Lord of glory. Our blessed Saviour, previous to his death, took up this lamentation over them : "0 Jerusalem, Jeru- salem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them who are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, but ye would not ! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate2 !" " Oh that thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace ! but now they are hid from thine eyesa." Thus, it is to be feared, there may be, even amongst ourselves, some with whom God will strive no longer : they have so long trifled with the means of grace, and been unprofitable under all the culture that has been bestowed upon them, that they shall be hence- forth left only to be gathered, in due season, as fuel for the fireb. What an awful thought, To be left only to " fill up the measure of their iniquities," and to " treasure up wrath against the day of wrath c !" Better were it for a man that he had never been born, than that ever he should live for such an end as that ! But such is the state of the deserted soul : and at the ajmointed hour, " wrath will come upon him to the uttermost."]
Address,
1. Those who are yet withstanding the motions of the Holy Spirit —
[Little do you think how greatly you offend your God, or what misery you are entailing on your own souls. But let me ask, Is there one amongst you that does not look back upon his past rebellion with regret ? Is there one who is not persuaded in his mind, that he would have been a far happier man, if he had obeyed the voice of the Lord, and followed, instead of resisting, the dictates of his conscience ? How long, then, will ye continue this rebellious course ? Shall not the de- claration in my text affect you ? Shall not even the possibility of your day of grace having come to an end, appal you ? Do
but think how much you have at stake and how
short is the time which you have to seek the things belong- ing to your peace. I pray you, Arise, ere it be too late,
and cry unto your God, " if God peradventure may give you repentance, and you may be recovered out of the snare of the devil, by whom you have been taken captive at his will'1!" " To-day, while it is called to-day, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, as in the clay of temptation in the wilder- ness ; lest you provoke God to swear, in his wrath, that you shall never enter into his rest6."]
z Matt, xxiii. 37, 38. * Luke xix. 42. »» Heb. vi. 7, 8.
-■ Rom. ii. 5. <> 2 Tim ii. 25, 26. e Ps. xcv. 7—11.