4. Before his ascension he appointed a gospel ministry. Chosen men were sent out into all the world, to preach the gospel to every creature. Having fulfilled their commission, they died, and others were raised up to fill their place; and able ministers will be raised up by Jesus as long as the ministry shall be necessary. The men whom he chuses are not always furnished with vast stores of human learning; but, what is far more important, they possess the spirit of their divine Master. With zeal and perseverance they warn men of danger, and direct them to the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. By their instrumentality sinners are awakened, mourners comforted, believers established, and backsliders restored to the favour and image of God.

5. After his ascension into heaven, he sent the Holy Spirit down to carry on his gracious designs towards the children of men. The influences of the Holy Spirit are either extraordinary or ordinary. On the day of Pentecost he communicated extraordinary gifts to the holy apostles, to qualify them for an extraordinary work; but those gifts were not continued long. There are other ordinary gifts of the Spirit which are communicated to all men in all ages, because they are absolutely necessary to salvation. Without his sacred influences we have neither inclination nor

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power to return to God. He enlightens, that we may repenthe quickens, that we live to God--he cleanses, that we may be happy. To deny these influences and operations upon the human heart, is to deny all genuine religion, as that which is not the work of the Spirit of God cannot be called by this name.

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6. He ever lives to make intercession. appears in the presence of God for us, and pleads the merit of his death. It is on this ground alone that a sinful world is not destroyed. When a guilty sinner returns to God, he pleads for pardon and peace: when a poor tempted and afflicted saint looks up, he pleads for delivering grace. Through him the choicest blessings of heaven are sent down upon us; and through him our prayers, and praises, and duties ascend, and meet with divine acceptance. We shall now hasten to the last thing proposed,

III. THE HAPPY CONSEQUENCES OF HIS MEDIATION.

1. God is glorified. The plan of mediation will reflect everlasting honour upon God, because it both secures his glory and the happiness of his creatures. Here we see all the attributes of Deity graciously employed, and sweetly harmonized in the salvation of men. Justice is satisfied, truth is vindicated, purity is displayed, the chan nels of mercy are opened; and both the

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wisdom and power of God made manifest in the contrivance and execution of this wondrous plan.

2. A sufficient remedy is provided for man. His guilt may be pardoned; he may be reconciled to God; his nature may be cleansed; and lost happiness may be fully recovered. Shall we, then, refuse this remedy? Are we determined to perish in our sins? God forbid! Blessed be the Lord for offering salvation to us upon gospel terms! O may we accept his offered mercy, and live for ever!

3. A way is opened into the Kingdom of Glory. There is not a sinner upon earth who may not become a saint in heaven. The crown of glory, the palm of victory, may be ours; for the grand design of Christ, in all his undertakings, has been to bring many sons unto glory." Lord grant that we may be of the happy number!

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Upon the whole, let us unite in praising God for the gift of his Son: let us love the Lord Jesus in sincerity: let us thankfully accept the gracious offers of the gospel, and follow on to know the Lord. Hereafter may we join all the glorified saints in heaven, in singing the following song of praise to our Redeemer: "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing." Amen.

D

The Necessity of Repentance.

SERMON IV.

LUKE Xiii. 5.

Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

THE greatest sufferers in this world, are not always the greatest sinners. We have clear proof of this, both in the case of Job, and in the two cases mentioned in the preceding verses. "Suppose ye (says Christ) that those Galileans whose blood Pilate mingled with their sacrifices, or those eighteen upon whom the tower in Siloam fell and slew them, were sinners above all men that dwell in Jerusalem, because they suffered such things? I tell you nay: but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

From these words, we shall enquire, first, what is implied in repentance: and secondly, prove the certainty of perishing without repentance.

I. WHAT IS, IMPLIED IN REPENTANCE? True repentance implies a knowledge of sin, a sorrow for it, a turning from it, and a turning to God.

1. A knowledge of sin. A man sees no need of repentance till he sees himself a sinner. "I came not (says Christ) to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." A thoughtless sinner, ignorant of himself, imagines all is well, when perhaps a cloud of divine vengeance is just ready to burst over his devoted head. We see this illustrated in the common affairs of life, in which a man sees no need of repentance till he is convinced of some impropriety in his conduct. Thinking his whole conduct right, he goes from one error to another, till ruin comes upon him as an armed man. The true penitent before God, is fully awakened from the sleep of sin. With open eyes he sees what the law requires, and wherein he has deviated from its holy precepts both in heart and life; and he humbly acknowledges, Verily I am guilty." Viewing the law on one hand, and his own conduct on the other, his sins appear more numerous than the hairs of his head. He did not before conceive himself guilty of so many crimes. With his eyes partly opened, he thought he had sinned only in a few instances; but he is now fully convinced that his whole life has been sinful; that his best works have come short of God's requirements; and that he deserves to suffer all those dreadful