this way alone the watchman can " deliver his ❝own foul." It is alfo agreeable to reflect, that

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when God giveth" a door of utterance," he is alfo often pleased to give " a door of faith," which I pray may be the cafe with many who read this difcourfe, for Chriff's fake.

Let me, therefore, repeat in your ears this truth, and may God Almighty by his Spirit carry it to your hearts, that " except a man be born

again, he cannot enter into the kingdom of "God." Every child of Adam, by nature, is at enmity with God, and muft either be renewed in the fpirit of his mind, or perifh eternally. It is of no confequence what you are as to outward ftation, if you are not reconciled to God; it is of no confequence what you are as to outward profeffion, if you are not inwardly changed. God is no refpecter of perfons, and, therefore, whether you are high or low, rich or poor, whether you are of one denomination of Chriftians or another, if you have not been the subjects of a renewing and fanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, you are children of wrath, and, if you die in that condition, muft "go away into everlasting "punishment." To reflect feriously but for a few moments on this truth, and that every one of us is fo deeply concerned in it, one would think might be fufficient to alarm us all, either for ourselves or for others, or for both. N

Who

could

could imagine that this weak filesh, so frail in its nature, and fo early taken to pieces, should yet fo harden us against the impreffion of approaching eternity. But is there any hope of relief? Yes there is, and that as univerfal as the danger. 'The commiffion is unlimitted, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the GOSPEL to every "CREATURE *.”

In order to make this exhortation the more diftinct and effectual, I fhall endeavour to addrefs it in a particular and feparate manner to the following claffes: The Rich and the Poor; the Young and the Old; the Self-righteous and the Chief of Sinners.

I would preach the everlasting gospel to the Rich and Affluent, on whom (as the world chooses to exprefs it) fortune fmiles, who are well and plentifully supplied with every present conveniency. The prophet Jeremiah, in trying the fuccefs of his meffage, fays, "I will get me un"to the great men, and will speak unto them +.” It is, indeed, a matter of no finall difficulty often to perfuade fuch to hear the truths of the gospel. Let them not be offended while I mention the words of our bleffed Saviour," Verily I fay un"to you, that a rich man fhall hardly enter"into the kingdom of heaven." And again, "I fay unto you, it is easier for a camel to go *Mark xvi, 15. + Jer. v. 5.

"through

through the eye of a needle, than for a rich

man to enter into the kingdom of God *." When the world is pleafant and inviting, it is ready to ingrofs our attention, to poffefs our efteem, and to attract our homage. Worldly grandeur is very ready to infpire the mind with pride and self-sufficiency, which is, of all other things, the most destructive of real religion, and which is particularly oppofite to the humbling and felfabafing doctrine of falvation by grace. The great and fashionable world is ftill in danger of the offence of the crofs. Denying themselves, bearing profane fcorn, mortifying the flesh, loving and following a crucified mafter, are hard leffons, indeed, to men of wealth and affluence.

But fuffer me to warn all fuch, not to "trust " in uncertain riches." Place not your happiness in fo unstable a poffeffion. How ftrong, as well as how juft, the wife man's expreffions! "Wilt thou fet thine eyes upon that which is "not for riches certainly make themselves. "wings, they fly away as an eagle towards hea"ven +." Behold, I preach the gofpel to you, and offer you the true riches. However pride may make you fondly flatter yourselves, however your greatness or wealth may deter others from treating you with plainnefs and fincerity, you are finners of the race of Adam, you are loft in him + Prov. xxiii. 5.

Matt. xix. 28, 24.

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by

by nature, you are tranfgreffors in practice, and liable to divine wrath, from which there is no shelter but in the blood of Chrift. It is but a very little time that your worldly greatnefs canendure. Death fhall write vanity on all created glory; and nothing else fhall fcreen you from the wrath of the Almighty Judge in the laft and great day. There the rich and the poor, the prisoner and the oppreffor, fhall ftand upon a level before the Maker of them all. Embrace then, while you may, the mercy of God. Put on the spotless robe of your Redeemer's righteoufnefs, and value it more than purple and fine linen, or the moft coftly attire.. Seek the bread of life which came down from heaven, and value it more highly than the most fumptuous and delicate fare. Be not ashamed of a crucified Saviour. Endure with a noble firmnefs the difdainful fimiles of a fcoffing world. O! how amiable is the union of high station and piety, honour and humility, wealth and felf-denial, with a refolute profeffion of the gospel! Bleffed is the memory of Jofeph of Arimathea, an honourable man, and a counsellor, who boldly begged, and honourably interred the body of our Lord, after it had been crucified at the instigation of corrupt priefts, and pierced by the inhumanity of brutal foldiers. May the Lord God of nature bless and increase your fubftance, and make every thing you do to profper, but in his mercy deliver you

from

from defpifing the gospel, dying impenitent, and lifting up your eyes in torments.

2. Let me preach this gofpel to the Poor. It was the glory of the gospel that it was preached to the Poor, and given by our Saviour himself asone of the marks of the Meffiah's arrival, that "the gofpel was preached to the poor." Very able was this to their ftate, good news were brought to them in their diftrefs. But think not, my brethren, that your being poor is enough of itfelf. It may, indeed, preferve you from many temptations to which the rich are expofed, and it ought, one would think, to confirain you to seek to be rich towards God. But, alas! this is not always the cafe, and, when it is otherwife, how does it make every confiderate heart bleed with compaffion and tendernefs! O! unhappy they who are both poor and profane, miferable in time and miferable to eternity, defpifed on earth, and outcafts for ever. Pitiable cafe indeed!

But does not the Saviour of finners befeech you to be reconciled unto God. He intreats you to come unto him that you may have life. He regardeth not the perfons of men, but values a precious immortal spirit as much in a mean cottage as in a splendid palace. Your rags and nakedness can be no hindrance to your obtaining. his favour. He counfels you> He counfels you. " to buy of him "gold

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