find sufficient to express their feelings of self-reproach ? My dear brethren, I would that you would all place yourselves for a moment in the situation of a person at the first moment of his entering into the presence of his God ; looking back upon the scenes which he has just left ; and looking forward to the scenes on which he is about to enter, and which must continue without mitigation or end to all eternity. Could I prevail on you to realize for a moment that situation, methinks it would be impossible for you not to flee to the Saviour, and lay hold upon him, and cleave to him, till he had pardoned your offences, and spoken peace unto your souls.]
3. How infatuated must you be, if you will not im- prove your present opportunity of obtaining mercy !
[My dear brethren, in the name of Almighty God I declare to you, that if only you will come to him in humble dependence on the Saviour's merits, " not one of you shall ever be cast out." Nay, more ; I declare, that God will seal his pardoning love upon your souls ; so that, instead of wishing you had never been born, you shall be able, with most heartfelt delight, to say, " We thank thee, O God, for our creation^." Yes, indeed : this is an expression which none but a true Christian can fully utter : for all others, whoever they may be, must feel some secret misgivings in relation to their eternal state. But the man who truly gives himself up to his God, can look forward to the eternal world with joy ; knowing that he shall be received into the bosom of his Saviour, and reign with him in glory for evermore. Then I ask you, my brethren. Why will ye, after having lost so much time already, and having, for aught ye know, so little remaining to you, why, I say, will ye defer, even for an hour, that repentance which your state calls for, and that application to the Saviour which he is so ready to hear ? Fain would I prevail upon you to go home and prostrate yourselves before the throne of grace, and to implore mercy of God in the Redeemer's name. If ye will not do this, what can be expected, but that the time shall come when you will curse the day of your birth, aye, and the day that ye ever heard this faithful address ? I tremble to think what a swift witness I must be against those who shall still harden themselves against these faithful admonitions. I tremble to think how soon many of you will be found in that state, when it must be said of you, " It had been good for that man if he had not been born." But some of you at least, I hope, will take warning ere it be too late, and " lay hold on eternal life," before " the wrath of God shall come upon you to the uttermost."]
X See the General Thanksgiving.
1401. I THE lord's supper. 553