his possession; yet there is no ground to expect this desirable event, until the way is prepared by the universal spread of the gospel. If christians did but duly realize, that it is only in Christ, that God means to reconcile the world to himself, they would be more zealously engaged to send the gospel of his grace into all the dark corners of the earth. Were there to be a general diffusion of gospel light through the heathen world, there is abundant reason to hope, that God would make the knowledge of Christ a savour of life unto life to those who are perishing for the lack of vision. It becomes all the friends of Zion to pray, that God would make known his way upon earth, and his saving health among all nations. For he has assured them, that their prayers and exertions are necessary to bring about this great and glorious event.

3. If God means to try the hearts of men and prepare them for their final state, through the medium of the gospel; then he has an important purpose to answer, by sending it where he knows it will be rejected. Though he clearly foresaw and predicted, that the inhabitants of Judea would generally shut their eyes, and stop their ears, and harden their hearts, under the preaching of the gospel; yet he commanded the apostles to begin their ministry at Jerusalem, and make the first offer of salvation to the Jews. And when the gospel had tried their hearts and produced the effect foretold, Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, "It was necessary that the word of God should first be spoken to you; but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles." God meant to give his degenerate people a fair opportunity to see and hate both him and his Son, and in that way to ripen themselves for their final ruin. And he now puts the same price into the

hands of those, who, he knows, will have no heart to improve it. The gospel is no less adapted to fit men for eternal misery, than for eternal happiness. This alarming truth the apostle Paul frequently exhibited in the most plain and striking light; and appealed to the consciences of men, whether God may not make the gospel a medium of destruction to some, as well as a medium of salvation to others. "What if God, willing to shew his wrath and make his power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: and that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory?" And again he asks, "What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded." It seems to have given him great encouragement to preach the gospel, to be assured, that it should be the mean of preparing both saints and sinners for their final state: "Now thanks be to God, who always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ in them that are saved, and in them that perish. To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other; the savour of life unto life." The word of God never returns to him void, but always accomplishes his purpose of saving or destroying those, to whom he sends it.

4. If the exhibition of Christ be designed to form men for their future and eternal state; then they are in a very solemn situation, while they are hearing the gospel. It is quick and powerful, and sharper than a two-edged sword. It will infallibly penetrate and try their hearts, and leave impressions there, which never can be eradicated. Though they may come to

the house God for mere amusement, and hear the gospel with as much levity and indifference, as if they knew it were a cunningly devised fable, which could have no influence upon their future state; yet they will sooner or later feel the evil effects of their criminal stupidity and presumption. God told Ezekiel, that his vain and contemptuous hearers should reap the bitter fruits of their sin and folly, in despising his solemn messages. "Lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not. And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them." And Christ forewarned his unbelieving hearers, that his word would not be lost upon them, but prove the ground of their final condemnation. "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shali judge him in the last day." Whenever sinners come within the walls of the sanctuary they are under a moral necessity of embracing the gospel, or of rejecting the counsel of God against themselves, which is the most critical and interesting situation they can possibly be in, this side of eternity.

5. If the gospel tries the hearts and forms the characters of those who hear it; then sinners may easily and insensibly fit themselves for destruction, Many seem to think, that the gospel will do them no harm unless they openly and violently oppose it. They flatter themselves, if they never say any thing against it, by way of complaint or contempt; but, on the other hand, treat it with respect, acknowledge it to be divine, and hear it with decency, they are in the fair way to salvation. They verily believe, that the Jews were

hands of those, who, he knows, will have no heart to improve it. The gospel is no less adapted to fit men for eternal misery, than for eternal happiness. This alarming truth the apostle Paul frequently exhibited in the most plain and striking light; and appealed to the consciences of men, whether God may not make the gospel a medium of destruction to some, as well as a medium of salvation to others. "What if God, willing to shew his wrath and make his power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: and that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory?" And again he asks, "What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded." It seems to have given him great encouragement to preach the gospel, to be assured, that it should be the mean of preparing both saints and sinners for their final state: "Now thanks be to God, who always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ in them that are saved, and in them that perish. To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other; the savour of life unto life." The word of God never returns to him void, but always accomplishes his purpose of saving or destroying those, to whom he sends it.

4. If the exhibition of Christ be designed to form men for their future and eternal state; then they are in a very solemn situation, while they are hearing the gospel. It is quick and powerful, and sharper than a two-edged sword. It will infallibly penetrate and try their hearts, and leave impressions there, which never can be eradicated. Though they may come to

gos

the house God for mere amusement, and hear the pel with as much levity and indifference, as if they knew it were a cunningly devised fable, which could . have no influence upon their future state; yet they will sooner or later feel the evil effects of their criminal stupidity and presumption. God told Ezekiel, that his vain and contemptuous hearers should reap the bitter fruits of their sin and folly, in despising his solemn messages. "Lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not. And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them." And Christ forewarned his unbelieving hearers, that his word would not be lost upon them, but prove the ground of their final condemnation. "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shali judge him in the last day." Whenever sinners come within the walls of the sanctuary they are under a moral necessity of embracing the gospel, or of rejecting the counsel of God against themselves, which is the most critical and interesting situation they can possibly be in, this side of eternity.

5. If the gospel tries the hearts and forms the characters of those who hear it; then sinners may easily and insensibly fit themselves for destruction, Many seem to think, that the gospel will do them no harm unless they openly and violently oppose it. They flatter themselves, if they never say any thing against it, by way of complaint or contempt; but, on the other hand, treat it with respect, acknowledge it to be divine, and hear it with decency, they are in the fair way to salvation. They verily believe, that the Jews were