ^ ■'■■ ■ ■■■',-■:-.■.■.. .. ' " .■■/■',. ->A 111- ptrTTnro Of P SALVATION IS DANQBBOUS. 39 Bth not the 'that thint- untome I isGodthiit he 18 truth loious word, ngs and not . ced not fear inay.weever hinig,esteem unto Jesus, k leads us to we, and still nows how to embrace the ot, the name you are left ^ou that you tation of the (rn soul as to ns the hearts ircaled to you sc ^entreaties, you, and the e you remain 1 the gall of ;h Christ has forced to say, you may say ill receive the you to choose is the accepted le now to that Saviour and he will forgive your sins and make you happy. I would have you beware and not trifle with offered mercy. Bemember the day is far spent, the night is at hand ; con- aidpr what you may be if you obey the Saviour,— yoU may he a child of God and an heir of glory. Oh what a loss to disobey that God. Consider what you are doiug by .sh^llt- inghim-^you make yourself a child of wrath and aii heir of hell. Leaving or putting oft your salvatiDU or VDur day of grace is a dangerous circumstance; if you sli^^^lit tlii' Saviour you slight all your .salvation that can benefit your immortal soul ; there is no other Saviour, and if then' avis you might slight him also. There is no other way t.» tlio Father but by me, says Christ ; there is no other Saviour to^ die for you; if you slight Him who bore the crowii of thorns for you, there are no other means by which you can gain everlasting life. Neglect thi^ Saviour and you have no other deliverer to raise yoiy; sinking soul from hell to heaven, if you were sick, what would you do ? why you would send for a physician; and would you not be foolish to omit doing what he may tell you to do ? surely you would. Well then I would have you obey this Saviour. Remember He is able to save the soul, and he is also willing to save it now; and if you resist and will not come, he inay swear in his wrath that you will not enter into his rest. I would have you come to this Saviour, he can cUrc botlx body and soul, and after doing so can cast them both.ihto hell or raise you up to heaven. '; \ • . Teuthly. Do not be putting off these golden Opiwrtuni- ties any longer. Oh what would you gi\^ in a dying hour to hear the Saviour say, " these are they that com^c up through great tribulation and have washed their robe» and made them white in the blood of the Lamb," therefbr^ai?e they next the throne and serve their Maker day and ni^t in his temple. Oh think of what a loss to lose the love of God and the Saviour; it robayou of all good,, ^and does to your deathless soul irreparable evil, evil beyond expression : not one lasting good can be done by you if you do not tur^ ^unto the Lord, and your state will be ere long one of holy * evils and eternity evils. If you could be partly hapj^y and ps^iily holy your condition would not b6 so bad ; but With- out Christ you can have no happiness, no,^ nor /holiness either, no Saviour nor no heaven ; not one sin will be for- given you ; no mercy is found ieither.for you or by you ; ■*i (> -■^ !?i' i! 40 Till BAVIOUH claims tour 80UL. /■r there is oo Wewing for you, eternity la before you, but tto Rood to aU etermty : if you do not turn to God you wiU be Sposed to his wrath forever, ^ome to this happy land, andlcome now, or the sentence>iay be passed, "you shall not enter into my rest." -y^v ' , ^ , ■ «Vrbm Jill that's mortal, all ttaVs rain. And from this earthly clod, , ;> • Arise my soul and strive to gain Swefet fellowship "With God. ^ M^Nor life, nor all the powers of art, Nor wealth— that golden load, Qan to my soul such bliss impart As fellowship with God." Boadcr, liamb; 1^ fn^^tL'Sds of airi^^^^^ God": Hebrews M^'Bl. "But those mine enemies which would not that 1 sUouia reisn over them, bring them hither and slay them before me": Luke 19 ; 27. How awfiil to think of God'# anger, when his love wiU be changed into vengeance; then you wUl haveno Saviour, and then who will be your father? the wicked one. Perhaps you treat these warnings with cruel ingratitude, but what will the end be of them that obey i^ot thi gospel of God; no nfetter how you put off (ir how you make light of these things, the end of all things is at.hand, and then pretending to fear will not make a happy sa^nt^ or make you safe before the inspection of a.heart-searchmg God, who will leave his mfercy by and be your .judge ; and I after all thtithasbeen said, what wiU theend of such neglect i be? Reader, 1 hope you are determined to forsake^ your sins before they ruin you forever. Oh ^ come poorrsmner, come now; Jesus awaits, and will you be so or^el ,to your soul: do make up your mind a(nd turn unto the Saviour. Again, this most comfortable grke, when it is not, earnest^ and perseveringly imrsued, is loSt. Strive, said ^estts, "to enter in at the sfraighl) gate, ^r many I say unto7^^ seek to enter in andshaU not^e able": Luke 13 ;^24. This work of salvation is left a^e iWt is not the subject of our chief concern:. « Seek pat tte kingdom of God w^^^ rijditeou«aeM,'»iid aU other things shall be adde^untp you : iS&tt; 6 ; is: . There iZ^ftothiiig in this life should recewe our thoughts so much as the interests of .the SQul; " tor 7 /' -. you, but Ho you will be happy land, "you shall rod and the ^pu escape if rful thing to 3WS Iflf; j31. lat I should them before (>od'# anger, heii you will father? the 53 with cruel hat obey qiot r (ir how you ^ is at hand, ippy samt, or lart-searching • judge ; and f such neglect forsake your e poorrsinner, cruel to your » the Saviour, notearnestly id Jesus, "to unto you will 3;24. ^his subject of our God sad His le^untpyou": sbould receive he soul; "for ^AHNINO TO OAttELES» SINNER!*. . *V : ■■- ■■' ■■•■^H- ... ■ ■'' ->'•: '■■■■'■^&''- ^:-.'y"-:^ ■■:''■.' what shaU a u^ii give ii} exchftn^c ibrhis soul ?" Tlio Ift^ JesuB Chri«t iliows what objects wc 8ervc^-"onc wont^to :. hisfurinand another to his lucrcbimdizc. We disregard that word whieh' is able to make us wise unto^salvatioii when He is not loved and valued more than any other object , ill life • wc must Jeavc all for Christ or we cannot bo us dis- oiDles ' "'^heMliat lovoth father or mother more than mo . is not worthy 'f me, and he tlmttaketh not his cross and Moweth me shall not be my disciple.^ Sal is good, but if the salt bus lost its savour wherewith sha^l It be fieascmed^ it is neither good for the land nor the dunghill. _no that mtlrcars to hear let him hear." This Saviour stiU invites ; rtic sinner ta.^< ask of Him and it shall be gi^^n you, seek. ^ and you shall find, kj^ock andat shall be opened unto you :, Matt 7- T Let us remember that carelessness was the sin of tile dwellers in Capcrnauiu which exposed theni to % such awful danger : "And thou eapcrnaunrW^iich art ex- alted into heaven, sh^ll be brought down to hell, for if the nii..hty works which have been done «v thee had been done in lodom, it would have remained until this daK but I say finto ¥0U that it shall be more tolerable ^fortho land^of. SA>:^the day of judgment than for th^^': Matt. U; 23 24 The Saviour was not persecuted or driveji away by Violence, but carelessness was their sin ; they heard and were desirous to he^r him, but they profited not; they cm- ^aced not this great salvation.; they hstcned to .His warn. I incrs, bis threat?nings, and his promises, ^and thronged to I hear him, but they beeded them not, therefore they badiio ' effect Alas 1 we^ have too often to lament this bciiig the ^ evmwhere tbe gospca is heard but not embraced; S swearS and the drunkard hear it and are stil the saine| the Sabbath breaker, tlie liar, and t^e tattler all heari and Se BtilUhe same. Wder, I hope you are none of those ^S^Utioned,ifso,what¥^^ dving . An alarmed neglector said^. " Oh ! that 1 had been Sfthat I Bad known this, that tliad;considered my lat- to?^; de#i i^ knocking at the dbpr,^m a fow bours mK>re Si be gone, and gone forever ; nothing now appears but " a trcmend^s judgment, how shall X appear unprepared as llm^I^ stand before tlie all-knOw;ing^and^boly God hoTcan f^ihk of the day of his coming ? Oh for that hnUnels it is the only thing I now long for, t bave,not . *;S5o Ul you bbw highly I vidue it, I w^uhl gladly . . Ti^ ^ ■ .■.,/■■■■■ ■.. ■: rr- ■:■■■■■ r ■■> ■-'^- ' y '-::.- -■■.:■ ■• V. I \«: .. .\ ;l V ■■/ 42 "TOM 18 JOTUXMQ TO ?I COMP^D TO WMOIOIi/ * part with the world and all worldljr bbjeai^ iq, obtain it ; now my benighted mind and eyes are ppe^ed, I clearly sbe the things that are excellent; what is in that place! am coin" to but God ?" Here the sinner is earnestly hppinff and desiring, and says, « is there anything to be comtoared to it? nothing— nothing on earth to be compared w\th the religion of Christ. Oh ! if the righteo;as Judge would try me once more, in what way would I spend the remamder of my life,' but alas! why do I persuade myself with .fond desires ; the last performance is of no Use now, it is tpo late. For your encouragement, I woujd point you to Christ, say- inc* Jesus, thou hast bid ais pray always and not faint ; with the'wordsofpowerepable us to utter our complaint. Fear not have faith, and doubt no more. If the prospects of death would' producp such a change of view, wjiat must it be when the last conflict has ended? ^"^ Eleventhly. What will be the feelings of millions when all the effects of negligence are seen and felt ? ' Ope may exclaim, " Wtfe is me ! if I had reflected On this when I laughed at religion and religious things, and treated God's blessings with disregard;" another may say,^.^^^^^^^^ I but think of this end when I slighted tlhrist, and all the- warn- in«»s and entreaties of pious parents to seek €|id4»d haj>pi- ness" and a third "Alas I I war going adrift to my own ruin when I would not heat, the Saviour's voice ; I talked of liberty, biut I stillf followed my sinful pleasures. Is this 'ihe liberty Iijhose, and this the pleasure which I was run- nine after ? Oh miserable "wretch! God has called time after time, but I still turned a deaf ear and always refused ; now I eat the fruit of my own ways and anv filled with my ,own devices.". Oh reader, could you feel for a moment what it is to be lost, with a full sense of being lost to all eternity, vou would no longer slight that Saviour. Not to have one hope of mercy, not to^bc one moment safe, what a con- sideration l Are you then willing to flee from poverty and ' ruifl sin indheU, to the arms of heavenly mercy, and wiU vou'notheed this? I hope you will take warning and bid farewell to your sins and turn to God and not brmg ever- lasiin /"• ^. f ■ '■<■.