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him (John xvi. 14, 15); he reveals' Christ to the spirit (Gal. i. 15, 16), as its 'wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption' (1 Cor. i. 30). The soul then closes with Christ, and receives him, and believes in him, 'the seed of eternal life is sown in his heart,' his life is hid with Christ in God' (Col. iii. 3); and the Spirit who sanctifieth him draws him daily nearer and nearer to Christ, 'without whom he can do nothing' (John xv. 5), gives him power over his corruptions, and finally perfects the good work' he had begun in him (Phil. i. 6), and gives him complete victory over all his spiritual enemies (ver. 11).”·

This is a brief statement of the gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And this salvation is offered to every human being, without exception, however sinful, however vile. "Look unto me," says our Lord Jesus, "and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else" (Isa. xlv. 22). "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool" (Chap. i. 18). "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money: come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money, and without price" (Isa. lv. 1). " Go

The Author's first Letter on the Baptismal Controversy,

pp. 44, 45.

ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark xvi. 15, 16). Unconverted reader ! you have had the gospel set before you for your acceptance this day. If you accept it, and "believe" in the Lord Jesus, it will be "to the saving of your soul" (Heb. x. 39); you will be "justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses," nor by any other law (Acts xiii. 39); you will" have everlasting life" (John iii. 36); but if you reject the proffered mercy, and die an unbeliever, you will "be damned" (Mark. xvi. 16); you "will not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on you" (John iii. 36),—that is, the wrath of God which was upon you when you came into the world, by reason of your being under the law, and therefore under its curse (Gal. iii. 10), will remain upon you to all eternity, because having rejected the only Saviour from sin, you will have your sins to answer for by yourself; and being unable to save yourself from them, you will remain under the wrath of God on account of them for ever and ever. Therefore" flee" now" from the wrath to come," or the time may come when it will be "wrath TO COME" to thee FOR EVER!

Be not however deceived. When we say repent and believe the gospel, we do not mean any intellectual assent to the truths of the gospel.

We

mean much, very much more than this.

What we

mean, and what Scripture means also, is a belief of "With the heart man believeth

the heart itself. unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Rom. x. 10). When that man of God, Robert Haldane, went to Geneva, some forty years ago, and instructed the students in the University there in the truths of religion; on one occasion, reading the 5th chapter of Romans with the now celebrated author of the Reformation, Dr D'Aubigné, then a young man, with especial reference to the doctrine of original sin, which was the doctrine which seemed most impossible to him at that time; the Doctor being intellectually convinced of the fact, replied; "Yes, I see clearly that original sin is proclaimed in the Scriptures." "But," said Haldane, raising his hand, and pointing to the Doctor's breast, "do you see it IN YOUR OWN HEART.” That was under God the thunderbolt which sent him to the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ. And it is the Spirit of the blessed God who alone can work such a belief in the heart. "For he is not a Jew which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh but he is a Jew which is one inwardly and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God" (Rom. ii. 28, 29). It is said of Christ, that "he came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as

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ye into all the world, and preach creature. He that believeth, ai be saved; but he that believ damned" (Mark xvi. 15, 16). 1 you have had the gospel set bef ceptance this day. If you acce in the Lord Jesus, it will be "t soul" (Heb. x. 39); you will 1. things, from which you could the law of Moses," nor by any 39); you will "have everlastin but if you reject the proffered unbeliever, you will "be damn you "will not see life; bu abideth on you" (John iii. 36) of God which was upon you the world, by reason of your and therefore under its curse main upon you to all eternit jected the only Saviour fro your sins to answer for by unable to save yourself from under the wrath of God on ever and ever. Therefore f wrath to come," or the time n be "wrath TO COME" to thee I Be not however deceived. and believe the gospel, we do lectual assent to the truths

so?" Would you not at once have 8 quite clear that he did not wish to it no! He was but too willing, but "he stretched out" his hand with and while he did so, the Lord gave and his hand was restored whole Mark iii. 1-5). Now this is precisely is true that naturally you have no believe, than had this man to stretch ; but striving prayerfully, in depenGod's word and promise, you will find

Lord Jesus as easy as the stretching man's hand was to him. In your own u can indeed do nothing, but in God's u can do all things.

Spirit of God, as we have said, who probelief in the soul. Can you not then › give you his Spirit, to work this faith in 1, God is far more willing to give than

ask. "If ye then, being evil, know how good gifts unto your children," says our 10w much more shall your heavenly father Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” (Luke Can you possibly have any excuse at the dgment if you act not upon this word. Oh nd it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Luke Ask"-simple believing prayer-" and it be given you." You shall receive the accom