Weary and heavy laden sinners are particularly invited to the Savior.  He will not send them empty away.  As the returning prodigal was received by his father, so is every repenting sinner, by his Father in heaven.  When the prodigal resolved to return with, a “Father I have sinned—­the father saw him a great way off,” and all his bowels yearned over him—­“he had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck, and killed him”—­bid him a hearty welcome—­lavished the richest favors on him, and called all to rejoice at his return.  In like manner our heavenly Father receives the returning penitent.  This is the spirit of the parable.

Fear not then, ye who mourn in Zion.  Come empty and naked as ye are, and fall down before an offended God, with, “Father I have sinned.  —­God be merciful to me a sinner.”  Come thus to God, and cast yourselves on his grace in Christ, and his grace will be sufficient for you.  We are warranted to promise you a kind reception.

Let none think to hide their sins by excuses or palliations.  They are all open to the divine eye.  “There is no darkness, nor shadow of death where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.”  Neither let any think to atone for their sins by doings of their own.  The blood of Christ is the only atonement.  Our best services are polluted with sin.  Let us endeavor to see our sins as they are, renounce them all, and repair to the mercy of God in Christ.  There is a fulness of merit in Christ, and a fulness of mercy in God.  There we may trust and not be ashamed.

Let none be discouraged by the difficulties which lie in their way, or faint under the hardships of the cross.  If God calls us to trials he will support us under them—­yea, if we make him our hope, and are not needlessly wanting to ourselves, he will make us more than conquerors; he will make us triumphers in Christ.  But if we fear to enter the lists against our spiritual enemies or to endure ought to which we are called in the way of duty, whether it be contempt, sufferings, or loss, we shall bring greater sorrows on ourselves by shrinking back in the day of trial, than by pressing forward, and bearing all which duty requires.

Our sorrows, if we abide faithful, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel, will be only temporary; and under the pressure of them, we shall be supported by Omnipotence; but if we draw back, and refuse to deny ourselves, fainting in the day of trial, our sorrows and sufferings will be eternal, and as such as Omnipotence can only inflict!

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SERMON XXI.

The Ends of Family Institution, with observations on the Importance of Education.

Malachi ii. 15.

“And did not he make one?  Ye had he the residue of the Spirit.  And wherefore one?  That he might seek a godly seed.—­”