diately be, What shall we do? Thus the jailor at Philippi fell at the Apostles' feet and said, Sirs, what shall I do to be saved? Thus St. Paul at his conversion, when Jesus met him by the way, said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? The various classes of persons also, who heard John the Baptist are represented as inquiring, Master, what shall we do? These various persons, like the Jews in proposing the question of my text, appear to have been anxious to do any thing or suffer any thing which might be prescribed to them; and to renounce their prejudices and their vices, if only they might obtain relief from their alarm and perplexity, and escape the impending danger.

Thus, in all cases of true conversion to God, compunction for sin will lead to diligent inquiries after a way of escape. The sinner, pricked to the heart, will apply with seriousness to the ministers of God's word to receive further directions in the road to heaven. So long as men are proud and unconcerned about practical religion, they are well contented to follow their own opinions, or the ceived opinions of their day. anxiety for better instruction.

commonly re

They feel no They are sa

tisfied with general notions of religion. But not so, when they are in some measure convinced of their sins. They are then anxious to be led in the only way of salvation. They

apply with earnestness to the ministers of God, and seek with fervent importunity the path to pardon and holiness.

Such inquiries, then, are like that of the Jews before us, THE EXPRESSION OF ALARM. What will become of us? Whither can we flee? How can we escape the damnation of hell? Tell us what we shall do in our deplorable case. We see that we have ruined ourselves. We see that sin is a very different thing from what we considered it to be. We apprehend the just and awful condemnation of the law of God. Show us then in what manner we can be delivered from the pit into which we are fallen. How mad a part have we acted!, How dreadful a punishment have we incurred! How holy a God have we provoked! What shall we do to be saved?

The degree of alarm which may accompany this conviction, will differ in different cases, and is no infallible measure of the sincerity of the change. This alarm may also seize the sinner more suddenly in some instances than in others. But in every case the inquiry of my text will accompany sincere penitence - an inquiry prompted by an affecting sense of danger and ruin. A mere cold and formal investigation of the truths of religion will not satisfy an awakened soul. The case of a convinced sinner is like that of a man seized by a mortal' dis

temper, and alarmed at his imminent danger. It is like that of the traveller overtaken by the night in an inhospitable wilderness, and inquiring with breathless anxiety for a guide to direct his steps. It is like that of a shipwrecked mariner cast on a desert shore, and seeking for some way of deliverance. Cold and formal reasoning merely, is out of place in circumstances, where the soul and eternity are felt to be at stake. No man could behold with calculating indifference his house perishing in the flames. The manslayer under the law would not fly to the city of refuge with a hesitating foot. Nor will the sinner pricked to the heart with the words of truth, tamely postpone the business of salvation, or coldly descant upon it. Like Lot, he will escape for his life, and not tarry in all the plain; but escape lest he should be consumed. The best reason, in such an emergency, is earnestness; the best argument, a contrite heart; the best interpreter, conscience; the best guide, the Bible. Discussion makes way for feeling; doubt, for decision; speculation, for solicitude and prayer.

But the question to which our attention is now turned, is not merely the question of alarm, it is also THE LANGUAGE OF TEACHABLEWhen the Jews said unto Peter and the rest of the Apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? they felt something more than

NESS.

mere distress, they felt a desire for instruction; they declared themselves willing to be led in any way that God might appoint, they desired to submit to the teaching and guidance of the Apostles, whom God had evidently distinguished by the gift of miraculous powers, and whose convincing arguments had already forced, as it were, their consent, and filled them with dismay. Nor is their case peculiar. Do we not constantly perceive that one mark of a salutary perturbation of conscience is a desire to be taught? Nothing can be effected while men are wise in their own conceit. If they make any inquiries about religion in that spirit, they infallibly relate to some speculative point, or are designed to evade a closer application of truth, or are employed to persuade the person to whom the inquiry is directed, of a sincerity in religion which is far from being really felt. But when men are in earnest about their souls, and are pricked in their hearts, they soon begin to hold another language. They then inquire about religion with a real desire to learn; they are ready to renounce their former obstinacy; they admit the accusations of conscience and the force of truth; they receive the advice and instruction of ministers; they read their Bibles with an honest wish to know the will of God in order that they may perform it; they pray fervently, to God for illumination and strength,

and they ask of all around them the way to heaven. Their language is, What shall we do? Put us on any plan of escape, and we are willing to adopt it. Demand of us any sacrifice, and we will cheerfully make it. Prescribe any duties, and we will undertake them. Only show us the road, and we are ready to walk in it. This is the language of men penetrated with the importance of religion, won by the force of invincible reasoning, and constrained by the authority of truth. Men in this state of mind may be dejected indeed for the time, but they are in the way to peace; they are wounded, but God shall bind up their wounds. These terrors shall subside. The anxiety of the soul shall be satisfied. The penitent inquirer, as in the case of the Jews in the text, shall receive further instructions from the stewards of the mysteries of God.

And here I am naturally led in drawing towards a conclusion, to advert,

I. TO THE

DIRECTIONS WHICH ARE TO BE

GIVEN TO THE PERSONS WHOSE CASE WE HAVE

BEEN DESCRIBING. These may be best collected from the answer of St. Peter to the inquiry of my text; Then Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Did

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