And what shall I say to you of a middle age, you _busy merchants_, you _cumbered Martha’s_, who, with all your gettings, have not yet gotten the LORD to be your righteousness? Alas! what profit will there be of all your labour under the sun, if you do not secure this pearl of invaluable price? this one thing, so absolutely needful, that it only can stand you in stead, when all other things shall be taken from you. Labour therefore no longer so anxiously for the meat which perisheth, but henceforward seek for the LORD to be your righteousness, a righteousness that will entitle you to life everlasting. I see also many _hoary heads_ here, and perhaps the most of them cannot say, the LORD is my righteousness. O gray-headed sinners, I could weep over you! your gray hairs, which ought to be your crown, and in which perhaps you glory, are now your shame. You know not that the LORD is your righteousness: O haste then, haste ye, aged sinners, and seek an interest in redeeming love! Alas, you have one foot already in the grave, your glass is just run out, your sun is just going down, and it will set and leave you in an eternal darkness, unless the LORD be your righteousness! Flee then, O flee for your lives! be not afraid. All things are possible with GOD. If you come, though it be at the eleventh hour, CHRIST JESUS will in no wise cast you out. Seek then for the LORD to be your righteousness, and beseech him to let you know, how it is that a man may be born again when he is old! But I must not forget the _lambs_ of the flock. To feed them was one of my LORD’s last commands. I know he will be angry with me, if I do not tell them, that the LORD may be _their_ righteousness; and that of such is the kingdom of heaven. Come then, ye little children, come to CHRIST; the LORD CHRIST shall be _your_ righteousness. Do not think, that you are too young to be converted. Perhaps many of you may be nine or ten years old, and yet cannot say, the LORD is our righteousness; which many have said, though younger than you. Come then, while you are young. Perhaps you may not live to be old. Do not stay for other people. If your fathers and mothers will not come to CHRIST, do you come without them. Let children lead them, and shew them how the LORD may be _their_ righteousness. Our LORD JESUS loved little children. You are his lambs; he bids me feed you. I pray GOD make you willing betimes to take the LORD for your righteousness.
Here then I could conclude; but I must not forget the _poor negroes_; no, I must not. JESUS CHRIST has died for them, as well as for others. Nor do I mention you last, because I despise your souls, but because I would have what I shall say, make the deeper impression upon your hearts. O that you would seek the LORD to be your righteousness! Who knows but he may be found of you? For in JESUS CHRIST there is neither male nor female, bond nor free; even you may be the children of GOD, if you believe in JESUS. Did you never read of the eunuch belonging to the queen of _Candace_? a negro like yourselves. He believed. The LORD was his righteousness. He was baptized. Do you also believe, and you shall be saved. CHRIST JESUS is the same now as he was yesterday, and will wash you in his own blood. Go home then, turn the words of the text into a prayer, and intreat the LORD to be _your_ righteousness. Even so, come LORD JESUS, come quickly, into all our souls! _Amen_, LORD JESUS, _Amen_ and _Amen_!