visitest him? for, where is the man living, be he the best that ever trod the earth, who has deserved at the hands of God the very smallest of the least of the numberless blessings, which He so freely allows us all to enjoy? But the forgiveness of our sinsthe pardon of our offences-the comforting assurance, that through the righteousness and death of Christ, sinners may be saved— that even after repeated sins we need not despair of mercy-that we may all, if we heartily strive, be as acceptable to God as if we had never done wrong;-how ought the knowledge of this glorious truth to fill our souls with thankfulness, with joy and love! For, do but suppose for a moment that the case were otherwise. Suppose that we knew not that Jesus Christ had come into the world to bear the burden of our sins; suppose that it had not been declared to us in the word of God, who cannot lie, that, for the precious death of His spotless Son, He will look with mercy upon all who truly turn to Him, in sorrow for their sins; what would be our condition? more miserable by far than that of the beasts

of the field for, they have no souls to be uneasy about, no thoughts to trouble them, nor consciences to give them shame.

I speak not now to those wretched men, who have suffered their hearts to become hardened through the deceitfulness of sin-who pass through the world as if they too had neither souls nor conscience, not mourning for their sins, but daily adding to the number of them who glory in their shame, who mind earthly things: not feeling that they are sinners, nor desiring to return to God, nor ever thinking of a day of judgment, and another world. I speak to those, whose number God grant may be daily increased, both here and every where, who do feel the burden of their sins: who are ready to confess, and are not offended to be told, that they are unworthy and unprofitable creatures: who love God for his goodness: who feel now, whatever they have thought before, that this world is not the place to set their affections on; whose hearts are fixed on heaven, and whose earnest desire it is that they may be saved. To such as these I speak and I ask them to consider what

would have been their condition, but for the blessed assurance of the forgiveness of sin in Jesus Christ? without our Saviour, what would any of us be? what happiness could this world afford us, if we knew that it was to be changed at last, as we have deserved it should be, for a world of misery? what pleasure could we find in the enjoy ments and blessings of this life, if we were obliged to remember every hour, that, after a few short years more, everlasting punishment awaited us? or, what hope would there be to us, in the midst of afflictions and sorrows, if we knew not, that, let the worst happen, there is a better life opened to us, in which affliction shall all be forgotten, and sorrow shall be felt no more? or, what would there be to save us from despair, to comfort or support us when sin weighs heavy upon our soul, if we knew that our heartiest repentance would be of no use to us, and that all our prayers and desires to get to heaven, were too late; that, because we had sinned, it was impossible? Miserable indeed, dark and dreary would the life of man be here on earth, if his con

dition were such as this: but, thank God, it is far otherwise. We know that, for Christ's sake, He still loves us, cares for us, and pities us; that, in spite of all our wanderings, He is still our shepherd, willing to lead us, when we are willing to be led, to the green pastures of peace, and beside the waters of comfort. We know, that He "desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn from his wickedness and live; that He will receive us with favour and love whenever we go back to Him, being always ready to forgive us what is past, for the sake of His beloved Son, the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world.

The words of my text, and the history from which they are taken, are well suited to increase our belief in these things; and to give hope, comfort, and encouragement to a repentant sinner's soul. He cannot hear them, without hoping that that gracious Being, who spoke them to one poor sinner, will also in the last day speak them unto him; they comfort him, because they shew that Jesus Christ is mighty to save;

and, as they prove how ready He was to shew compassion to the afflicted, and pardon to the faithful, they encourage us all to be His servants, that He may shew the same to ourselves.

As Jesus entered into the city of Capernaum, behold, they brought to Him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed. The palsy, as you well know, is a disease of the most distressing kind, which brings down the strength of the strongest man to the weakness and helplessness of a child in a moment it is a disorder which makes those who are afflicted by it wholly unfit and unable to keep company with their fellowcreatures, or to go about any of their usual occupations and employments. It cuts us off in an instant from every enjoyment of life, and makes us a burden both to ourselves and to those around us, thus causing both pain to the body and trouble to the mind. I have thought proper to say as much as this for the purpose of shewing how very great a mercy and delivery it was to be at once set free from so shocking a state of suffering.