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We say again that he is to be found in his ordinances; where his Gospel is preached, his people meet to pray, his saints are found discoursing of his goodness, and taking sweet counsel together, and where that love is commemorated which brought him from heaven to the cross. As he has appointed these, so he is present to enlighten, quicken, pardon, comfort, and save.

But it is chiefly on the throne of Mercy that he is graciously found. There, he is not only seen and heard, but felt and tasted-all invited-there he manifests himself as a sin-forgiving, soul-purifying God. Say you still, “O that I knew where I might find him!"

Lo! God is here! and his works, his words, his Providence, and grace are all designed to bring thee here! Art thou sincere? Canst thou believe? Thou art at his seat! Fill thy mouth with arguments.

III. From what sources may you draw arguments?

1. From His power. What is thy request? "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" He has all power in heaven and on earth to create, destroy, or renew. To soften a hard heart, pardon a guilty soul, supply a needy mind, deliver an oppressed spirit, sanctify an unholy nature, is a small thing to him who speaks and it is done; who is able to save to the uttermost; who is exceeding abundant in grace and mercy. As this is small to him, yet great to thee, urge his power at the foot of his seat. Lord, all fulness is with thee -giving cannot impoverish. make me clean.

Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst

2. From His goodness. His power is useless to thee without this. But goodness, pure benevolence, is a perfection. of his nature, and infinile. * * * Good in himself, and in all his works and ways; all the goodness of creatures, angels, and men is from him-good to all-the lower animals-to rebels-how much more to a penitent drawn to his throne! This goodness moves his power. *** Plead his goodness.

3. From His mercy. This is the name he has given himself as most suited to sinners; an attribute he delights to display. It is this that has kept us out of hell. His F F

mercy is greater than our sins; high as the heavens! Urge

his mercy.

4. From His truth. He swears he has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, while his promises are many and great. "Seek, and ye shall find; ask, and ye shall receive." "He that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." Can he lie? or swear falsely? "He is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" Plead in faith the word in which he caused you to put your trust.

5. From His impartiality. He has been sought and found of the chief of sinners-David, Mary, Peter, Saul-three thousand, who had taken away his life. He is the parent of the great family. All his children are equally dear. As he is unchangeable in nature, so persons, times, and circumstances produce no change in him. He is no respecter of persons. What an argument to plead at his seat!

6. From His justice. This appears to sinners stern, inflexible, and severe; and to penitents, awful and terrible. Yet we do not lament, but exult with gladness that he is just. For did Christ die for us? did he meet the claims of justice, and pay our debt of suffering? did he purchase a right to pardon, favour? "He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Plead, then, all that is in God, all that Christ has done, and all that you feel and fear.

The end of our being, the preservation of our lives, the ordinances of religion, and our present meeting, is to find God. If we do not find him in mercy, he will find us in anger. Are there any saying, "O that I knew where 1 might find him?" In everything, in every place, but chiefly in his word, and always in and through Jesus Christ. The text is the language of,

1. Sincere regret.
2. Of restless desire.
3. Of guilty fear.

4. Of anxious inquiry.
5. Of willing submission.

SERMON XXXVI.

THE PROGRESS OF VICE.

2 Kings, viii., 13.—And Hazael said, But what, is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing?

I. POWER and prosperity are dangerous, and calculated to stir up latent evil.

Many, as they ascend the hill, lose their honesty and become consummate villains.-The moderate tradesman was tender, kind; but O! the accumulation of wealth! ** * servants change when they become masters.-Many are virtuous because never tried.

*

II. Men commit crimes in later years which in early life they contemplated with dismay. So Hazael.

In illustration:

1. There are some sins which are calculated to startle every conscience that has any sensibility left. The want of love to God, &c., mentioned to an angel, would startle him; but man stands coolly by.-*** -* * * They are chiefly crimes affecting human society which affect us. But let not these feelings be thought real religion. We must go farther than this. True piety has immediate respect to God. Now analyze your feelings. Are you concerned that God's commandments should be contemned? We are not necessarily pious because virtuous.

2. So ignorant are many of their own characters, that they are often led to commit the very crimes which were formerly viewed with abhorrence.-Hazael.-Peter.-How ignorant of our weakness.-See the man recovering from sickness. [How earnestly did he promise amendment, but it was all in his own strength; and how soon is he carried away into the same thoughtless and sinful career which he vowed to renounce.] I appeal to the drunkard whether he did not once. abhor the intoxicating cup. See the young tradesman beginning business. [With what timidity and upbraidings of

conscience does he commence his fraudulent practices. But mark how fast his conscience hardens, and how rapid his career in crime.]

But see more criminal cases.

The murderer once shrank

at the very thought [of deeds of blood]; but by little and little [he advanced in the path of crime, and now behold the result!]

Let us endeavour to account for this.

1. There was never the existence in these persons of that principle which is the basis of virtue. They were never regenerated-virtue will give way without religion.

2. It is also accounted for by a consideration of the progressive nature of evil: "Hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." Sin is the most specious thing in the world. Trace it in a young man tried first with minor sins.-Tempted again-finds less reluctance-is prepared to go a step farther-one sin requires another to conceal it-now joins evil society. In the next stage we see him confirmed in the habit. Now he begins to lose a sense of shame; before, he must have his veil and his mask; [but now he has become a bold transgressor.] Conscience now despairs—it is seared -he has no accusings. The next step is the glorying in his shame! [he is even ambitious to distinguish himself in crime!] The next step is that, having effected his own ruin, he seeks the ruin of others; like his father the devil, he goes about seeking whom he may devour!

Consider some of the practices which help him on.

1. Idleness stagnant water [sends forth its noxious ef fluvia]-Satan says, "Why stand ye idle?"-"Be diligent in business.'

2. Sabbath-breaking. No single vice throws an individual more in temptation's way. It is so open a violation [of order, decency, and the law of God, that he who is guilty of it cannot but ripen fast for ruin.] Beware of devoting this holy day to pleasure or business!-The whole day is the Lord's!

3. Beware of evil company. "A companion of fools shall be destroyed." Sinners will do that in company which they would not do solitarily.-Trees grow fastest in a

plantation.-United fires blaze strongest.-O! what curses in hell against evil companions!

4. Infidelity is another means; it is taken up to still the conscience. The Bible is against him, therefore he is against the Bible.—What is to restrain such an unchecked man? Nothing!

5. Extravagance. This must have resources-whether in dress or dissipation.

*

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Licensed gambling. May the nation wipe off the blot.Tax us in any way to make up [what you gain by thus legalizing iniquity]. It is a national example of crime. Nor is private gambling better.

No

Application.-1. Seek the possession of religion. thing but the fear of God will keep us. This is the beginning of wisdom.

This principle must be imparted by God, for we have it not by nature.

2. Beware of self-confidence. Do not say, "My principles so trench me that I am in no danger." No man is in more danger! God punishes the lofty spirit by giving it up to itself. All our strength is in God.

3. Beware of the beginning of iniquity.-Do not come near the serpent's poisonous fang or the lion's fatal den-distance is safety-"Abstain from the appearance of evil."

Look up to God by habits of daily prayer for safety. Should God then suffer us to be led into temptation, he will be with us, to see whether this world or the other is uppermost. Of two evils, two sins, choose neither.-Suffer everything rather than offend God.-How glorious this! How honourable to religion! *

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