reason to be apprehensive that he shall not be placed in the same happy state as the faithful disciples of the Son of God. The plan of God may demand such arrangements, in a future world, as may inspire him with deep regret at his incredulity. At all events, he can have no claim upon the covenanted mercies of God. This phrase has been so familiarly used, not to say abused, by one class of Christians, that it is sunk into disrepute with others; but it has a very important signification. The mercies of God endure for ever; but the displays of them, or their immediate application to the happiness of his responsible creatures, are always conditional. They must, therefore, be deferred until stipulated conditions shall be complied with. Those who have had the gospel of Christ preached unto them, and have treated it as a fable, must remain in a gloomy uncertainty, to speak in the gentlest terms, concerning their future destination, for they cannot be included in this covenant of Grace. In our Gospel is the following admonition: "He that despised Moses's law, died without mercy; of how much sorer punishment suppose Ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy

thing, and hath done despite unto the spirit of grace?"

Nothing but a perfect consciousness of the sincerity with which enquiries into the truth of Christianity have been made; or an absolute certainty that it is a delusion, can render the mind of an unbeliever composed, under a warning of so alarming a nature.

Of the Jewish People it may be asked, whether the Saviour whom they expect can exceed, in suavity of manners, in dignity of character, in universal philanthropy and benevolence, the Messiah of the Christians? Or whether they suppose, that the Object of their desires will sa closely resemble the description given by their prophet, Isaiah, of the great Emanual? "He is

despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief:-He was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all," &c. &c.*

* Isaiah liii. 3.

Will the earthly conqueror, whom the Jews expect, submit to a state and a treatment like this? Under such a conqueror, and amidst the tumults of war, and the scenes of tyranny, oppression, hatred, and animosities they occasion, can they expect that the transcendant blessings of peace and universal prosperity shall be enjoyed? so that "the wolf shall dwell with the lamb; and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf, and the young lion, and the fatling, together; and a little child shall lead them?" Is there any conquest equal to the conquest over sin and misery? or can any one effect this but the Captain of our salvation; in whom there was no sin, neither guile found in his mouth; against whom their ancestors, his very murderers, sought in vain for a subject of just crimination? Can any other preacher of righteousness be looked for, whose precepts shall be more pure, whose example shall be more perfect, whose motives to obedience shall be more animating? Can they promise that their future Saviour shall more effectually save all mankind from their sins, promote universal holiness, so that the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea? Or is it rational to suppose, that the grand promise to their father Abraham, that "in

his seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed," can be accomplished by any means more effectual than by the universal acceptance of the religion of Jesus, in its primitive purity and simplicity? Can better days be expected, than those which the religion of Jesus is calculated to introduce, for the accomplishment of the following promise?" Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah ; not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers, in the days that I took them by the hand, to bring them out of the land of Egypt; but this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts, and will be their God, and they shall be my people; and they shall teach no more, every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord; for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more ?"*

II. We would ask those Christians, who manifest such a fond predilection for controver

* Jerem. xxxi. 31.

sial subjects, whether they be not spending too much of their precious time, and misapplying the hour which should be devoted to the worship of the universal father, and training up his rational offspring to glory, honour, and immortality, by perpetual discussions upon speculative points, and subjects of doubtful disputation? Are there not, in the whole dispensation of grace, subjects infinitely more instructive, and encouraging, wherewith one may edify another? The Hebrews are exhorted not perpetually to dwell upon topics, which the Apostle considered the most fundamental points of Christianity, but to go on to perfection; how reprehensible, therefore, would he think the employment of those, who are assiduously and presumptuously adding to the doctrines which he has stated, speculations of inferior importance, which, if true, are of a secondary consideration alone; and which become injurious, when they occupy the whole attention of the preacher and his audience; rendering it impracticable for them to give all diligence to add to their "faith, virtue; to virtue, knowledge; to knowledge, temperance; to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity."

It is an historical fact, that all the doctrines