(8) repentance." Instead, then, of the awakened soul endeavouring, like our first parents, to hide himself from the All-seeing Eye because he is afraid; let him consider how awfully affecting it would be, if, in such a state of alienation from his Maker, he should be summoned to appear, in another state of existence, before the Judge of all the Earth: may such an awful reflection induce him to flee to our great advocate, "Jesus Christ, the righteous," who is "the pro"pitiation for our sins," and not for ours only, "but also for the sins of the whole world;"' trusting in his mercy, who is "able to save them to the "uttermost that come unto God by him; seeing he " ever liveth to make intercession for them." m Let all such be encouraged to humble themselves "under the mighty hand of God," and listen to the Apostolic counsel, "Repent ye, therefore, and "be converted, that your sins may be blotted out "when the times of refreshing shall come from the 66 presence of the Lord."n The poor, penitent, humbled under a sense of transgression, waiting upon the Lord in daily retirement, and patiently "bearing his indignation, "because he hath sinned against him," will come to witness a capacity to "sorrow after a godly "manner," and, in a degree of faith, to adopt the language, "Lord, if thou wilt thou canst make "me clean;" and if he sincerely confess his sins, God is "faithful and just to forgive him his sins, "and to cleanse him from all unrighteousness." P Then will he be enabled to pray with the Spirit and "with the understanding also." May persons of this description, come, taste, and see for themselves, that the Lord is gracious; that he is mercifully disposed to "heal their backslidings and love them freely." If these submit to have their steps ordered of the Lord, they may in due time be enabled experimentally to adopt the words of the Psalmist, "I waited patiently for "the Lord, and he inclined unto me, and heard my "cry; he brought me up also out of an horrible "pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a "rock, and established my goings; and he hath "put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto "our God."r Those who have been measurably purified and enlightened, so as to have a deep and abiding sense of the incalculable value of immortal souls, and what is due from dependent creatures towards the Author of our being, will not only experience a living exercise of spirit on their own account, but will be likely at seasons to feel their hearts enlarged to supplicate for their fami lies, their connexions, their friends, and the whole family of man, agreeably to the advice of Apostle Paul, in the 1st of Timothy 2nd Chap、 1st to the 7th verse, viz." I exhort, therefore, "that, first of all, supplications, prayers, inter"cessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all "men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; "that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, "in all godliness and honesty.-For this is good "and acceptable in the sight of God, our Saviour, "who will have all men to be saved, and to come "unto the knowledge of the truth." This com forting assurance of the universality of the love of God, may encourage us to intercede for those who appear dead in trespasses and sins, when we are favoured with access to the throne of grace, even as the same Apostle exhorts, "I will, therefore, that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting." Many indeed are the iniquities and transgressions which abound in this land; some of its inhabitants who have the form of godliness, are, it is to be feared, strangers to the power thereof; there are others who have even " denied the Lord that bought 66 them," and are in danger of "bringing upon "themselves swift destruction."s Because of these things, the hearts of the righteous, among the various religious denominations, are made sad perhaps justly fearing, lest the awful language should, in effect, go forth from the Most High; "Shall I not visit for these things; shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this!" I have a firm persuasion, that sincere prayers have been offered up by many for the continued exten-sion of that Divine Mercy, which has hitherto preserved and distinguished this highly favored nation in a remarkable manner. Here I would enforce on the minds of my fellow professors the necessity there is for a guard on our part, on the one hand, that we do not engage in any devotional act, in the activity of our own will: and, on the other, lest we should, through unwatchfulness, indifference, and the love of ease, deprive ourselves of a capacity to "know the "mind of the spirit," whereby we might be enabled at times, acceptably to petition that the spirit of infidelity might be checked, and that those whose precious souls are in jeopardy, might yet be turned "from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God." 66 Finally, My Brethren and Sisters, may "the "God of Peace, who brought again from the dead "our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the Sheep, "through the blood of the everlasting covenant, "make you perfect.in every good work to do his |