and caufe he has difhonoured, can finally fcreen him from the full effect of that terrible denunciation-Wo to the idol Shepherd that forfaketh [or neglecteth] the flock: The fword fhall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: His arm fhall be clean dried up, and his right eye fhall be utterly darkened *.

Zech. xi. 17.

SER

SERMON

REST FOR THE WEARY.

XIV.

MATT. xi. 28.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you reft.

HICH fhall we admire moft; the

WH

majefty, or the grace, confpicuous in this invitation? How foon would the greateft earthly monarch be impoverished, and his treasures utterly exhaufted, if all, that are poor and miferable, had encouragement to apply freely to him, with a promise of relief, fully answerable to their wants and wishes! But the riches of Christ are unfearchable and inexhauftible. If millions of millions of dif treffed finners feek to him for relief, he has a fufficiency for them all. His mercy is infi nite to pardon all their fins; his grace is infinite

VOL. I.

S

finite, to answer and exceed their utmost defires; his power is infinite, to help them in all their difficulties. A number, without number, have been thus waiting upon him, from age to age; and not one of them has been fent away difappointed and empty. And the streams of his bounty are still flowing, and ftill full. Thus the fun, his brightest material image, has been the fource of light to the earth, and to all its inhabitants, from the creation; and will be equally fo to all fucceeding generations, till time fhall be no more. There is, indeed, an appointed hour, when the fun shall cease to shine, and the course of nature fhall fail. But the true Sun, the Sun of Righteousness*, has no variableness or fhadow of turning; and they who depend upon him, while in this world, fhall rejoice in his light for ever. Can we hesitate to accept of these words, as affording a full proof of the divine character, the proper Godhead of our Lord and Saviour; fuppofing only, that he meant what he faid, and that he is able to make his promise good? Can a creature, however excellent and glorious, use this language? Can a creature difcharge the debts, *Mal. iv. 2. James i. 17.

footh

footh the diftreffes, and fatisfy the defires of every individual who looks to him? Who but the Lord God can raise up all that are bowed down, and comfort all that mourn?

Again, as is his majesty, so is his mercy. In acts of grace amongst men, there are always fome limitations. If a king proclaims a pardon to a rebellious nation, there are still exceptions. Some ringleaders are excluded. Either their crimes were too great to be forgiven, or their obftinacy, or influence, are supposed to be too great, to render their safety confiftent with the fafety of the state. But the Saviour excludes none, but those who wilfully exclude themfelves. As no cafe is too hard for his power, fo no person, who applies to him, is fhut out from his compaffion. Him that cometh to him, whatever his former character or conduct may have been, he will in no wise caft out. This glorious exercife of fovereign mercy, is no less a divine attribute, than the power, by which he created the heavens and the earth. It is the confideration of his mercy in pardoning fin, and in saving finners, which causes that

*Pal, cxlvi. 8. Ifai. Ixi, 2, $ 2

+ John vi, 37.

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