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Repent-profligate sinner! repent of that impiety, that profaneness, that injustice, that covetousness, that debauchery, that revenge, which have long cried to heaven for vengeance-vengeance which heaven in mercy has withheld. Sin no more, lest thy day of grace be terminated. Tempt no longer the Lord thy God, lest he "swear in his wrath that you shall not enter into his rest." Provoke no longer the Holy One of Israel, lest he cut thee off as a cumberer of the ground. Repent;

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Thy sins, though as scarlet, shall be as wool; though red as crimson they shall be white as snow." For a fountain is opened, in which the sinner may wash away the foulest stains of sin.

Repent-sinners of every description; all ye who live in forgetfulness of God, in neglect of the concerns of your salvation, in devotion to the world," making only provision for the flesh." Repent-all ye who delude yourselves with a name to live, while ye are dead in trespasses and sins; who rest in the form of godliness, while ye are destitute of its power; who have never been humbled under a sense of your corruption and guilt, nor" knowm and felt that there is none other

* Isaiah i. 18.

* "The Almighty Lord make thee know and feel that there is none other name under heaven given to man, in whom, and through whom thou mayest receive health and salvation, but` only the name of the Lord Jesus Christ."-Visitation Office of the Sick.

name given under heaven among men whereby you can be saved, but only the name of the Lord Jesus Christ." Repent-" the remembrance of your sins must be grievous unto you." You must "die unto sin, and rise unto righteousness." Through the power of the grace of Christ, "the same mind must be in you which was in him." The meek and holy graces of the Spirit must dwell in your hearts, and shine forth in your lives and conversation; and you must be steadily and resolutely devoted to adorning the doctrine of God your Saviour in all things; pursuing "whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are lovely and of good report "."

Yes, Christians, faithful servants of God! even you are commanded to repent. You must repent of your lukewarmness; of the imperfections of your best performances; of the deficiency of your most perfect service; of your errors, your secret faults. Ah! it is well, Christians, if we have not to repent of our presumptuous sins!

Lord, deal not with us according to our deserts. Repent-young man, young woman, and save yourselves, in after life, the bitterness of shame and remorse. Repent, ye of mature age; the devotion of the vigor of your days will be most acceptable to God. Repent ye, the period of whose

• Office of Baptism. ' Philip. ii. 5.

m Ibid. iv. 8.

course must be just terminated; for to you the last hour of mercy has come.

"God commandeth men every where to repent." Life is uncertain. Death may arrest us when we think not that he is near. Judgment may overtake us in the midst of our iniquities.

Brethren-to some of you this may be the last warning. To all of you, if ye repent not, it will rise up against you at the last day, and condemn you-condemn you to misery without end.

SERMON XXI.

DISREGARD OF THE CALLS TO REPENTANCE. [FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT.]

EZEKIEL Xviii. part of the 30th verse.

Repent and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.

WHAT patriarchs and prophets, and the preachers of righteousness in every age, proclaimed to a guilty people; the Church at this holy season, addresses to you. 66 Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions, so iniquity shall not be your ruin."

It was the voice by which Christ and his apostles commenced the preaching of the great plan of reconciliation; and by which his ministers must expect to make this plan effectual in the salvation of the world.

But how inconsiderable is the fruit of their labors! From day to day, and from year to year, the

calls to repentance are urged; and urged almost in vain. Among the great mass of sinners (and alas! there is no man that liveth and sinneth not) how few are the individuals who living in a state of open sin, are awakened and reclaimed; or who, already engaged in the work of repentance, are excited to more vigorous and unremitted efforts for that universal holiness, in which the perfection of repentance consists.

What are the causes why the calls to repentance are disregarded?

I. Many do not think these calls applicable to themselves.

II. Many regard these calls as momentary ap peals to their imagination and passions, and not designed to produce any permanent effect.

III. Many regard the threats by which these calls to repentance are urged as visionary and fanatical.

IV. Many, through the force of habit, become insensible to these calls.

V. Many regard these calls only for a time, and postpone carrying them into effect.

VI. The principal number disregard the calls

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