That you may be affifted in judging, every one for himself, whether you have come unto Chrift that ye might have life or whether, like the Jews, you have hitherto refused to liften to his call ; I propofe, in the first place, to fet before you fome of the circumftances which hinder men from coming unto Chrift: then to explain the manner in which you are to come unto him effectually for falvation: and afterwards to make a fhort and practical application of the fubject.

4

I. Among the circumftances by which individuals are reftrained from having recourse to Jefus Chrift for life eternal the most obvious, is disbelief of the truth of his divine miffion; or fcepticism, fo great as practically to be followed by effects the fame with thofe of pofitive unbelief. "And fhall a man," we are asked, "be "condemned, because he applies not for "falvation to a perfon whom he believes

that God has not commiffioned to be a "Saviour?? No. But he may be condemned for not, believing that God has commiffioned that perfon to be a Saviour. Here new outcries against uncharitableness and bigotry are raised. "Shall a man be

"condemned, because an impreffion of a “certain kind is not wrought upon his "understanding: because the evidence "adduced in fupport of an afferted fac proves infufficient to convince his judge“ment?” Yes: if it be through his own culpability that his understanding is steeled against the impreffion, his judgement biaffed against the evidence. Suppose that man ftanding to receive his final doom, and thus addressed from the throne.— “Thou wert endowed, while on earth, “with faculties adequate to the examina❝tion of the evidences of Chriftianity. "Thou wert ftationed, not in a region "ftill overspread with the corruptions of “darkened ages; but in a land where in “fimplicity and truth, the pure doctrines “of the Gospel were displayed: not in a "region where the oracles of God were -“ sealed up in an unknown tongue; where “ignorance furrounded the enquirer; "where perfecution cut off the faithful "worshipper; but in a land of light and “knowledge, a land of civil and religious "freedom. My word was unfolded before "thee, My temples were opened to thee

My Minifters warned and invited thee, “in vain. The fupreme importance of Eternity

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"Eternity thou couldst not but perceive. "Because, puffed up with ignorance, which "thou calledft Philofophy; immersed in "defilements, which thou wert refolute not "to abandon; or living only to cares and "trifles confeffedly pertaining but to thy "mortal existence; thou blindedft thy "mind, pervertedft thy heart, refusedft to "enquire, to liften, to obey; doft thou hope to escape My promulgated fen

tence, directed to men fo endowed, fo "ftationed, fo warned, fo invited, as thou wert; He that believeth not, shall be "damned (a)?" What could Prefumption reply? What could Charity suggest?

The Pharifees difdained to apply to our Lord for pardon and juftification, because they were felf-righteous. They boasted that they had fcrupulously observed the commandments of God. They valued themselves on their ideal merits. They fupposed themselves to be whole; and consequently to have no need of a physician. They perceived not that they were fick unto death; that their heart was full of corruption; that they were proud, worldlyminded, envious, impure, in every respect unholy. Numbers who denominate them(a) Mark, xvi. 16.

selves Christians in principle, resemble the contemptuous Pharisee. They cherish high opinions of themselves. their fouls before God.

They humble not
Outwardly decent

in their conduct, and not inattentive to the externals of religion; they prefume that they are fubftantially righteous, and perhaps despise others. Their hearts, in the mean time, are set upon their idols; upon wealth, or power, or confequence, or pleas fure, or praise. Of the depravity of human nature, of the heinous guilt of fin as, an offence against God, of the need in which they ftand of a Saviour who can bestow upon them forgiveness and fanctification; they have a very inadequate and feeble conception. Their love of Chrift is cold; their gratitude to him languid. With their lips they acknowledge that through Him alone they expect falvation. But fo far are they from difcerning that their falvation, if they are faved, will be wholly owing to his grace; and that their own beft works, when tried by the pure. and fpiritual Law of God, will be found defective and finful: that they look for an inheritance in heaven chiefly through the affumed merit of their own works; and deem themfelves dependent upon a Saviour

only

only for a little affiftance to make up for their imperfections,

Others are prevented from throwing themselves at the foot of the cross by the care of the world. Religion feldom enters into their thoughts, and when it croffes their minds, is fpeedily expelled by bufinefs. They are inceffantly employed in the improvement of their land; or in the conduct of their merchandize; or in the fuperintendence of their manufactories; or in the management of their shops; or in the concerns of fome lucrative profeffion. Morning finds them eager to begin their daily occupation. Evening difmiffes them weary with the labour and bustle of to-day, and meditating on plaus of fimilar employment for to-morrow. Year after year rolls on, and beholds them in the fame track. If you mention religion to them, they reply that they have no time for it; that every hour has its engagement; that they must provide for their families; that they muft adhere clofely to their bufinefs. They remark farther, that induftry is commanded. in the New Teftament: that honefty is one of the principal virtues: that they are induftrious and honeft: that, as to public worthip, they attend their church once in a

day