first parents began. O that we could view sin in this light ! O that we could bear in mind the judgment denounced against it, " In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die ! " We have warnings sufficient to intimidate the stoutest heart : " The wrath of God is revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men11:" "The soul that sinneth, it shall die ° : " " Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death •'." Only let sin be stripped of its deceitful attire, and be viewed in all its naked deformity, and we shall shudder even at the thought of it, and flee from it as from the face of a serpent.]
3. How thankful should we be for the tree of life !
[Blessed be God, the tree of life yet grows in the midst of us q. No cherubim with flaming swords obstruct our way to it ; on the contrary, all the angels in heaven are ready to exert all their influence to conduct us to it; and God, even our Father, invites and intreats us to gather its life-giving fruits. This tree of life is no other than the Lord Jesus Christ : "it bears twelve manner of fruits," suited to all our various necessities ; and its very " leaves are for the healing of the nations r." Let us then flock around this tree : let us with humble boldness stretch forth our hands to gather its fruits. We may see around us many who have already expe- rienced its efficacy to heal the sick, and to revive the dead. Let us view the Saviour as God's instituted ordinance for this very end : and now that he is accessible unto us, let us ap- proach him ; lest haply the accepted time be terminated, and we eat for ever the bitter fruits of our transgression.]