a dumb spirit, we do not find him saying, "Grant me this my prayer, if thou art able or willing." No; the prayer of the expiring penitent contained none of these conditions: he looks to Jesus, "the author and finisher of his faith," and, doubting neither his ability nor inclination to save, he simply cries for mercy, and immediately obtains the desired blessing.

But though his confidence in the Redeemer was so strong that it silenced every doubt of his ability or willingness to save, yet was his affiance tempered with the deepest humility. He presumed not to of fer such a request as the ambitious disciple had once made, "Grant that I may sit on thy right hand in thy kingdom;" but, like the faithful Canaanitess, requesting only the smallest crumbs that fell from his divine Master's table, he simply says, "Lord, remember me." Nor does he dictate how, or in what manner, he wished to be remembered, but leaves it all to Christ, and commits his departing soul into his hands with feelings similar to those of St. Paul, when he said, "I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."

II. We notice the acceptance which the prayer of the penitent thief obtained; this will appear from our Lord's gracious answer to him, "Verily, I say unto thee," &c. In the whole course of our blessed Saviour's ministry, we do not meet with a single instance of his refusing any who sought bodily cures from his omnipotent power; and now he testifies the same readiness to relieve spiritual necessities, and to save to the uttermost all who come unto him for eternal salvation.

In this merciful reply of the Redeemer, we should especially notice the rich display which it contains of the freeness as well as the fulness of his grace.

1st. It displays the freeness of his grace. The prayer of the dying man was granted without the least hesitation. No sooner was the application made than the mercy was vouchsafed. The fell destroyer stood waiting for his soul like a lion roaring for its prey; but he cries to Jesus, and instantly it is snatched, like "a brand from the burning," and admitted into the paradise of God. Moreover, the desired mercy was bestowed, not only without hesitation but also without upbraiding. How justly might Christ have reproached the guilty man with the whole course of his wicked life, with his late repentance, and especially with his behaviour even upon the cross! For it appears that, when first fixed to it, he was as impenitent as his wretched companion, whom he joined in reviling the Saviour of sinners; and in this state of desperate obduracy did he continue till he was on the very verge of the eternal world. With what propriety, then, might he have upbraided this atrocious conduct in the severest terms! And he would doubtless have done so, had he not been God," who giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not," and whose conduct to returning sinners is so beautifully illustrated in the parable of the Prodigal Son, Luke, xv. Nor did the Saviour, in bestowing the desired mercy, prescribe conditions. He did not require the criminal to do any thing in order to merit his blessing. Had this been the case, the poor sinner must have been found miserably deficient; for what could a condemned malefactor, nailed to the agonizing cross, do to merit salvation? Nor, indeed, can we, with all our advantages, do any thing to deserve this rich reward. are, after all, but unprofitable servants, and can never have any claim to eternal life. Well, then, may we exclaim with St. Paul, "Where sin abounded, grace did

We

much more abound!" when we reflect on this striking instance of God's free grace towards so great a criminal, and which so wonderfully exemplifies what he had commanded his prophet Isaiah to proclaim some ages before; "Ho! every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea come, buy wine and milk, without money and without price."

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2d. We should notice the fulness of the grace of Christ manifested in this reply. How often has God bestowed much more than his people have desired! When they have only solicited a comparatively small thing, he has frequently loaded them with his richest blessings. In proof of this, we need only refer to the case of Solomon, when the Lord commanded him to make a request, saying, “Ask what I shall give thee." The king having replied to this gracious communication by asking for " understanding heart to judge the people," we find that God not only granted his request for wisdom, but also bestowed on him riches and Behold," says he, "I have done according to thy words; I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart: and I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches and honour; so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee in all thy days." In a similar way, our Lord infinitely exceeds the thief's request, and promises not merely a remembrance of him, but also converse with himself; and, moreover, that this blesssd converse should be enjoyed in Paradise, in that place where departed saints dwell in the presence of God until the great day of final account. Nor is this all; for the promised felicity was to commence on that very day. He had not to wait many tedious ages in the noisome grave, but immediately to enter the blest abode, and pass from the

tormenting cross to eternal glory. And, lastly, to remove every doubt from the penitent's mind, that happiness so vast, so unexpected, and so unmerited, could ever be his portion, Christ annexes to the promise his usual asseveration, Verily, I say unto thee, to-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise."

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From this interesting subject much important instruction may be derived. It is worthy of remark, that there is no other instance of conversion, at so late a period, recorded in the whole Scripture; we may, therefore, well conclude, with the pious Bishop Hall, that this one instance is given, that none, not even the greatest sinners, may despair of pardon, however long their repentance may have been delayed; and only this one, that none may presume on the mercy of God, and neglect to seek him in the days of their youth. In this respect the text suggests ample matter both for caution and encouragement.

