250 FORGIVENESS OF SIN. be forgiven and saved; there is yet just cause to sus- pect lest this be a selfish contempt of God. It is a great thing to give glory to God by truly believing. Such slight returns seem not to have the least relation to it. Take heed that instead of believing, you be not found mockers, and so your bands be made strong. But a poor convinced sinner may here find encou- ragement. Thou wouldst willingly corne to acceptance with God, and so attain salvation. " Oh, my soul long- eth for it !" Wouldst thou willingly take that course for obtaining those ends which will bring most glory to God l " Surely it is meet, and most equal, that I should do so." What now if one should come and tell thee from the Lord, of a way whereby thou, poor, sinful, self - condemned creature, mightest bring as much glory unto God as any angel in heaven is able to do l " Oh ! if I might bring the least glory unto God, I should re- joice in it." Behold, then, the way which himself hath fixed on for the exaltation of his glory, even that thou shouldst come to him, merely on account of grace in the blood of Christ, for pardon and forgiveness; and the Lord strengthen thee to give up thyself thereunto. 3. Consider, that if this way of salvation be refused, there is no other way for you. We do not propose this way of forgiveness as the best and most pleasant, but as the only way. There is no other name given but that of Christ ; no other way but this of forgiveness. Here lies your choice ; take this path, or perish for ever. It is a shame, indeed, to our cursed nature, that there should be any need to use this argument, that we will neither submit toGod's sovereignty nor delight in his glory ; but seeing it must be used, let it be so. I intend neither to flatter men nor to frighten them, but to tell them the truth as it is. If you continue in your present state ; if you rest on what you do, or what youhope to do; if you support yourselfwith general hopes ofmercy, mixedwith
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