[Christ is undoubtedly that " salvation whom God has placed in Zion," and whom we are commanded to call, " The Lord our righteousness." Him has " God sent into the world
to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself" Hearken
to this, ye stout-hearted : though ye have despised your God, your God has not despised you ; but has pitied your fallen state, and made provision for your restoration to happiness. Yes ; for the angels that fell, he instantly " prepared" a place of unutterable and everlasting torment c : but for you he pre- pared a Saviour, even his only dear Son. And shall not this make your obdurate hearts relent ? Or will ye receive such stupendous grace in vain ?]
2. That God now offers salvation to them —
[This salvation is nigh to all of us, and the tidings of it are now sounding in our ears. It is placed in this our Zion as much as ever it was in Zion of old. Christ is now present in his ordinances according to his promise ; and will be so even to the end of the world. At this very hour he " proclaims liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to them that are bound." To you, even to you, ye stout-hearted, is " the word of this salvation sent." Your past iniquities shall be forgiven, if only you will humble yourselves before him. Nor is this all : your God will not only restore you to his favour, but will "glory" over you with unutterable joy. " You shall be even a crown of glory and a royal diadem in his hands4." Let not then your hearts be yet hardened against him ; but let his transcendent " goodness lead you to repentance."]
Advice —
1. Endeavour to see your obduracy in its true colours —
[If you are free from gross sins, you think but little of an unhumbled and impenitent state. But what can be worse than a seared conscience and a callous heart? What can be worse than to feel no sorrow or contrition for your past offences, no desire to please your God, no anxiety to save your souls ? Be assured that such a state, with whatever name it may be glossed over, is hateful in the extreme : and that, if continued in, it will prove as fatal as a course of open profligacy and profaneness.]
2. Fear lest God should give you up to final im- penitence—
[The present address, which is made by God himself, shews clearly enough, that he " has no pleasure in the death
c Matt. xxv. 41. d Isai. lxii. 3.