heaven nothing hut " the gleanings." The Lord's people are but " a little flock;" and in comparison of the multitudes who go in " the broad road that leadeth to destruction," they are but " few" who " enter in at the strait gate, and walk in the narrow path." Forgive me, then, if with holy violence I en- veavour to " beat you off" from the tree on which you are yet standing, and to " gather you " for the Lord. Let me sound in your ears the Gospel trumpet, which proclaims " liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound:" and let me entreat you to " return (as the remnant will assuredly do) to the living God^," " to worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem." We must be content, we fear, to " gather you one by one :" for, notwithstanding all the efforts that are made for the restoration of your souls to God, it is a melancholy fact, that we succeed but little better with you in the midst of all your advantages, than we do with the Jews in the midst of all their disadvantages. If we labour ever so much, and can reach only " two or three upon the topmost bough, and four or five upon the outermost bough," we are forced to be content, yea, and to think ourselves well repaid ; so little power has the Gospel in the present day, and so spar- ingly is the Spirit of God poured out upon us. Know this however for your good. Whatever is necessary for the Jews, is necessary for us also. Must they believe in Christ? so must we. Must they give themselves up to him ? so must we. Must they walk in his steps, and be conformed to his image ? so must we. And sure I am, that the more we experience these blessings in our own souls, the more shall we labour to com- municate them to the whols world, and more especially to those for whose sake God has imparted to us the superior blessings we enjoy h.]
s Isai. x. 21. h Rom. xi. 30, 31.