cannot even for a moment bear the dread idea. It overwhelms us like the rocks and hills, which the wicked will vainly implore to cover them from the anger of God. Oh ye immortal and responsible beings! we earnestly conjure you, for the sake of God's mercy, to avert from us and yourselves this grievous thought, by hastening to Golgotha this very day, aye, this very hour, and by seeking there your refuge at the foot of the cross of Christ, being sprinkled and purified by the blood of the new Cove-nant. If among your relations and friends there should be one dear to you, who does not yet know the Saviour, who has not called upon the only name by which he can be saved-I entreat you to supplicate your Redeemer, that he will touch his heart, and snatch it from certain destruction," as the brand which is plucked out of the fire"-that He will save him as it were in spite of himself, while salvation, pardon, and reconciliation are within his reach.O God! should there be one among those now listening to thy word, and hearing of thy bounty and love, or one whom I have known and cherished on earth, who at the last great day will be an example of thy justice, instead of a monument of thy grace and everlasting love-let me beseech thee, if ever thou hast listened to prayer, or been moved to relent by earnest supplications, or the cries of an agonised spirit, that thou wouldst lighten me of this awful burden, and drive from my heart this sad anticipation and fear. I must, I will hope. Oh! forgive me

Zech. iii. 2.

“*

Lord, thou willest not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn from his wickedness and live, and "all things are possible unto thee."

LECTURE XI.

THE EFFECTS OF THE MIRACLE.

Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done. Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a Council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. And one of them named Caiphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all. Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad."-St. John xi. 45-52.

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If there one prophecy more than another, whose fulfilment has been peculiarly attested as clear and undeniable, by all people from the days of Jesus Christ even to our day, it is that which was spoken by Simeon in the temple of Jerusalem-he held in his aged arms, the child in whom he saw the consolation of Israel, the desired of all nations, saying "+ Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel and for a sign which shall be spoken against:" This prophecy was in fact accomplished during the ministry of Jesus; it was accomplished at the tomb of Lazarus. Some believed on him, while others went to rouse the enmity of the Phari

St. Mark xiv. 36. ↑ St. Luke ii. 34.

sees it was accomplished at his death, when some cried "crucify him, his blood be on us and our children;" but future ages were to see in the cross and blood of the new Covenant the sign of their eternal salvation. It was accomplished in the first preaching of the Apostles, who were "+beaten with rods," by some persons, while thousands of others were converted to eternal life. It has been accomplished for eighteen hundred years wherever the Gospel of Christ has been preached, which to “‡ some was the savour of death unto death, and for others the savour of life unto life," and the power of God § unto salvation to every one that believeth." It is accomplished in our days, when the doctrine of the cross excites hatred and persecutions, at the same time that it gives joy, peace, and life to all true believers.

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Let the enemies of the Gospel know that by their enmity and anger they are unconsciously working a work they do not intend: they are living testimonies of the truth of the very doctrines they are trying to overthrow-they establish our faith most firmly in the crucified Saviour-they are building up an edifice, of which they are trying to shake the very foundations they have the misfortune to be the blind instruments which God makes use of against their will, in order to establish a kingdom, of which they can never be citizens-they are like the strange workmen in Israel, who prepared, with immense labour, the ma

St. Matt. xxvii, 25. † 2 Cor. xl. 35.

2 Cor. ii. 16. Rom. 1. 16.

terials of a magnificent temple, into which they would never be permitted to enter.

The first object of the miracle was answered to the family of Bethany by their receiving comfort, and coming out of their trials, full of joy, confidence, and love. It was answered to the Disciples who saw therein the Glory of God; it was answered also to many of the Jews who, when they had seen the things that Jesus did, believed on him; but was it attained by the rest of the by-standers? Was it attained by the Chief Priests and Pharisees: Alas! it was, but according to the sense of Simeon's fatal prophecy.

"Then many of the Jews who came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him." They had simple and upright hearts prepared by the Grace of God: it was natural for any one to conclude, from the greatness of the miracle, what must have been the wonderful power of him who worked it. They were eye-witnesses of this manifestation of his Omnipotence they had the advantage of concluding that such power could only be given to the Christ, the promised Messiah, the deliverer spoken of by the Prophets. They saw with their eyes and believed in their hearts. We must not suppose that their faith was suddenly enlightened, by a knowledge of the whole truth, which Jesus brought into the world: yet, from the time that they believed in his divinity, their hearts were willing to receive with submission

and perfect confidence every word that fell from the lips of this Ambassador from the Most High. The end of Jesus was attained, "because of the people which stand by, I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me." Miracles alone do not make converts; but they dispose the heart by faith to conversion and life. Nicodemus believed the miracles of Jesus-he saw in them a proof of his Divinity. "Rabbi," said he, "we know that thou art a teacher come from God; for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him." However Nicodemus, notwithstanding this portion of faith, and his being a ruler of the Jews, was ignorant of the first principles of the doctrine of regeneration; but moved by the faith within hin, went to Jesus to be instructed in the knowledge of salvation, which he felt disposed to receive. This is but the first step, but it infallibly leads to something better, and on that account St. John left us minute details of this most affecting story-and to those who read the resurrection of Lazarus with attention, the evidence is as powerful as it was to those who, like St. John, were eye-witnesses of it.

"Is this the Saviour the Gospel promises me ?"This is a natural question to any one anxiously seeking the truth. I will resign my whole soul to such a master, such a Saviour. I know that in following him I cannot walk in darkness; I will study line by line the words of eternal truth which he brought us

St. John iii. 2.