The answer is obvious:-they do not accept the proffered "remission of sins." And, if it be further asked, "How know we that any do not accept this remission?" I answer-We know it, because many do not repent of sin, and receive Christ, or, obey the Gospel. These are the divinely appointed tests of acceptance; and the most charitable application of these tests to multitudes of mankind, shows clearly that they do not wish the proffered remission, and of course have no interest in the great salvation.

The plan of mercy proposed in the Gospel is broad, strong, and glorious; broad enough to reach, and strong enough to sustain, the entire population of the world, from Adam downward to his latest born son; and glorious enough to fill the Eternal mind with delight, and call forth shouts of loftiest praise from the myriads of heaven, while eternity endures. And the difficulty in the way of the salvation of man lies, not at all in the plan of mercy, but wholly in the sinner's aversion to the plan. Let him cordially consent to the law as holy, just, and good, abhorring himself, and repenting in dust and ashes; and let him yield his heart to God, and cherish the meek and self denying spirit of Christ, and his guilt shall be remitted-he shall be saved. But let him ask for salvation, while he indulges the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, and he asks for what he knows nothing of, and for that which God cannot bestow, more than he can repent or lie. The salvation of the Gospel is nothing more nor less than deliverance from the love, the power, and practice of sin; and of deliverance from the pains of eternal death. While under the dominion of the god of this world, it knows nothing. Hence it is, that the revealed plan of salvation, while it fills every pure mind in heaven and earth with rapture, has no glory in the sinner's eye, and brings no joy home to his heart; he turns away from it with disgust pronounces it unworthy of God, and frames another and better plan in his vain imaginings, on which he reposes in quietness, till God says, "this night shall thy soul be required of thee."

What if the sinner complain? It is without reason. He has nothing to lay to the charge of God, for He is long suffering; nor has he anything to lay to the charge of the law, for the law is holy, just, and good; nor has he anything to lay to the charge of the Gospel, for the Gospel is full of grace and truth. Aside of himself, there is nothing in the universe of which he has reason to complain. He is his own worst enemy. If he tread under foot his own mercies, and obstinately reject life and salvation, and urge his way to perdition against all the remonstrances of God and conscience, under the promptings of a heart of unbelief, he but destroys himself. Even Satan can have no power over him beyond his own consent, for he is no sooner resisted than he flies; and the seductions of evil men are harmless as the flickering light of the

glow-worm, apart from his own evil inclinations. All his difficulties lie within. He will not come to Christ that he may have life. He will not sell all that he has and give to the poor-hold his farm. and his merchandize, his pleasures and his honors, in subordination to the treasures of heaven, and come and follow Christ.. This is his destruction-brought down upon his head, by his own folly and perverseness. Let him put away the evil of his doings, repent of his past transgressions, and fall at the feet of the Lamb, slain from before the foundation of the world, and he is at once absolved from all the claims of Divine justice to his blood. But so long as he continues in sin, he is exposed to endless wrath. The sentence of condemnation is already upon him, and through the forbearance of God only, is its execution delayed. He has no plea to urge in arrest of judgment. To the promises of God he has no claim, for they are given only to the broken-hearted and believing. And he has no advocate to appear in his behalf at the right hand of God; and at the last tribunal, he must stand naked and alone, trembling and unbefriended, to hear the final doom-" Depart thou cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels."

REFLECTIONS.

1. We learn the source of all true consolation in this vale of tears.

There are two immutable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, viz.: His promise and His oath, sealed by the blood of the Great Forerunner, who hath entered into that within the veil, securing strong consolation to all who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before them; and it is a consolation which the world can neither give nor take away. They are made accepted in the Beloved, and are freed from the law of sin and death. Their iniquities are forgiven, their sins are covered, and they rejoice in hope of the glory of God. "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth?" "In all things we are more than conquerors, through him that loved us." And this consolation abounds, in proportion to the simplicity and strength of faith-the uniformity and entireness of obedience-the fervor of the soul's aspirings after God, and the cordiality of acquiescence in the Divine purpose to maintain the claims of His law, and the majesty of His government unimpaired, at any expense to offenders. Indulging hope, sustained by evidence such as this, the Christian can fearlessly breast all the storms of life, hold at bay every enemy of his peace, and triumphantly exclaim, "I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any

other creature, shall be able to separate me from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

2. We learn the vastness of the believer's obligations to Christ. "Ye are bought with a price," saith the apostle; a price more precious than the gold of Ophir, and all earth's treasures. It was the blood of the incarnate God, and freely paid. Infinite condescension marked the act. It procured a suspension of the law's immediate demands on the transgressor-a space for repentancethe gift of the Holy Spirit, to convince of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, and the reversion of an inheritance, incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away. And who can comprehend the extent of such obligations? Immeasurable are they, as the heights of heaven and the depths of hell! But for this love of Jesus, no light had fallen on the darkness of the grave, no hope had cheered the gloominess of man's pathway thither; no joy in his prospective triumphs over hell had arisen in his heart, and no crown had awaited him at God's right hand! O! for more than an angel's tongue to celebrate his praise!