^•- -/-'i 'da i'r ■■■■■*' ■ ■'^"''■■'-.'f^'T"^ THi 8TATK or tin mttw.ioioiia. ,/ 43 \ obtain it ; [ dearly sbe i place I am bstly hoping be combared red w\tli the ;e woald try remainder of f with fond tist^o late." Chrtst, say- t faint ; with laint. Fear prospects of rf\i&i must it killions when ?' Ope may. this when I ;reated God's ^« Did I but alttiiewarn' idJtkd hapia- ft io my own Ice ; I talked ires. Is this ih I was riiU' 3 called tttttc urays refused ; illed withmy moment what all eternity, ►t to have one ^ what a con- a poverty and ercy, and will rning and bid lOt bring eyer- 1 do this when ty is drawing* lOr. - ■> uf'. GHAPTilR V. <% following onto ilwio tU aM, «««<« of irreliyion ; Reader, let us consider the awftil responsibity of not havio"' the love of (iod in the soul, and that salvation must be fouivi now or never. Compare at>y thing to religion-r ther? is nothing like it, or in any way equal to it; noth- ing deserves such high regard as the salvation of your souls. In addition to what has been already said, it is an awful con- sideration that while you neglect the. Lord Jesus^Christ vou are in dreadful rebellion against GW, with all the vilest if mankind, and with all the evil beings in the world ; and , thus must live and die laden with sin- and ingratitude. • You may not be a fool, but with foolbh people are acting as a rebel agaihst God; you may not be a murderer, but among such you must be classed and will forever have their portion; you may not be dishonest, nor a drunkard, nor. irotme, nor yet are you a devil, but you belong to the sarn^ family while impenitent and are a Pe rebel against God. Then why will you not come to this loving Saviour? U, look athiinbyaft inward faith in that glorious work of grace, through^hr^st, and, happily may God gijnt you grace to . dSliV^ yoti;^from such ^eati>^l. .Rf'"*^^ J«»^^^ must you be\in the «ght of God's ohildren--ho^ hatefiU, whflfi"mi^Kn^fciehl to God-to so kind a Saviour. If tou cpiitiirue wM you are, you wUl be undone forever. On that awful judgment day, you will Iw known as^ one so wicked that you would not yield to God>the mask of de- lusion and deception will be torn away ^ all the excuse? you can form for your sinful carelessness will vanish likeji dream, and the vileness of your depraved heart Y*^V™ey?^,J^ shiver : you will stand before the universe branded with.the guilt of Refusing to love God and the Saviour.^ W era it jpos- sible; the angels might weep that you continue so sintul and hellish, and ladened with ingratitude. Inhere, it may be said, is an immortal being that> should be aspiring to heaven and glory, groveling in the mire, with but one day, or perhaps one hour, or it may be, but a moment of time for mewy— yet, w^tinglhat one moment. You are now invited to everlasting life, y^ utterly careless^ of the invj. tation-^^boing^ pos s essed of an i m morta l spirit, to whioU ..^ "1 44 DECISION BNKOROEl). h: God is most kind, and yourself moat cruel; under this load of guilt you must die. When your last hour arrives, it may be said, there lies and dies one to whom God has given a thousand mercies, but who has abused all the bless- in ijs that should have trained his departing spirit for heaven. All has been in vain, and now that unprepared and long neglected soul is goilig, covered with guilt, to its final ac- epiint and direful home. Aud-when you are rn the grave, it may be said, there lies one who vva-j offered the means of grace and heard the tidings of uierey, but went down unto the dwelling of the dead unpardoned and unchanged ; that poor dust once loved the tvorld and for it slighted eternal good, and the world has left that dust to moulder till the resurrection day. And we may say with the poet— "Thou Judge of quick and dead, Before whoac bar severe. With holy joy or guilty dread, . -' We all shall soon appear, ' -^ ^* Our cautioned soul prepare For that themendous day, .. ': And fill our souls with watchful care, And stir us up to pray." / iiord, enable us to put those words into practice. Am^n. Reader, life or death is before you, according as you regard or slight the great and good Saviour. "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death,, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live": Dent. 30 ; 19. If you continue in your sins they will undo you forever. Keep away from Christ and your doom is sealed. It must be death, and only death.; nothing can save you while you keep away from Christ, the only fountain and source of all happiness. 0, choose not death, but-life. 0, reaijler, be entreated for the sake of your own soul to welcome that Saviour, that long forgotten Emanuel, and you will ere long reap the benefits of justifying grace, and will find a great difference in your life and conduct. He will blot out all your sins and enrich you with every good : then you will be able, with many others to say, " the eternal God is my refuge ajid underneath are his everlasting arms." ^ You will not regret coming to this Saviour ; his glorious shield is epr over thee, an d h is care and love w iU for ever bless thee» The promises belong to you, fear not. I have redeemed yours; vQuro bofon reflect BftVlIlg to do. Sec whom miut Savioi befttl death folem -dying I farew I fair i \ of nai to flt flight auffoi hiaJi '■^-hi^&i^M^Jibi-'^ [ •v • ; under thiu hour arrives, liom Ood has all the blesB- ■it for hcnvon. ired and long i its final ac- in the grave, the means of it down unto langed ; that nhtcJ eternal julder till the poet— (ire, iticc. Am§n. as you regards Jl heaven and ave set before erefore choose Deut. 30;19. ) you forever, led. It must you whilo you i souroe of all 0, reader, be welcome that I will ere long II find a great ill blot out all lenyouwill be al God is my 18." You will s shield is ejrer ^er bless thee* ^■^ '0HOO8I ITtBNXt ttflv thee: I hav*^ o*|[led thee by thy name : thou art mine : when thott pMA^Bt through the waters, I WiU be with you ftudthroi^lbibe riyem, they shall not overfiow thee r when thou walkcst^ through the Ere thou shalt not bo burned, neither shall the flame light ot kindle upon thee ; for 1 am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel— thy Saviour. The Saviour of myriads will then be your Saviour and your Shepherd. The good Shepherd's oaro will then bo <^ver you, and you may say the " Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastni^e^ : He leadeth mo beside the still waters. He restoreth m/^ul : He leadeth me in the patjis of righteousness, for his name's gake": Psalm, 23. He will keep you and train you for heaven. He will enable you to subdue your corruptions. He will guard you and fulfill his promise : " I will never leave you nor forsake until I bring you to immortal glory. Your inheritance will be the home that angrfs have, the heaven that they enjoy. Who are to be your companions ? AH whose names are written in heaven— "they loved the Saviour, and followed him"— their dwelling place will be yours; their Lord is yours, and will you not be his. Then your character which would have beeu forever hateful, will bo foreve^lovely— will shine in a fair though humble light, reflected from your Lord's, eternally. Do, poor sinner, quit aliyour old companions, and your sins, and the Lord will samgly bless you, and that forever. Lord, enable you so Secondly. Choose then this day whose you will be, and whom you will serve. You must die, and the dying hour must inspire feaBngs unknown before. The value of the Saviour and the worth of the blessings of his grace will never be fttUy known tUltheii. Christ is all in all in the day of death. His love cheers with immortal hopes lifes last solemn hour. 0, let us think what a solemn thing is a dying hoar : the body and spirit about to take their final fMewell; the body that was once so strong, healthy, and ^fair is now fast sinking ttnder disease and the^ power of nature rapidly faiUng; the pulse is fluttering an4 about to stop forever: the spirit ready to take its ev tiie great day. "The Lord himself shall descend from hi tho struggle I ornaole ; we Knd the feet ; ccome weaker 1 throb and dl ughts on tbU on the whole }od when He colines of an looking back pdverty or a language dos- not believe every pursuit have religion letter she nad itcd her com- ) finish. Oh ;hts now, you life ought to ill open your too late, and in the above presence and strong conso- 1 day, It week, tbere is noth- be found, and ' tJie thoughts !ement of un- )dy; you will lie lost. The its all should e blessed Sa- ^one can oon- 4he terrore of >■ THE JUDOMINT DAY, 4T heaven with a shout, with the vofciB of the arch-nngcl and with the trump of God": Chron. 15 ; 52. " The Lord Jesus ihall be revealed from heaven with ' his mighty nngcis in flaming fire, taking vengeance on those thnt know not Ood ; He shall' bo admired in his saints and glorified in all that believe": 2 Thos. 1; G, 7, 8. "The trumpet shall sound nd the dead shall be raised incorruptible : i Chron. 15; 2. '' When tho 8on of Man shall come in lliw glury and all; his holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory, and before him shall be gathered all nations, and he shaU separate them the one from the other, as a shepherd dividAh his sheep from the goats; and Ho shall set the sheep on his right nand and the gouts on his left ; then shall the King say to them on his right hand, come up je blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom preparea for you from the foundation of the world : then shall he also say to them on his left hand, depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire,, prepared for the 'devil and his angels, and these shall go away into everlasting punish" ment, but the righteoup into life eternal": Matt. 25; 41. According ttf these infallible truths, the archangel will des^ oend, the trumpet will make a great noise that will echo like a thousand thousand thunders, and even that would be silence in comparison to it, for all mankind will liear. The Lord* wi|l then visibly appear : he will come with his mighty angels in flaming fire; he .will come in the glc^of hi^ Father, and in his own glory he eotneth Witb, ten mousand of his saints. Now all that are in their graves shall he His voice and shall come forth— 'they that have don^ goo iQ the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil to the resarreotion of damnation" : 1 John 5 ; 28. The righteous shall rise to glory and honour, and immortality, and eternal life; but the unrighteous will also hear His voice — ^^in their ease, that which was sown in corruption shall rise in incorruption, that it may endure a death that never dies ; that which was sown in dishonoor rises to dis- honour more aggravated, to shame, m€ to everlasting con^ \kempt ; that which was sown in wealraess is raised in power, strong to endure immortal miser/; that which was sown a natural body rises a spirittial body, to become the accursed dwelling of that immortal spirit tfiat prostituted its powers on earth to folly, vanity, and guilt. Tha£ final judgment" day will be a greatday, indeed, and it is still advancing ; »• ^ descend from A. 48 THE JUDOMBNT DATt nm! hrindKt ull the thonghU and fionarf of it the hcavcnu will yam uway with u great noiw;, and the flcnicnta nhall melt with forvcnt hout ; the earth nl^o and the work* that are therein whall bo burned up": 2 I'oter 3 ; 1(». Oh reader, in nioditutin^ on tlii>« grout day view it as here; thinli you hear the cry, " llic great day ol'hiB wrath in come and who phall be ablo til »«tand — the 8uu, moon, and start* have ceased theif ihiiiing, and the heavens have pasMed away ; the cares and ' . pursuiti of Ihis life arc over — rumors and the tumults of na- tions, the voice of the bridcgroem and of the bride, of joy or weeping arc heard no m(>re : tljc oath js sworn, time shall be no longer, and uU sins are ended forever ; the dead arc raised, the judge is con»c.' There he sits in majesty and with power; at his bar the nations are collected to hear their doom. He «et8 the sheep on his right hand, and the goats on his left hand. The righteous meet him with raptures— the unrighteous are dragged before his bar, while within gnaws the worm tha^ never die^h. Thcife is no deception, no mistake here ; there ik no middle place. I'oor sinner,^ come to Christ or your doom is sealed. May the Lord help you to come in time. Amen. The Judge Eter- nal now pronounces the fatal doom. Ho says to those on his right hand— "Come ye bleised of my Father, inherit ihe kingdom prepared for you from the foundations of the world." He owns their humbleness of service, of faith in love, and according to his solemn promises, he acknowledges . them who confessed him. O, sweet words of eternal life ! They arc pronounced and all doubt is over, and all fears are fled away. Now, indeed, the righteous come to Zion with everlasting joy upon their heads; now indeed sorrow and sighing are fled away forever. Oh, what a recompense is this for cares, and toils, and sorrows; what does the christian think now of his change ? Now he has changed toil to rest, and sorrow to everlasting joys; he let them en dure ''rief, but aow he gives the crown of life, and honour. The great day of Jhis wrath is no day of wrath to them ; no fears or alarms will now distress their minds. Many a christian was trodden down of men ; but «I1 this is past--^ their afflictions are turned to victorious palms. What will while looking at his Judge? " This is he the chri s tian s a; y: whom my soul longcth for : now I am loft in wonder, love and praise." / '1 .'