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ought, till the burden of guilt oppresses him. To one thus oppressed, inestimable is the declaration; "Come unto me, and I will give you rest!" With what grateful emotions he contemplates the word; “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth!"

God remembers wickedness, all the wickedness of men; but to that man who flees to Christ, and by faith is found in Him, he remembers it against him no more for ever! In virtue of the sacrifice of his beloved Son, he "blotteth out" the transgressions of penitent believers: he "casts all their sins into the depths of the sea." Does not your heart reply, "Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift?" "This is the record; that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." To make it ours, "He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities." "He once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God." The necessity of such a Saviour is felt by every awakened transgressor; and do you not discern his infinite worth? Do you not behold in his character, a suitableness, a completeness, a glory, which language cannot reach?

Connected with this, consideration urges a direct application to Christ the Saviour. For what can you do without him? "Other foundation can no man lay-neither is there salvation in any other." Think on your condition as sinners; reflect on the number and guilt of your provocations; consider in your heart that God remembers them all; and where can you look? whither can you go? except to that compassionate Redeemer who affirms-" Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out." Satisfaction in yourselves you cannot find; rest in re

ligious duties you can never enjoy. All is in Christ, and flows from Him to the most guilty. "Turn ye to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope." Build on this immovable Rock: hide in this impregnable Refuge. Let the ardent desire of your soul be, to "be found in him ;" and say as your deliberate and fixed sentiment-" Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord."

To conclude-Consideration stimulates to holy watchfulness. May we all exemplify the truth of this in our spirit and conduct! Knowing the love of Christ, and living by faith in Him, wherein we have erred we shall take heed: bearing in mind our past offences, we shall be careful in future: believing that the eyes of angels and of God are upon us, we shall "walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise."

Let this be your motto, and keep it constantly in view-" Thou God seest me!" It will serve as an effectual restraint from presumptuous sin; as a powerful check to the unguarded ebullitions of passion; as an engaging motive to virtuous dispositions and actions. Let sinners tremble under the omniscient eye of God, who marks and remembers all their wickedness: humble believers have nothing to dread. While the solemn fact fills them with awe, it imparts a degree of sacred delight. Do not some of you know this? He that is your God, is the God of salvation; and you are thankful that he witnesses your sincerity, that he sees your sorrows, that he looks on your affliction and pain, that he regards with the eye and heart of a Father your labouring

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desire towards him, and earnest desire to be conformed to him. May we all be acquainted with this in our personal experience! And living habitually under the notice of Jehovah, and remembering that he remembers us, may we watch and pray, that we enter not into temptation!

SERMON XXV.

CHRIST IMMUTABLE.

(PREACHED AT THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR 1806.)

HEBREWS i. 12.

Thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

THE rapid movement of time, its varied events, and changing seasons, are all instructive. In the review of past life, mingled emotions of gratitude and grief should operate in our breasts. Much favour has constantly followed us; much folly has marked our fleeting days; great guilt attaches to the temper of our minds, and multiplied provocations debase our conduct. None can say with more truth than ourselves; "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not."

The changes of a precarious life are not few. Many regard our persons, our families, and our friends. Some awaken our tenderest feelings, and very sensibly affect us. There is nothing here indeed but what is mutable, and we ourselves are mortal. "Our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding." "We spend our years as a tale that is told." "The fashion of this world passeth away." These are humbling sentiments, and they

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are of general application. There is One, however, the reverse of creatures; "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever." "Thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail."

We have in these words,

I. AN EXALTED VIEW OF JESUS CHRIST.
The text certainly implies,

1. The Divinity of his Nature.-To be "the same," is to be unchangeable; but immutability is an attribute of Deity. He whose " years shall not fail," faileth not in any respect; from everlasting to everlasting he is God: his name is Jehovah; self-existent, independent, all-sufficient. He himself declared; " Before Abraham was, I am.' And from heaven he asserted; "I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning, and the Ending, saith the Lord; which is, and which was, and which is to come; the Almighty"

To confirm this grand truth, and to place it in the clearest light, is the leading design of this chapter. The Lord Jesus Christ must be superior to angels; for those heavenly intelligences are commanded to "worship him." He must be equal with the Father; for he is "the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person." He must be God; for "he made the worlds, and upholdeth all things by the word of his power." Of him also it is expressly said: "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever." "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." "For by him were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be

* John viii. 58.; Rev. i. 8.

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