taking away the heart of stone, and giving a heart of flesh; much more to him whose heart is already softened, who is made susceptible of Divine impressions, and who is disposed to cherish and improve them!" I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord."

3. The faithfulness of God secures it: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness*.

He is faithful to his covenant; to his own solemn and voluntary engagement to save guilty man, according to a prescribed method; and this method is all of mercy, of abundant mercy, especially to the broken-hearted penitent.-You perceive his fidelity to his own plan and purpose: " My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.'

He is faithful to his word.-This is the revelation of his covenant; its statement to us in direct promises, and positive assurances. But may he not retract what he hath said? By no means! "God 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? hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? He is of one mind, and who can turn him?" "Thy word, O Lord, for ever is settled in heaven." Hear his language to the penitent:

My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him: my covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my mouth."

He is faithful to his Son.-The Son of God, the Saviour of men, is concerned in the engagements of

1 John i. 9.

Jehovah. He covenants and agrees to recompense his pain; amply to secure the fulfilment of the great purposes of his humiliation, agony, and death. Having "made his soul an offering for sin," the engagement is, that "he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied." And who shall prevent this? What shall induce to recede from this? If fidelity be inviolable to sinners, much more to the Son of God, the Saviour!

He is faithful to himself.-The whole scheme of Divine mercy is adapted and intended to display the glory of the Divine perfections; and can we suppose that this end will be frustrated? that, either through fickleness of purpose or feebleness of effort, the grand design shall perish? It cannot be. Observe the plea of penitents, of humble suppliants for mercy: "Do not abhor us, for thy Name's sake; do not disgrace the throne of thy glory; remember, break not thy covenant with us.' Security like this is infallible. It constitutes a rock on which we may rest with composure; a refuge, in which we are perfectly safe amidst tremendous desolation. "I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord."

From the whole,

1. Let the impenitent tremble.

It is true, there are general declarations of mercy which afford ground of hope to sinners, irrespective of the disposition of the heart; but there are no direct promises like this of the text. Jehovah never asserts his determination to have mercy on the impenitent no! to them all is threatening and curse;

all is "tribulation, anguish, and wrath, upon every soul of man that doeth evil." You who are going on in a course of carelessness and iniquity, Divine mercy belongs not to you; you slight it; you despise and reject it; and ere long the message of mercy will be heard no more, the day of mercy will be gone, the hour of vengeance will be come," and who shall be able to stand?" Not you who steel your hearts against the voice of God, who defy the Omnipotence of his anger, and abuse the exceeding riches of his love. "What will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? To whom will ye flee for help? and where will you leave your glory?" If you persist in impenitency, and perish in your present state, it will be perishing indeed! Your doom will be dreadful in proportion to the privileges you now enjoy, the proposals of mercy with which you now are favoured. Gladly we indulge the hope that a serious concern begins to be felt, where hitherto all has been indifference and criminal neglect. But is the hope delusive? Is the pleasing expectation unfounded? Should this be the case, know that "there remaineth a certain fearful looking for of judgment, and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries." "Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? with everlasting burnings?" "Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the day that I shall deal with thee? I the Lord have spoken it, and will do it." "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

2. Let the humble hope.

We turn with peculiar pleasure to you, and love to bring the message of the glorious Gospel to you.

It is intelligence adapted to your case; and you are prepared to welcome its truth, and to receive its blessings.

Το

"To you is the word of this salvation sent," in all its fulness, its freeness, its glory, and its grace. "For thus saith the High and Lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy, I dwell in the high and holy place; with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones;" in perfect harmony with the sentiment of the text, "I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord." Humble penitents! we are sent to preach good tidings to you; "to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." Our commission is: "Comfort ye, comfort ye, my people"-" Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees: say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not. We point you, therefore, to the fountain of covenant mercy, to the precious blood of Christ, to the Spirit of truth and grace, to exceeding great and precious promises, and to none which concerns you more than the promise of the text; bear it in mind, and receive it in the heart; it is the voice of God to each dejected, penitent believer: "I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord." What discourages you? Do you not find from the Gospel that the most unworthy have obtained mercy? that the most guilty have obtained mercy? that sinners of every description, and charged with the foulest offences, have obtained mercy? These things are "written for our learning, that we might have hope;" and having hope, that it might be cherished

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and abound. This day, may some burdened spirit find relief; some poor penitent an all-sufficiency of pardon; some mourner in Zion strong consolation!

3. Let the believer rejoice.

He has the firmest ground of peace and joy, both in his present privileges and future prospects : and especially, to "rejoice in the Lord," to whom he is indebted for all, as the God of his salvation. To rejoice when we are easy and prosperous is not difficult; but the duty of the Christian is, to "rejoice evermore," and " in every thing to give thanks;" for there is no condition in which he can be placed, which forbids this feeling; no situation in which this promise does not stand good:-" I will surely have mercy upon him."

We learn from the example of the Apostle Paul who it is that can glory in tribulation; can take pleasure in infirmities and reproaches; can sing in a prison, while fettered in the stocks; can be content in every state; and can rejoice in hope of the glory of God had we more of his spirit, a larger measure of his faith and genuine piety, it would be unspeakably better with us.

And while the believer is thus invited to rejoice, take heed that you cherish with the utmost care all that is essential to this rational and scriptural delight. Live near to God: grieve not the Holy Spirit: be ever watchful against the first approaches of sin, the distant appearance of evil. Live much by faith on "Jesus Christ, our Advocate with the Father, and Propitiation for our sins;" go forward, constantly "looking unto Jesus," with his word for your guide, his grace for your support, his Spirit for your comforter, and heaven in view as your final rest,