>'■■' 10 hcavcnN icntM Mhall workfl that OH rcudcr, ikyouluftir ^hu pIiuH be iascd their cares nnd' * iiultH of na- I ido, of joy , time Hhall le dead arc ajesty and cd to hear hand, and t him with 8 bar, while ?hcifc is no lace. I'oor . Slay the Tudgc Eter- to those on her, inherit tions of the , of faith in Qknowledges eternal life ! all fears are me to Zion ideed sorrow , recompense hat does the has changed let them en and honour, to ihem ; no Is. Many a his is past—^ . WhttwilJ *' This is he JUDO M EN T ir PAHMEI). u -Fourthly. Header, li^t u/ a^ain think of what will bo- oomu of the ])0<>r r«iniu>r wlvilu iiiipnitcnt, uitpardonud, and unforgiven. . Oh, horrid {ilnitencu ! — iH'purt vo that would not cunio to me, vou wi1|,-1icar your doom, mid it will bo the damnation of hell. 8i;iner, uwnko out of Hlevp Ixiforu thin Hcntencti takes placQ '/'if not the doom of that diiy will Ix; final, there will be |prb after chaii^o ; the blcHftud will never bo cursed and thu,i(rdon given ; but then there is no nioro sacrifice to at^aiMl for past sins, no more prayers offering up in behalf of the poor sinner— no Saviour. 5fow the ungodly will cry, tu the rocks to full on them and hide them from the face of Uim that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb"; llev. tJ ; IG. Poor dinner, alas your cry will be in vain, the sentence is ptiHSod ; you may exclaim. Lord, Lord, have mercy. No, no, is tlie re- ply, the day ol' mercy is passed, that prayer might have been heard once, but cannot be heard now ; all thinu^s are settled, the Sentence is passed and cannot be recalled ; you may cry, Lord, Lord, open unto us : no is the reply. Tho door once shut, never opens; no sinner, no, never ; eternal truth has said it. Sinner, when you could have mercy you would not, therefore I will limgh utyour calamity and mock- when your fear comctli ; when proficredl mercy was to be found you would not be the Lord's ; I invited you to come to him and be happy, and^you could then refuse, but when: he says die, you ciinnot tefuse ; and when he says, depart ye cursed into everlasting' fire, you must go, there is iio reprieve, and devils will drag you along, and the enmity you had' with God in this world will make you think of the pre- sent warnings. Should you bo at the left hand and see some you know among the blessed, and yourself among the lost, what bitter regret must it be ? it must be distressing on the Boul. There will be great joy in the meeting of the believing christians on thlat day. What joyful parties will bo # aineng those that have known Christ besides those that have slighted him. 0, what etemal separations between fathers and mothers, sisters and' brothers, friends and companions ; ' ' - ■ ' E ■ ■ ■■;■./: '■■-■. wonder, love. /••■ ho ■■ , : ^\ ■■- .;.■■■■ :- ■ ' ■ • ; - • .■ THE WRATH OF QOD ON SINNERS. some asoenditig to: glory, and others sinking to destraetioi* with the lost. Where is the, heart that will not hreak on that day at such a separation, if a heart oould break ? but that cannot«be. Bo reader, let this be your chief conoem to secure the welooque of the Judge and everlasting life ; but what can give yon the serenity of this ? nothing but having that salvation in full, possessed of whic^ you may bave a cheerful confidence that when you come before the f^^ judgment throne, He will justify you, and who is there can condemn ? The Judge will in effect .say or act as if He bad said, this soul is mine, it has been committed to my tcare, I blotted out its sins and brought it safe on its way fejoicing; it was mine through trials and temptations and sorrows on earth, and now it is mine forever. I hope this wUl be said of you. Fifthly. Header, the judgment is passed, the Judge has left His throne, and all are gone to their eternal homes-^ the poor sinner is lost in wamng, in agony, and in dei^pair; the happy in Gbrist have entered their home, eternity is now before them, its dqudlow sun has risen upon them, and jBoW it is like one scene of glory and praise—their home is jheaven, and their father is God. Then they will rest with Him who died; their friends now are the host of angels and all the blood-washed myriads of the redeemed, where their holiness is perfect and their happiness endless; the former things ate passed away. Reader, might I ask you in love where is your home, where will it be forever ? will Jou be one of those poor sinners, who, dying in bis sins, is anislied from God's presence— ^tibe only source' of light and joy? He has refused his creatures favour and love. In the love of God the blesscid rejoice, and in it angels find their heaven ; but the poor unhappy sinner, poor creature, it is lost to you forever; you are exposed to your dreadful . doom, to stand the frowns of a heart-searching God, whose frown is so dreadful that a dying profligate exclaimed : "0 thou indulgent Lord God, hell itself is a refuge if it hides me from thyJfroWns" ; but hell will not hide the sinner : he must bear me wrath of God continually; and even there" r too he feels /not only the loss of all he once loved, but now he feels the everlasting loss of all the -saints in joy. Does he look to /heaven, it-is' lost to him; does he think of his parents or/friends, they are forever shut out from him ; the eaintP src/in lif e and raptur e , and heav e nly glory, and he is in death slighted mercy, him; al given to there is him. < ery and No friei any mei moment all beloi ward pi God's IK acters a are chai phemer utter CO gone ho bis fath I am ui hatred 1 Theyb were oi brotighi on then forgottc no mor4 devils a the eha the fan pared ^ unfortu what W( what W( ij^^npssw^- TBI BlMTlirOl 19 FA881D. 51 lestniotioi* b break on >reak? but ef conoerii «ting life; othing but I you may Mfore the ^;i is there can t as if He tted tomy on its way tations and I hope this Jndge has il homefr-^ in deqMdr; eternity is 1 them, and eir home is m rest with St of angels ued, where ndless; the \, I ask yoii_ lever? will his siuB, is [>f light and 1 love. In angels find or creature, lur dreadful God, whose iaimed: "0 ;> if it hides 3 sinner: he even there' r sd, but now joy. Does lihink of his m him ; the yj-and-he4fr in death and misery. He had these privileges once, but slighted them all. Does he think of Sabbaths and seasons of meroy, he had them once but they are forever gone from him ; all his religious mercies are at an end ; all that was given to help the soul to heaven are n^ledted and abused ; there is none to lOve him, none to pity liim, none to help him. <) Lord, awakeu and save us from this dreadful ttiis- ery and woe. May we say With the poet — *« Infinite joy or endless woe Attend on every breath, And yet how unconcerned we go Alt on the brink of death. ; - , "WakenOLord, out dro^J'^jrs^se, To walk this dangerous roaa, And if our souls are hurried hence, y May they be found with God." No friend to cheer one hour in an eternal night of woe, nor any merry companions to laugh away one sorrow for a single moment; they are all alike miserable with himself; they aU belonged to that family lEhat once thronged the down- ' Ward paths in me^iment and folly, and making little of ^. God's word and of God liimself. Where are such cliarac- acters as drunkardsj^swearers, and self-boasters, their follies are changed to'WaiUngs and agony. «4nd where is the blas- phemer and his infernal prayers? they are answered in utter condemnation. There is another child of the devil gone home— they call him the liar, and he is also cone to ^is father's house, together with many other eharactors that I am unable to mention. There are very many who bore a hatred to that Saviour, and still hate him worse than ever. They had many privileges and ntercies, but in vain ; and were once raised to heaven witn blessings, but are now brought down to hell— for them are no christian prayers, on them no Sabbath shines; all their hope is gone, God has forgotten to be gracious; the compassion of a Saviour Will no more be oflFered to them, they will be in the society of devils and damned spirits without rejjrieve. , How awful is the change from earthly comforts to this deep poverty, from the family circle, or the company of gay associates, com- pared with the punishment of hell ? . Let us look at the unfortunate rich man spoken of in the gospel. Oh ! reader, what would a man afraid of punishment give for a release; ^. whatwouldr^his-riclt-man- gt^^Mle-would^ give any^thing^ \i 1' ■m }8. .8*^1 > y^"^ 63 THE OlATAnmr 07 A FINAL IND. but alas, he has nothitig in his power to give. What he asked .was but very small, and small as it uras it was iiot granted— " a dro|) of water to cool my tongue, for I f hell, in you are )urself in ( devised BfeBIOUS QVESTIONS ANp ANSWERS. 5:i Sixthly. If you could look into the pit of petition and see the lost aniong the wailing3 in their distress, at^d hoar them address you and say, "we were once like you, and if you do not be eyeful you wi|| soon becoiiie like one of us ; so long as you love sin and hate the. Saviour yoii are taking . the very way that brought u|i here, and if you do not repoitt and get your sins blotted oit, you will shortlv join us and 1^ be all^hat we are now?" Uould you hear this, would you still go on in that sinful course of life; but will you not believe GcmJ as soon as a lo$t spirit ? God tells you in his . blessedjOM^jhat if you4o pot turn you mUstdie; and if you "^^^IkPUI^ sins /yp^ must and will awake in hell ; and will ^^P^t^ believe pim who is God over all ; and it* yoii do l^elieve him why do you not resist the devil and he will flee from yoii ; and I^say unto you reader, why do you ; not flee from the wrath to codie ? If you could see heaven, and it could be said to you, |follow Christ and this shall be . your hom0, surely you ^piiM not be so cruel to your Own ^ ^•soul as to say, no I wUliiot, I'will have h^^ in pretereiico; . ..MJthQseH#hft cruel choice, hell with all its horrors' are my choice. Do you not thfnk that heaven is as truly the world of happiness as . if you were in it ; and don't you believe that 'there are many now truly enjoying the blessings of it ; surely you Would not say I will have no home there. If you could see the saints in light, eoiild you Behold their peaceful mansions of glory and Ainfading crowns, and witness all their un- bounded happiness, and they should say to you, follow Christ and ypu will soon be like us, what would you take and say no>,,I will not follow Pim, I will never beek his fa- vours nor yoUr home f . You surely could not or would not for the woi;ld utter such an expression ; yet it will come to the same at last) whether you niake up your mind to go to their home or live careless of Him who would lead you thither. Would Jou Uot take a view of such an expression from ^, saint in l^t,. and would it not induce you to seek the Saviour's Jove and gr6«e ; and is it possible that you will . not seek his favoiir, when the God and Father of those isaints in evei^^ partof his word tells you of a happy heaven and that if you receive His Son it will soon be yours? I hope you wUI listen and also receive His word if you have not done so. Could you for oUe hour feel what the blessed ^rcpjoy and what the lost suffer, surel y yo u w ould think notK^" : ■B2 ■ '■ - \ .