refuge to Jesus, the Saviour of sinners. Oh! that mankind would recollect that they must give an account of themselves to God, and that his sentence on their actions will be impartial: for he will not look on sin with the least degree of approbation, but will assuredly bid every worker of iniquity depart from his presence into the lake. of fire and brimstone. We must appear before an impartial Judge.

3. Our giving up our account to God will display the power and authority of the Judge.

We have remarked before, that all power and judgment is committed unto the Son; and in that day he will display the arm of his power; his authority shall be displayed in sending his angels to rouse the dead, in calling them all to his bar, in giving them a sentence of impartiality and justice, in banishing ungodly sinners to remediless woe, and in receiving his favorites to the kingdom of eternal glory. And this power, majesty, and authority, will be displayed before the whole company of angels and glorified spirits; the race of man, from the first that was created to the last that died; and the host of wicked angels and condemned souls. Before all these our Jesus will display his eternal power and godhead, to the glorification of all his attributes and perfections; the justifying all his dealings; and the final happiness or complete and eternal misery of every individual. "Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest he tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver." Remember, that he who will be your Judge is almighty, that his power is uncontrolled, and that the weight of his vengeance will be intolerable. you must give an account of yourselves to God. Oh, that

Every one of

his grace and mercy may be manifested, in welcoming us

to everlasting happiness, instead of his vengeance being displayed, in banishing us from his presence and from the glory of his power!

This awful subject is calculated to alarm the sinnercomfort the believer-and instruct us all. When the apostle Paul reasoned of judgment to come, Felix trembled. And does not this subject, O sinner, affect thee? Can you be stupid and unaffected when you hear of the account you must shortly give? Those who at that awful day are found Christless, will also be speechless, hopeless, and helpless! How will their heads hang down, and their knees knock together! Oh, what pale faces, quivering lips, and fainting hearts! Oh, dreadful day! when the earth shall be trembling, the stars falling, the trumpet sounding, the dead rising, the elements melting, and the world on fire! Recollect the solemn tribunal before which you must appear, the impartial sentence you will receive, and the happiness or misery which will be your portion. What kind of account will you have to give of your talents, your time, or anything with which you have been favored? Oh that this subject might be properly impressed on your hearts. and consciences, then you would never trifle with solemn things! You would be often examining yourselves, that you might know whether you had a good hope through grace. Remember that you have been warned of approaching danger, and of appointed death and judgment. Say not, with many of old, "Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." There are sufficient proofs from reason and revelation, that there will be a judgment-day; and woe be unto those who are not anxiously concerned about the decision of their state on that important day.

We said, that the subject was calculated to comfort the believer. The second advent of Christ is to the christian a desirable event: he loves his appearing, and says, "Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly." At that day, when he shall give an account of himself unto God, all his woes will be redressed. No longer shall he have to mourn over a body of sin and death. No more shall he cry out, Deliver me from temptation. All his sorrows will be done away: the Lamb that is in the midst of the throne shall wipe away all tears from his eyes. Then the pardon of all his sins will be declared. God will show to angels, men, and devils, that he is well pleased for the righteousness' sake of Christ. All the angelic host will admire and adore the grace which has been displayed in his conversion; and the saint himself shall say, Amen, to all the praise. For he shall come to be admired in his saints, and to be glorified in all them that believe. At that day his soul will be taken to eternal glory, to dwell for ever in the contemplation of the Saviour's beauties, enjoying his eternal smiles. God will be his eternal all, and he shall be full of glory. But "eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man to conceive, what God has prepared for them that love him."

To conclude:-This subject instructs us all: it teaches us to be concerned, to be always ready for our account; to walk humbly and closely with our God; to sit loose to all created objects; and to set our affections on things above: to improve all our mercies; to redeem every hour of our time; to hear the word of God, so that we may profit; to look for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life and to keep in view the end of our journey, being constantly looking unto Jesus. In short, what our text first said to the Romans, it now says to us all,-"Watch.”

SERMON III.

SALVATION THROUGH CHRIST.

"I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved and shall go in and out, and find pasture."-JOHN 10: 9.

ONE striking feature of the gospel of Jesus Christ is, its variety; for it makes known the same truths by various methods, and in various ways. In the book of God, our attention is arrested to consider the things that belong to our peace, by well-chosen metaphors and suitable language; and as it is God's own word it shall accomplish the end whereunto he has sent it, for which he has designed it, and to which he has said it shall prosper.

The chapter out of which we have read you a text, abounds with metaphors: in it God's people are represented as sheep, to denote their simplicity, patience, usefulness, and meekness. Jesus Christ speaks of himself as the good Shepherd who has laid down his life for these sheep; and the church of God is described as a fold, into which our Lord will shortly bring all his flock, so that there shall be "one fold under one Shepherd." In the beginning of the chapter, the Saviour shows the folly which those men manifest who seek to get into his fold by some other way, than by the door. The disciples understood not these sayings, yet without a parable spake he not unto them; but,

having compassion on their infirmities, he told them, that he himself was the door of the sheep, that all who ever came before him were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. "I (says he, in the words of our text) am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." It is our design to consider these words-as affording a significant representation of Christ,-and as describing the blessedness of all his people. Praying therefore, for the divine illumination, and trusting that our meditations will be profitable to all our souls, let us consider the passage

I. As affording a significant representation of Christ.

The name of our Lord Jesus is as ointment poured forth as, in all his offices, relations, and characters, he is exceedingly precious to the believing soul, he must be at all times worthy of our attention, nay, deserving of our highest admiration, ardent love, and constant praise. Let us, then, laying aside every other concern, fix our minds on Him, who is the object of angelic adoration, the delight of God the Father, and the only foundation of human hope.

It is very remarkable that Jesus Christ is always spoken of in Scripture, in that manner which is best suited to the sinner's wants. Does he hunger and thirst after righteousness? Christ is that bread of life, of which if a man eat, he shall live for ever. Does he want a foundation on which to rest his eternal all? "Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." Does he lament his ignorance? Christ is the great prophet and teacher of his church. Is he oppressed with sin and guilt? Christ is an atoning priest; "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." Does he groan under the power