death. Henceforth walk in the way of life, the way of pleasantness and peace. Do you hope that you are already in this way? Pray to the Lord to keep you in it. Strive earnestly to follow it. "He that endureth unto the end shall be saved: but if any man draw back, my soul (saith the Lord) shall have no pleasure in him."

SERMON IV.

THE REAL CAUSE OF MEN'S REJECTION OF THE GOSPEL, STATED AND ILLUSTRATED.

ST. JOHN, v. 40.

And Ye will not come to Me, that Ye might have Life.

THERE is no truth more plainly taught in Scripture than this, that while man's Salvation is entirely of God's grace and mercy, his ruin is altogether of himself. If he perish, it will be his own fault, and he will have no one but himself to blame. Wherever the Gospel of Christ comes, it. freely invites all to accept the blessings which it brings. Whether men will be the better for the invitation, depends on the reception which they give to it. If they are willing to receive it, and consent to the terms proposed, the blessing will be their's; but if they refuse, and are disobedient, it

This statement fully accords with that given in the text. "Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." This was the complaint. which our Saviour made of the Jews to whom he speaks. By coming to Him they might have life. He invited them to come to Him. The Scriptures, which they professed to believe, directed them to come to Him. But, alas! they would not. They would neither accept the invitations, nor follow the directions given to them. They refused to come to Him, through whom alone they could obtain eternal life; and the plain and necessary consequence of persisting in this refusal, must be, that they would perish without remedy.

In order to a profitable consideration of this subject, let us advert to two points here set before us.

I. The Blessed consequence of coming to Christ.

II. The reason, which prevents men from coming to Him.

I. In adverting to the Blessed consequence of coming to Christ, let us begin with calling to mind what is meant by this expression. On comparing the several passages in which our Saviour speaks of coming to Him, it seems clear, that by this expression

he intends in general to describe our becoming true Christians, his real disciples and followers, believers in Him, and devoted to his service. To come to Him is to renounce all other lords and masters, and to take Him alone for our Prophet, Priest, and King. It is to trust wholly to the merits of his death and righteousness for our pardon and acceptance with God; to rely solely on his Spirit to teach and sanctify us; to walk in obedience to his commands; and for his sake to take up our cross daily, to deny ourselves, and to follow his steps. In a word, to come to Christ is to believe in Him with the heart, and to confess Him in the life; to commit our souls, with all our dearest interests, into his care and keeping, as Noah entrusted himself and all he held dear, to the care and keeping of the ark; and to live the life, which we now live in the flesh, by faith in the Son of God. This is what is meant by coming to Christ. And the blessed Consequence of thus coming to Him is, that we have Life." All who do not come to Christ, will surely die. They will die in their sins; and so dying they will endure the bitter pains of eternal death. But they who come to Christ, shall live: they shall never be overcome of the second death; they shall live

for ever; they shall have everlasting life. Are not such the express declarations of Scripture on this important point? "He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall be live, and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." "This is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life." "He that hath the Son, hath life." "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life." My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish." "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." "Because I live, ye shall live also." Such, in general, is the blessed Consequence of coming to Christ. They who now come to Him, shall hereafter live with Him. He "will raise them up at the last day." He will then say to them, "Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you :" and He will take them with Himself to heaven to see his glory, and to share his happiness for ever and ever.

But godliness has the promise of the life that now is, as well as of that which is to

* John, xi. 25, 26.—1 John, ii. 12. v. 12. — John, iii. 36x. 10. 27, 28. xiv. 19,