eth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat; but strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Of those who are baptized in the name of Jesus, who are instructed in the principles of his religion, and who afterwards put on the mask of a profession, many, we have reason to apprehend, will be finally disappointed: a small proportion of such, comparatively speaking, are now travelling" the narrow" way, or shall hereafter attain the prize of immortality. Our Master has forewarned. us in language explicit and awful," not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. Many will say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity." In the oracles of the living God we read of one who "trembled" under the preaching of the word, but have no assurance that his convictions issued in saving conversion: we read of a second who, charmed with the excellence of divine truth, and the glories of the heavenly world, was "almost persuaded to be a christian," but there is no account that he altogether attained either the character, or the blessing which real religion secures. We read of another whom "Jesus loved;" who possess

ed many moral excellencies, many amiable and useful qualifications, "but one thing was lacking, and that single defect, for ought that God has revealed, issued in his damnation. In the parable of the ten virgins, and in the chapter from which our text is selected, some are represented as approaching the Saviour, and expostulating, "Lord, Lord, open to us, we have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets" to whom he will indignantly reply, "I know you not, depart from me, ye workers of iniquity."

It may not therefore be improper to inquire into the cause of this disappointment: to ascertain the reason why many who fondly dream of happiness now, shall probably come short hereafter?

This, with a humble reliance on the Spirit oftruth for direction, is our present design. Many shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able."

1. It may be remarked that the disappointment of any does not arise from want of mercy in the everlasting God. His grace is infinite as his nature; his mercy is an ocean without bottom, without bounds. He has positively pledged his word; he has confirmed it with the additional solemnity of an oath for the sinner's encouragement, that he " has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked would turn from his ways and live :" He patiently waits, and affectionately expostulates, "Turn ye, turn ye, why

sheds immortal day on the most blind, benighted understanding: "He who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, shines upon the heart, giving the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive be delivered? But thus saith the Lord the Sanctifier, even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered, for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children."

4. Neither can the disappointment of any proceed from defect in the everlasting covenant. Myriads of the human race have embarked on this bottom, and none however weak, however worthless, however wretched, ever made shipwreck of their salvation, or were disappointed of their hopes. The sinner tottering on the brink of perdition, ready each moment to be overwhelmed by the billows of wrath, by cleaving to this celestial barge, bath reached the haven of everlasting rest.-Herc "grace reigns" to the salvation of all without exception, who seek for it in the manner which God hath appointed. Here is pardon for the most guilty, holiness for the most polluted, merit for the most undeserving, the most debased; support for the most dejected; beauty for the most deformed; happiness for the most miserable; liberty for the most enslaved who will come in. "Incline your car," is the

voice of abounding grace to all indiscrimi nately who enjoy the light of revelation; "incline your ear, and come unto me; hear and your soul shall live, and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David." I therefore call you all to record that, if any fail of salvation, their failure cannot, without blasphemy, be ascribed to God, it does not arise from want of mercy in the Father, nor from want of merit in the Son, nor from want of power and grace in the Spirit; but must be charged utterly and everlastingly to the account of the sin

ner.

1. "Many are unable to enter in," because they do not seek with becoming earnestness and perseverance. They assume a profession of religion, they occasionally read their bibles, attend to the preaching of the word, and express their assent to the doctrines delivered: Sometimes they feel conviction of sin, under the terrors of the law, and perhaps through the common operations of the Spirit, and promises of the gospel they experience some gleams of hope, some emotions of joy but they advance no farther. Like the foolish virgins they "take up the lamps" of a profession, but are not careful to have them replenished "with oil." They do not exercise a holy industry in "making their calling and election sure:" They are strangers to the powerful operations of the divine Spirit by which "He convinces" effectually "of sin," of its evil nature as re

pugnant to the holy law and dishonoring to a holy God: neither are they duly convinced of the awful consequences of sin, as necessarily exposing to misery both temporal and eternal.

Such persons may possibly attain to considerable discoveries of the Lord Jesus Christ, of the excellence of his character, of the suitableness of his offices, of the necessity and all-sufficiency of his righteousness; but they never particularly close with Him as adapted to their own necessities: they do not rest their souls on his righteousness as offered to them in particular; they do. not improve him as "their sanctification" to wash them from all their "filthiness both of the flesh and spirit," and therefore come short of salvation at last. It is not the Lord Jesus known in the head, but the Lord Jesus formed in the heart which gives a scriptural hope of glory: A mere persuasion that salvation is provided, a general apprehension or knowledge of Jesus the Saviour will not suffice. These doctrines are believed in hell by the damned, as firmly as in heaven by the redeemed. An application of this Redeemer, an appropriation of him in his righteousness, and offices, and fulness to our particular circumstances is indispensably "To as many," not as heard his name, not as possessed some knowledge of his character, neither as yielded a general assent to his doctrines, but "to as many as received him," as we receive bread for our

necessary.