of all,” by suffering “the vail of his flesh to be rent in twain,” and will he shut out any who are anxious to enter in ? Surely a part thus inconsistent, would not be acted by any prudent, reflecting man.

Would a Prince, after he has prepared a banquet for his subjects, and under his own hand and seal issued his proclamation, inviting all to partake of it, exclude any that approached? Or would a physician, moved by pure pity, enter the very room where a patient lay tortured with some malignant disease, and yet refuse the healing balm, knowing that he could easily effect a cure? And will the Son of God, who came to save sinners, refuse salvation to any sinner who earnestly seeks it? Will he reject them because their sins are great, when the more numerous and aggravated our offences are the greater opportunity he has of displaying his grace in forgiving them ? The more foul and desperate our diseases are the more illustriously can this physician manifest both his skill and compassion, in perfecting our cure. Aim therefore, O brethren, at cherishing a suitable persuasion of his love. Believe that “he waits to be gracious ;” that he stands with out-stretched arms to receive any who apply;

that “his blood cleanses from all sin, and that he is willing, infinitely willing that it be applied for cleansing you. “ It is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners." How cordially does he

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entreat, “ If any man thirst, let him come to me and drink.” How impressively does he this day proclaim his love not merely by the promises of his gospel; but by placing before you, in the ordinance of the supper, his

, very body “crucified for you?” Every print

” of the nails in his hands ; every mark of the thorns on his head; every drop of that purple laver which flowed from his pierced side, is a voice speaking loudly and movingly of his love. And while your eyes see, and your ears hear, may your hearts melt with penitential sorrow, and your lips be ready to cry out, the love of Christ constraineth us.

The want of suitable conceptions of the Saviour's love is also the source of all that distrust in difficulty, and that discontent amidst the afflictions of life, which frequently appear among even his true followers. Those who are in poverty of outward condition, who have numerous families, and small means of supporting them, are often distracted with anxious fears. When this or the other stream, from which they have been supplied, seems to dry up, they are instantly alarmed, and ready to conclude that they, or their children must unavoidably come to want. But contemplations on the grace and all-sufficiency of Jesus, would relieve from all these anxious thoughts. Has he in infinite love furnished a robe for our souls, a robe which will shine unfading forever, and will he refuse a little raiment for our perishing bodies ? Or“ does he clothe

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the lilly of the field which to-day is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, and shall those who were ransomed with his blood, and renewed after his image, be doomed to nakedness? Does he give us his flesh to eat ; even that living bread which came down from heaven, and from all the stores of his bounty will he not supply our bodily wants during the few days, or weeks, or months that we contine upon earth? Or does he “ feed the young ravens that cry to him," and will he suffer the children of his own family to languish with hunger? Is he gone to “prepare a place for us” in his Father's presence, an house eternal in the heavens, and will he not afford a suitable habitation in this world ? “0, ye of little faith,” contemplate the love of Jesus, and no longer doubt. The earth is his, and the fulness thereof, and as the treasure is inexhaustible, his heart is infinitely ready to bestow.

“ He will give grace, and glory, and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly."

Again, when we are shaken from our confidence, and discouraged by the trials of our christian warfare, let us reflect on what the Saviour suffered for us. While we consider him who « endured the contradiction of sinners against himself,” cannot we bear a little reproach, or persecution, for righteousness sake ? Or can we feel discontented without earthly riches, when we behold him “ for our sakes becoming poor?" The Lord Jesus has consecrated the humble cottage

by choosing a manger for his residence, and has conferred glory on obscurity by living unknown to the princes of this world. Can we repine at any neglect with which, on his account, we may be treated by our former friends, or acquaintances, when we remember that “he came to his own and they received him not;" and that when his conflict was the most arduous, he was forsaken and denied by his own apostles? We may learn submission to the various trials of our life, not merely by contemplating the more exquisite, complicated sufferings of our Lord, but the patience and fortitude with which he sustained them. “ When he was reviled, he reviled not again: He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.”

Enlarged views of the Redeemer's love will not only tend to reconcile to all the difficulties of life, but must necessarily enflame our zeal, and excite to a holy diligence, and disinterestedness in his service. Can we cherish a selfish, contracted, interested disposition, a disposition which“ seeks, only its own” when we behold him leaving the bosom of his Father, "emptying himself of his glory, enduring the cross, and despising the shame for us?” Can we feel reluctant in ministering to the necessities of others, particularly of his saints, when we consider that he became the author of eternal salvation to us?” Which of us could

refuse a little raiment to a needy disciple of Jesus, when we recollect that he has furnished a robe of righteousness for us, or deny a lodging to one of his destitute followers, when we reflect that he himself is preparing a mansion of glory for us! Who would not love a Saviour who thus ardently and disinterestedly loved us? Who would not serve him? Who would not speak of him, and for him? Who would, who could spare their silver, or gold as a thank-offering to him who spared not himself in our room, and for our profit? Constrained by love to us he thought nothing too dear to resign for promoting our interests and constrained by the same principle we shall cheerfully part with all for promoting his. This holy flame kindling, and glowing in the soul will reconcile us to endure any difficulty, to encounter any danger, to discharge every duty, to glory in any reproach, to make any sacrifice of ease, or interest at his command. The more frequently we contemplate and the more fully we comprehend the love of a dying Saviour the more “patient we will become in tribulation;" the more “ fervent in prayer;" the more pure and ardent in every expression of gratitude ; the more cheerful in every act of obedience; the more regardless we must feel of the empty honors, and pleasures of earth, and the more desirous to participate the unmingled joys, and the full-orbed glories of the heavenly world.

With suitable conceptions of his love,