3. We learn the fearful infatuation of those who turn away from Christ and look elsewhere for support and consolation. All beside is vanity and vexation of spirit. All else, is disappointment and sorrow, trouble and anguish. What though they persuade themselves that they are not the vilest of the vile, and even that their virtues are many? Still, the law of God condemns them, declaring "every one cursed whe continueth not in all things written in the book of the law to do them." And what though they persuade themselves that God is too merciful to punish His enemies and avenge himself of their transgressions; it is still true, that vengeance is His, and He will repay fury to his adversaries, banishing them into everlasting destruction from His presence, and the glory of His power. And what, though they flatter themselves with peace and safety, because the bounties of heaven are so richly lavished on them that they have not where to bestow their goods? It is still true, that like Dives, they may hereafter lift up their eyes, being in torment, and vainly implore a drop of water to cool their tongue tormented in the flame. And what though at present they have no corroding of conscience, nor distressing fears of death and future judgment? still, their condition is fearful; for they are not the first who have been given over of God to strong delusions, to believe lies, and who have no bands in their death, and are yet doomed to feel the gnawing of the worm that never dies, and the intenseness of the fire that is never quenched. The word of the Lord standeth for ever. “Evil pursueth sinners."

Christ is all in all. His love is wonderful. His riches are unsearchable. To him alone man turns His eye with safety. "Be it known to you," my fellow sinners, "that through this man is

preached unto you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him all that believe are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses; and, if ye despise Him, remember there is salvation in no other; "there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment, which shall devour the adversaries." "Beware, therefore, lest that come upon you which is spoken in the prophets, Behold! ye despisers, and wonder, and perish." Turn away from the opening heavens, whence cometh the voice, "This is my beloved Son, hear ye him;" pour practical contempt on the bloody scene of Calvary, whence issues the prayer, "Father! forgive them, they know not what they do;" and thus "grieve the Holy Spirit of God, whereby any are sealed unto the day of redemption;" and the door of salvation is shut against you, your doom is sealed, to the world where is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth for ever! And, must it be so! Will you fling salvation from your arms, embrace the world and death, and plunge into hell, in despite of all that Infinite Love can do? O forbear-look to heavenlisten to the pleadings of the Cross-throw yourselves down at the feet of Jesus, and LIVE FOR EVER.

SERMON CCCCLXXV.

BY REV. JOHN MARSH,

Cor. Sec. of the American Temperance Union.

RELIGION THE TRUE ELEMENT OF REFORMATION

"There is one Lawgiver."-JAMES 4: 12.

"In the name of our God will we set up our Banners.-PSALMS 20: 5.

THE present is an age of extraordinary activity and progress in the arts and sciences. The facility of communication with distant places is amazingly increased-intelligence is diffused with lightning swiftness, and no small part of the hard labor of human life is dispensed with, through the application of mechanical power. It is no less an age of active and enlarged philanthropy. The evils of man's social state are more clearly seen and, perhaps, deeply felt, than they were by those who have gone before us, and a general and powerful movement is made to reform, improve, and elevate society. All classes are professedly engaged in this great and good work-all classes, under whatever banner enlisted, are

professedly fighting the battle of humanity, reform, freedom, social happiness; and if war is waged and territory acquired; if China and Mexico are trampled in the dust, and the thrones and dynasties of Kings are overthrown, it is all declared to be for the ultimate benefit of mankind. And yet there exists in the great army of reformers such a diversity of character, object, and mode, that it is impossible to regard them as one, or anticipate anything like concert of action or unity of result. Some go forth entirely in their own wisdom and strength, inscribing on their banners, humanity, reason, liberty, love, universal brotherhood; others, feeling their weakness, ignorance, and utter insufficiency, and their need of light and strength from above, exclaim, "THERE IS ONE LAWGIVER," "IN THE NAME OF OUR GOD WE WILL SET UF OUR BANNERS." With such, the religious element is the soul of philanthropy; their main dependence is on it; and sooner than refuse to honor and magnify it in the prosecution of this blessed work, they will let their right hand forget her cunning, and their tongue cleave to the roof of their mouth.

Of the correctness and superiority of their position, we might feel assured from the simple consideration, if we had no other, that, until the coming of Jesus Christ, the world knew not what philanthropy was. With all his noble endowments, which elevate him above the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, man, untaught of God, never feels for others' woes and never mourns over human vices. If pity and compassion form any part of his constitution, they lie buried under a mound of selfishness and brutality; and hence, even the virtuous heathen could throw their living, but unneeded offspring, into pits and graves, and carry out their aged and infirm to the river's brink, to be devoured by the jackal and the crocodile. And hence, also, in the heathen world, was never known an almshouse, a hospital, or an asylum for the suffering. And hence, too, no work of moral reform, within our knowledge, was ever undertaken, where the Gospel was not preached. To the religious element then, history says we must look as the basis of true philanthropy; and if philanthropy now pleads, in this day of light, for an independent basis, it is in robbery of its parent, its fountain, its divine original.

But that religion lies at the base of all true philanthropy and moral improvement, and that in every work of reformation and well-doing, "in the name of our God" we should set up our banners, may be made more distinctly to appear from several considerations. I. All true philanthropy and moral reform lie eternally in the bosom of God. GOD IS LOVE. And while for near six thousand years sin has reigned, and our world, which came beautiful from the hand of its Creator, has been filled with wailing and lamentation, His infinite heart has followed it in all its wanderings and