■■■:■.:. ■■;■■■%:■■ > >. *• r- fi ■ \ ( ing toonhard to b? endured or tod yaluajitleto be resigned. I'thfhk One hour in heaven woiHd repay you for turning to ( DE^AY 18 DANGEROUS. repay you for turning ■upcv ^ -y s, ■ .'.':. " ,^ " - ■. ■'■ V; i>evcnthly, v. Header, is there any thing in sin so jgood of pleasing Q(^)rofi(able as to Qai|se your oontinuitlg'in a sinful ^ "state? Kyery hd^r of a sinful life is an hour of sinful > <1 art n ess J. and of black rebellion against -God, and our prcciou.s Saviour. • To hlive lived many years in «ueh a state- ' is awful, Uutvto. refuse to turii to God and consequently to l^oiish in such a statu is slill more awful. X atn sure there ' is nothlng-in serving the devil, to excuse your delay.* I am .■^urc you are ready to say there is nothing in his service'so Alloying that I should, lose my-'soul forever, and yet h^w ' - an|iUful» a -thing it is S.that V man^ or woman, or* child wilrhot Ifcavo thb service of so hateful a master for tliat of- a gdod'and gracious .Saviour. ""' There is nothing^o^^ood in ourselves as to oxcvsc our delay. * To turn to> God, 'we • iiiu3t come as wi9 are. We can bring no works of supero- , gallon to recommend us to God, or our Saviour. We. must conif as 'We are; we can not make ourselves better. Ytfu, . must remember that while unpardoned you>canndtreceive one spiritual blessing. . While without pardon you have no title to heaven'; yOU have no Father there. Without! par- do;* you have no wqll-^unded hope**-nO bright prospect of heaven, Ypijr staie^is one of guilt, and condeinnation, and ruin. - *.G, come tothi^ (iod who loved you,' and giav^/ , hitnself for you. Poor srnner will you lose your soul for- ever ? No matter w^at your sins have been, (Gb(l,'wo )f supero- We.must er. Ytfu, dt- receive a have no [hout par- ; prospeot ioonation, and giav^ ■ • soul foi;- ue to him sk Qod to ' 5 Lord to t8 of hea- ; there is aderstand late, that • is a great 1 to come |ie day of degree to le became deiUh for think of who came >' OOB0 TO CnHtST AlilD FIND PARD6N. ^ 65 # miiie? By not possessing this Slliviour in 6uy hearts it de- prives us of the qoAif(wts, and hlessings, and hopes that we ' might enjoyr-T-it lejig^hens o/ir days of guilt and rebellion, --*. indincJreases^at heavy load of sin more and more^and 1^ also it hardens our hearts more and more. It trains you |br* ■hell^ and if ydu follow 6n your old course of sin and rebelU ion against this, loving Saviour and not repent ere long 'you will»be fixed the^e^ - I am surd you can find no excuse tit the bar of God-r^you ohn find nothipg but guilt and ruin; no mercy there fpr the -unpardoned sinner;" I am very -sure ' < that you will meet wHh many enemies, but fear not ;'.come * ' . on, and don't look back ; be earnest, that you niay*say,vith . - .\ the poet— *,.'■'* ■ -^ .' :] " Yoall me?>t with many on the way, • -' ,1, •. J' >•'... Who'll strife *o turn" you back, ' ^ ♦ - ^ ' '^ ... " "Ah; yes, tliey'll tempt you night and day ■^ \ ■' your Saviour to for*i'kc." ." • •' . " -:,]^ E^hthly; Sinner, t' would hav^jou'coufe to this-Sai-"' viour yrithout dehy. Aa4ong M you stay' away ,.you ar^> ' 'r(Bbel» and a r^el without excuse. ^Gbd looks dh you asAii enemy, and an ei^m/s lot - iQust|,be yoUrs. You ay© ex^ ' posed to numberless aiCd intolerable '^vils, and you desfsrve them all, 0, triflje not with the decorations to whiobNom-i passion foir you mustgivis utterincp. You lufe deserving^of hell for every ^ bo^r yoU stay awak: O, tu^n ^ io God !' , While you are in such a ^t^tfejtherfens nothing nor can be nothing to ^ep you out. of lifei^ ' bUt God's long pilfering mercy ttnid Jpience. /You, must bpware, for you have no ' •clainion Christ tQ;dpare you, lam sure.you can't point to one promise— you have not one tjiat he will spare you ;''but I amsi^eyoti cannot have ouq just reason td' expect be should spare you. What' would he Qpa?e"you t6 do? 'to sin on a^nst light and love, and thalt jFOu» might 4buse inor^ of .his mercies, and insult with more ingratitude', and grieve the spirat tnore, and,serve the devil a little longer ? Is this whajb yon want? pan you justly eipect that GSd will spare ' you 'to do'Bll this? can you depenid on his sparing mercy, . when ho sees you so unwilling to turn toliimi ? It is true you may be 70^ng and gay and bidding'fair for tljiis world, but remember, Odd, does not want materiifth^o ott^^oudown. Ee in one moment can send'-jdiseasci. liqito yonroddy and f > » atretch yott on a bed <>f dg^th, antf ^ave you at the jndg - taei)it bar in a, moment. HTe^^er, this is. not all yqiir state, reins / 66 dOMt TO CBBI^T AND FIND PARDON. A.- '.» ■. while in, the habit of 8ip>n|in2 against God. Your state is more deplorable than this, l 'As has been represented to you in the lines before, while you are unint^reuited in the Sa- viour, you are », condemned sinner. Then what (iftijou deserve ? Surely to bo out down. And what will you do seeing that yoii h»ve trjimpled on meroy ? You can have no claims on merov— your d^sect must be judgment — be cautious of these things it a matter of great impdrtance — it is the soul's greatest interest. How soon may the awful doom go forth against you ?.. While you are bidding fair for life, death may oome in upon you. 0od< has been very^ kind in sparing your worthless life, still waiting for you to return, and thatj^ou might repent and believe ; but all in vain. Beware— the door may bo forever shut on you before this year is ended ; and Vif so, how '^changed ere long will be your state, The longer you decline and delay, the more dreadful will be your fate; the. year will end in black dospair, and all your comforters will flee away, forever^ Now, sinner take my advice and resign all up to -God and the Saviour. Go the throne of grace and seek mercy, and give all up and be entirely the Lord's. , Wheri; you read this book, be determined that by the aid of divine grt^ce, you will become a child of Godi O. do, not die a child of Satan, but pray to God to mak 5 you a child of his fofever.^ m- \ ■■ \ ■ '■ €ri< y\''.: .. 'Av ■ \ J How U Word ol ■ ThoMgh Lord; an lbrg(^tei past ages m hiimb the Savi great {t The| ha poor!" the dead had thei: All jtheii wip6d a^ victory \ fiufficicnl the^l, h\ trying s( yet are J finished ; Satan tri The wor assaults ; were b.rc ^hen the but unto ful to Go Siiviour 1 partakerg get to gl( 'God mus answer tl from his holy G^d romombei Heaven i ir state is od to you in the Sa- lt dp^ou ill you do can have ment — be rtanoe — it the awful iding fair been very, g for you. ) ; but all it on you Einged ere and delay, ill end in y, forever^ ) 'God and lercy, and you read rine grQ,ce, a child of 8 foi'ever^ ■C\- .."> ''■ THE HAPPINB8S OF TRUE BELIEVBIM. i%£ Sappinm of true Betihcfs. 57' .^■' 1 tir 5^ pleasing ftro. the representations frrnished in the Jj^j Word of G6d of the blessedness of those that rest in Christ. Thoj^gh absent from the body, they are present with the Lord! and eiij?)ying a present bleA#ing. While their dust lies ^ forgo|tten in their graves, \^m pleasant to think that they in past ages look the blessed. Uible for their guide, and walked m humble piety. Where afe the huifible»poorwUo loved the Saviour, whq were desj^ised and spurned, who' suffered great tribulations and wasted away with persecutions ? They have^ gone where- they are ho, longen despised and poorL « They have entered jpto their reJ. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord": Rev. 14; 13. ; Surely the v nadltheir trj^ls while here below, but how they are all over. All^heir pains and sickness are ended, all tears will be wipfd awayjroni theireyes; their warfarc.ispajl^t and the vi^ry wonjjjioy were weak, but ^hey reGeived: strength sufficient l^iig&ch heaven. Theii^ earthly fathers corrected the^i, but that is over the Saviour led- them through trying tiJono^ but the last is cndtd. Tliev felt un vtorOnr yet are glo ifi»^d.; the, work of fuifch, and tbor of love are finished ; the patience of hope has endured to^the end." Sjtan tried all his urts to undo*themj but he waseonqikered T^e world came in at right' and left; sin made 3 its assaults yet Vas overcome. Blessed was the day when t^iey were ly-ought to the Saviour's feet; it was more blested Jrhen they landed in the skiea* Not unto us, not uht^ u^ but unto thy name be all the glory. Consider Vow thank- ful to Ged you should be for his great niercy in sending % Saviour to save his people from their sins, and made them partakers of the blessed results of heaven. You will never get to glory without a clear- surrender of all your sins for God must have all or none. A partial surrender will not answer the end; we must be his altogether, or be banished froni his presence. You need not think to prevail dn a holy God to receive an unpardoned siiiner into heaven ^ but ro mem ber if he a veq be lost to you, all is lost fore v qr. Heaven is a place for the redeemed of the Lord. :■«»: # U5 . J ftS tHl'OHEUTIA!f'0 HAPPT HOMI. Seoondly. Those that gire up all manner of sin and lr6 altogether on the Lord's side will have an inheritanee in the christian's intended happy home. Many ideas have been put forth of the excAnolos of that glorious home. It is called a city which hath fouodations. and whose builder and maker is God. We may well know that this is not a temporal city that we are looking for: it is an ever- lasting one. We are also told that it is aaorned with all splendor, and that its walls are founded on precious jewels ; its streets are gold and gates are pearls, and it is the glory of God Such is a faint representation of the glory of. heaven. We may here mention the language of the ^prophet Isaiah : ** Violence shall no more be heard in our land, wasting destruction within thy borders, but thou shalt call thy walls salvation and thy gates praise; thc^sun shall be no more thy light by day, nor the modn by night, but the Lord shall be to it an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory; theh your son will not go down, neither will the moon withdraw itself, for |he Lord shall be thine everlasting light^ and the days of thy mourning shall be ended." Heaven is represented as a country, because Ho has. purposely pro- Mded it for Jiis redeemed" : Heb. 9 ; 16. "It ia a king- dom He delights to bestow on his'chiidren": Luke 12; 83. "''It is a kingdom prepared froni the foundation of the world V: Matt. 20 ; 35. It is described as the eternal Fa- ther s house, in which are many mansions, with peace, tran-- quility and contentment, and that will be your happy home in ther presence of God ; there will be fulness of joy and^ pleasures for ever more. When we view that better country we, may bo assisted by viewing the beauty of the present Wrld, This worid shows the Creator's power and godhead, and wisdom' attd lovcj. ,How goodly.