the one his ears are open, to hear their every request1: " the sacrifices of the other are an abomination to himu." Look at Abraham, when interceding for Sodom : there you see the friend of God. Look at those who, merely under the pressure of some calamity, cry and plead for help, whilst yet they have no love to God in their hearts : there you see the contrast ; for God " laughs at their calamity, and mocks at their fearx." And all this is but a prelude to that which will speedily be accom- plished in them ; when the one shall be called to his right hand, and be exalted to a throne of glory; and the other be turned to his left hand, and be cast into the lake that burnetii with fire and brimstone. Ungodly men endeavour to persuade themselves that all this is nothing but a vain conceit : but the Jews, notwithstanding all their blindness, could see that this difference did exist : " We knoiv," say they, " that God heareth not sinners : but if any man be a worshipper of God, and do his will, him he heareth y." Do ye then know it : for, whether ye will believe it, or not, so it is : nor are light and darkness, Christ and Belial, heaven and hell, further asunder, than are the children of God, and the children of the wicked one2.]
3. The use and excellency of the Gospel —
[It is the Gospel alone that can bring a man into this happy state. Nothing else can shew him how to draw nigh to God with acceptance, or to obtain reconciliation with him. This exhibits to us a Saviour; a Saviour, who bought us with his blood. This brings us into union with that Saviour, so that we are made " one spirit with hima," and are entitled to a participation of all that he himself possesses ; "of the love wherewith the Father loveth himb ;" of " the joy with which his soul is filled0;" and " of the glory which the Father hath given to himd." Here is the true secret of the difference of which we have before spoken. The believer is viewed as in Christ ; as washed in his blood ; as clothed in his righteous- ness ; as altogether " one with him, even as the Father and Christ are one6." This accounts for all which we have before mentioned of the believer's peculiar and exalted privileges. Let me then entreat you, beloved, to embrace the Gospel without delay ; seeing that through that alone you can have access to God, and obtain that fellowship with him which it is your privilege to enjoy.]
To CONCLUDE
t Ps. xxxiv. 15, 10. u Prov. xv. 8. x Prov. i. 24—28.
y John ix. 31. z 2 Cor. vi. 14 — 1G. a 1 Cor. vi. 17.
b John xvii. 23. c John xvii. 13. d John xvii. 22. e John xvii. 21.
I:-M JAMES, V. If), .'20. [2378.
[Bear in mind to whom those privileges belong: they be- long exclusively to " the righteous man." The ungodly and the hypocrite have no part in them. Seek then to attain the cha- racter of the righteous: seek it by faith in the Lord Jesus ; " by whose obedience you shall be made righteous'," and by whose all-powerful grace you shall " be renewed after the Divine image in righteousness and true holiness g." Then shall all these blessings be yours. You shall be " a people near unto tiod'1:" yea, you shall " have power with God, and shall prevail1" in all your supplications: even for others you shall prevail to a great extent, but for yourselves you shall obtain all the blessings both of grace and glory.]
f Rev. v. 19. e Eph. iv. 24.
h Ps. cxlviii. 14. * Hos. xii. 4.