will bring you into the "glorious liberty of the children of God."

Are there any of you whose eyes the god of this world hath blinded-who have not as yet seen the light of truth, but have lived in darkness? I bring you glad tidings of recovery of sight. I am the "Sun of Righteousness;" "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth in me should not abide in darkness," but should "have the light of life." Look unto me, and ye shall be enlightened. This is "the acceptable year of the Lord;" the time is come in the counsels of the Father when these glad tidings shall be made known unto you, and I come to preach them first, and to appoint others who shall continue that preaching until the gospel of the kingdom shall have been published to all nations, and then shall the end come. Such, brethren, we may presume was, in some measure, the application which our blessed Lord Jesus Christ gave of that passage of Scripture in the synagogue at Nazareth, while "all

wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth." Now, blessed be God, this "acceptable year of the Lord," which then began, has not yet come to an end. How nearly it may be over we know not, but it is our privilege yet to proclaim to you, that "now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation." Eighteen hundred years have passed since that " accepted time" began, and the glad tidings have passed from city to city and from country to country, and we, whose forefathers were then barbarous heathens, in the distant

isles of the sea," have heard the joyful sound. Wherefore, brethren, if you desire to know what the gospel is, it is here explained to you by Christ Himself; it is glad tidings of salvation to the poor and ignorant, as well to the rich and learned, for "there is no respect of persons" with God. If you feel weary and heavy laden with the burden of sin, He invites to take his yoke upon you and

you

to learn of Him, and you shall find rest

unto your souls; if you desire true happiness here upon earth, which no care or trouble can take from you, Christ offers it to you-for He offers you peace of conscience, in the assurance that He has paid the penalty of your sins, and that in Him God is well pleased; through His merits, if you plead them and trust in them, you may be reconciled to God, for the gospel is the "ministry of reconciliation ;”* it shows how guilty sinners, such as we all must feel ourselves to be, may be pardoned and accepted in the sight of God, and made the heirs with Christ Himself of that heavenly kingdom which He hath received from the Father. The gospel is a message of peace. It offers to us who have rebelled against God, pardon and peace; "being justified by faith"† in Christ," St. Paul says, we have peace. with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." "For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the Romans v. 1.

* 2 Cor. v. 19.

middle wall of partition between us." Whereas we were at enmity with God by wicked works, by faith in Christ we are forgiven, and not only cease to be enemies, but become children of God by adoption into His family. The gospel is a message of truth. For Christ came from heaven from the fountain of truth, and spake unto men these things which He had seen and heard of God the Father. "Grace and truth," saith St. John,

came by Jesus Christ ;" and, brethren, if we pray sincerely each

sabbath day, that God would grant us "in this world the knowledge of His truth," it is in the gospel alone that we must seek it. The gospel is a message of hope. It sets before us all the hope of pardon, and gives us sure ground for that hope, even the precious sacrifice of Christ for the sins of the world. It gives us the sure and certain hope of a resurrection to eternal life through the same our Lord Jesus Christ; * Ephes. ii. 14.

† St. John i. 17.

it leaves us in no doubt or mystery; but declares expressly, that as Christ was raised from the dead by the power of God, even so, in like manner, shall we be raised with our bodies, and be presented before Him. It sets before us the hope of eternal glory in the presence of God the judge of all, and the "spirits of just men made perfect, and Jesus the mediator of the new covenant."*

Once more, the gospel brings a message which is unchangeable, and whosoever preaches or teaches any other, even though he were an angel from heaven, St. Paul twice solemnly pronounces, "let him be accursed." If you, my brethren, will listen to this gospel, it is well; but there is salvation in no other name than that of Jesus Christ. Men may see fit to disbelieve and to find fault, and may exalt themselves and their fancied merits above the truth of the gospel ; men may profess themselves unable to + Gal. i. 8, 9.

* Heb. xii. 23.