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bellious; and then that he will, after all, reject any of those, who in consequence are brought humbly to seek his salvation? Consider him as stooping, and bleeding, and dying, for the vilest of rebels and enemies: and then conceive him, if you can, sternly rejecting the humble requests of the poor supplicant who with tears and confusion, and deep contrition, intreats his mercy, and determines to know no other hope.

Before we proceed, let us not forget to think of this gracious Saviour, weeping over ungrateful Jerusalem, and the miseries to which it was devoted; and praying when nailed to the cross for his murderers; Father, forgive them; for they know not what they "do." Nor let it be lost sight of, that " JESUS is "the same, yesterday, to-day, and for ever."

The commission and instruction given to his apostles, when he sent them forth to preach the gospel, were perfectly coincident with these encouraging representations of his personal ministry. "Other "sheep," says he, "I have, which are not of this "fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold, and one Shepherd." "Neither pray I for these alone, but "for them also which shall believe in me through "their word.” "Go ye into all the world, and

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preach the gospel to every creature, he that be"lieveth and is baptized, shall be saved; and he that "believeth not, shall be damned."*-Indeed, what is the commission of CHRIST to his ministers, in

John x. 16. xvii. 20. Mark, xvi. 16.

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every age, but that expressed in the words of our ordination service? To seek for CHRIST's sheep ' that are dispersed abroad; and for his children, who are in the midst of this naughty world, that they 'may be saved through CHRIST for ever.' This we all most solemnly promise to do, when we are admitted to our sacred function; and this must form one grand object of all our subsequent ministrations, if we would fulfil the vows of GOD that are upon us.

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And what are our instructions in this great concern? We are commanded to preach," Repentance "towards GOD, and faith towards our LORD JESUS "CHRIST:" to assure our hearers, of every character, that all things are ready;" to invite, persuade expostulate," instantly, in season, out of season;" and even "to compel them to come in;" certainly, by no other compulsion, than that of convincing arguments, urgent persuasions, and reiterated exhortations. "Now then, we are ambassadors for CHRIST; "as though God did beseech you by us, we pray you, in CHRIST's stead, be ye reconciled to God." -“We also, as fellow-workers together with him, "beseech you also, that ye receive not the grace of "GOD in vain."

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We are instructed, not only to inform you of what GOD has done for the salvation of sinners, and of what CHRIST has suffered for sins, and of his prevailing intercession for all "who come to GoD by "him ;" not only to propose these blessings to you : but also to urge most earnestly your acceptance of them; to take no denial; to renew our invitations and expostulations; to venture your displeasure and

contempt, in seeking your salvation; and never to remit or cease from our endeavours, till you forsake our ministry, or either you or we are called to the tribunal of GOD.

And what is that peculiar work of the Holy Spirit, of which so much is said in the Scriptures, especially in the New Testament, and of which, alas! so little is heard from many pulpits in this Christian country? "He shall convince the world of sin, of righteous"ness, and of judgment." "He shall glorify me; "for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto "you."-His first work, as proceeding from the Father and the Son, consists in quickening the dead in sin, bringing the prodigal to himself, humbling the proud heart, subduing the stout spirit, awakening the careless conscience; and shewing the criminal his guilt, the justice of GoD in his condemnation, and the future judgment, with all its solemnities and awful consequences. When this has been effected; and the convinced transgressor is brought to despair of salvation, except through mercy by faith in CHRIST JESUS the same effectual Teacher glorifies the Saviour, shews the suitableness, fulness, and freeness of his salvation; and brings the desponding penitent, to" count all but loss for the excellency of the "knowledge of CHRIST, and his atonement and righteousness.

This then is the fact referred to. The sinner hears the gospel, is brought to repentance, to submission, to earnest desires of salvation, to a cordial acceptance of CHRIST, according to the degree of knowledge al

ready attained; and to diligent search after more competent instruction in the truth and will of God.

The persons, thus humbled and earnest; may have been of divers previous characters, some more and some less moral; the degrees of their capacity or information may widely differ; and also their rank and station in society: but they now all understand the apostle's language, which before they either overlooked or disliked, "There is no difference, for all "have sinned and come short of the glory of God."

When Peter addressed the Jews, on the day of Pentecost, and thousands embraced the gospel, even of those who had concurred in crucifying the LORD of glory then this joyful event took place in numerous instances. The good Shepherd found and rejoiced over his lost sheep. When the poor jailor began, trembling, to cry out, "What must I do to be "saved?" and gladly welcomed the message of the gospel; it was a single but illustrious instance of the same kind. We are not favoured with such success as Peter witnessed; but from time to time, one and another, like the jailor, makes the interesting enquiry, and welcomes the scriptural answer. And whether one obscure person in a cottage, or a prison, is converted, or ten thousand at once are converted; not a single instance is overlooked: CHRIST rejoices over his lost sheep, and calls on us to rejoice likewise.

II. Then, what do we learn from this expression, "Rejoice with me?" We may suppose the penitent, not only bowed down by a sense of past guilt, but oppressed by feeling much remaining stoutness of spirit and hardness of heart; which though not be

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fore aware of, he now begins to perceive and lament. Perhaps he recollects, not merely outward sins; but (which is often the case with moral persons) a proud contempt of the doctrines and ministry of the gospel, and many sarcastical remarks on pious persons, that lie with peculiar weight upon the conscience.-Many things may recur to his mind, of convictions repressed, and prejudices indulged, and resolutions broken, and sins committed against knowledge and conscience, and attempts made to obtain quiet from lax and unscriptural views; inducing a fear, lest something has taken place, which may exclude him from mercy; or lest he should have committed the unpardonable sin.-On this subject, I can only at present say, that they who are most alarmed on that account, are the least likely to be the persons spoken of; that every sin is unpardonable without repentance; and that no sin is unpardonable if repented of.-Now it is here supposed, that this discouraged enquirer earnestly begs of God to give him repentance and his Holy 'Spirit;' and amidst all difficulties, desires still to believe, and hope, and submit, and rely, and pray, and admit no other confidence. I would therefore add, that even over such a case as this, CHRIST is represented as rejoicing; while the sinner is weeping, trembling, and tempted to despond.

Let us recur to the representation given in the parable. Suppose a shepherd bestowing pains, and exposing himself to hardship and fatigue, and perhaps to imminent danger, in seeking a lost sheep: would he feel no satisfaction when he had found it, though, through simplicity, it feared and fled from

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