^ro many of its scenes- verdant Spring, with all its flowers ; the blooming summer, with all its promises ; and the autumn, with its fruits ; val- leys green with perpetudl herbage, and fields with com hills crownedqf" rivers, pourihg their torrents continually to the '^ .ocean, which is always full, yet never overflowing; the. opening day and the balmy evening ; the liun by day diffu- sing light aud heat from age to age, and also the moon and stars glittering a fuller but more solemn light ; the land and the_waters abounding yith numerdns creatures, supplying ^od or ministering to the comforts of mankind,-t:=Stll this, ith much besides, shows forth the might and goodness of )i :ii and Ir^ ritande in leas have »aa home, id whose lat this is 8 an ever- , d with all i us jewels; the glory glory of. e of the ird in Qur thou shalt rsun shall night, bnf ^ God thy r will the verlasting ' Heaven >osely pro- 14 a kmg- b12; 83. m of the lernal Fa-' ;ace, tran- ippy home i' joy and er country le present i godhead, ! scenes— [ summer, 'uits; val- com hills illy to the ^^ jrin^) the. day diffu- moon and ) land and ^11 this; )odnessof ■ " ■:■■ -■^' 'M' ■ ■ ■ V" ■/';■ ■ BEAVUf ▲ iLAOB Of ^Amj. 69 1 ■■ ^6 world's great Creator ; yet the world thnl adorned and ' crowned for onr looommodation is hat of short duratiop, a . period of time' which compared with eternity is as nothing. '"'■:< What then must be the beauty a^d glory, and splendour of that countrv which is destined to endure through eternal • ag«8 ? If the abode of dying pilgrims be so magnificent and princely, so full of beauty and glory as this world is, ' ^-1 what must be the palace of the efernsl King in who«e man- sions his beloved shall reign in joy and immortality ? -^ We may well say with an earlv christian writer, >*0 Lord, if . fi>r this vil* body of ours thou givest us such numberless blessings from ithe air and from the earth, and from th^a ; '^^ by light and by darkness, bv Reat, by shade, by dews, by'^ rain; by birds, by fishes, by beasts, by trees and herbtf and - by variou|^ant8, and by the ministry of all thy creatures, , what manner of things, how good, liow griat. and how.innu- ' merable are those thou hast prepared, in thy heavenly 6oun- * try, wher6 we shall ]see thee lace to face? Tf thou hast • done suoh'^eat things for us in our prisota; what wilt thou S"ye S9 in your jMlace ; if thou givest so many blessings in . id world, wh^ the righteous and the wicked are mixed together, wl^t hast thou laid up for thb^.who will be all . riphteOus in tb^ world to 'come? If Kine enemies and • fnends are so well done for in this life, what shall. they who are all fnends receive in the life tecome? iM^n-e be such , great comforts in dajrs of tears, what shall tiere be in that: day of marriage ? . If our prison contains suc^ great riches, . what mus^ be our future country and kingdom ? . Thirdly, The fulness of joy of the redeemed springs from ?'; tarious souroed. One important* part of theif happiness, ' J ;yet in reality the least, is hatred to all evil. Hatred to evil i' vf 18 not positive delight, and must be the nobler blessings of , '* the redeemed. Were all sin done away with from the world, ' : were this world a paradise, were pain and sorrow and sin - extinct; were disease ^and sickness unknown ; were no '- A groan or sigh ever uttered, and no tear ever shed, even earth' ^ would only form a kind^f imperfect heaven. But all this, ' which can neyer be realized hero will be realized in heaven. / The scriptures dedarb respecting the redeemed, " They y shall hunger no more, neither thirst 4ny more, neither shall ^e sun light on them, or any heat, for the Lamb> which is in the midst of the thrbne shall feed them and lead 4 ^1 18 in tne miast of the thrbne shall feed jthehi and lead them unto living fountains of waters" : Revelations 7: 16. ^h. . J ■'■ €0 tm OLORT or HBAVIN. *^ And God tthall wipe out all teiNfH from their aytn. And there^all 1)0 no luort doath, neither sorrow, nor crying; neither shall there bo any more {min, for the former things are passed away": Rev. 21; 4. And there shall bo no more curse, but the throae of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and his servants shall serve him": Kev. 22; 3. " What varied ^^and inconceivable good will flow from such entire hatred of evil. The cares and anxieties incident to the present state no more distress the happy conqueror. God has vlfiped away every tear, and driea all sohrow. They have no toilsome days, nor wearisome nights ; the head will never ache nor the heart never throb; jpain and sick- ness are unknown; here are no withered iorms; all are happy beings, vigorous with immortal health, and clothed :with celestial loveliness. On earth the lovelieirti fade like the flower, but tlie flower that fades on earth if once trans- planted to heaven will never fade again, but will bloom through everlasting ages in that beauty that fadeth not away. When this corruption shall put on incorruptiop, and this mortality put on immortality, death will be swal- lowed up in victory and the triumph of the redeemed will , be com]uete. I will ransom them, saith the Lorj^, from the power of the grave; I wifr redeem them from death. ;,^0, death I will be thy plague I — 0, grave I will be thy de- ; rstruction I Repentance shall be hid m)m mine eyes. There ■\] shall bo no more death ; no more will that lost eiiemy tor- ment the children of God by his reproach, nor will they ever again dread his power. The state of the blest in heaven, is a state of perfbct safety : this world is a scene of danger, of frequent conflict in all its changes, and in all its movementB temptation is found. Prosperity tempts the soul to loVe the world ; adversity to repine at the dealings of God. Yt)uth and age, poverty and wealth, health and sickness .all have temptations peculiar to themselves, and even the zealous discharge of christian duties and the possession of elevated christian graces may be counectcd with those 'odious sins, self-righteousness and pride, and thus in every , \*ircum8tance temptation may exist, the great enemy of God and man, like a roaring lion seeking whom hfi may devour. But in heaven no inward corruption disturbs the soul ; no anger, shame, or ambition js ever felt ; no more temptation to harrass the redeemed. They left danger and sin behind when they left the precincts of mortiility. No, tempter. .^. thou ea men tod its ptmc ity; th but lint troubI(!, forgottc Four fore th "_ He shall change their body, the body of their humi'Uation, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body"- Phil fiL i ir r ,*^«3^ J^='y« '^'^rne the image of the cart!. ly,' they .shall also l>oav the ini^.geni' the heavtiAly": Chron. 15 • ? 1, 11 '^''*^* T^ y'rt appear what wo shall be, but when ,he Shan appear they slmll be hko him for they shall Hce him aaheis": 1 John 3 ; 2. '^ Ho will present •himself to tlu^ r-Sr'"?"^'* ^^w!^*''''"^ ns a glorious Church, not r ha^^g^spot or wriu^te; ,^^^ holy and^unblainable, and unrepronehable in Hi l/Oi. 1 ; 22. " ITe wj H 1 present thewi fUultlcs^< beibre th nii-'lit' sence of His glory, with cxceedinir great ioy"- Judn 2 1 How great will be till, secne of holineS .uuri^^^^^^^^ • 'Vl 62 HEAVKN TUB IfOME OP Till BILIIVBR. irainuntio n««oinblni(o of happy b^ingH formlnff one glorified family in th« proncncc of tiiojr God and Uedc«mor— angelw and Buintu, now brethren in Christ Jimm; th«ir abode, their plouHure, thoir cniploymont ^nd their ohanictcrH ever the ■aniu ; not ono defect Jinion^' thcni all, not ono WenuHh in th() oharaotcrs of countlejw inillionH ; not one error in their conduct; not ono defective diHpotition ; not one unkind feeling ever experienced or ono unholy thought ever known ; every countenanco glowing with heavenly beauty, and every heart full of heavenly love ; every (»ye the index of a soul •domed with oil the lovely excellencies of its redeoaiing Lord ; all in their place reseinbling thoir Lord in glory ; bat •Jen in his sight they shall be unblauiable and unrcprovablc. Happy they who form part of such a family. Header, will you be one of its members ? I hope you will. When you »ad, look at the above linos and lay them up in your iMirt, •nd may God enable you to do so. Amen. i Fifthly. All this does not complete the happinoM of heaven ; they describe that happiness as great and varied j «iere is the noblest enjoyment of God's presence, and the wehes of his everlasting love. " The pure in heart shall see Qod : Mat. 6; 8. " Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, mL ^^ ^^^^^ ^*'^ ***®™ '"*<^ ^ *^^'" ^od": Rev. 21 ; 3. " These are they which came out of great tribulations, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb; therefore are they before the throne of God •nd serve him day and night in his temple, and ho that sit* Jeth on the throne shall dwell among them": Rev. 7 ; 14, 15. The blessings of the divine Saviour's love shall eternally enrich his humble flock. " Tho Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them and lead them unto living fountains of water that will never run dry": Rev. 7; 17. in righteousness, and bo satis- is likeness": Psalms 17; 13, ord ana shall be with him in Iso behold liis glory, tho glory ' before] tlio foundation of the ^ ^y shall |bvcr be with the Lord": . , " They hive in hc/ivcn a better and endu- ring substance ': Hob. 10 ; j34. • IlAuour and glory aro des- t i ncd^for t lioin. >' They ^ JieiA and j oint hnirs with unnst; and if they suffer With hi/ii, they also will boglori- led togetncr': Rom. 8; l " Tlkir inheritance is iScor- thoy shall behold His fac fied when they awake 4^ "They have followed the glory; and that they may which he had with tho fath world": John 17,-24. " T 1 Thcs. 4; 17 "^^WW 5R. Mio glorified mor — aiigelH abode, their «rH cvor the hleiiiiHh in rror in their nn@ unkind over known ; y, and every ex of a soul B rcdecnuing » glory ; but arcprovable. Reader, will When you your illHrt, lappinoM of and varied ; loe, and the art shall sec is with men, Rev. 21 ; 3, iations, and in the blood one of God he that sit- r.7; 14,15. ill eternally in the midst unto living lev. 7 ; 17. nd be satis- msl7; 13, ivith him in , the glory ttion of the the Lord": p and endu- )ry arc dcs- heirs with OSAVBN THl UOJU y TBI BBLIIVM. 03 roptibU) and undcfilod, and fadoth not tw»y"; 1 Pot^i K • a Tndl'lTn ""■ '''ff^^T"^ "^^i^h the Lord, the righ»4>iu. Judge will give to aU that lovt hi«j|hpearinK": 2 Tim 4 Sl " A orown of life given by Hi. j^^d^V thomTh.^^ they hero endure ar« not wortMl^Je Jbmpared with t|« glory that shall be revealed in mtHlom s • 18 " SS matter what afflietion they endure i^^rth ihe; m^ not «S ill bo gloiri- !e is incor- kingdom of their Father'-rMiuHsT 43 ■ " n^*3 ahme forth as the brightness of the Wuament and *L !« for ever and ever^: Dan. 12; 3, "They shallbonllla win the temple of God, and shall go ho nioro out"; Rev. 3 12 inscrlptioni of immortal lore.'' ■ The true christian that is happy iu Christ is exalted to tlw highest honour. " They shall walk with Christ in S»^ fS thev are worthy": Rev. 3 ; 4. '« He will granfc tlM Z sat down w.h the Father on hi* throne?'; Rev. 3: 2^ K ril^*"^ r^ ''^\^'^'^ *^'^'* «""ed them to his #mal glorJ them c crnal hfe": Rom. G ; g2. Once fixei. thus i|i the^ celes la home, besides what has already biwi intrluo^ the Seriptures add-"AndI saw nt^ tempter thereirfoX i,'^ ♦»?'''* ^™?'**^'"^. *''° LamVar/ihe tcmplo of i?! andJihe city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon to shme m U, for the glory of God didjghten it mduZ hght th^^ and a 1 nations of them that are aa^cd shiill walk in the lightof it ; and the kings of the eartli do bring their ^lory and honour into it, and the^ shall irk no wisf enter mto it any that defileth or make^b a iL, but tTo^ ??