46: concluding with these striking expressions:"And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal," Here it is clearly asserted that the righteous are admitted into life eternal, while the wicked go into everlasting punishment.

It has been remarked by a celebrated writer,

"What ardently we wish, we soon believe."

But however pleasing it may be to those who cling to sinful pleasures, to suppose that the judgments of the Almighty, in another state of existence, are temporary, and will soon pass over-however they may resort to inventions to find out expedients and plausibilities in the doctrine of purgatory, or the transmigration of souls, or the expiation of sins, by the present inconvenience of vice, such schemes and notions are but human contrivances, that may indeed amuse them for awhile, but which they cannot carry with them beyond the grave.

On the manner in which we pass the time of our probation here, our final happiness or misery depends. How vain, how delusive is the idea, that any may slight the offers of Redeeming Love, and "crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame"-squandering away the invaluable time, which was given them, to work out their salvation with fear and trembling; relying on another opportunity to be afforded, in some new body, or perhaps, in some new world! Such an idea seem directly calculated to lay waste the responsibility of man, which forms one of the powerful motives to circumspection and perseverance in well-doing.

Different, far different from these enervating and sin-pleasing speculations, are the views which are presented to us through the medium of Divine Revelation. Though unmixed and endless felicity

on the one hand, and an eternal separation from God and happiness on the other, are represented as dependent on the manner in which we pass the time of our sojourning here-that time, with its conflicts and sufferings, in adorable goodness and condescention, is made short. We are not detained for ages in this troubled scene. A few short days or fleeting years, are permitted to roll over us a few (comparatively) earnest breathings to arise to Heaven-a few painful conflicts to be endured, and a little space filled up, in persevering integrity to God, and in putting on his divine nature! So short is human life, compared with that state of being to which it leads, that we seem only to be called upon to arise, wash, and be clothed, before we leave this state of weakness and of conflict.

On the other hand, though human life is thus transitory-though the race of the wicked is short -yet they have time enough to make a decided choice. Nor is this all. They are called and invited to holiness, by the grace of God, that brings salvation--convincing them of sin-inclining them to virtue, and giving them ability to overcome every temptation. To adopt a figurative mode of expression, used by R. Barclay the Apologistthey are not only convinced of sin, and inclined to righteousness, but the Redeemer lays hold on them, and would raise them out of their pollutions, and free them from every entanglement, if they, on their part, only will not resist the operations of this reredeeming power. But if they refuse to be thus separated from their corruptions-if they resist the hand thus laid upon them, in adorable goodnessthe consequence must be their own. The blackest crime that marks the depravity of man, is committed in a few moments. Nor was it a protracted pe

riod formerly, in which the Jews rejected the Messiah, and put him to the death of the cross. And this, as effectually sealed their condemnation, as if they had been employed in it for ages. And thus it is of all others. If they reject and destroy the life of Jesus in themselves; the act is complete in itself, whether it be done in a short or protracted period of time. They make that separation between God and their own souls, which must continue forever. How preposterous would have been the idea, that because the chief priests and rulers of the Jews, condemned & crucified our Lord, in the short space of a few hours, it would therefore have been consistent with the attributes of the Deity, to have allowed them the opportunity of going over the whole transaction again! And yet it would be as inconsistent with the Divine Character, to permit this to be done spiritually as outwardly: for it is as really a crucifying of the Lord Jesus, as that which was perpetrated by the Jews, without the gates of Jerusalem.

How awful is the consideration of this important subject, to despise and reject the heavenly visitation; and finally destroy the only possible means of salvation! The measure of Grace thus given to each individual, as the means of salvation, is the purchase of Christ's death. If this is destroyed, is Christ again to suffer in the flesh? or did the apostle say truly, that "there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment, and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries." Heb. 10. 26, 27. Hence the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and the eternal duration of its consequences.

How short, how fleeting are the moments of vanity, and how low the gratifications, for which the dreadful penalty is incurred of "depart from me

ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels!" Matt. 25. 41. How shocking to reflect with what wild infatuation, thousands are spurning the offers of Redeeming Love and eternal felicity, and rushing headlong in the pursuit of delusive objects, to the abyss of ruin!

But on the other hand, it is a cheering, animating reflection, that the christian warfare will soon be over. "Yet a little while, and he that shall come, will come, and will not tarry." "Behold I come quickly, and my reward is with me." And how sweet is the responding language-"Even so, come Lord Jesus!" Well might the apostle say: "The sufferings of this present time, are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Rom. 8. 18.

Let us then, warned by the dreadful consequences of disobedience, and animated by the hopes of the gospel, press through every crowd of difficulties; "Looking unto Jesus, the Author and finisher of our faith: who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down on the right hand of the throne of God:" Heb. 12. 2: and who has promised: "To him that overcometh, will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." Rev. 3. 21.

CHAPTER III.

Of the Universality of Grace,

OR

The possibility of Salvation to all men.

We believe that Salvation, through Jesus Christ, is freely offered to all men. The Gospel is emphatically good tidings of great joy-embracing all people in its blessed operation. For "as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin-and so death passed upon all men:" Rom. 5. 12, so all men stood (or stand) in need of a Saviour. And as the disease or "death," reached to all men, so the remedy, which was provided, reached also unto all. To this the Scriptures bear ample testimony, in divers places. For they expressly declare, that: "As in Adam, all die, so in Christ, shall all be made alive." 1 Cor. 15. 22. And "as by the offence of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation, even so, by the righteousness of One, the free gift came upon all men, unto justification of life." Rom. 5. 18.

The declaration to the children of Israel, as delivered by Moses, in Deut. 30. 19, is very striking: "I call Heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live."

The 18th chapter of Jeremiah, contains the following declaration: "At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a

F