SERMON VI.

BY ELIZABETH ROBSON.

DELIVERED AT ROSE STREET MEETING, NEW-YORK. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1ST, 1826.

My mind has been impressed with the language of St. Paul: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also, that love his appearing." Now here is set forth, the blessed reward which was in his view, the crown of righteousness, which he had clear evidence he should receive at the end of his race, when his course was finished. And also for the encouragement of others, he declared, that it was not laid up for him only, but for all them also, who love the appearing of the Lord, the righteous Judge. And I am verily persuaded, that unless we love his appearing in our hearts, we cannot possibly

be enabled, like the apostle, to fight the good fight, and to keep the faith. And here is brought to my remembrance, another passage respecting this apostle, when he had a great trial to encounI think it was when he was going up to Jerusalem, and when he was sensible of the wicked things that would be set forth; yet, none of these things moved him: "neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." Now here he showed very clearly, where his confidence wasthat it was not in his own righteousness, nor in any thing outward, but in the arms of Almighty power. He doubtless saw, that it was not only good for him to believe in Christ as his Saviour and Redeemer, but to suffer for his name. he must have been brought into an entire willingness to suffer, for he spoke of being willing to be offered up. "For I am now ready to be of fered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."

And

Now, it appears, that he had in prospect, a death very painful to human nature; he supposed that he should be offered up, and that he must die as a murderer; but look at the confi

dence that attended him. These things are left on record, and surely they are recorded for our encouragement-that we may be animated in pursuing the right way to everlasting rest and peace; for this surely is the will of God concerning us, that we should be saved. "For he willeth not the death of him that dieth in his sins, but would, that all men should return, repent, and live;" that all men should witness the salvation and redemption that is appointed unto man, through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, whose blood was shed upon the cross, without the gates of Jerusalem, for the remission of sins. Thus, he "who knew no sin, was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." "He bore our sins, in his own body on the tree." Thus he offered up himself as a lamb, without spot, unto God; and "he ever liveth to make intercession" for us. Thus by that one offering for sin, he purchased eternal redemption for us.

Then, my friends, what will be our condemnation, alas! if we reject the offers of love and mercy through Christ, our Lord and Saviour?if any of us should be saying in our hearts after this manner," We will not that this man should rule over us." We find that so it was with the Jews; many of them said, we will not that this

man should rule over us. And we may be so in our hearts, and far away from the appearing of the Lord, the righteous judge. For, assuredly, he doth appear in the heart and maketh known his judgments there. He is a swift witness against sinful thoughts, and words, and actions, and a faithful witness and faithful reprover, according to the prophetic declaration: "Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people." "For a witness to the people"-and he doth bear witness in our hearts against sin and iniquity. And I believe there are none here, who have arrived at the age of capability, who can, on serious reflection, say that they have not felt this witness in themselves. And it is unto this just witness for God in the heart, that I desire all our attentions may be turned, that by him we too may be enabled to fight the good fight and keep the faith; for he that believeth hath the witness in himself. This is the witness that God gave concerning his son: "He that believeth on the son of God hath the witness in himself. He that believeth not God, hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his son. And this is the record: that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his son. He that bath the son, hath life; and he that hath not

the son of God, hath not life." Now, my friends, it appears clear to me, that if we have not the son, if we are not sensible of his reproofs in our hearts, it must be through our disobedience, it must be because we have not loved the appearing of the Lord, the righteous judge; but that we have turned away therefrom and disobeyed him. And it has been said, "The Lord will not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh." It is also set forth in scripture, that because "they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient." And may we not at this day, though the means of salvation, through Jesus Christ our Lord, are freely offered unto man, be rejecting his appearing in our hearts, by which we shall, in time, be given over to reprobate minds, or to those things which are not convenient? and thus we may be in a reprobate state. And I apprehend that it was unto this that the apostle alluded when he spoke in this manner: "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves: know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" Oh, how awful is this reprobate state, living as without God in the world! And without this,

what is there to look forward to? What is there

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