°'|°^5f i^ book of life" : Re/ Md they need no candle, neither light of tbo sun, iforiS t^i ^ «p''''^*^^^ "g***' «°d tliey shall reign fpw^ and ever ■: Rev. 22 ; 1,2, 5. & |^*»ctw ^Sixthly You^nowiirtbir world for a short tiL and" the alternative is before you-religion here and giorTbere- iif^r, religion and eternal life; "or wickedness and kmd ;^ ... 1 ■/■i \» ., ■•I 64 HEAVEN THE HOME OF THE BELIEVER. * bainishment forever; Reader make your ohoioe, decide as in God's sight, but know you must be decided, and it must be for all eternity. Behold thatetornal good, which God in his word has graciously unveiled to your contemplation ; Bee those man^ns of peace, those crowns of life, that ble»- BednesS which flows as an eternal stream ; behold those happy im^jortals, many of them were Once poor and despised, but all their sufferings are changed. Hearken now to the praises "which they render, to the anthems of delight they sing ; witness how they sing with joy and delight that they are in perfect safety. The fact of their belonging to Jesus leads to all this joy and delight. Reader, will you be his, or will you madly and wickedly refuse ; would it not be well with you to renounce sin and turn to God? by doing so it will be joy to your own soul beyond expression. Would it riot be gain for you to dwell with God, and to be cleansed from all the filth of sin by the sacrifice of himself and to present you faultless before His presence with ex- ceeding great joy ? Would it not be wealth to possess im- mortality, and to call heaven and all its blessings your Own for to change all those earthly employments for the blessed- ness of heaven, and be enabled to raise your feeble and dying voice in eternal glory, praising God forever ? Would it riot be gain for you when absent from the body to be preseiit with the Lord, whei^, a hundred years hence will be forgotten in the grave, to be a happy saint in light ? would it not be well fo^ou to meet the Judge eternal with un- moved tranquility, and to hear the approving sentence, ^' Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord?" Would you not like this sentence to be passed on you ? I think you Would. Well then, in order to have that blessing, you must receive Christ into your heart and hate all that he hates and love all he loves. Would it not be well for yourself to count fill things loss so that you I may win Christ ? Lord direct jou tochoOse that good part that will not be taken away from you. j Seventhly; How little can the mind comprehend the happiness described in. expressive, though in some instances figurative language I what it is to see God and dwell witfl him ? Reader, have you ever considered what it is to bS- jed by the Lamb to living fountains of immortal blessings] to be satisfied in his likeness ; to possess fukess of joy and p leas ur es ever mor e ; to enjoy an inc i o rru p t ible and unfadmg inherita never v happ;jra this m { perfect ( every ill ing; ev( to possci with the ment da is all thi vou mue lose it I already i join bett opnsi to joy,«ihii came the and pleni poverty through; they folk home. ' and exch be mine f for me et me the b] my transj thee as tl done witl and peace pf heavei more isuni afraid, of and to th many a Ic there prai ffs Home wb «i have it 'in HEAVEN THE HOME OP THE BELIEVEB. 9§ inheritance, and to be honoujred with crowns of dory that' never will iade away. How delightful, to sit down aa a happ^ and honoured conqueror by the Saviour's siAj—and thism addition to other blessings to be contemplled: to perfect safety ; to perfect holiness; to perfect freedom fioia every ill; frona everv bad disposition and every unholy feel- ing; every pam and sorrow :. what is it to be all this, and witr*rj. ?"^^^? not for a certain time, but compared with the whole of the time from the creation to the iude- Ta^ fc' N * r ^^ ^^^'^^ ^^ "* «y^- Header whJr is all this ? No tongue can express, or heart conceive : bdt ^«^ ^" ii r^ r S-"^' ^r^* '^iU' ^^'"^ i* '^^ i" Christ, or lose It all by ^slighting him. There are many who have f^''^,r^J^^A^V!^''^?7' ^my home ; they are gone to join better friends than this world can produce. Etemitv f^t^^i?^**™^ ''^'?**^"°'7^^^ brightness, gladness, and Sf^K"^?'*'^ ""''"T^- ^"^ ^^^« ^^« ^*»«««t ¥d whence came they ?^ Some of them were the possessorJof wealth and plenty, but many of them toiled in poverty; though m poverty they were rich ; they had their conflicts to pass , twin' ^y^''**'^^^^?^^^^^^^^^ they fled to JesW; they followed Him, and he has fixed them in their heavenii home, .Then you will rejoice, A ye blessed of the Lord. and exclaim, perfection and peace thou art mine, and shal^ be mine forever. Thou happy heaven, glorious a^e, where for me eternal love has a mansion of peace, and vhete for me the brethren wait. Thou Lamb of God. oneen to their ^^^^ chlS -f T^ f ^'^'^' ^i»e religious consistency of ^ aSd^n^f "^w"" ^'^ * chief source of encourag^ni^ijj^^ tblSfry- ^^«;"^«^^?^ of the gospel. ^Prpbably,!^ the truly, religious two thirds are women, but mv voinff friendsyou want^that gloi^ of an immoral V^S?f can yon trifle with your God, and with your JudS and ^r^^ui'Tfl^f 1-1"?^^ • I?:/^-y »>- thatyo^'Un^ orous and aflash of lighnmg would alarm you, or tfeat you woud get frightened by meeting an ill looking man on a lonely road and yet after all this von can trifle wS God V wi^h arid the horror of SatanVre^n.,Abs,T?^^^ s^op and-thii^, or 1^ you continue Sighting rcligbus ^S * ^ may scK>a Be said of yon when deaS andVnn^ ^^ S one wJoJoved the wo4 but it has. left Wfo^veT^T" girl, she has lost her sotJl for itsgaities anclpleSlJJi^J ■ }■ ■ 'i I A' ■f ■■l 68 .OOMOLXJDINQ ADDK1B8, \ its pleasures are forever ovpr to her now,; ^nhappr gi'l how different her lot from tbos< who Idved and KAlpwed Christ, the Lord." Secondly* How many are thus ijnhappy.,^ Look at a young woman who is openly irreligious. She w false with- out remorse ; oan violate the law of truth; is perhaps pro- fane; was reared up in sin, and loves it. She sdorns true piety, and laughs at its restralnUi Wretohed ^rl, little does; she know to whom she belongs, and to what a dark, dismal abode she is going. Her lord is Satan, and h^bome is hell. Behold a prayerless girl, like the brutes in the field : she rises and lies down careless of the God that made her, and before whose dreadful bal she must shortly stand. She seeks no blessing for eternity and she has none ; no heaven is hers, no peaceful* rest awaits her. She is without God, and without Christ, and without hope. ^ See another. Her idol is dress and display, and she thinks m much about adorning the body, but nothing about the soul ; a new dress fills her with delight, and puffs her up with pride, but she slights the robe of righteousness. The body that must mingle with the dust is all her care, and the soul that must live forever is utterly neglected. Whosp is she ? What must she shortly be when the gra^jp^tJier home and h6r only dress a shroud? Then must that body^be a loathsome mass of corruption and decay, hidden from the eight of all men; and that neglected soul, without one orna- ment of grace must be forever deformed, and hateful, and hellish, amidst the poverty and glooni of perdition. A fe# years ago, some particulars were related to the writer, respecting a young woman, who had died but a short time before. This unhappy girl was what thousands are, devoted to the world; The love of dress: reigned in her breast'— dress was her idol. A. fair was about to take plac^, ^ and she had a new dress in which she designed to attend its scenes of dissiplation. . Part of several prece4ing Sab^ baths had been employed in preparing some.of her apparel, as she usually left this work fi>r that saCred day. On Sat- ^^ :6rday evenj^ng' before the fair she was not quite well ; the I . * ne)ct morning she attended to some worldly business. In the evening of that profaned Sabbath she became ill and soon sunk int<> a state of insensibility. Thus she contin- „ ^ _»_ aai_ — »— *^ .-• -■ « ^ : ^m— — i -- *- >. nod till Friday, the day of h6r intended pleasure, but on that day about threel o'dook, she expired ; at the very time when prqb^ not disappdi died her ht sufficioDtly *hair! . Ian ,': Behold, a and listens I \ iself to |9o(K ledge till sill what are h^i cease to pjt "strive with! ; agalhst hor. View olRs y( ' those ahead duct, co^nnK friends, yet tian. Still, Her prospec becomes a cl She must be respects but be near the ; • A piotuirii d;^ing bed, v listened to s that she mi "niy Bible 1 gotten God, I away forever could ij^ot fle Are any of 1 But we will Thirdlj^ upofi gaining She is humb own esteem l ful; and pr She is the £ *' Blessed arc heaven; BI( co mf o rt e d. after dghteo .*'*- llowed * ' c at i witt- )fl pro* scorns I girl, irhat a n, and brutes te Qod 9 rntist ndshe tsher. \, hope, thinks B soul; p with e body besom 18 she?, tne and ^ be a pin the e orna- al, and to the a short ids- are, in her « plao. '""W^ , i.* w OONCLITDINO AQDRE8S. 60 bat on try time when prql)|bly, she would have been in the fair, ha4 death ijpt dbappointed her expectations, gome time before she died her bain was shaved from her head, when she was sufficiently sensible to exclaim, " Oh, not my hair!' not my *hair! . I am' tormented in my soul ! " ' ' - Behold, anotjier : she feels^nvmted of her am and foljy and Hstens to pn>u8 instructions butl she will not give her- \ * self to Podi She goes on sinning o^^ainst light and know- ledge till slio gets into a state of hardness. Whoso is she ? what are hfr prospects? The God she tHfles with will soon . ■ cease to pit V her ; the spirit she resists virill soon cease to ^ strive with her:; the. hou von she neglects will soon be Shut ; against her. , Then what will this pdir trifler be forever ? . Vifew o>ns yoiing woman moro : . she is very different from ' those already described. .In di«fpositi(tn, amiabte; iucon- - duct, co^nmondable.y^he respects religion and esteems its friends, yet she is nqt its possessor. She is almost a chris- tian. Still,.what is she ? Like others, a perishing sinner. Her prospects, alas, are as dark as theirs. Soon, unless she becomes a christian ,- indeed, she must be shut out of heaven . She must be sepatated ,eternally,fron^ those whose piety she respects but does not imitate. Unliapfiy, unhappy girl, to be ijear the kingdom and fall short at last. ' ^.^ A piouf minister relates that he Visited a female on heM d;^ing bed, who had^dulged||^ls6 hopes of heaven. He^ listened to awful regrets for time past, and to her priiyers that she might not die. ♦* I cannol die." she exclaimed/ "tny Bible will rise up in judgment opoist me; I've for-* . gotten God,and served the world, and Bbw he is takia!^^pf pdioo. NoiiO! und' given ^wp its Vi »iV i"Wl ■f .''^ »Stoi m m W:. adi laSe to, 111 8h hojne is iheitip. ^nd ootid«^t Hi' him ai h ^ ^ ^ ^ eqipircs are hat a8|w)verty ta her \ iLbrd ^\lmighty's i^iH will soon be iglbrV, in his own prel ^^gioryj" Mjrdeaify t^ X3|^sit6 classes ilo y(W >il thiat isdear to you lite pers' ti^ns addressed to you ini thjis icornenp'i?!^, what you wiU (eJso^ \e: 104, With joy ig foi^ate, to tig? If to led to listen ai^dpray tally wish f the Sa- e careless «». ■ ibL .__ ...