1 . He calls men to a state of humiliation, on ac- count of sin —
[The whole world are asleep, or rather " dead, in tres- passes and sins." All fear of God, yea, all thought of God, is cast off; and men are as unmindful of their accountableness to him as if there were no God in heaven. To awaken them from their slumber, he opens his commission, by saying, and *' saying ivith a loud voice" " Fear God." And in like man- lier would I " lift up my voice like a trumpet," yea, if I could
speak.
speak, as the angel himself, like thunder, it would be no more than the occasion calls for, if peradventure I might awaken one single soul to a consideration of his lost estate. I say to you all then, " FEAR GOD ;" whatever be your age, whatever your condition, whether ye be old or young, or rich or poor, I say to every one of you individually as well as collectively, *' Fear God:" for lie is " a great God, and of terrible Majes- ty';" and ye have all greatly offended him, and are obnoxious to his everlasting displeasure. In the view of this, even a Heathen Monarch issued " a decree that every man in his wide-extended dominions should tremble and fear before the God of heaven ^" And well may this be inculcated on every human being ; for " it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." The inculcating of this too is a very essen- tial part of the Gospel : for so was the Gospel ministered by the forerunner of our Lord, and by our Lord himself, and by all his holy Apostles : they all preached " Repentance to- wards God" as preparatory to " faith in our Lord Jesus Christ'' :" and he neglects a very essential part of his duty who does not make Repentance a preliminary requisite to a due reception of the Gospel salvation.]
2. He exhorts them to embrace the salvation of- fered them in the Gospel —
[God has in his tender mercy sent his only dear Son to die for our redemption ; and has told us, that through him he will be reconciled unto us, and that all who believe in him shall be justified from all things. This Gospel then we should receive with the profoundest reverence, and the most lively gratitude. In so doing we " give glory" to all his glorious perfections. We glorify his wisdom and goodness, which have devised such a plan for the salvation of a ruined world : we glorify his love and mercy, in accepting it : we glorify his truth and faithfulness, in expecting the accomplishment of his pro- mises in the appointed way. It is said of Abraham, that when a child was promised to him in his old age, he " staggered not at the promises of God through unbehef, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God" Believe ye then, Brethren, that this way of salvation through a crucified Redeemer is both suited to your wants, and sufficient for your necessities. Be- lieve that, if you " look unto Jesus, you shall be saved ;" and that " those who come unto him he will in no wise cast out." Do not dishonour him by any doubts either of his ability or willingness to save you. Do not for a moment assign limits to the mercy of your God, or to the power of Christ, who is " able to save you to the uttermost." If I may use such an
expres-
" Dan.vi. 25, 26.
•> Mark i. 4, 14, 15. Luke xxiv. 47. Acts xx.21.