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be saved;" but the transgressors, who reject him, and his atonement, as promised to all," their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched,"

-" there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Luke xiii. 28. But hear Him the Judge of all mankind, who is "the way, the truth, and the life," "Whosoever John xiv. 6. shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in Heaven --but whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in Heaven." Hence the confession of his servant Peter-" Thou art the Christ the Son of the living Matt. xvi. 16. God." "Hear Him" then and, with humility and gratitude, have confidence in His important reply"Blessed art thou Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father which is in Heaven: and I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter (a rock or stone) and upon this rock, of faith and knowledge, will I build my Spiritual Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it; for they shall be mine, saith the Lord, in that day, when I make up my jewels.” Malachi iii.17. Hence the confession of Martha-" Yea, Lord, I John xi. 27. believe that Thou art the Christ, the Son of God,

which should come into the world."

Hence the warning before His coming to judge

the world" Beloved, be not ignorant of this one 2 Peter iii. thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men

count slackness, but is long-suffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also, and the works that are therein, shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens, and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent, that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot and blameless." Then why will ye die, O House of Israel? Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions: so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed, and make you a new heart, and a new spirit; for why will ye die, O House of Israel." "For behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall then be to you and to all people;" but the continued perverseness of many in the latter days is clearly seen in the words of the Hosea v. 15. Lord by his servant Hosea, "I will go and return to my place till they acknowledge their offence and

Luke ii. 10.

seek my face, in their affliction they will seek me early." If then they adhere to pride and depravity until that day arrives, when "affliction" may overwhelm, and repentance be too late to obtain "the wedding garment" of eternal bliss in mercy offered to all, their irreparable loss can arise only from hardened ingratitude.

Now to" Him in whom we live, and move, and have our being—whose eye pierceth throughout all natural things, and whose ear is open to every sound: extending through all space-enduring through all time; and whose bounty and care can have no other bounds than those fixed by his own creation:"the God of patience and consolation, grant you to be like minded one toward another, after the example of Christ Jesus, that ye may with one mind and mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,"-" in whose presence fulness of joy, and at whose right hand are pleasures for evermore."-and to whom all praise, gratitude, and reverence is ever due from all of us, for the blessings we possess, and the bliss that we wait for.

is

London: Printed by J. DAVY,
Queen Street, Long Acre.

THE END.

A PRAYER.

THY wisdom and benevolence, Almighty Father, didst decree the creation of mankind, to serve Thee with a pure heart, and enjoy the beatitude of Thy presence in eternal glory: and that Thy Word should take upon Himself our nature, to fulfil Thy law of purity and uprightness, and bear the pains of death on the cross to redeem us from the power of Satan in the passions of impurity and misery, we must otherwise have remained, and by whom alone can we be justified, as thy law we have not fulfilled. With deep gratitude, reverence, and humility, I acknowledge the great debt I owe to Thy beloved Son our Lord Jesus, Thy Christ, for the atonement made for my transgressions, and for which I repent and am ashamed, to admit me a Member of His spiritual body in Thee, and heir through hope of the blessings of Thy Kingdom: and I humbly beseech Thee to grant me a progressive grace through Him to subdue the subtle spirit of Satan in pride, perverseness, and presumption, that

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