124 1 Samuel, 11. 25. [283.

none to plead our cause in that day ? May we safely neglect the sacrifice of Christ, because we have abstained from gross iniquities ? Let us not deceive ourselves with any such dangerous imagination : '' We all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God ;" " every mouth therefore must be stopped, and all the world must become guilty before God." None can stand upon the footing of his own righteousness. Having transgressed the law, we are cursed by the law ; as it is written, " Cursed is every one that con- tinueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law to do them." We must therefore all, without exception, seek deliverance in Him, "who hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us." God has declared that *' there is salvation in no other ; that there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved, but the name of Jesus Christ :" if we will not " enter by that door," we exclude ourselves from even a possibility of obtaining mercy to all eternity. I know it will be urged in opposition to this, that we have been free from all gross offences, and have been punctual in the observance of many civil and religious duties. Be it so : but how would such a plea sound in a court of justice ? Let a criminal, accused of rebellion against an earthly monarch, plead his allegiance to the King of kings ; let him say, " I regarded his sacrifice, I trusted in the atone- ment, I sought an interest in Christ." Would his plea be valid ? Would he not be told immediately, that these things he ought indeed to have done, and not have left the other undone ? Thus then we answer those, who go about to establish their own righteous- ness instead of submitting to the righteousness of God; " It was well that you abstained from gross sin, and fulfilled many duties ; but you ought also to have sought redemption through the blood of Christ; you ought to have ' fled for refuge to the hope set before you :' and because you have neglected him, you have no part or lot in his salvation." What can be plainer than our Lord's own assertions, " No man cometh to