up in thee unto everlasting life; yea, out of thy belly, thy inmost soul, rivers of living water, the greatest abundance of the purest joy, would have flowed for ever. I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for my own sake, and will not remember thy sins: I will guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought; and thou shalt be like a watered garden, or like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

"O how often would I have gathered thee in years past, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings! How often would I have led thee, as an eagle fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, and beareth them! but thou wouldst not." Nevertheless, this is still the day of my power, mercy, and love I pardon those whom I reserve, and I will yet be pacified towards thee, for all that thou hast done. I was angry with thee, but mine anger is turned away, my thoughts towards thee are thoughts of peace, and I am become thy salvation. Come then, let us now reason together, and though thy sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

Why does not thy drooping heart, O sinner, leap for joy, or melt with gratitude, at these tender invitations of thy Saviour? Thinkest thou, they do not belong to thee? Dost thou suppose that Jesus, who is all purity and holiness, must turn away with abhorrence from such a guilty, polluted and abominable creature as thou art?....One so void of all good, so full of all evil, so completely lost and undone as thou seest thyself? Art thou afraid that thy relapses into sin have been so frequent, and thy backslidings so multiplied, that hope, which comes to all, can no more come to thee? Or does the enemy of thy soul suggest thou art careless, hardened and sunk into stupid unbelief? Does he insinuate, thou hast so long trifled with divine grace, art gone such lengths in horrid wickedness, or hast contracted such unconquerable habits of indulging thy carnal mind, or following thy vain imaginations, that

infinite mercy can no longer pardon thy sins, or infinite power change thy nature? Art thou even tempted to believe, thou hast committed the sin against the Holy Ghost, and art almost, if not altogether, given up to a reprobate mind? O check those gloomy, despairing thoughts; resist the devil; and give place to more true and honourable sentiments of Jesus.

Wherefore dost thou doubt, O thou of little faith! Is any thing too hard for the Lord! Are not all things possible with God? Can the Almighty, who became incarnate to die, as man, in thy place, want either ability or willingness to help thee, be thy case ever so deplorable and desperate? Are not darkness or light, sickness or death, all one to him, who is the light of the world and the Prince of life; and who, with a word or a touch raised the dead, whether they were yet warm on a bed, cold in a coffin, or already putrified in a grave?

Confine not then, poor dejected sinner, thy Saviour's boundless mercy within the narrow limits of thy unbelieving thoughts. Get scriptural views of his pardoning love, and true discoveries of his redeeming power. To guess aright at the prodigious extent of his mercy, lift up the dim eyes of thy struggling faith, and behold a great multitude, which no man can number, standing before the throne, with their robes washed, and made white in the blood of the Lamb.

Among those countless monuments of divine mercy, those illustrious trophies of free grace, see David, who, after having been admitted to close communion with God, plunged for ten months in the horrible guilt of adultery, treachery, hypocrisy, and murder!....See Paul, once so fierce an enemy to the truth, so fiery a blasphemer of Jesus, so raging a persecutor of the saints, that his very breath was threatenings and slaughter against them !....See Peter, who, after a great profession of faithfulness and upon an apparently slight temptation, denied three times his Master, his Saviour, and his God, in his very presence....Peter,

guilty of lying, cursing, and perjury; immediately after he had been apprised of the imminent temptation, and armed against it, both by receiving the holy sacrament at our Lord's own hand, and being admitted to see his wonderful agony, and glorious miracles ! These, and thousands more agree to tell thee, For this cause we obtained mercy, that in us first, Jesus Christ might shew forth all long suffering, for a pattern to them, which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

If all these witnesses do not silence thy doubts, and encourage thy hopes; Jesus himself the faithful and true witness, will yet plead the cause of his dying love, against thy unbelieving fears: Thy gracious Advocate with God, will yet be God's condescending Advocate with thee. O let thy clamourous conscience keep silence, while he preaches to thee the everlasting gospel of his grace. And if to-day thou hearest his voice, harden not thy heart, come out of the cave of unbelief, wrap thyself in the mantle of divine mercy, and worship the pardoning God, the God of neverfailing truth and everlasting love.

Gracious Saviour! make thine own words, spirit and life, to the soul thou hast formed by thy breath and purchased with thy blood....Blessed comforter! While thy precious sayings strike the eyes of this hopeless reader, let the love which thou sheddest abroad, soften, melt and revive his poor, oppressed heart, and let salvation come this day to the house of a son or daughter of Abraham! a touch, a breath from thee will break the bars of iron, burst the gates of brass, and make the everlasting doors lift up their heads, that the King of glory may come in.

Who is the King of glory? Who is this, that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? This, that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of bie strength?

"I, that speak in righteousness, mighty to save, I have trodden the wine-press alone, mine own arm hath brought salvation unto me, salvation for the lost : It is gone forth ; my righteousness is near the isles shall wait on me, and on my arm shall they trust. The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me: He hath anointed me to preach good tidings to the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound, to comfort all that mourn, and by the blood of the covenant, to send forth the prisoners out of the pit where there is no water.

"Fear not therefore, thou worm Jacob, I am the first and the last, he that liveth and was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore. Yes, I ever live to make intercession for thee; and because I live, thou shalt live also. All power is given, all judgment is committed to me in heaven and earth: I have the keys of death and hell: A Jonah, who cries to me out the very belly of hell, is not out of the reach of my gracious and omnipotent arm.

"Who art thou that hast feared continually every day, because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? I, even I am he that comforteth thee. I bring glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. I have triumphed over all thine enemies on the cross. I have led captivity, captive, and received gifts for men, even the promise of the Father, that the Lord God the Spirit may dwell in them. At my command the great, the evangelical trumpet is blown, and they that are ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt do come, and are welcome to mount Sion. Hasten with them thou captive exile, hasten to me, that thou mayest be loosed, and that thou shouldest not die in the horrible pit of thy natural state.

"Thy helplessness is no hindrance to my lovingkindness I break not the bruised reed, I quench not

the smoaking flax: I uphold all that fall, I raise up all those that are bowed down: I say to the prisoners, Go forth; and to them that are in darkness, shew yourselves: I strengthen the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees: I say to them that are of a fearful heart, be strong, fear not; behold, I will come with vengeance and a recompence, I will come and save you.

"My tender mercies are over all my works. When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst; I the Lord, will hear them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. I will open rivers in high places, I will make the wilderness 'a pool, and the dry land springs of water.

"It is true, thou hast sinned with an high hand, both against thy light, and against my love; but how shall I give thee up, Ephraim? How shall I deliver thee, sinner? How shall I make thee as Admah, and set thee as Zeboim, those rebellious cities, on which I poured my flaming vengeance? My heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together; I will not destroy thee; for I am God and not man. I have seen thy ways, and will heal and lead thee, and restore comfort to thee; for I create the fruit of the lips, Peace! Peace to him that is afar off, and to him that is near, I will heal him.

"Thou hast not chosen me, but I have chosen thee; thou art my servant, fear not, for I am with thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. They that war against thee shall be as nothing, for I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, and make my strength perfect in thy weakness. I will bring thee by a way thou hast not known. I will make darkness light before thee, and crooked paths straight: When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee, and when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burnt, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee, for I am the Lord, thy Saviour and thy God. I have carried thee from