the perfect work of Jesus to justify and save you, than there can be demerit in your heart and life to condemn you. He saves to the very uttermost. He justifies the ungodly. He receives sinners. Look not for anything in yourself, but go to Jesus just as you are; go for a complete salvation. Look to his blood alone for pardon; to his righteousness alone for justification; to his word alone as your warrant to expect these blessings; and to his kind heart alone for the assurance that you shall not be rejected or cast out. Look not into self for any thing, but look unto him and be saved, as he bids you in his word.

xlv. 22.

Isa.

If you are really convinced of sin, if you are heartily willing to be saved by grace alone, you may be justified completely in one moment: only renounce all your own performances, look away from every thing good or bad, and trust the finished work of Christ for acceptance and salvation, and that moment you are justified from all things. It is simple faith, receiving, trusting, confiding in the work of Jesus, that justifies, and nothing else. The righteousness is provided, the pro clamation is made, and "to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteous. ness. Even as David also ascribeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the

man to whom the Lord will not impute sin," Rom. iv. 5-8. Righteousness comes by heirship; every believer is an heir; by believing he proves his title, makes his claim, and receives the blessing; as it is said of Noah, "By faith Noah, being warned of God, moved by fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith,” Heb. vi. 7. Briefly, the whole matter stands thus: God in covenant determined to save sinners; the Lord Jesus became their substitute, and wrought out a glorious righteousness which he has willed in his testament to every believer; by faith that righteousness becomes ours; in that righteousness we are accepted of God, justified from all things, and entitled to everlasting life. The origin of justification is in grace; the righteousness by which sinners are justified is the work of Christ; it is imputed or placed to their account by the Father; it is received and enjoyed by faith; it is pleaded before God in prayer; and it becomes the support, solace, and joy of every Christian in life and death. Only unbelief stands between the soul and this blessedness. But alas! how many there are doubting, fearing, hoping, and desiring; who feel as if they dare not venture simply on Jesus. They want something beside the faithful word of God; some frame, some excellent quality, or some impression; but it will not do, this self-righte

ousness must be destroyed, this legal spirit must be crucified, and the soul must venture naked upon Christ, before it can find peace. It is indeed contrary to nature to look away from self to Jesus for all; to be justified in another's righteousness, and to be saved for another's sake. But it is God's method, and it is the only one. Some are for years in darkness, doubt, and fear: they never enjoy the sense of their completeness in Christ, or rejoice in their justification before God. And why? Because they are looking into self, poring over their corruptions, or dwelling upon their unworthiness. It is only by looking away from all these, and looking to Jesus as the bitten Israelites looked to the brazen serpent for a cure, that we can enjoy pardon, peace, and rest. Therefore, look, look, look unto Jesus; stoop to be nothing, and pray with the apostle, "that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: that I may know him and the power of his resur rection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made comforable unto his death; if by any means, I may attain to the resurrection of the dead," Phil. iii. 8—11.

Reader, beware how you trifle with this subject; your soul, your everlasting all is at stake. As a sinner you are condemned already, and you can only be justified by faith in

Christ Jesus. To you is the word of God's salvation sent, before your eyes Christ as crucified is set forth; it is to you that the Saviour calls, when he says, "Look unto me, and be yesaved." Donot put the gracious message from you; do not judge yourself unworthy of everlasting life, but humble yourself before God; submit and receive the righteousness provided for sinners in the gospel. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ now, and you are saved for evermore. You are within one step of everlasting life. On the one side is the finished righteousness of Jesus; on the other you stand a poor, lost sinner. Receive that free gift of God, and you have a title to everlasting life; reject it, and you are doomed to eternal despair. Truly the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. At this moment you are not far from that kingdom: and yet perhaps you will never enter it. Jesus may have to say to you as he said to some of old, "Ye will not come to me that ye might have life." I have called, and ye refused." Refuse no longer, but " Seek ye the Lord while he be found, call ye upon him may while he is near. Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation."

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SANCTIFICATION.

THAT man has fallen from God, and is consequently depraved and polluted, is a fact so clearly revealed in God's word, and so evidently proved by his general conduct, that it cannot be denied, or even doubted by any one who believes the inspiration of the scriptures, or attends to what is passing around him. That in this state man is totally unfit to enter heaven, or enjoy the presence of God on earth, is equally clear; he has forfeited all right to happiness, and is destitute of all meetness for glory. He is a rebel up in arms against God, a sinful and polluted creature. His unfitness for heaven is radical, for he is entirely depraved, and the very seat of his life is a fountain of impurity; for from within, out of the heart, proceeds all that is vile, debasing, and offensive to God; and only such things. Every imagination of the thoughts of his heart is evil, only evil,-evil from his youth,-evil continually, Gen. vi. 5.; viii. 21. He is, in a word, just the opposite of what God made him; when he came out of the hand of his Maker he was holy,he is now depraved; he was light, he is now darkness; he was strong, he is now weakness; he was love, he is now enmity against