you free, then," and then only, "shall ye be free indeed!" Do ye know what it is to have the Spirit of the Lord-to be free from condemnation, from legal bondage, from the supremacy of sin, from the love of the world, from the fear of man, from the fear of death? Or are these things strange to you; and do you display your ignorance of, and indifference to them, by a life of ungodliness-intemperance—impurity—vanity—and frivolity? The truth which is delivered in the text is of the deepest moment to you. If you die without the Spirit of the Lord, by which the children of God are liberated, and sealed unto the day of redemption, you are lost for ever!— everlasting chains of darkness are forged for all such-and the prison of hell is opened for such-and the companionship of devils is determined for such!! But oh! my fellow sinners, behold the unsearchable riches of divine love, which proclaims the way of libertythe opening of the everlasting doors of unfailing mercy. Behold Him who led captivity captive," whose triumphant entry into the everlasting mansions is thus celebrated in strains of seraphic ecstacy-"Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty-The Lord mighty in battle." (Ps. xxiv. 7, 8.) Thou art the King of glory O Christ! Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father! Jesus has received gifts for men, yea even for the rebellious, that the "" Lord God might dwell among them." (Ps. Ixviii. 18.) He has redeemed sinners by his blood-he has made atonement for their transgressions-he has made peace by his cross-he has slain the enmity-suffered the just for the unjust_brought in everlasting righteousness!! God the Spirit has borne testimony to Jesus as the Saviour of the lost. And the Father has annexed his promise to the testimony, and the son has added his, and the Spirit himself confirms his own, that whosoever believeth it, is eternally free. "The perfect law of Liberty" which is the gospel, brings liberty nigh to every one who hears it—and this gospel, when believed, is the law of the Spirit of life, making us free from the law of sin and death!" (Rom. viii. 2.) The trumpet of the Jubilee is sounded--Liberty is proclaimed—the acceptable year of the Lord is preached. And now whosoever heareth, let him know that God is glorious in holiness, inflexible in justice, unchangeable in truth, ineffable in love, while he gives pardon to the guilty, and liberty to him who believeth in Jesus. Though we be tied and bound with the chain of our sins, he is able to "take the prey from the mighty and to deliver the lawful captive;" (Isai. xlix. 24.) "He is able to save to the uttermost, every one that cometh unto God by him." Freely as his daily mercies of the air and light, does He announce deliverance-and faithfully, as freely, will he give deliverance to every one "who cometh unto God by him." But more-He has not left us in doubt whether he shall succeed in delivering or notfor he saith-"All that the Father giveth me shall come to me." (John vi. 37.) And again" Thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.” (Isai. xlix. 25.) : AMEN, and AMEN! FINIS. May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart be always acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer. Redeemer. Amen. |