VIII. The gate of Salvation is spoken of as strait, and needing us to strive to enter; but it is so, only through the pride* and wilful perversity of man, his prejudice against the truth, and his preference of darkness to light. See John iii. 19. It is written, 'work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,' Phil. ii. 12. This exhortation is addressed to believers of the Gospel, who are already justified; and refers to their seeking to be increasingly sanctified, through the consideration of God's great love to them.

IX. The expressions, coming to,' 'looking,' 'eating,' simply imply, believing, or receiving a testimony: They are figurative expressions, of which 'faith' is the explanation. Jesus said, "Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, (that is, whoso confideth in the merits of my death,) hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day,' John vi. 54. Coming to Christ, and believing in him, are represented in Scripture as of similar import. 'He that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst,' John vi. 35.

*

Man ought to come to, or believe in Christ, immediately; because, so long as they do not believe in Jesus, they are refusing to believe what is true, and greatly endangering the safety of their souls. He who delays, may die before the time comes at which he proposes to believe; and the longer he delays, there is the less likelihood that he shall ever believe; because, by resisting the evidence of the truth, and the urgent invitation to believe that truth, the heart becomes more and more closed against the light. It is in vain for any one to wait until they are better, before coming to Christ: they must come to him as sinners, and be forgiven, before they can become better; and, so long as they continue away, they are adding sin to sin.

X. We do not love God before we believe that he loves us: it is the knowledge and belief of the love that God hath to us, that leads

*It was pride that led to the fall of man. And it is the pride of self-dependence that keeps him from returning to his God; and hence it follows, that as it is the design of the Gospel to bring him back, it must accomplish this end, by subduing his haughtiness, and placing him in his proper station at the footstool of God. Every system, then, which goes to flatter his pride, wears upon the face of it the mark of falsehood.'-(Dr. Anderson on Regeneration.)

'Pride is founded on error and self-ignorance.

The first step heaven-ward is humility: The first step hell-ward is pride. Pride counts the Gospel foolishness, but the Gospel always shows pride to be so.

Folly is the beginning of pride, and shame shall be the end of it-either penitent shame or penal shame: either repentance or punishment.

Shall the sinner be proud who is going to hell? Shall the saint be proud, who is newly saved from it?

It is unreasonable for the creature to be proud, much more the sinner.'(Rev. John Mason,)

The very great importance and necessity of possessing the grace of humility, is seen from the following passages, Matt. v. 3, xviii. 1-4; 1 Peter v. 5, 6.

us to love him. We love him, because he first loved us,' 1 John iv. 19. We know that God loves us, because he has said, that 'He so loved the world (of mankind,) that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life,' John iii. 16. Man who is at enmity, becomes 'reconciled to God by the death of his Son,' Rom. v. 10. When man believes the greatness of God's love to him, in giving his only begotten Son to save him from endless misery, and to exalt him to eternal happiness, he then becomes reconciled, and loves God in return for his unspeakable love to him.

XI. There is no way of salvation, except through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved,' Acts iv. 12. The doom that awaits those who die without having believed the Gospel, is, 'everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord,' 2 Thes. i. 9. There is no possibility of those who continue unbelievers escaping this doom. "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him,' Heb. ii. 3.

SECTION XIX.

THE CONDITION OF MEN AFTER DEATH.

I. The state of a man's spirit is fixed for the other world, either for happiness, or for misery, when he dies. See Luke xvi. 19-31. They that shall enjoy perfect happiness, are, those who have believed in Jesus, and hold fast their confidence in him to the end. We are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end,' Heb. iii. 14. They that shall be condemned to utter misery, are, those who do not believe in Jesus, and continue to reject the invitations of the Gospel; and, consequently, remain unreconciled to God. 'If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins,' John viii. 24. Comp. ver. 21. Men are condemned on account of their unbelief, because they thereby dishonour and disobey their Creator, treating his word as if it were a lie, and so reject the only salvation possible for men.

II. The judgment of men is committed to the Lord Jesus Christ. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son,' John v. 22. Comp. Matt. xxv. 31-46. The terms that Jesus shall address believers, are, 'Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation 1 of the world,' Matt. xxv. 34. These shall live for ever, in the blessed enjoyment of God's presence; in active and holy service;

and in sharing in the likeness and glory of their Redeemer. Unbelievers shall be addressed thus: Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels,' Matt. xxv. 41. These shall be banished from God's presence, to the companionship of devils; and to the tormentings of a thoroughly awakened conscience.* One great subject for self-accusation, will be the fact, that they are lost because they have rejected a full salvation. The consideration of these things, ought to lead the unsaved to 'flee from the wrath to come,' (Matt. iii. 7.) by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ; and should induce Christians to labour for the spread of the gospel, by which alone men can be saved. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men,' 2 Cor, v. 11. It ought also, to lead them to carefulness in regard to their own souls. Every one that hath this hope in him (the hope of seeing Jesus) purifieth himself, even as he is pure,' 1 John iii. 3.

III. Christians should regard the approach of death, with calm and joyful expectation of meeting Christ. I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ, which is far better," Phil. i. 23. The Christian can thus rejoicet in the prospect of death, because, Christ has triumphed over death. O death, where is thy sting? O, grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law; but thanks be to God who giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ,' 1 Cor. xv. 55-57. This delightful promise is well fitted to sustain the righteous in death. Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers,

:

A dying man said to a minister: "The day in which I should have worked, is over, and now I see an horrible night approaching. Woe is me! when God called, I refused. Now I am in sore anguish, yet, this is but the beginning of sorrows. I shall be destroyed with an everlasting destruction! How greivous to die under unpardoned guilt!

