so that no one is precluded. But is it not said, This faith is the gift of God? It is so. But why is divine drawing necessary, to bring a soul to Christ? Merely on account of depravity of heart, and the dominion of sin. If there were any goodness left in the human heart, the bare exhibition of divine mercy in the cross of Christ, would win every soul that heard the gospel. They would more readily look to Christ, than the Israelites to the brazen serpent. But such is their pride, that they cannot bear the humiliating import of the gospel; such their love to sin, that they cannot fall in with its holy tendency; such their love to the world, that they cannot bear to leave all for Christ. God alone can conquer their impenitence, their enmity, their self-righteousness, their worldly-mindedness, and other corrupt principles. Their hearts are like adamant, harder than flint, therefore God must take away the heart of stone, and give them an heart of flesh, or they will never feel as they ought to feel, nor will they consent to God's method of salvation. Now, what can be more evidently of grace, than for God to give repentance to the impenitent; to circumcise the hearts of those who hated him without a cause, that they may love him; to draw those to Christ who would not obey his call; and to quicken those who were dead in trespasses and sins? Once

more, consider,

FIFTHLY, What the Sacred Scriptures teach, respecting the happy consequences of salvation.

"As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not." See Rom. v. 1, 2. 5. 9—11, &c. When an earthly sovereign pardons a criminal, or a rebel, it is a great thing to exempt him from punishment: but who would think of his enriching him, ennobling him, adopting him? But the salvation which is in Christ Jesus, is connected with eternal happiness and glory. Rom. viii. 16, 17. Must not this be of grace? At the same time notice,

SIXTHLY, What the Sacred Scriptures teach of the glory resulting to God from the salvation of sinners.

He

God is not degraded, but exalted, in showing mercy. is glorified in the highest. No one of his perfections is eclipsed. Justice and mercy are met together, righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Every attribute is displayed in the most harmonious lustre. And each divine person is glorified. In one of the smallest globes in the universe, where sin had prevailed in a higher degree, than in any other part of his dominions, God has exhibited his wisdom and the riches of his grace, to the astonishment and delight of all holy intelligences; so that angels learn more of God, from the transactions which have taken place here, than from all his other stupendous works.

Now, when you consider all these particulars, can you wonder at the doctrine of the text? Can you wonder that Paul should readily admit it in his own case? And never pretend that he deserved God should show more favor to him than to his tutor, Gamaliel? You know that he was a Jew, born at Tarsus, in Cilicia, but educated at Jerusalem; from whence he was probably absent during our Lord's personal ministry, but returned to that city soon after his death and resurrection. He then heard the misrepresentations of his enemies; and instead of imitating the candour of Gamaliel, he imbibed the most violent prejudices against the followers of Jesus, was accessary to the death of Stephen, headed the persecution of the Christians, and being exceedingly mad against them, haled men and women to prison, compelled them to blaspheme, and pursued them to strange cities. True, he verily thought he was doing God service; but he never alleged this as a sufficient excuse: he barely considered his ignorance and unbelief as just distinguishing his case from theirs who had committed the unpardonable sin; and instead of supposing that he found mercy for the sake of his blind sincerity, he accounted that for this cause he obtained mercy—that in him, the chief of sinners, Jesus Christ might set forth a pattern of all long-suffering to them that should afterwards believe. And here you see, he taught the Ephesians and others to ascribe their salvation, and their faith to

the same cause. And who, that knows his need of salvation, and looks for it through the atonement of Christ, and admits the necessity of divine influence to the production of repentance and faith, and considers the exalted privileges connected with salvation, and the revenue of glory that will result from it to God, can ascribe his salvation to any other cause? Or, what representation would be more encouraging to one who allows the spirituality and equity of the divine law, or the guilt and depravity of man, than the scripture doctrine of a divine Saviour, a divine Sanctifier, and salvation wholly of sovereign grace?

When my late highly respected friend intimated his desire that this passage might be improved at his funeral, he wished that grace alone might be extolled as the foundation of all his hope; he wanted little or nothing to be said of him. But I cannot forbear reminding you, that he was a practical witness to the holy tendency of the doctrine of grace. The salutiferous grace of God did evidently teach him to deny all ungodliness. And verily it had no gloomy tendency, in life or in death. They who knew him best are witnesses, and God also, how holily, and justly, and unblamably, he behaved himself among them. But I shall not enlarge on the amiableness of his Christian character, and the virtues of his life. I only would give a slight sketch of the supports and comforts of his death-bed; and that, solely with a view to the honor of divine grace, and to excite others to flee for refuge to the same Saviour.