^ , , , . ,. V in vWn ^to liavcii ^6<^ humjble fouoWe r vi^u^ j^d thi%i d*«»^ter of the Lord Ajlmi^ i- ^^Wthly/ «!Peri||^theirnter is ad^ y^ttg man ; if so iiij^lip^nd; harden not your Heart against this admoiiiti% th»!t nj^t, if regJirde(|, do you good for- eyett, Ampng; yot^rtg Ipien there is much wickedness a^d much daring $«:i0kednessj and a greater portion |0f them than i of the; <)ther sex ai?fe \<^i^cd, m^ they harfcj others in J wickedness ; -thus multitudes act. Bv^Sahbiktnps profaned, >^i V ^^rliops its mornings $pent in the fielJfe^ithjtMr dogs and ^M|p; th^ir wickfed coijftpinions, and its'^venings 4 the taverik or ' 'the ale house, where they arc unitinfr, to train as it were, each dther for the pit of perdition, Aid Ihey too fully suc- ceed; Were this their olject they gbuld np*^^omT)lish % k more efiectuallj than tiiey; do. Ii09k at the jfflj^ of niajiy •young ibi9n--some are lewd and drunken, flHpnpters of V, the other sex «aike disgrace' of their omj^anflPPjclestroyer of themselv cJHl ^ ^^^^^ state. a ^^^^ ^^H^P^ ^ ^^ * 1^ It is one of simulating guilt and cotaEHpHnger; many ^ die the victima of youthful lus1», otheri^H^ith death in «s of 'drunkenness, and ftre suddenly ^P||H^^^7 from e company and society of devils. So ctii^M^li tlus th&t 'frequently in one week the publio points >»H|^ver^l in- £itanc«s of people in the midst of thi&ir sins"natcbed into eternity. Lately an account appeared of two individuahi riding home intoxicated, one fell from his horse And WM found killed on thei^t, the other f^Il on^mapr was asleep by hi» dead comj^anion, but so iqplblJiliurt as tajeave h hopes beholc jjbthing, p( ^ too wise in * dares to dei Locke and have reven is his condi willbrmg ] always sit i he may no) not turn de port? let tl who scorne( mental facu of hisgr^at months bef( of his wife] he frequent that »*evil ( men were j -new associa their ezam*^ the restrain oto encourag on^ of those they togeth vowed nevei this, said th himand foi ted him tol taken full p m^y and "mati^th treated agai takdth Away no use now, he said '*1), after a pans often repeat he was, spql j^oped to roi ) CONCLUDING ADORtSg. ;^t. f ;J|jwle hopes of his recover^* Let us Idbk nt unother^charac- j? • .^"^^^ the affected infidel ; though he knows little or ^^thing, perhaps has never read the Bible in his life, ho is ^ :bo wise in his owi> .counsel to listen to its sacred trulhs, and jdares to despise thkt book which Milton and Newton, and Locke and Sir M. Hale, and the greatest and wisest of men have reverenced as divine; he scorns instruction, but what is his condition ; is it one of peace and safety ? oh no. God will bring him unto judgment; he cannot live always nor always sit in the scorner's chair ; he cannot jest at religion ; he may now laugh • at its solemn truths, but laughter will not turn death and hell away. "What is his peace iind sup- port? let those who have been lilje him dedare. Al>other, who scorned the Bible; was found in the possession of his mental faculties, but much agitated and alarmed by a sense of his gr^at sinfulness and approncbing misery. About six months before the time at which T'saw him. he was deprived of his -wife by death ; to drown' sorrow and trouble of mind, he frequently went to a " public house,' * but he soon found that "evil oommunieations corrupt ^ood manners." These men were infidels, and it was not long till they had their new associate as bad^s ^|fiposelve8 j they got him to imitate their ezam*pl& in abandotaing the profession and'casting off the restraints of religion. Qn Sunday morning tbey met vto encouragia each other in all manner pf wickedness, and at one of those meetings, according to their previous agreement, they together committed their Bibles to the dames, and ▼owed never agaitt to enter, -ynlap, of religious worship. All this, said t^^'ijm |e)^ enough whil^ I was in bealtj^ 9nd_^ce«|rkteep oF di|th^^^j^ came upon him ftttd fqgcd him to reflect on his guilt. aiwJ danger, exci- ted him toithe utinosl l|orror and alarA an* dfesjair hlid ** ' taken f^ll possession of his mind. TV(;hen I apQ)i^ t&^mi. pray." These exp^ssions^erc I having come into the^ room whei^ h*i Was, spiiko tohimin ablusTertn^ liiaiiner, by which thp^ ihoped to rouse hil^Dirits ;; he raised himself o^ his bed*diid\ ;a. Y^ [^ ■ .\ ■,.i\ "l m^ \' ./ ig^ 72 CONCtUDlNQ APDBEBSf ,f.„.=,-. in a very solemn ni/nner toM God Almighty to bktst those wretches to all eternity. They left the apartment, uttering a pFofusion of oaths He became quite indifforont to what W08 said to him, rolling about on his bed, and now and then saying my Bible, my Bible, my Bible; his eyes were foj- scvc- wj minutes fixed on his visitor, but beseemed to give a deaf • ear to wliat was said to him ; he then concealed his fiice by turning to the pillow, and after having remained in this ' position perhaps a quarter of an hour, his whole frame was convulsed, he groaned, and then again was still, and while 1 was speaking to the by-standefs he expired. It is a fearful thing tofiill into the hands of the living God. ' V/ i v Fifthly. See a young man that ranks not thus openly with the enemies of holiness; he spends his Sabbatns in worldly company and in reflecting on worldly matters ; he neglects all piety,, he lives a praycrlcss lift) ; he seldom enters a place of divine worship, and if he docs so occasionally, he goes in as it were a lifeless form ; iu vain for himiihe Min- ister proclaims the tidings of heavenly love ; ho. tftats those wonders on which angels gaze with astonishment with utter indifference. But what is his condition ; is he safe arid blessed ? Ah no, ruin and only ruin lies before him ; he is exposed to titter danger, to etcrnaWestructioh; yet he is vigorous and fears no ill : true, hut health may soon leave him; it has lieft millions as fearleiss as he. Beholve, and a general fce^i^g for uU mankind, and gives hini- self i)ip to Qod and -the Saviour Jesus Christ ; true rol^od and gospel religion are tho elements in which he lives; prayer ^is his pleasure, the Bible his guide, and the friends of Ohrist are his Oorrespoadents. No matter what he has in view in this life, he always keeps looicing to hrighter pros- ^ pects in the everlasting future. God is his God ancl his all ; the Saviour is his all^ and heaven is his home. That ytkag man is happy; ho has received the good part that will not be taken away from him. I would ask you in conclusion, which of these different characters do you>belollg to? If ^the latter, give God the praise; if the former, ruin is. before r, yoU{ I would advi&e you to come out from the wioked of**' tilie world and be not partaken of their evil iieeds; if not, . yon will have to dwell in a place of everlasting torment,' " where the worm/ dieth not and the fire is never quenched.' * In conclusion,/eader, before this little addhsss is fiji Ahed, - let me ask yo\i one question more : Are you yet undecided ; ' ' if so, what objections have you to embrdccyyligion ; would you lose any thing by turning to God; woudd it make you iinhapi^; would you eyer repent of doing so; can you find anotlier Saviour, or huvMuess in any other plaoie ; if not, why remain imdecided ? Would not the giving ^our all to the Saviour, in&ke this the best and happiest year of your lifiT? would It not prepare you for all events— to live on earth,'or to die^ or live in heaven ? Why do Vou continue ahnott a christian; why^ thiu^ ruined by wbat ruins jmultit^d^? Probably few exti|lM perish forever ; some delusion props ' upth^ hopes ;^^ath and eternity swe^p all delusive hffjgl^ away. Some speak of having religion, but admit they do not posses^ it as they, should, wnen me fact is they have never from their J^rt eihbraced the gospel ; others hope to become relijnousjW^reafter, and thus many we undone b^ : delusions. ^ut( A yOu allow the deceittvjfiu^ of i^n thus * to ruin you? /The Lord sayg,^ ^strive id stipight ga%^' °and will you not strive wh< depend ipgogit? - ' ■' I J > •-%#' SeymGi^. Reader, before you ixb left own cQUsoience, bei^|pi|||^one more waning ag^i 14 ■*(t,,' OONOLVDINO ADDRini. with religion, for trifling wilh^^^^ija titerna^ly ; ouly luaku K|^t of Ohriit, and you 4i|lPW||MfflwciitoLinQil. whom fit«t« ilfhopeleiie, and who m loft for execution ; if you slight jpll^Bt, and your life will bo tin, your death doKpair, your "^ e hell, apd you are already an abandoned Hinnor ; make I of turn and you Beal your condemnation ; no remedy 4 wpl then be presented to you ; only make lighi of salvation jMattd all hope will won be over ; nothing more \h wanting to ^ %t Undo you forever and to phut yow out of heaven ; only trifle j with the Saviour's claim and you are completely undone ; only bl^ioontent with being almost a christian, ana your soul ia Mt forever, and you sinkvto hell. You need not be a drilnknrd, a swearer, a liar, or lewd or dishonest ; o|J||^li^ht Christ, and that will bring you to misery and d^tfuotion L •■!*t. forever^i^ To murder your own soul with the undying death, vou need ^ live in open sin or violate the laws of God, — but make nMit of Christ and neglect decided religion, the deed is oomfieted'^nd the soul undone forever. On choose life^ life, not death ; c^l^ to Christ and ho will have iflbrcy on you, fbr he is all love «id of toncler compassion. Poor sinner, whatgnll yduk. be, or^bat wil^ you do ? The most important o8||be i#n)efore you; ii is not who you shdl choose or /^hiO shall be your companions here, l^ut who will bo your cdinpankM ana what vour emjobyment to all eter- nity. WiU y^iuRive a f)har«|lj^ the bUwings <»f salvation, or will you madly and wilftdry "haiiit' no lot omMrt fa. reK- ffious matters; "will «you ^avo^llPHBuppoi't of the J^aViour's Kjve or will you wilfullj I hope you will make <^ d^^hom ever^enretted; ' 4 Eighthly. Wul you "fie decided now ; do say, with God's help you will: then come at once, your last day is fast ap- proaching; do ^ot delay, your body will soon be in the grave, and the 80|il must go to meet its God either in glory or in woe eternally. If these events were never to come a^ttt,.you might trifle with God's word, but they will soon urrive, and then you will see religion as with otfaor eyes, and you will fee^ the importance of it as with another heart. After all that has been stated, will you become a child of Ood, or will you still be a guilty prodigal; will you have an interest in his promises and favor; will you come and par- i^ sleeThis grace and have it not? 10^ mnlions have made, none take of his grace ;' will his everlasting love bless you ? O, do not be trifling any longer, and such blessings to be ob- *■ taioed. Cor or follow the other you mi lidNI Jesus C have already to live as saf low Him wh< yMoon unite y( and wm^ dei in Uie dust y •re forgotten Well, what^ ChriiB| stoa 8wer, an%,tli indeed lilQ answer of yc this be youi eternal ages Yes, then Sa Lord, " I wi Lord, the Sa of the augeh . so reader ; k long to be H as me." Av willing to CO] that made y( " Come unto I will give y< wise oast out oome to this^ Will you be of the Lord, the heartfelt BO. Perhaps do? what tl i tween decide etenial ruin. Lord's^ after yourself, but donet. At 01 V"!-.' *. MHOLtmiMO ADDfttn. n ly luaku I slight ir, your ; make remedy ilvatioti iting to^ ly trifle 7 ndone ; )ur soul ot be a ksli^ht fUCtlOD ; death, God,— on, the choose 5 irorcy Poor 10 most u shiOl rho will ill leter- Ivatbn. 