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admonition, and

and see whether we can find any inducements there to pursue our career of inattention and folly; whether the Deity be represented there as a Being whom no extent of transgression can rouse to inflict punishment. The first page of that sacred volume exposes the falsehood of such an opinion; the first page exhibits the awful scene of punishment upon the crimes of our first parents— then first did man transgress the commands of his God, and then did the sentence of the Almighty stamp in characters so legible that he who runs may read, the irrevocable truth, the wages of sin is death. Yes, my brethren, each of us bears about him the tremendous punishment of that crime—each of us bears about him the sad proof of his mortality, and daily is reminded that dust he is, and unto dust he must return.

Impressive, however, as was this lesson, it soon ceased to produce an adequate effect, and man corrupted his way upon the earth. Were all the terrors of the Lord exhausted? was the Almighty unable to make any further revelation of his wrath against the ungodliness and unrighteousness of man? Oh, no! The visitation of the flood followed their crimes. For many years did the Lord grant to the guilty inhabitants of the earth time for repentance; for many years did he exhort them

by his faithful servant Noah-but at length the cup of his indignation was full, and the earth exhibited but one continued scene of his wrath, the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of Heaven were opened, and all in whose nostrils was the breath of life, died. Here the general visitations of Providence ceased, but can we not recognise the same discipline, the same correcting hand in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, in the events of the Jewish History. And though the terrors of the Almighty's outstretched arm be not so openly bared to our view, can we not learn the same impressive, awful lesson, from the revolutions of the kingdoms of the earth, which through successive ages exhibit the chastisements of an offended God, justifying his ways to man by making their crimes the never failing instruments of his vengeance upon the guilty nations.

The most awful declaration of God's hatred to sin remains yet for our consideration— Even the work of man's redemption, the offering of the Son of God for the crimes of the whole world, to satisfy the justice of the Almighty, and atone for the violation of his laws. In the solemn melancholy service for this day,* you have heard the affecting recital.

Preached on the Sunday before Easter.

Does the awful sacrifice present us with any marks of that tenderness which cannot punish, of that mercy which always spares? Assuredly not. It exhibits a being of infinite purity, proclaiming to the astonished world by the most expressive action, his abhorrence of iniquity, and must make his frail and erring creatures" tremble at his severity, even while they are in the arms of his mercy.'

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These are hard sayings, my brethren, but shall I dissemble when your eternal salvation is at stake?-Shall I speak to you smooth things? shall I say peace where there is no peace ? No. Woe is me if I preach not the Gospel-and if I have now delivered to you the plain unsophisticated word of Godreceive seriously the voice of exhortationIf you do not believe the terrors of the Lord a vain thing; if you do not deny the night to be far spent and the day to be at hand; if you do not disregard your salvation, your eternal salvation; if have not resolved upon your destruction, and sworn your ruin, return unto the Lord your God and seek him evermore. This day is the accepted time-this day you have been summoned to renew your vows of obedience to your God, to claim on the an

you

*Scott's Christian Life, B. 3.

niversary of your Redeemer's triumph over sin and death, the benefits of that mysterious sacrifice. Cold must be that heart, insensible to every call of religion, which determines to reject such an invitation.-Whatever mistaken notions as to the duty of receiving the Holy Sacrament have crept into the Church, the most lukewarm Christian acknowledges the necessity of obeying the command of his God on that great festival. Commence then the work of preparation, "that ye may come holy and clean to such a heavenly feast, and be received as worthy partakers of that holy table." Awaken your minds to a just sense of the high solemnity you are about to celebrate. Now, even now commune with your own hearts, determine to break off your course of carelessness and inattention, in the spirit of humble and earnest repentance, implore the mercy of the Most High-Quit not, my beloved brethren, this holy temple without calling upon his sacred name, and may he hear in Heaven his dwelling place, hear and forgive. Amen.

can find career of Deity be

admonition, and see whether we any inducements there to pursue our inattention and folly; whether the represented there as a Being whom no extent of transgression can rouse to inflict punishment. The first page of that sacred volume exposes the falsehood of such an opinion; the first page exhibits the awful scene of punishment upon the crimes of our first parents— then first did man transgress the commands of his God, and then did the sentence of the Almighty stamp in characters so legible that he who runs may read, the irrevocable truth, the wages of sin is death. Yes, my brethren, each of us bears about him the tremendous punishment of that crime-each of us bears about him the sad proof of his mortality, and daily is reminded that dust he is, and unto dust he must return.

Impressive, however, as was this lesson, it soon ceased to produce an adequate effect, and man corrupted his way upon the earth. Were all the terrors of the Lord exhausted? was the Almighty unable to make any further revelation of his wrath against the ungodliness and unrighteousness of man? Oh, no! The visitation of the flood followed their crimes. For many years did the Lord grant to the guilty inhabitants of the earth time for repentance; for many years did he exhort them

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