attention.

We cannot look into the world, we cannot examine our own hearts and lives, without seeing and feeling that all are now wicked and miserable. Whence comes this? How is it that man, once created in the image of God, should be found in the awful circumstances in which we see him? It is because he has departed from God-because he is depraved by sin.

Let us compare the former condition of man, with his present. Instead of shewing a true knowledge of his own interest, we see him seeking happiness from things utterly incapable of affording him any real and permanent advantage,-from the trifles and vanities of this lower world, or even from those sins against which the wrath of God is most loudly declared. Instead of the love of God and delight in his service, we see him disliking to retain God in his knowledge; willingly forgetful of him; gladly finding excuses for disobeying his commands, or for neglecting to render to him that tribute of worship which he requires. Instead of reverence for God, we see a disposition to disregard him, and even to treat him with open and avowed contempt. We see men disposed to idolize the creature, to love it more than the Creator, and to fix their affections upon any object, however mean

and worthless, rather than upon him. Instead of purity of conduct, and the exact regulation of all the passions and appetites, we behold men the slaves of the basest propensities. We see them prone to excess, to uncleanness, to vices, which tend to their ruin both temporal and eternal. Instead of righteousness, equity, and benevolence; injustice, selfishness, and cruelty, are predominant in their characters. Hear what St. Paul says, under the direction of divine inspiration, concerning the present condition of man by nature, and contemplate in it the effects of sin :-" Even as they did not like "to retain God in their knowledge, God gave "them over to a reprobate" or perverted "mind." He suffered them to follow the devices of their own depraved hearts: "Being "filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, "wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; "full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil "things, disobedient to parents, without under"standing, covenant breakers, without natural "affection, implacable, unmerciful. Who,

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knowing the judgment of God, that they "who do such things are worthy of death, not

'only do the same, but also have pleasure in

"them that do them." And again he says, "There is none righteous; no, not one: there "is none that understandeth, there is none that "seeketh after God. They are all gone out They are together become unThere is none that doeth good;

"of the way. "profitable.

66 no, not one.

Their throat is an open sepul"chre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips.

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Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitter"ness. Their feet are swift to shed blood. "Destruction and misery are in their ways; "and the way of peace they have not known. "There is no fear of God before their eyes.""

Perhaps some may be unwilling to assent to so very unfavourable a representation of our nature but, my brethren, we do not ground this statement on human opinion, but on the record of God; and surely it must imply an awful degree of presumption, to refuse assent to his testimony, merely because it is offensive to our pride and self-love. This is the character of man, as fallen and depraved. The image of God is lost-no trace of his holiness can be discovered; and with the image, he has lost the favour of God, and the claim to the everlasting reward of obedience: and

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2

Rom. i, 28--32. Rom. iii, 10--18.

on the contrary, is become exposed to the awful punishment which divine justice hath denounced against sin. He is now liable to multiplied sufferings, diseases, and death, in this world; and hereafter, to the bitter pains of eternal death, and to everlasting subjection to the insupportable wrath of Almighty God.

III. But, let us proceed to consider in the last place, by what means the evils introduced by sin may be removed.

Although man has thus by his departure from God, and by his multiplied transgressions against him, rendered himself totally unworthy of the divine favour-though he has forfeited his claim to any blessing at the hand of the Almighty, and justly exposed himself to the wrath of his God, and to the various miseries which are the consequence of it; still "He "hath not dealt with him according to his sins; "he hath not rewarded him according to his " iniquities;" but has entertained thoughts of mercy towards him. God, we are repeatedly told, loved the world. The very sentence upon the first transgressors, was immediately followed by the promise of a deliverer and the loving-kindness of God has been abundantly showed, by his providing a salvation

for us suitable to our circumstances; and sufficient to supply our largest necessities.

We had broken God's law, and were consequently exposed to condemnation as transgressors; a condemnation from which we could never deliver our own souls, but which was sufficient to plunge us, during eternal ages, into inexpressible and unchanging misery. The law of God denounced the sentence; his justice demanded its execution; and his almighty power stood ready to put it into force. But mercy intervened and resolved upon our rescue. A Saviour was provided. One was found capable of atoning for our guilt, able to deliver us from the curse of the law, by bearing the punishment due to our sins. The Son of God took our nature upon him. For us men and for our salvation he became man, and as man he suffered in our stead; bearing our sins in his own body 66 upon the tree." For his sake pardon may be obtained. He has removed every thing which rendered it inconsistent with the divine attributes, to forgive the transgressions of man. Everlasting blessings, and exemption from the wrath of God, and the righteous punishment of sin are now freely offered to us for his sake.

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But, we are not only guilty, we are depraved. The propensities of our nature are