" to fear God and keep his commandments was the whole end and happiness of man ? " No ; " every mouth must be shut ; and not you only, but the whole world, must become guilty before God." Know then that you, and that every man, while in an unregenerate state, is exposed to the wrath of God ; and that that wrath will come upon you to the uttermost, if you " flee not for refuge to the Hope set before you."]
We will now conclude, with two inferences from the whole :
1. What suitable provision is made for us in the Gospel !
[You have seen the awful state of unregenerate men, and will be ready to doubt whether there can be any help or hope for persons so circumstanced. But thanks be to our God and Father, that he has not left us to perish in our sins ! on the contrary, he has pitied us, and sent us his only dear Son to deliver us from our lost estate. Numberless as our iniquities have been, they were all laid upon the head of Jesus, our great Sacrifice : all were expiated by his blood ; so that God can be "just, and yet the justifier of those who repent and believe" the Gospel. O Brethren, be thankful for this provision: be thankful that you are not only permitted, but commanded, to come to Christ for a free and full remission of all your sins. Have you "fled from" your God and Father? Behold! Jesus, his beloved Son, is come to seek and save you. Have you " transgressed against" him times without number ? The blood of Jesus is shed to cleanse you from all sin. Have you in the whole course of your life " spoken nothing but lies " against your adorable Redeemer ? That very Redeemer will make you to experience his inviolable truth, in receiving you to mercy, and in rejecting none that come unto him. Surely, if bread be suited to the hungry, or water to the thirsty, then is the provision set before us in the Gospel exactly suited to the wants and necessities of all who feel their need of mercy.]
2. How happy are they who have cordially em- braced the Gospel !
[In two respects have they experienced a most blessed change ; namely, in their character and condition. You have heard that the natural and unconverted man flees from God, transgresses against him, and speaks lies against him. Not so the man that is converted : he flees to God ; he seeks the Divine presence ; he desires the favour of God more than life, and esteems " his loving-kindness better than life itself." If any ask him, " Who will shew us any good?" his answer is, like David's, " Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance