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Doubtless he was convinced that the hand of an Almighty God was with Paul and Silas, and that they were his chosen witnesses of the truth. This made him fall down before them, and ask them to instruct him in the true way of salvation.

Now my brethren, be your state as bad or worse than that of the jailer, be you ever so hardened, dissolute and reprobate, God can do for you, what he did for him, if you had but the desire which he felt, to know how you are to be saved. If you once perceived the worth of the soul, and could seriously ask, What will become of me? What shall I do? You would possibly be almost tempted in the first instance to despair. A host of doubts and fears would beset you; you would think the chain of your sins could never be shaken off; you would ask with trembling anxiety, can I hope to enter the kingdom of heaven? I, who have been a very slave to every vice, is it possible God should forgive so great a sinner? I have been without God in the world; without religion. I have been without gratitude to my Maker, without obedience to his laws-and can I be saved?

Methinks some present may be ready to hold such language as this; and to every serious enquirer, who is in good earnest as the

jailer was, the words of the Apostle may be addressed, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Believe on him, that your doubts and fears may vanish; believe that his blood cleanseth from all sin; and as all sins are forgiven through faith in his sacrifice, so all virtues are implanted in the heart by the gift of the Holy Spirit, which our heavenly Father will bestow on all who ask him in the name of his Son our Lord.

Pray then unto God for his unspeakable gift, by which you may become as certainly changed as the jailer was, and pass from death unto life, and from despair and wretchedness to hope and joy and happiness and the love of God will constrain you to holy obedience, sincere piety, and unfeigned benevolence.

Such happiness, which you may all aspire to, would be to you in respect of this life pre sent an unspeakable blessing; for vice and misery are inseparably united, and go on together it is impossible to be wicked and happy. The troubled ocean, whose waves cast up mire and dirt, is an image of a depraved heart, agitated by passions and crimes. We have all been made miserable by sin, and misery is our just reward.

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But God is so far from willing the death of a sinner, that he is ready at any moment to pour into the penitent heart his peace and joy.

Say, my brethren, will none of you partake of this felicity? Will all refuse the peace of God? Will not one of you listen how he may be saved? Will you not come to Christ, who is "the way, the truth, and life?" You will not be excluded, unless you exclude yourselves. Come then, and let many rejoice over you. You cannot be nearer to perdition than the jailer once was; you may this day believe like him, and live. Lift up now your hearts to God, and pray him to shew you what you must do to be saved: and be assured, he is willing, he is ready, to lead you into the path of life, and to conduct you to his right hand in heaven, where there is fulness of joy, and pleasure for evermore. Amen.

SERMON XI.

Preached at the Old Church, Calcutta,
1 January 1810.

PSALM 1xxvii. 19. Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.

THE

(EXTRACT.)

HE Prophet who penned this psalm, gives us the result of his own experience and observation concerning the Divine purposes and conduct. "Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known." Not known (or to be traced) in the works of his creation-not known in the leadings of his Divine providence --not known in the dispensations of his revelation-not known in his dealings by his Spirit. In reference to all these subjects we may say with the Apostle, "how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out." It is the prerogative of God, to deal sovereignly, and to give no account of his matters."

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Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself. Isa. xlv. 15. He hath made darkness his secret place, clouds and darkness are round about him. Can we by searching find out God? There is no searching of his understanding."

This and much more is said in scripture to check a vain presumption, and correct our natural pride; which must be subdued, before we can approach unto God. For he hath respect unto the lowly; but the proud he knoweth afar off. Ps. cxxxviii. 6.

It is perhaps one of the best rules by which we may try every doctrine of scripture, whether it be of God, and every spirit, whether it be the Spirit of God, namely, whether its tendency be to exalt God, and to humble man. All the doctrines of revelation have this tendency: they make God all in all. God worketh all in all, that every creature may be humbled before him. By the doctrine of the fall, every mouth is stopped, and all the world is become guilty before God. By the doctrine of justification through the atoning blood, and imputed righteousness, of Jesus Christ, no flesh can glory in his presence; for all is of grace, without money and without price. By the heavenly gift of regeneration, "the baptism of the Spirit, the unction from the Holy One," men are

called

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