From the nature of his complaint, his medical attendants were led to expect, till within the last few weeks of his life, that the termination would be sudden, and that, consequently, in his last hours he would not have an opportunity of manifesting the happy influence of those principles which had regulated his life. However, he not only experienced the greatest serenity and heavenly peace, while he contemplated the more distant approach of death; but he enjoyed still increasing support and consolation, as it came nearer and nearer. During the space of eight or nine days, (for so long he may be said to have been dying, since in some part or other of each successive day, his dissolution appeared to be

immediately impending,) he was enabled to exhibit a striking example of patience, resignation, and the full assurance of hope, which never seemed to suffer any interruption.

About a fortnight before these dangerous symptoms. appeared, he was visited by a young friend in the ministry, who noticed the happiness he must feel in being resigned as to the event of his illness; when he exclaimed, with great animation, "Yes, all things are mine! whether life, or death, or things present, or things to come; yea, all things are mine; for I am Christ's, and Christ is God's."

On the 8th of February, his physician left him much as he had been for some time, but on the 12th, he found he had passed a very disturbed night, and was much worse; a number of unpleasant symptoms had occurred, particularly a difficulty of breathing, which almost endangered suffocation. On entering the room, he was shocked at the change which had taken place, and at the sufferings he evidently endured. His breathing was very laborious; he sat at the foot of the bed, with his back propped up by pillows; but was so much disturbed by a feverish heat, that he could not rest his head against them for a minute, on account of the heat they imparted to the head: this produced great restlessness. On the physician's entering the room, he could not speak; he, however, inclined his head, smiled, and held out his hand. He took his seat by his side, and began to feel the pulsations of his heart and wrist. During this interval, Mr. Vernon asked him how he did, and when he had finished his examination, turned round, and with a smile on his countenance, though the difficult respiration made his articulation slow, said, "I hope that you are able to give me some pleasant tidings." The doctor at first did not apprehend the purport of his question; but soon found that the pleasant tidings he was so desirous to hear, were, that the time of his sufferings would not be protracted much longer. “I am not afraid of death," said he; "but what I am very fearful of, is, that if this sort of restlessness and suffering should continue, I may become impatient: it is that of which I am afraid." In reply, the physician assured him, that he could not continue long in such a state of suffering as he then

endured; but that it must either be relieved, or terminate fatally in a short time. "How long do you think? A week, perhaps?" "Certainly, if your breathing be not relieved, not so long." "Perhaps only a few days?" "Certainly, without relief, a very few days." At this his countenance relaxed into a smile, and he said, "I am glad to hear you say so?" laying an emphasis on the word you, as the doctor had never before so explicitly acknowledged to him his conviction of his danger. He remained silent for a moment after this, and then added, in a tone full of tenderness, and in an under voice, "It will be a hard trial for poor Mrs. Vernon, and the little boy too." Two or three hours after, his difficulty of breathing was considerably relieved; when, having been placed in an arm-chair, he again inquired respecting the probability of his not having to endure a protracted struggle; and the same assurance being given as he had received before, he uttered many expressions, indicating the calm and steady assurance he enjoyed. "It is all safe: I feel quite firm; my footing is on a rock. I know in whom I have believed." He then quoted those lines. "There we shall see his face, and never, never sin ;" and then added, "It is all grace! all grace! free grace!" He then adverted, with much animation, to Zech. iv. 7. "O what a moment," said he, "when the grand fabric of redemption is completed, and the top-stone is brought, with shoutings! Grace, grace, all grace."

February 13. One friend, who visited him, was much alarmed at the change a few days had effected. He was suffering acutely, and unable to speak aloud, but his smiles seemed full of glory; and, by the most expressive signs, he indicated to his mourning friend, that the appearance of sorrow was painful to him. When she was leaving the room, he exerted himself to speak, and whispered, "He will be very gracious to you: He will not disappoint you." After her departure, he was much exhausted; yet he loved to mention the name of his Master, and said to another of his flock, who came to see him, "Hold on, looking unto Jesus." He spoke to another, who visited him the same day, of the happy frame of his mind, and said, "It exceeds every idea