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guilty, and your conscience as a burning, smoking brand;. you will not cry to God for relief. It is contrary to the proud unbelieving state of fallen nature. To possess a just sensibility of our true character as sinners, must be created by the Lord; and whoever is a subject of this merciful change, will most ardently seek to be informed how a burning, guilty conscience can be quenched. In hope you are amongst the number of such inquirers, I shall cheerfully inform you,

6. The way in which the burning brand is quenched is in the precious blood of the Lord Jesus. Glory be to the Son of God, whose blood cleanseth from all sin! That atoning blood which satisfied justice, may well put out the fire of guilt in your conscience. Come then, guilty sinners, whose case is as distressing as it is dan gerous, come to the bleeding Prince of life. See! from his hands, his feet, his head, his heart, flows blood to wash away your stains. Make no vain excuse-let not unbelief prevail-nature cannot relieve you-no water can quench and heal your guilty soul. What greater encouragement can you wish than the invitation which Jesus himself has given? Him that cometh untome I will in no ways cast out..

7. I have now to ask some interesting questions. What becomes of the quenched brand? May it again fall into the flames of wrath, and be utterly consumed? Can a coal-burnt brand be appropriated to use? Is it possible it should ever bud, blossom, be covered with foliage, and bear delicious fruit? From the course of nature we should readily reply, impossible! But to this we triumphantly assert, that which is impossible with man, is pos sible with God. It is the work of God that sinners, plucked as brands from the burning, are united to Christy

the true and living vine, and from him derive that vital influence which enables them to bear rich fruit to God. This made Paul congratulate the converts of his day;God be thanked, though ye were the servants of sin, you are now made the servants of God; have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. Gonverse with the children of grace; and they will tell you, they were brands plucked from the burning; and with hearts of gratitude will point you to Jesus, the living vine, as the source of all their hope, their holiness, and joy!

8. Glancing again at my text, I perceive a very solemn conclusion may be drawn from it. One brand plucked from the fire leaves others in the flames. Could we properly feel the force of this remark, what solemn sensibility would it create! How often do we find this truth verified where the Gospel is preached? One person in a pew, snatched as a brand from the burning, while the rest of his company are left in insensibility, Equally so in families; one is taken, another left. May each of you be assisted to determine this interesting point for yourselves. ·

After having advanced these sentiments, I am obliged to detain you a moment longer, to examine the form of our text. It is a question proposed. In the case of Joshua, it was made by Christ to the Devil. The Lord rebuke thee, Satan. Satan tempts to sin, while the sinner is burning as a brand in his iniquities; and blows, if I may so say, the fire of corruption to make it burn the stronger, intending, eventually, to destroy both body and soul in hell. But Jesus, in the riches of his mercy, and the greatness of his power, rescues the sinner from the de-struction of Satan; and then addresses the infernal, Is

pot this a brand plucked out of the fire? Thus Jesus dis

plays the conquest of his grace, and Satan is summoned as a witness of the fact. The language of the text is fre quently repeated by the Ministers and Church of God. when converts.appear for fellowship with the saints, and declare the unbounded mercy of Jesus in snatching them from the jaws of destruction. Nor is it uncommon to find the language of the text on the lips of the convert himself, addressed to all, "Am I not a brand plucked from the fire?"-But, when all the ransomed of the Lord shall be brought to glory, Jesus, with inconceivable tri umph, may appeal to all heaven, to witness the power of his grace in the salvation of sinners, each of them, without exception, as brands from the burning; and the whole ransomed throng shall sing the praises of God and the Lamb for ever and ever. .

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PERHAPS few sentences are found more familiar in the lips of Christians than this—A THRONE OF GRACE. The usual appropriation of the words is to express the great privilege of communion with God in prayer. And although the words do not occur in any other part of Scripture, the term used may be said to comprehend the sum and substance of all the invaluable privileges of the sons of God. As this subject is so interesting, I purpose to offer you a short description of the Throne of Grace ;-point out the way in which God brings a sinner to that throne; and how it is the children of God are kept in the enjoyment of that privilege.

1. A throne is a magnificent seat of state for sovereigns and judges; from whence they form decrees, administer justice, give audience, and confer honours. God, in Scripture, is described as sitting upon a throne. However, to guard us against any improper ideas of his spirituality and immensity, he hath declared by Isaiah, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool The authority and dominion of God over mankind as his crea

tures, cannot be disputed; there is a witness of this fact in every rational mind. The Lord shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment. He shall judge the world in righteousness; he shall minister judge-ment to the people in uprightness. For us, as transgressors, to be brought before this throne for judgment, what else but death in every conceivable form could be pronounced against us. Happy for us, there is a Throne of Grace! This is a new throne, the production of infinite wisdom and everlasting love. On this throne is seated our EVERLASTING FATHER as the God of all grace; JESUS, the Son of his love, through whom grace reigns, is set down at his right hand as our Redeemer and Intercessor. And, from the Father and the Son proceeds the HOLY SPIRIT, as the Spirit of grace and of supplica tion. On this august throne, mercy and truth meet together, righteousness and peace embrace each other. The law from the throne of judgment demands the life of the sinner; but Jesus, from this throne of grace, con-fers a pardon through the merit of his precious blood.Around this throne is the celestial rainbow, the pledge of mercy, and sure ground of promise to every coming sinner. From this gracious throne none were ever driven away. Here the vilest sinners, sensible of their crimes, have found abundant mercy; the hardest hearts have been made to love; and the most tempted, distressed minds, have found grace sufficient to help them in every time of need. This blessed throne was designed in the council of peace. The curtain, if I may so say, was drawn aside, and a sight of it granted to our first parents when the promise was revealed, that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head; by which they not only saw the Lord upon his throne as Lord

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