Address —
1. Those who are afar off from Christ —
[Can it be supposed, that, if we will not go to Christ, we can ever participate his benefits? Doubtless we cannot: if we keep at a distance from him in this world, there will be an " impassable gulf between us" in the world to come. Let us remember then, that we must go to him or perish. Let not any one object, I cannot go : for the truth is, we will notb. Yet, notwithstanding our past obstinacy, we may go to him, with a full assurance that he will in no wise cast us out. Let us not then delay, lest death seize us, and the door of mercy be for ever closed.]
0 Isai. i. 18. p Acts x. 43. and 1 John i. 7.
<J Matt. xii. 31.
r 2 Kings xxi. 16. with 2 Chron. xxxiii. 9, 12, 13. s 2 Sam. xii. 9, 13. l 1 Tim. i. 16.
u Mark ix. 33, 34. x Luke ix. 54.
y Matt. xxvi. 56. z Markxvi.7. and John xxi. 15 — 17-
a Isai.xl. 11. andxlii. 3. b John v. 40.
c c 2
2. Those who are coming to him —
[We are told of one in the Gospel, whom, when coming to our Lord, the devil cast down, and tare, and left to appear- ance, deadc. Such enmity will Satan discover against us also as soon as ever we attempt to come to Christ. He will raise every obstacle in his power : he will assault us by " fightings without, and fears within." But the more earnest he is in his endeavours to draw us from Christ, the more determined let us be in going to Christ : so shall we most effectually defeat his malice, and secure beyond a doubt our own salvation.]
3. Those who have come to him —
[Whence is it that so great a difference has been put be- tween you and others ? Is it that you were of yourselves more inclined to good, and that you made yourselves to differd? No : you were once as far from God as any ; nor had the smallest inclination to seek him till God gave you the wille; nor could you then have come to Christ, except the Father had drawn you by his Almighty powerf. Be careful then to give all the glory of your salvation to God alone. And re- member that you are still to be coming to Christ every day you liveg. " All your fresh springs are in him;" and " out of his fulness you must continually receive." Live then a life of faith on the Son of God; and the communion, which you enjoy with him on earth, shall soon be perfected in the realms of glory.]
c Mark ix. 20, 26. d 1 Cor. iv. 7. e Phil. ii. 13.
f John vi. 44. s 1 Pet. ii. 4, 5.