1 tained. Come now to Christ and rejoice for bver in heareiw^ or follow the world and wail for over in hell : one or iw other you must do, which will it bo ? Reader, come to the hdii Jesus Christ, and thus become uh blessed as those that have already reached their heavenly homo : you must learn to live as safely and to die as pcaccfuUj^ ; and you must fol- low Him who will teach you to sing me song of victory and pmon unite vou to those happy bands ? Will you come now, and wAui death comes it will be eternal galh ; when you are in the dust your spirit will bo with the Lord, and when yott are forgotten in the grave you will still bo with him forever* Well, what wiir you do ? We are ambassadors for Christ/ as Am^K^ God did beseech you bv us ; wo pray you ill Chrilt stead bf yo Reconciled to God. God s message is delivdll tf) you, put it off no longer. He awaits your an- swer, aniolie Slkviour waits. The question is— will vou indeed iJChrisfa disciple ; what is your answer ? The answer of your l^art, yes Lord, I will. Blessed be God, if this be your ^4p> y®" ^*^° cjiuiB.to blesij God through eternal ages -forTbe grace that inspired such an answer. Yes, then Satan has lost his>prey, and hell its victim. Yes Lord, " I will follow Thee wherever thou goest;" praise the Lord, the Savioijr is thine, and there is joy in the presenoe of the angels of God over you as a repenting sinner. Is it . so reader ; is yes your answer ? Perhaps you may sajr,- " long to be His, but I fear ho will not welcome such a sinner aa me." Away with such fears ; if you have faith and are willing to come to Him, he is more willing, it was his grace that made yoir Wiling ; and he also invites you, for he says, "Come unto me^U ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rerffc ; him that oometh unto me I will in no wise cast out." Have you not here every encouragement to come to thiff Saviour? He is able to save to the uttermost. Will you be decided? You may say, "Yes, in the strength of the Lord, I will be Christ's disciple;" but it is t^red the heartfelt answer of all the* readgjw of this book is not BO. Perhaps it is not yours j then what are you about to do ? what then is your answer ? Tbere is up medium be- tween decided religion and eternal life, and irreligion and etenial ruin. I suppose you are not willing to be quite the Lord's after all that has been said. Well do not deceive yourself, but speak plainly ; what the Lord regards is plainly doBo. At once Giay no«I will not be the Lord's. Is this • .'; € '.»Aiiii*A-^ ,*' ^BBb' \-. ^ "• 7e ■ip*i(Snpp[s^ OOMOLUDINO ADPEIM. your aniwer cither by wordii or by oondaot ; if so, then for you the Son of God will have no blefwing ; SaUn then ex- ults tbat you are his victim. Say dtill no, then shall you deplore eternally your fatal rosolution. Abide by this answer and your doom is settled and your damnation sealed. Let us consider how old and youn^j; make religion their comfort, and are sure to find it a prop and stay. Onco the pleas- urea of sin were their false comforts; now the pleasures of religion are their real comforts. In what do pious children V take comfort ? This is a very important question, and we give to it the following answer. They take comfort in the love of God, in the promises of God, and they take comfort in the presence and fellowship of God ; they take comfort in the salvation if their mouIs, by the obedience, and suflfcr- ings and death of the Son of God; they take comfort in their Bible, in tlio preaching of the word, in the company of pious children, and in their hopes of a gloriouM heaven. Now tell me the truth ; can you take comfort in any or all of tl^ things ? If so, 1 huve no doubt whatever but that yooi^old heart has been taken away and a new one given to youi The new, heart has new sorrows: be not alarmed Hrhep I tell you this. Good children need sorrows as long as they are in the world; the bitter sorrows of life prepare- then for the sweet joys of hcavei\. When I say they have new corrows, I mean that the things which gave them sor- row when they had the old heart, gives them joy since they have got the new one; and things which gave them delight wheja they had the old heart give them grief since they received the new. Will you let me explain this a little bet- terJ Once they were grieved because they had so little sin- ful jpleasuro, now they arc grieved because they have so little grace; once they were jj^rievcd when culled to serve God, and would rather have walked for miles over a hard road than have been obliged to sit one hour to hear a ser- moja. Now what a change; they are griet^ed if anything ari|ses to prevent them from entering God's house to listen to the sweet mild strains of the trumpet — the silver trumpet of goE^l love. Once the company of the righieous g^iei them sorrow, now the company of trie wicked grieves them ; bnoethe very thoughts of religion made them sorrowful, now the thoughts of sin have tho same effect. My dear ^xistiaa children and people is t^is the e9^ with ydu ? if- 80, God has ^iven you ^neyr heartr w f- -■#; •V/. The new \md man or be dies he s and ohildrei destroying ; tt^n or hoy heaven. T ^ .hppes, his hi ' sure hopes ; new heart a sent before ; heart eviden life was not was fur bet^^ June 28, 11 most ohildre He asked lei go with him inquiied if t for his dear he might ha father praye< upon the chi reason, and S}t a new h( od would I tion between did to the U " Have yc "I hope I ♦•What, '„' Oh no, t "Poyou] "I hope I '*Whydo << Because "How do "Beoi^nse "Did^you fijri^r ;\ > *'I liope 1 ^^' Wl^ do - . «• That 1 1 OOMOLUDIMO ADOEBM. 77 The new heart has no hopee ; perhaps there in har(ily i hud man or ehild to bo found but will tell you he hopen when be diet he shall go to heaven. The hopes of wiokvd men and ohildren are , bad hopes, they aro deceiving — they /are destroying ; is there not something a\^ful in heurihg a bad D)|in or boy on his dying bed saying, ho hopes to get to heaven. The man or child who hois a new heart hus new .hppes, his hopes are all laid on Jesus, and thorofor** good »nd ' sure hopes; may Qod .graciously give you my dear reader, a new heart and new liopcs It is with grunt plouifiuro, t pre- sent before you a pleading inutanco of a little child, whoHC heart evidently appeared changed by divine grace. Long life was not given him, but ho had a new hoort. nnd' thut was fur better. His name was Jaukcs Stivcns, he was born June 28, 1797, his dispoHilion wa8 lively yet thoughtful, most ohildren are lively but few are thoughtful, he was both. He asked leave from his father when a very little child, to go with him into his ohaniber^ his father admiltod him, and inquired if there woa anything ho wished him to pray for, for his dear boy ; the child replied with great sweetness, that he might have a neiii;: heart and a now spirit, for this the father prayed and his prayerf) wero heard. Qod laid affliction upon the child ; one day he was crying, his father asked the reason, and little James answered, ho was afraid ho had not 0)t a new heart ; on this he prayed with many tears, that God would prepare Hibn for death ; the following conversa- tion between tlio father and his son, will show what grace did to the heart of this sweet child. *' Have you any right9(|)USQM; j^lGBDM ?'' . ' " I hope I have;" , -'^/I'i^^^ ♦• What, or your own?" > ^ V ^ , '' Oh no, there is no righteousness but Christ's. " Po you love Ohyifltr/ «' I hope I do.*' V - " '* Why do you love Christ ?" : , " Beoause he loyed me." ."How do youlfnow he loves you?" " Beouue nesaid^ ^suffer little tshildren tooomeunto me. " Didjroa ever feel your need of the grace of<}ed, and long ftrii?»* / .> \ ^ ' '^ I hope I hwre." * . . . - h^'Wl^ do you wanHfr?*^ •r > *> \ ' ml t . * I " That I may go to heaven." ^ -1 :/;^-C^ # 78 XfONOLUDINO ADDBI88. " Do jou wish ta go to hMven only tluit you n^ay eaoapo ^mr -■■■'-■':-: -■:-,/,^':-:^^-^^ ^ *' No, that I may be with Qod." i'Bat Qod is a holy God, andjou arc an unholy creature.*' *'I must pray to Jesus Christ to make me holy and fit for ■Jieaveh,**' -■.■.■■■.■.■ -'v -,. . '■■"'■■■■':■, '"'A/'- My dear children, -I am unwilling to close this little nar* rative of this young saint, he di^d aged only eight years, a \ I Holy spirit, come reuiewme, .,;, r Make ine holy, make me just, .lamevil, Oh 1 subdue me : ' l^oHisyokeiawb^mltruBti " ; ! \) '> ■'■■••'■'■"/. ■ ' ' .•" .■■ -.'-■' • r*--- • ,■■•■:■■ ■;''r',^;0 ■ • - • I would have new thoughts apdfeelipgfy. ' ^j^ - i'^? Newdeligh^ and new desires, . Grant, Oh I grant me the revealiags^ i , Which thy heavenly light inspires. I * - V Makemelovemy Ood and seFVing •^ Him supremely day by day^ . • ;• ; :. Without wandering, without swerving^ ' . t May I tread the heavenly way< f , . A person who was rtmarkable for his peacefiu conduct) was asked by a X^jg^ how he contrived always to avoid bein^ engaged in qi$rrcls; he replied, by letting ^e angry person always have the quarrel to himself. Oan you renlem- ber to do so Hirheti any of your little companions speak cross or unkind to you ? " ^ !*. I)>' r. A PRATES. : % « When my voice at morn (M^ evea^ Seeks Lord thy graoiaDS ear^ Let the essence waft to ^lyen, Hear the .vow, accept Che*'tean j Ob, from fault ^nd hourly weakness, j ^^^ '« ^ * Guard me first, and >ihen forgive j I " Sayiour let thy love and meekness, I ' * Clothe rayii-flpirlt while I live, ^Lord what I want and still implore^ ' Is for grace tq ^ve the^ more, A heart renewed, and frecffrom si] 'And lilled with heavenly light L^Jift Qptfn us the light of thy (^unten A good man oirifpman is one who takes „ for his rule, |;he grace of God for his slrength, Qod for |iis guide, and the heaven of God foe hi^ home • \ '^¥'i spirit «f^.; I^ord grant fall view, b To aooon into this w< as the Son not robbery putation, ai made in. the a man; he! even the dei at Bethlehe at the idea < scoff and as himself deol what is mat %now nothii gether, ihey sottlr— what andof the ] ,man can go, /about God a the precious ievil disposed than Gpd, tl 9 » » A< * /' f> oape ire/* it for nar* i. \.^ i'KSSPSy^* luott ivoid ngry tfem- crosii CONOLUmNG ADDBES8. \ Hi w liord grant that wo may bd, able to keep, these sentiments in fbll view, by a living faith in Christ Jesus. Amen. ' To aooomplish this infinitely benevolent object, he came into this yrorlAfEttd the Son of God appeared on the eatth as the Son of Man, "^ who being in tlwiform of God. thought it not robbery to bo equal with God, he mad© himself of no re- ' pmtation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men, and being formedin fashion as a man ; he humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the cross.": Phil. 2; 6., 8. He was born at Bethlehem. The infidel and would-be philosopher scoff at the idea of God incarnate, but what right have the\' to scoff and assert that to be absurd and impossible which God himself declares actually to have taken place. Ask such men what is matter, they cannot tell you, or what is spirit, they |now nothing about it ; what binds the 4)arts of matter to- gether, they cannot tell — what is their o^n bodv—what the soul— what the nature of the union oftthe two ;" of all ''this^> and of the plainest factfi in nature, let them searcl^ as far as .man can go, th^ kjrow nothing, and yet they knowas-feuch about God as to contradict whit he declares, or to disbelipve the precioui truths of his word because of their own ignorant eyil disposed nature. The man that thinks himsdf wiser than God, there is more hope of a fool than of hii^. rt :. ■'■ ■ -V * m V . * ■ ■- •' * \. ; • , 1 t ^ « V ■'■■ .■ ; " I ■ y '..':'■' ".' ' ¥ * * * ■ V ■ ^ ' . ' ■"■' 4it ^ - 1 -4 ■i;..' , •• t f n > \ • » '' \ ■ -'M-v,' '■•.■■■ . ■" ■ - f. * •V* *t -(> ' ', f -..,-'•. ■■ ■ .--■■ ^';' .[ « « V q » •-" , V > *> ;•' -'■ . ■■ ■ ■■". "•'''. Qo.1 I y;,'. 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