Thus it is with the affairs of the soul: men are aware that they must die, but it is uncertain when; that judgment follows, but it is distant; and that they cannot stand in the judgment, but they conceal from themselves the extent of their condemnation. Therefore the redemption which is in Christ Jesus is nothing to them: they have a general notion of his religion, but as a Saviour to themselves, as a Redeemer of their own souls, as a Deliverer from wrath which they are themselves about to feel,-as all this, they are unacquainted with him. But when a view of the nearness of death, and of their own sinfulness, and of the strictness of judgment, is brought clearly before them through the influence of the Holy Spirit and the agency of God's word, then they are ready to close with the offer of the gospel, and to say, Save, Lord, or I perish! Be thou my shelter from the storm, my refuge from God, against whom I have offended! "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth thee;" seeth thee as the anchor of my soul, and the hope of my salvation.

When the heart vents itself in thoughts and prayers like these, the gospel is fermenting and spreading through the soul, and promises soon to leaven the whole lump.

But we must not suppose that the whole is yet leavened. There may be a strong sense of sin, and a true sorrow for it, and a glad feeling of the mercy of God in Jesus Christ: but much is still to be done; the image of God is begun, but not finished; the change in the heart has commenced, but must be gradually completed by the inward renewing of the

Spirit, and the daily teaching of God's word. By degrees the Christian is enabled to set his affection on things above; to walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit; to mortify his corrupt desires; to keep under his besetting sins; to deny himself, and take up his cross, if need be, in obedience to his Saviour. This must be done and continued with careful soberness, with daily self-examination, with habitual prayer, till by degrees the whole is leavened, and made fit for the Master's use, as a vessel for his service here, and his glory hereafter.

This subject affords an useful opportunity for examining whether the principles you profess have affected your hearts, and are working there. Leaven works in what it is mixed up with, till it produces a change: such a process must be going on in the heart of every Christian, till he is "renewed in knowledge, in righteousness, in holiness, after the image of Him who created him." The renewal will not be complete in the present world; the process will be continued during the whole of life; but no one should be satisfied, whose conscience does not bear him witness that it is begun.

1 Col. iii. 10.

LECTURE LI.

JESUS GIVES A WARNING

THAT THE STRAIT

GATE MUST BE ENTERED EARNESTLY AND IN TIME.

LUKE Xiii. 22—30.

22. And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.

23. Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,

24. Strive to enter in at the strait gate:1 for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

In regard to this passage, we must carefully observe that our Lord is not speaking of anything which takes place in the present world, but of what will take place at the last day. No one who here, in this the acceptable time, strives to enter in at the strait gate, seeks first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, no such one shall strive in vain. The language of Scripture is, "Ho ye, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters;" "whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely." In this the earnest pursuit of earthly things and of heavenly things so greatly differs: the desire of earthly things is commonly disappointed; the desire of things above is never left unsatisfied. Many, there is cause to fear, will be excluded at the last from the narrow gate of heaven; but not one will say, Lord, I have prayed, but thou didst not receive my prayer;

1 See Matt. vii. 13.

Lord, I believed, but thou didst reject my faith; Lord, I strove to subdue the fleshly lusts which warred against my soul, but Satan prevailed over me. In the appointed path, through him who is the way, the truth, and the life, none shall seek to enter in, and not be able.

But very different will be the case at the gate of heaven. The Jews were now expecting to enter there, because they were the children of Abraham ; and they were taught, and willing to believe, that all the chosen nation, the peculiar people, should have a place in the world to come. Jesus warns them that they were deceiving themselves with false hopes; that many shall find themselves mistaken at the last, in expecting to enter the kingdom of heaven without the needful qualifications. Hear his words.

25. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are :

26. Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.

27. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

28. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust

out.

29. And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.

30. And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.

Speaking after the manner of men, the parable describes men who are shut out from a place of happiness, or a place of safety, which they have neglected to enter in time. The storm comes on, the danger is at hand, they seek refuge in vain. So it was in the days of Noah: he entered into the ark; the deluge increased; destruction threatened. Many, no doubt, would now have been eager to take the same resource. But we read, "The Lord shut him in:"2 the ark was no longer open; because He had called, and they refused; he had stretched out his hand, and no man regarded; and now when "desolation came on them as a whirlwind," he shall answer, I know you not.

It seems, however, that these plead a reason why they should still be admitted; Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. This was certainly the case with the Jews of that time: they had eaten and drunk in his presence; they had been of the company when he had said, "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." They had heard him correct the errors of their nation, and teach them, not as the scribes, but as one having authority. He had preached in their streets; and here was their sin, they would not listen to his teaching; they would not leave their iniquities; they ascribed his miracles to Satan; they would not have him to reign over them; they would not come unto him, that they might have life.

The people of this land will say, Here, at least,