mere distress, they felt a desire for instruction ♪ they declared themselves willing to be led ini 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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the awakened Jew ask, what he shall do? The answer was, Repent; let the alarm which he has felt, lead him to an entire repentance and conversion to God-And be baptized; let him publicly unite himself to the church by the open dedication of himself to God in his appointed sacrament-For the remission of sins, which is to be obtained through that Saviour alone in whose name he is to be baptized, and which will be sealed and confirmed to him in that ordinance-And he shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, if not in his extraordinary, yet in his enlightening and sanctifying influences.

The exhortation, then, as addressed to professed Christians, who have already been admitted by baptism to the privileges of the visible church, may be considered as relating to REPENTANCE, PARDON, CONFESSION OF THE NAME OF CHRIST, and THE GRACE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. In proportion as these Christian graces and gifts are imparted to the mind, will our convictions of sin have their full and proper effect. Let men have repentance towards God, which needeth not to be repented of; let them be found in Christ, not having their own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is of God by faith; let them join themselves to the Church in an open confession of their faith, and a devout use of the sacraments, and other

means of grace; and let them be sanctified and comforted by the grace of the Holy Spirit, and they will be real Christians; the lessons of the Gospel will have accomplished their end, the wounded heart will be healed, and the eager expressions of alarm and inquiry will gradually be exchanged for the language of assurance and peace and joy.

These directions, then, may be viewed both in the light of an ENCOURAGEMENT and of a

CAUTION.

They are an ENCOURAGEMENT, as they present a way of escape to the anxious inquirer. Is it no relief to the convinced mind to be told there is a Saviour, to be assured of acceptance, to be directed to the Divine Spirit for the communication of wisdom and strength? Is it no encouragement to be taken as it were by the hand, and guided to heaven? Is it no consolation to be led to the mysterious Cross, and instructed in the doctrine of the remission of sins? Be comforted, then, distressed and perplexed penitent. Salvation is before you. However little light or feeling you may now have, go on; press forward; repent; confess the Saviour; seek for pardon; implore sanctifying grace. If you have only a good thought towards God, or some misgiving of mind about your own condition, cherish it, yield to it, follow it as the dawning light. On the other

hand, if your terrors are ever so penetrating, and your apprehensions ever so vivid, do not despair. Though you should conclude your sins to be more numerous and more aggravated than those of any other person, though you should be struck to the heart with self-condemn ation, and be almost ready to conclude that your particular case is beyond the reach of mercy, still be not overwhelmed. The door of repentance and pardon is open. The invitation is general, Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money. The alarm and distress you feel are so far from being arguments against you, that * they rather prove you to be in the right way. The Jew who had heard the Apostle's sermon, and who was pricked to the heart, and said with anguish, What shall I do? was in fact in the path to truth and salvation; and so are you, if your feelings are such as his, and you will follow the directions of the sacred word. Yield not then to unbelief; for all things are ready, and none are excluded from the feast of mercy. You are invited and commanded to approach. Nor will God reject a single

soul that comes to him in the name of Jesus Christ.

The directions, however, of the Apostle afford also a CAUTION, as they show that repentance and remission of sins, and a public