in the gall of bitterness and under the bond of iniquity—­dead in trespasses and sins—­treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath.  Nothing short of utter blindness of mind can be insensible to the glory of the Gospel—­nothing but entire depravity of heart can render its doctrines offensive—­and nothing but the most obdurate impenitency can resist the melting influence of a Saviour’s dying love.  It is utterly impossible, that a scornful neglect or disregard of the preaching of the cross should exist, without fearful guilt and imminent danger.  All those, among the hearers of the gospel, who will finally be children of wrath, are now characterized by such guilt.  And all the lost spirits in the world of wo, who once enjoyed the offers of mercy, cherished the same fatal feelings towards the plan of redemption.  It was foolishness to them.  Many, even in this land of light, seem to be ripening for the same tremendous doom.  Whether in the ranks of open opposition, or under the false colours of pretended regard, the deadly symptom is upon them—­a settled disgust and aversion to the preaching of the cross.

Say not, ‘It is no matter what a man believes, provided he is sincere.’  God has settled this question.—­“Because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved; God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie; that they all might be damned, who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”  Is there not then, appalling evidence, that those, who hold such preaching in contempt, occupy very perilous ground, and exhibit fearful tokens of the divine abandonment?  And especially might not the angels in heaven tremble for those, who have enjoyed great light and privileges—­have witnessed rich displays of divine grace—­and have once felt a deep solicitude for their own souls—­but who now despise and hate those truths, and that cause, which they were once almost persuaded to embrace?

How clearly and terribly, my hearers, does this subject discover the ungodliness of the unrenewed heart.  Those feelings of contempt and hostility, towards what is most precious and glorious in the view of God, constitute the summit of human guilt.  That feeble worms of the dust should thus dare to sit in judgment on the divine administration, and pronounce that needless which God has declared indispensable, and call that folly which God esteems the highest wisdom, is not merely presumptuous;—­it is inexpressibly impious.

How resistless is the evidence, hence arising, of the necessity of an entire change of heart—­an entire change of feeling—­to prepare men to dwell with God.  No wonder then, that our Lord should declare with such emphasis, Ye must be born again, or ye cannot see the kingdom of God.

I beseech you, fellow sinners, lay these things seriously to heart.  Do any of you habitually hear the preaching of the cross with heartless indifference—­with a light and trifling temper?  Beware, lest your heart become fatally hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.