Let us first attend to the caution which it suggests. Some perhaps may unhappily take occasion from it to defer their repentance to their death-bed, or at least to some distant period. The young may think that, as this malefactor obtained mercy when he was in the very grasp of death, it will be time enough for them to repent when they grow older; while those who enjoy ease and health, may consider pain and sickness" a more convenient season." But, alas! these are fatal delusions; for the text, rightly understood, affords ground whatever for such conduct. We learn, indeed, that repentance can never, in this world, be too late; but who that defers it, presumptuously hoping to be saved in his last moments, can be sure that time will be allowed him to repent at all? What reason has he to think that he is exempt from those numerous casualties which have hurried so many into eternity, with

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out a moment's warning? Of one thing, however, all may be assured, that, in the hour of their dissolution, they cannot possess such advantages as were enjoyed by the penitent in the text. Christ was now in the lowest stage of humiliation, and therefore divine wisdom judged it necessary to give the world some signal display of his dignity and glory. Hence the whole creation was constrained to bear witness to him; and the thief was, chosen from among men to be a monument of his power and grace. But as such an occasion will never occur again, no similar interposition is to be expected. It is, therefore, the very extreme of folly to reject the present overtures of mercy, in expectation of such a miraculous conversion at last.

Those who adopt such frantic conduct, and entertain such presumptuous hopes, have much more reason to anticipate, that towards them will be verified the awful declaration of the Lord; "Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; but ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I will also laugh at your calamity: I will mock when your fear cometh; when your, fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind."

But though much caution be ne

cessary to guard this subject from abuse, we may nevertheless derive great encouragement from it. For it forbids any to despair of salvation, however long, or heinously, they may have sinned, if at last they truly repent, and seek God's mercy in his divinely appointed way. It then assures them, that, though their sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson they shall be as wool. It also points out the simple way in which salvation is to be attained. Whoever is saved, it must be on the same terms as the thief in the text, solely by faith in the crucified Saviour of sinners; for " God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, 'that whosoever. believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." substance of our Lord's answer is applicable to every sincere penitent who calls upon him "in the accepted time. Let all, then, seek salvation in the same way, let them no longer delay their repentance, but conform to the divine injunction, and "seek the Lord while he may be found, and call upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighte ous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."

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In both Asiaes the Gospell was throughly preached; but now the subtlety of Satan, and that carnall law of Mahomet, have infected these soule-sick nations: for all which, Christ has his flock there, which though at this time scattered, in due time shall be gathered, and made one blessed company. In Persia are many thousand Christians; in India, a no less multitude; compared indeed to other idolaters, but a handfull; yet that does not discourage them; 'tis better to go to heaven alone, than to hell with an innumerable multitude. Arnobius of old times could say, Nationibus cunctis nos sumus Christiani*. In many marittim townes of India, that name is honoured. In Meliapore, Narsinga, Coolan, Cucurran, Curigan, Bipur, Tanor, Battacula, Onor, Cranganor, Goa, and other places are Christians: yea, in many Indian isles, some are numbered: among Mahomitans they have freedome of conscience from that Azoara in the Alcoran, that none are to be diswaded from the religion they suckt from their cradle: amongst Panymst, from that rule of nature, use others as thou wouldst others should use thee. The Christians in these parts differ in some things from us, and the Papacie; yet retaine many principles of the orthodox and Catholick doctrine: let's enter their temples. Their churches are low, and but poorely furnished: their vassalage will reach no further: whether from their subjection, or that (so the temples of their bodies bee replenisht with vertue) the excellency of buildings conferre not holiness, I know not: neat they are, and sweetly kept; matted, without seats, and instead of images, have some select and usefull texts of Holy Writ, obviously writ or painted. They assemble and haste to church each Lord's day with great alacrity:

* We Christians are in all nations. + Heathens.

DECEMBER 1822.

at their entring, they shut their eyes, and contemplate the holinesse of the place, the exercise they come about, and their owne unworthinesse: as they kneele, they look towards the altar, or table, near which the bishop or priest is seated, whom they salute with a low and humble reverence*, who returns his blessing by the uplifting of his hands and eyes: at a set houre they begin prayers, above two houres seldome continuing: first they have a short generall confession, which they follow the priest in, and assent in an unanim amen: then followes an exposition of some part or text of Holy Scripture: during which their attention, dejected lookes, and silence, is admirable: they sing an hymne, and at parting out of church, re-salute the minister, who ceases not (till all be gone out) to elate his hands and bless them. When they are come home they read a chapter in either + Testament, both which they suppose they have incorrupt after the originals, and translated for them by St. Thomas, the apostle and patron of the Orient: they have it also in the Chaldy; but none save the clergy understand it: every first Sunday in the month the priest reads a sermon out of an old Homily, writ as they say, by the apostle or some of his disciples: they baptise commonly at the 40 day, if the parents do not sooner desire it; they first signe the infant on the forehead with the crosse, and then wash it all over with water: the Sacrament of the Lord's holy supper they administer in both kinds, the communicants receive it (reverently) kneeling; they observe two days strict preparation, during which they eat no flesh, revell not, &c. In the church they confesse their sinnes and demerits with great reluctancy‡:

* A low and humble bow. + Each.

Contrition, from relugeo, to mourn over again.

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