A young girl in America, when dying, called her parents to her bedside, and addressed them in the following affecting strains: 'You have been the unhappy instruments of my being; you have led me in the paths of sin, you never warned me of my danger,now it is too late. In a few hours you will have to cover me with earth; but remember, that then my soul will be in hell, and yourselves the miserable cause!'

A soldier who was mortally wounded at the battle of Waterloo, being conveyed by his companion, and laid under a tree, he said to him, "Take my Bible out of my knapsack, and read me John xiv. 27: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Now,' said he, I die happy, I have the peace of God which passeth all understanding. A short while after he died in peace.

Mr. John Janeway said on his deathbed; 'O help me to praise God: Ihave now nothing else to do. I have done with prayer and all other ordinances. Before a few days are over, I shall be in eternity, singing the song of Moses and the Lamb. I shall hear the voice of much people, and, with them, shall ery, Hallelujah, glory, salvation, honour, and power unto the Lord our God. And again we shall say, Hallelujah.' In this triumphant manner he expired, about the twenty-second year of his age.

they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burnt; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee,' Isaiah xliii. 1, 2.*

SECTION XX.

EVIDENCES OF THE TRUTH OF CHRISTIANITY.

I. Christianity was founded by Jesus Christ; we know this from the testimony of historians; both those favourable, and those hostile, to the Christian Religion. The Christian's record of the instructions and history of their founder, is contained in the books of the New Testament, which were written by the early disciples of Christ; for the most part, those who were witnesses of what they narrate. This is proved by the history of the books; it shows us that these books were in the possession of the Christian Church from its formation; and that their existence has also been recognized by the enemies of Christianity from the same remote period. It is also proved from the character of the books; the language in which they are written, the manner in which the incidents are related, and the unintentional references to the customs of the time, show that the books must have been written by contemporaries and fellow

*Now I saw in my dream, that these men went in at the gate; and, lo! as they entered, they were transfigured; and they had raiment put on, that shone like gold. There were also that met them with harps and crowns, and gave them to them; the harps to praise withal, and the crowns in token of honour. Then I heard in my dream, that all the bells in the city rang again for joy, and that it was said unto them,'-'ENTER YE INTO THE JOY OF YOUR LORD.'-(Bunyan.)

Need we

Great is the honour and happiness of being a Christian. wonder that angels should rejoice over one sinner that repenteth-for every new-born soul is an heir of God, and a joint heir of Jesus. This is true, whatever his lot-however deep his poverty-whatever shade of obscurity may hide him wherever he may dwell. No external circumstances can rob him of his filial reverence and relationship. It was sublimely true what an aged saint in the poor-house said to one who was commiserating him because of his hard condition: Sir,' said he, taking off his hat 'I am the son of a King-I am a child of God-when I die angels will bear me from the Union directly to the court of heaven.'

Heaven is a land of pure delight
Where saints immortal reign,
Infinite day excludes the night,
And pleasures banish pain.
There everlasting spring abides,
And never-with'ring flowers:
Death, like a narrow stream divides
That happy land from ours.

HEAVEN.

Sweet fields beyond the swelling flood,
Stand dressed in living green,

So to the Jews old Canaan stood,
While Jordan rolled between.

Could we but climb where Moses stood,
And view the landscape o'er,
Not Jordan's streams nordeath's cold flood
Should fright us from the shore.

countrymen of Jesus Christ. We know that the books we now have are the same as those possessed by the early Christians, bethe descriptions given of their contents, the quotations made from them, and the early translations, show that they are the

cause,

same.

The New Testament history is true, because, the writers could not be deceived themselves; they were not likely to attempt to deceive others; and as little likely to succeed, if they made the attempt. 1. The writers of the New Testament history could not be deceived themselves, because the matters of which they testify, being matters of fact, could be judged of by the senses; and they were evidently persons possessed of sufficient intelligence for judging of such matters. 2. They were not likely to attempt to deceive others, because they had every reason to expect persecution, and no reason to expect a reward, for their testimony. They were subjected to severe and long continued persecution, for the testimony which they bore to Christ; still they maintained the truth of what they testified; and, in many instances, sealed their testimony with their blood. 3. They were not likely to have succeeded in deceiving the people, if they had attempted it, because all would have known the falsehood of their statements; and there were many who would very readily have exposed them. Although the authors of the Gospels testified only what was true, yet they were persecuted, because, they maintained that Christ was thus shown to be the Messiah; and that all ought to submit to him.

II. The facts recorded, show, that Christ was the Messiah; that his character was not that of an impostor; that he was possessed of divine power; that God approved of his conduct and claims; and that, in his history, the prophecies regarding the Messiah had their fulfilment. The admirable and perfect character of Jesus Christ, as exhibited in the New Testament, gives the very strongest internal evidence that he was a divine person, and the great Messiah who was to come into the world. His doctrines were all perfectly pure and holy-his miracles were benevolent and merciful-his whole life was devotion to God, and good-will toward men. 'He went about doing good.' 'He was the brightness of his Father's glory, and the express image of his person,' Heb. i. 3. The Lord Jesus was remarkable for his wisdom, as well as his benevolence and purity. He spake as never man spake; and he silenced the most subtile reasoners of the age. And no man was able to answer him a word; neither durst any man from that day forth, ask him any more questions,' Matt. xxii. 46. He was often placed in trying circumstances, and questions put to entrap him; but his perfect wisdom and prudence were shown in his answers and conduct. He defied his bitterest enemies to prove him guilty of folly or sin: 'Which of you,' said he, 'convicteth me of sin,' John viii.