he never proceeds, till he has exercised forbearance towards us to the uttermost. Call to mind his exceeding great and precious promises ; and then say, whether any sinner in the universe has reason to despond, provided only he desire mercy at the hands of God? Or rather, consider what God has done in giving his only dear Son to die for you : would he have done this, if he were backward to the exercise of mercy ? Carry all your sins to him, without questioning for one mo- ment his willingness to pardon; and know, that "if you go to him in the name of his dear Son, he will in no wise cast you out1."]
3. Obedience —
[This is due to him from you, as creatures : What then is it, as redeemed sinners? I will venture to ask, Is there one of you who believes himself obnoxious to his wrath, and yet a partaker of his grace, that would even wish to be released from his obligations to obey him ? No : I am sure that every one who views God in his complex character, as " a just God, and yet a Saviour," will desire to honour God with all his faculties and powers ; and will consecrate himself to God as a living sacrifice, under a full conviction, that if this entire surrender of himself to God be a necessary, it is no less " a reasonable and delightful, service V It is impossible to have any just views of " the love of Christ, and not be constrained by it to live altogether to His praise and glory1."]
1 Jolmvi. 37. k Rom. xii. 1. ' 2 Cor. v. 14, 15.