equally thrust out of his mediatorial throne, by these or any other similar views of human obedience. If you do not wholly depend on Jesus, as the Lord your righteousness (a); if you mix your faith in him with any thing else; if the finished work of the crucified God, be not alone, your acknowledged anchor and foundation of acceptance with the Father, both here and ever; come to his table, and receive the symbols of his body and blood at your peril. Leave your own righteousness behind you, or you have no business there. You are without the wedding garment; and God will say to you, Friend, how camest thou here? If you go on, moreover, to live and die in this state of unbelief; you will be found speechless and excuseless in the day of judgment; when the slighted Saviour will say to his angels, concerning you, Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into outer darkness; for many are called, but few chosen (b).

On the contrary, you who can sincerely say, "We do not come to thee, trusting in our own righteousness," but feel and confess ourselves to be "unworthy of so much as gathering up the crumbs under thy table;" in thee alone do we seek to be justified, and in thee alone do we (c) glory; let such" draw near with faith, and take this holy sacrament to their comfort." The Lord enable you to bring your sins, and your duties, and yourselves, and your all, to the great propitiation! May he wash us in his own blood, clothe us with his own righteousness, and seal us an holy people to himself by his Spirit! Then shall we be acceptable guests at his table below; and ripen fast, for the house of glory above while this is all our plea, and all our song-Lord, I am not worthy to come under thy roof, nor that thou shouldest come under mine;

(a) Jer. xxiii. 6. (6) Mat. xxii. 12. 14. (c) Isa. xlv. 25.

but the (a) Lamb that was slain is worthy; and my every particle of hope centers in him, in his covenant, in his obedience, cross, humiliation, and exaltation. For the sake of his agonies, take away my iniquities. For the sake of his righteousness, receive me graciously. And in the mantle of his imputed merit may I be (b) found; living, dying, at the judgment bar, and to all eternity.

SERMON VIII.

JOY IN HEAVEN OVER ONE REPENTING SINNER.

THE SUBSTANCE OF A

DISCOURSE

PREACHED

IN THE PARISH CHURCH OF ST. LUKE, OLD-STREET;

ON SUNDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 29th, 1775.

Ye are come unto the innumerable company of angels, and to the spirits of just men made perfect.-HEB. xii. 22, 23.