this present evil world. He has written his law in my mind, and shed abroad his love in my heart. He has taught me to seek and to follow that which is good, and has given to me that peace which passeth all understanding.' This is to have the witness in ourselves. Let us seek to have this inward witness abiding in our hearts: and we shall then know indeed that the saying in the text is a faithful saying. But farther.

The Apostle, in speaking of this saying, describes it as being not only a faithful saying, but one "worthy of all acceptation." This may point, in the first place, at the way in which it should be received. It is worthy of all acceptation, worthy of being received with all possible gratitude and joy. Its vast importance claims for it this reception. How ought the tidings of salvation to be received by perishing sinners? When they hear of the Son of GOD coming down from heaven to save them, must they not be filled with deep and admiring thoughts of his loving-kindness and compassion? Can they be told of this stupendous instance of his love, and not cry out with the pious Psalmist, "What is man, that thou art mindful of him; and the son of man, that thou visitest him?"* When *Psalm viii. 4.

they think of the blessings, which this SAVIOUR brings to them; of "the wrath to come," from which he offers to deliver them; of the eternal glory, to which he designs to raise them: must they not deem the tidings in the text to be "glad tidings of great joy?" Can they listen to them without being ready to cry out with the Prophet, "Sing, Ŏ heavens, and be joyful, O mountains; for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon the afflicted ?" *

But the words in the text point not only at the way in which this report should be received, but at the persons by whom it should be received. It is worthy of all acceptation, of general, of universal acceptation. It is worthy of all men to be received, For all men are sinners, and stand in need of being saved; and can be saved in no other way than in that pointed out in the text. All then are concerned in this. report. All must accept it or perish. On the contrary, all may accept it and live. The salvation offered in the Gospel is offered to all. JESUS CHRIST came to save sinners; all sinners who are willing to be saved by Him. He shuts out none, but those who by unbelief shuts out themselves. He com* Isaiah, xlix. 13.

manded his gospel to be preached" to every creature;" He invites "all, who labour and are heavy laden to come to him for rest" and he promises that "those who come to him, he will in no wise cast out."*

In applying this subject, my brethren, let me put you in remembrance, that "to you are the words of this salvation sent,' This report, which has come into all the world, has reached your ears. "JESUS CHRIST has come into the world to save sinners," to save you; to deliver you from the punishment and misery which your sins have deserved, and to bring you to everlasting life and glory. How does the report affect you? How do you receive it? Do you count it worthy of all acceptation? Do you receive it with gratitude and joy? Or are these tidings of salvation heard by you with indifference? Do they stir up in you no lively feelings, no grateful sense of the mercy vouchsafed to you? Does every trifling worldly thing lay hold of your mind, and interest your heart, while the saying in the text is listened to without pleasure or interest? If this last be the case, whence does it arise? From what cause can it happen, that you are thus unmoved at these *Mark, xvic 15,-Matt. xi. 28.-John, vi. 37.

important tidings? It is because you do not feel the importance of them; because you are alive to the things of the body and of the world, but really dead to the concerns of the soul and of eternity. Were you sick, you would listen with joy to the report of a remedy. Were you in prison, you would hear with transport of a deliverance. Were you in distress, you would welcome with delight the tidings of relief. Because in all these instances you would feel your wants. You would feel the misery of sickness, of imprisonment, or of poverty. But the misery of sin you feel not: therefore it is, that you are not suitably touched with the glorious tidings, that CHRIST JESUS is come into the world to save sinners. O may it not be thus always with you! May you be awakened to a sense of your spiritual danger! May you now know indeed that you are sinners, and feel the need which you have of being saved!

To such as already do feel this need: whose consciences are alarmed; whose eyes are opened to see their danger; whose souls are anxiously searching for some way of deliverance from the wrath .to come: to such persons how acceptable must be the saying in the text! It discovers to them the very thing which they are wishing to find. It

points out to them that salvation, which they are anxiously seeking. It makes known to them a Saviour, mighty to save, sufficient for all their wants, able and willing to save them to the uttermost. My brethren, if such be your case, take the comfort of these glorious tidings. They are intended for your comfort. Can you scarcely believe the report of mercy so rich, so free, so seasonable? It is a faithful saying. "He is faithful who has promised." Come unto this Saviour, and you shall find rest unto your souls. Your sins, though many, shall be forgiven. "Be they red like crimson, they shall be as wool." You shall be delivered from the wrath to come. You shall be saved with an everlasting salvation.