petually he is beset by that ever-watchful and malignant enemy, whose influence we have been contemplating today. Am I speaking to any individuals who entertain a doubt as to the existence or influence of the evil spirit? I solemnly call upon them to weigh, with simplicity and seriousness, the scriptural testimony on the subject, of which a very small part only has been presented to them to-day. I would, moreover, ask of such persons, whether, if there be an enemy such as I have described, one of his first objects is not likely to be that of blinding the eyes of those whom he means to destroy, to the fact of his own existence? and, therefore, whether our very scepticism may not be the fruit of this terrible influence? And if so, can any circumstances of a more awful nature be conceived? Truly may it be said of such a man, "he feedeth on ashes; a deceived heart hath turned him aside." The enemy are at the gates; and the poor deluded victim is plunged in slumbers which perhaps shall be disturbed only by the thunder of the Great Day.

I would not, however, call merely upon the sceptical, but upon those who have no such doubts as to the existence of this great adversary-upon the professed servants of Christ-to lay the same truth seriously and devoutly to heart. You also must be reminded, that the enemy of the world at large is your own enemy; that no progress in principle or practice, no heights in religious attainment, can, on this side the grave, place you beyond the reach of his assaults. You also carry about with you lusts, tempers, and passions, which supply an avenue of attack upon the soul. He may assail you in the spirit and after the very mode in which he assailed our Lord himself. He may tempt the young to self-indulgence; the more mature, to independence of God, or spiritual pride; the old, to worldliness and love of gain. He may throw out baits to indolence, to vanity, to self-love. He may strive to bring you back to the world, or to introduce its spirit

into your religious profession. He may tempt you to become followers of a party, instead of adherents to the Cross. He may teach you to confound zeal with self-will, honesty with intolerance, and a deference to some human authority for submission to God. So that, if it be true, on the one hand, that you are to "watch, for ye know not when the Master of the house cometh;" you are to watch also, because you know not the moment, or the point, at which your foe will invade the soul. Heaven, my Christian brethren, is the only place to which temptation cannot follow you; and, therefore, the only place where unceasing and laborious vigilance is not essential to our wellbeing.

2. But, my Christian brethren, whilst I would labour, on the one hand, to awaken by our text the spirit of watchfulness in the hearts of those who hear me, I feel equally desirous of impressing upon all the second lesson which the text no less emphatically teaches-namely, the all-sufficiency of the Son of God to repel the assaults of the great enemy.-There is something to me most encouraging in the fearlessness and openness with which the presence and power of such an enemy is adverted to in the sacred Scriptures. The mere pretender to medical skill is afraid to announce to the patient the extent or malignity of a disease, because he is unacquainted with the appropriate remedy. But the man of real skill boldly proclaims the nature and perils of the disorder, because the remedy is in his hands. It is thus in the case before us. A false religion, because unable to suggest the means of repelling assaults of such an enemy, might fear to announce his existence and describe his operations; but the Gospel labours under no such cause of alarm. Whilst it announces the disease, it also announces the Physician: whilst it speaks of the "strong man," it also proclaims to you "a stronger" than he, who is able to take away his armour and "divide his spoils." What can the heart

need more for its support? "Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?" Is not the Captain of your salvation he who shall "cast" this worst enemy into the "bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more?" Let this conviction "stablish, strengthen, and settle" your minds. There comes a period, says our Lord himself, when "there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars.... men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken." But he adds; "Then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud, with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your head, for your redemption draweth nigh." God grant that, in that awful moment, every member of this assembly may look up and see on the face of the Redeemer the smile of acquittal and of love, and hear the transporting command, "Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord!" The time is short, brethren. The world is resolving into its original nothingness. Seeing that we "look for," and may hope to enjoy, a new heaven and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness," let us "be diligent, that we may be found of God, in peace, without spot and blameless."

66

SERMON XIII.

THE OFFERS OF MERCY GENERAL.

LUKE vii. 39.

Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who, and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.

THE minister of the Gospel in some instances finds himself surrounded by those who love his Master, andare endeavouring simply and faithfully to fulfil the will of God. In this case it is his privilege to open the Scripture; to deliver to them the message of mercy and joy with which he is charged; to tell them of the present distinctions and future triumphs of the righteous, and bid them feed on the manna and drink of the stream which the bounty of their Lord has provided for them.

But the minister of religion often finds himself in circumstances the most opposite to these. He enters the walks of ordinary life, and sees around him multitudes deep in guilt and misery; lost, perhaps, to all sense of religion, and flying from the only Being who could give them purity and joy. In this case, what does he do?-close the volume of truth and love? turn away from these poor outcasts; consider the evils of their character as incorrigible, and their fate as determined for ever? On the contrary, he still opens the sacred volume; speaks to them of a God of mercy ;~

shows them the Saviour on his cross; tells them, there is compassion even for the worst; and that if, with real contrition of soul, they will seek salvation by grace, and through faith in the blood of a Saviour, the gates of heaven will expand even to them; that God will set a crown of pure gold upon their heads; and they shall sit down upon the throne of their Redeemer for ever.

Now, to some individuals, this latter proceeding of the teachers of religion is offensive and alarming. They think, and think justly, that a scheme of religion coming from the holiest of all Beings, must be favourable to the purity of those for whom it is meant; and, this being the case, they ask, Whether invitations thus free and large, addressed to the profligate offender, to the man who has grown hoary in sin, to the man who appears to have offended against light and conscience, can be considered as friendly to the great interests of morals and virtue? And these questions, whether we consider the feelings in which they often originate, or the class of individuals by whom they are in many instances suggested, appear to deserve the most respectful and serious consideration. May the blessing of God rest upon my humble endeavour to-day,

I. To consider THE DOCTRINE OF SCRIPTURE UPON THE SUBJECT now brought before you; and,

II. To notice SOME OF THE OBJECTIONS MOST

COMMONLY ALLEGED AGAINST THAT DOC-
TRINE.

I. In the first place, we are to consider what is THE DOCTRINE OF SCRIPTURE, as to the offering of salvation thus largely and without reserve to the contrite offender.

1. Look, first, then, at the record of Scripture as to the office and ministry of Christ himself. When, in the very dawn of the Christian dispensation, the angel announced the birth of Christ to the shepherds, his lan