atom upon the face of the globe, except in those whose ini- quities have been purged in the blood of our Incarnate God. We need only consult our own experience, and we must bear testimony to this distressing fact. And what does all this declare ? It declares that sin, in whomsoever it exists, is an object of God's abhorrence, and has already stamped upon it the most unquestionable tokens of his displeasure.]
2. His mercy to repenting sinners —
[Here also we may go back to the period, when, unsoli- cited and unsought, God revealed a Saviour to offending man, and promised that " the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head." What a demonstration was this of mercy struggling, as it were, for vent in the Divine bosom ; and ex- ulting, I had almost said, in the discovery of an object needing it, and of means whereby it might be exercised towards him ! See the myriads to whom this Saviour was revealed in types and shadows, previous to his arrival. See the work of re- demption, as carried on, to its completion, throughout the whole process of the Saviour's incarnation, life and death, and resurrection and ascension ; and his full investiture with all power, to accomplish in us what he had already in his own person prepared for us. See the out-pouring of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost ; whereby thousands, as far from God as ever Nebuchadnezzar was, were brought to God, and made partakers of God's kingdom and glory. Do not all these things speak to us as loudly as Nebuchadnezzar's conversion spoke to his son Belshazzar ?
But of this, also, we have strong intimations, in what we see around us, and in what we feel within our own bosoms. We find, even amongst the most savage barbarians, one general sentiment — that the Being to whom they are responsible will shew mercy to those who, in a becoming manner, implore it at his hands. Amongst ourselves, there is universally pre- valent a hope, that, on the repentance of a sinner, God will have mercy on him. But for this thought, the most careless sinner would give himself up to utter despair. In what way mercy shall be exercised towards him, he knows not : but of the readiness of God to shew mercy, he has no doubt. And of this persuasion all of us are conscious : yea, so strongly is it impressed on all our minds, that it is the one source of all the comfort we enjoy.
If, then, we admit, as we must, that Belshazzar's advantages were great, much more are those with which we have been favoured.]
But we have reason to be ashamed, when we re- flect,