words of our Saviour verified, " How often would I, but ye would notf."]
Infer —
1. What ground for self-condemnation will there be in the day of judgment !
[Every condemned sinner, however full of excuses now, will then have his mouth shut ; yea, even now a moment's reflection must convince us, that every sinner's condemnation is the effect of his own obstinacy. Who amongst you does not know, that he ought to read the word of God, and to seek his face, and to repent of sin, and to flee to Christ for refuge, and to give up himself to Christ in a way of holy obedience ? Yet you will not do it. Your conscience at times remonstrates with you : yet you will not obey its voice : and your recollec- tions of this in the eternal world will be one of the most bitter ingredients in the cup which you will drink to all eternity.]
2. What astonishing grace and mercy are there in
the Lord Jesus Christ !
[His reproof contains in it a most gracious invitation. He addresses all of us at this instant, " Come unto me and I will give you lifeg." Let none resist him any longer. Let us go to him, and he will in no wise cast us outh.]
f Matt, xxiii. 37- s Matt. xi. 28. " John vi. 37.
men's want of love to god.
John v. 42. / know you, that ye have not the love of God
in you.
OUR blessed Lord " needed not that any should testify of man : for he himself knew perfectly what was in mana;" and, consequently, without any re- ference to overt acts, could determine what was the state of every man's soul before God. Yet, in making known his decisions upon character, he, for the most part, appealed to fact ; especially if his testimony was to their discredit. In declaring Nathanael to be " an Israelite indeed, and without guile," he referred to secret transactions, known only to God and to
a John ii. 24, 25.