who in his life has disbelieved and dishonoured Christ, and never to his latest hour repented him of all the ungodly deeds which he has ungodly committed, or to him who has despised Christ, making light of his Gospel-never heeding his ordinances, or seeking forgiveness through his blood? Far from bettering his condition, death summons him into the presence of his Judge, puts an end to the time of his trial-the season of merciful visitation to him,-removes the last ray of hope that shall ever be shed on him, and brings him into the place and the agony of the impenitently wicked, -the everlastingly condemned. We judge no man ; to his own master every man must stand or fall; and He with whom all things are possible, may recall a sinner from his ways before his last hour is spent. But when we see that the inevitable termination of an unconverted, un-Christian life, persevered in to the end, is a death not of gain but of utter ruin-not of hope but of agony and eternal woe-ought we not to warn every man to flee from such a death, to cease from such a life, and to turn to the stronghold of salvation? Surely it is a stronghold when it is built upon a rock—when the gates of hell shall not prevail against it—when it will afford a covert from every tempest, and a refuge in every time of affliction or dismay. Be persuaded, then, my brethren, to be followers of Paul, even as he was of Christ; count not your life dear to you so that you may finish your course with joy, and the work which you have received of the Lord Jesus; and strive always to realise for yourselves the blessed state of the Apostle, "to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Amen.

SERMON XVII.

RECONCILIATION WITH GOD AN EARNEST OF COMPLETE SALVATION.

BY THE

REV. DAVID LOGAN,

MINISTER OF STENTON.

ROM. v. 10.

"Much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life."

On the coasts of this globe, there are many of what are called high water or bar harbours, where admission at all, or a safe admission, can be gained only at certain periods of the tide, or in particular states of the weather. You can easily conceive a vessel arriving in the bay of one of these harbours after a long and perilous voyage, and obliged to cast anchor and wait in patience till the

rising of the tide permitted them to pass the bar. The period, though expected to be short, is still a very trying one. They have been long cooped up within the narrow compass of the vessel, and are desirous of ranging at large on the wished-for shore. They have been long absent from their native home, and the dearest objects of their affection, and in proportion as they are near the one and love the other, so with the more eager desire do they long to embrace the objects of their heart. Short though the time may be, however, and calm and serene the sky, yet in this ever changeful scene a dark night may come on intercepting their view of the land which they love-a tempestuous wind may arise, wakening their hopes, exciting their fears, and causing them reluctantly to weigh anchor, and to seek again the trackless deep as their only safety. And what is now, under Him who directs the storm, the chief prop and stay of their confidence? It is the seaworthiness of the vessel in which they are embarked— that she who triumphantly outrode many storms on the trackless deep, will not founder by a wind from the shore-and that even now the time is not distant when they will enter the haven of safety and rest.

Somewhat similar, in a certain sense, is the present condition of the Christian. Heaven is his home-the heavenly inhabitants the objects of his purest and most ardent affection. Hope is the anchor of the soul, mooring him to the land of everlasting rest; and by means of faith, he enjoys foretastes of the blessedness of that land, whetening his purified desires for the full enjoy

In the meantime, however, through the strength

of indwelling sin, and the imperfections cleaving to him whilst in the body, such mists may be engendered and exhalations arise, as will intercept the complacent smiles of his Heavenly Father's countenance. Dejection and darkness may succeed to this. Storms also may arise, exciting the fears, discouraging the hopes, weakening the faith, and tending to extinguish the love of the heavenward voyager.

And is there no stay to which to repair in such hours of trial and seasons of danger? Yes, verily. Not only does the foundation of God ever stand sure, having this seal, "the Lord knoweth them that are his"—not only is the finished work of the Saviour allcomplete and efficacious" having finished transgression, and made an end of sin-offering, and brought in everlasting righteousness"-but though he died he also rose again, and ever liveth, appearing in the presence of God in behalf of his people. This is the confidence of the genuine disciples of Christ. On this ground of hope they may unwaveringly rely, assured, that though it may be through fire and water, they will at last be brought to a wealthy place. The reasoning of the Apostle in the passage of which the text forms a part, goes to establish this confidence. The text especially fixes the attention on the conclusiveness of the reasoning and by attending thereto, prayerfully and anxiously desirous of being established in the faith,-the genuine believer will not be tempted to cast away his confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.

The Apostle, in the passage before us, presents for our consideration topics of a highly interesting and in

structive nature and character. His reasoning upon these is from the greater to the less. The conclusion contained in the text is not only irresistible in itself, but necessarily involving, and leading us back to the whole process of reasoning in the argument ;-by glancing shortly at each of these steps in the process, we will not only be prepared to join issue with the Apostle, "that much more being reconciled by the death of Christ, we shall be saved by his life,”—but in conducting the illustration, we shall, by the teaching of the Spirit, be also enabled to judge whether we have part or lot in this matter.

And the term or phrase, "being reconciled," being applicable, either unto God's reconciliation to man, or man's reconciliation to God, or to both-and both of them being included in the Apostle's reasoning, and strengthening most materially the conclusion which he draws; we shall therefore in the subsequent remarks, illustrate the subject in reference to both. And,—

First, More immediately in reference to God. The term reconciliation and its adjuncts, as occurring in Holy Scripture, present before us truths of vast importance indeed-truths entering deeply into the very vitals, if I may so speak, of the economy of redemption-and truths concerning which it is of incalculable consequence towards the commencement and furtherance of our own salvation, that we form accurate and somewhat adequate scriptural ideas.

Reconciliation is the restoring to a state of friendship parties who had been at variance with each other. To reconcile, is indicative of the change of the state of