That this subject may be yet further impressed upon your minds, consider,
1. How v^^onderful this grace is —
[The more we consider the gift of God's only-begotten Son to assume our nature, and to expiate our guilt by his own blood, the more shall we be lost in wonder, love, and praise
And shall all this be done in vain ? Shall he become
sin for us, and we not seek to be made the righteousness of God in him ? ]
2. How awful will be the consequence of rejecting it—
[Happier vi'ill Tyre and Sidon, yea, and Sodom and Gomorrha, be in the day of judgment, than those who hear and make light of these overtures of reconciliation. Think of those awful words, " How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation ? "]
3. How truly blessed they are who receive the grace of God in truth —
[Well does the Psalmist say, " Blessed are the people that know the joyful sound ! " Truly, they are beyond ex- pression, and beyond conception, blessed. In this world, their ** peace passeth all understanding," and their "joy is unspeakable and glorified :" but their portion in the world to come, who shall declare ? An archangel would in vain attempt to give it utterance. And shall all this belong to those who
accept God's offers of reconciliation aright ? Let not
one of you delay to flee for refuge to the hope that is set before you ]
e Prov. i. 23—31. f Heb. iii. 11, 18, 19. Luke xiv. 24.