The influence, moreover, of this blessed doctrine, when it is really received, demonstrates its truth. All those effects which it is designed to produce are realized. The sinner is forgiven. He has peace with God. He has the witness of the Spirit. His affections are changed. The objects of his supreme desire and pursuit are new and sacred. He takes pleasure in spiritual things. He becomes increasingly like Christ. His life is a service to God. His death even is a victory over death, and his eternity is hea

ven.

Yes, beloved brethren, it is a faithful saying. Patriarchs believed it, though to them the great sacrifice was still in the distant future. Prophets foretold it in their most glowing and majestic strains, and they trusted in what they thus foretold. Apostles proclaimed it, and rejoiced that they might seal their testimony with their blood. Martyrs confessed it, and its celestial power was that which took their terror from the fiercest flames. Multitudes in every age have borne witness by lives of holiness and deaths of triumph, that "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners!" Oh! men and brethren, must the sacred succession stop? Shall this faithful saying have no more witnesses here? Is it possible that you should feel you do not need the blood of atonement? Or can you suppose for a moment, that in the flow of ages its fulness is exhausted? You do not need it if you have never sinned. It is exhausted, if that which is infinite can fail. But neither the one nor the other of these things is true. You have sinnedoften, long, fearfully. The atonement of Christ remains, and will remain, in its undiminished fulness and glory; and, therefore, worthy,

V. As the apostle finally adds, "worthy of all acceptation." The meaning is, it is worthy of a prompt, cordial, grateful, whole-souled reception by sinners, and by all sinners.

Shall we stop to say, that all sinners need this salvation? They do need it. No necessity can be more obvious or more imperative. Under the divine government, where there is sin, there must be atonement, or there must be death. This necessity grounds itself in the divine nature. Justice is an essential, and therefore immutable attribute of God. It is inseparable from his being, as much so as his spirituality—his infinity his almighty power. Should he therefore cease to be just, he would cease to be God. For him, therefore, to pass by or forgive sin, on the ground of mere sovereignty, or expediency, or general benevolence, irrespective of the great principles and claims of justice, we hold to be impossible; as clearly and inexorably so, as it would be for him to be unjust. The necessity of atonement, therefore, in the case of sin, and if it be pardoned, is absolute. Where it is not found, the sinner must die. Are you sinners? You need then an atonement. You all need it. There are no creatures in the wide universe who have a more personal or a deeper interest in the saying that "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." In the truth of his atoning sacrifice is your only hope for eternity. In your acceptance of and reliance on that sacrifice, by faith, is all your salva. tion!

Or shall we detain you to repeat that this salvation is sufficient for all sinners? It certainly is thus

sufficient. We speak, of course, of its essential nature and fulness. Viewed in itself, the sacrifice on the cross has a worth and adequacy absolutely unlimited. They are restricted only by the revealed purpose of God to apply the atonement to those alone who believe. This purpose does indeed exist; and, like God himself, it is immutable. How could it be otherwise? No remedy can be effective, unless it be applied. It may possess the most unquestionable and powerful healing properties-but what will these avail, if the diseased and the sick will not use it? God gave his Son, that whosoever believeth in him may have everlasting life. But, wonderful as was this gift, illimitable as were the virtue and merit of the sacrifice so made, he that believeth not must perish. It is God's own averment. The atonement itself, with all its fulness of grace, power and glory, cannot save those, who by unbelief persist in rejecting it as the ground and means of salvation. That there are such persons, and will continue to be, the history of men and the word of God render certain. But the limitation of from causes external

the atonement so resulting, is to itself. It remains still in its own glorious allsufficiency. If sinful men will receive it and rely on it, no matter who they are, nor how many, nor how multiplied or grievous their sins, it will be effectual; it will save them. If they will not receive it, the die is cast; there is no atonement for them; they must perish in their iniquities. It is a result certain as the being of God. It is a result demanded and secured by every principle of fitness and right, by the perfection of the divine character, and the inviolability of the divine government.

Do you, then, believe in Christ? Will you believe in Christ? In this case the atonement is divinely sufficient. There is not a sin against you, in the book of God, which, in view of it, will not be forgiven. There is not a stain of guilt upon your soul, which, through its efficacy, will not be washed out. There is not a want of your immortal being, which, for the Redeemer's sake, will not be freely and for ever supplied. Oh, it is indeed "a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners!"

They have a rela-
They have an im-

My brethren, worldly themes occupy you. Truths like these seem to you perhaps foreign, unattractive, spiritless. The scenes of time, which ever flit by you, like shadows, are in your view real and important. Well, they are so. They have a significance deeper than you are aware. tion to eternity, solemn and fearful. perishable record before God; a record to be read in the judgment. But forgetful of this significance and this relation, you contemplate these scenes in only their present aspect. Such is their power over you, that we fear you will still turn away from the cross, but if you do, remember, "Christ dieth no more!" We fear you will still close your hearts to the glorious truth, that "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners;" but if you do, remember "there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins!" The great work of expiation is finished. It stands before you God's amazing provision for the wants of men; unexampled-sufficient-alone. In view of it, he demands now your decision. It is for you to receive Jesus Christ and live-or to reject Jesus Christ and

THE RULING PASSION.

A SERMON TO YOUNG MEN.

BY

W. B. SPRAGUE, D.D.

PASTOR OF THE SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, ALBANY, N. Y.

The heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.-ECCL viii. 11.

In connection with

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.-MATT. xxii. 37.

THERE is scarcely any thing in relation to which men are so jealous as their own rights; and scarcely any question, which they scan with such severe scrutiny, as who shall be their rulers. Let some important post of civil authority be about to be filled, and you will hardly find a man in the community who is indifferent to the pending question; and not improbably there may be a tempest raised, that will make the very foundations of society rock. And so, too, men are eagle-eyed to discern the first symptoms of oppression. If rulers are disposed to be tyrants, their subjects quickly find it out; and even if they have not the courage to resist, or complain, they are still galled by the yoke, and would make an effort to throw it off, if they could. Liberty every man regards as his dearest possession; and