his work on the soul, honours the word; and so must they who would be helpful to those who are under the teachings of the Spirit. Awakened persons, and persons seriously disposed, who may not be in the enjoyment of the regular means of grace, or may not have access to a pastor or pious friend; or who, through diffidence, may fear to acquaint others with their anxiety, or ask advice; may, it is hoped, be benefited by this brief treatise. Such were my circumstances; and had such a work been put into my hands, or been within my reach, it would have been of incalculable service to me. I hope this may be useful to others in similar circumstances. That God may honour this humble attempt to serve him, is the earnest prayer of the author. W. J. M. PHILADELPHIA, MAY, 1846. CONTENTS. MAN created holy, but fell; sinful; far from righteousness; ex- posed to the wrath of God; reproaches of conscience; hell. -Needs salvation to deliver from danger; renovate his Jesus came to save; he saves from sin and the curse; takes his people to heaven.-God is holy; just; how can he forgive? -Jesus our substitute; died in our stead; made an atone- ment, to be embraced by faith.-Salvation desirable; de- livers from the guilt, pollution, and power of sin, and Brought near in the Scriptures; in the preached gospel and reli- gious ordinances; offers and invitations; the Spirit; when the word reaches our ears; our understandings; the consci- The great question; implies anxiety; desire of information.- Must feel our need of salvation; see a fitness in it; pray for a new heart; renounce self; receive and rest upon Jesus SALVATION. CHAPTER I. SALVATION IMPLIES EXPOSURE. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth.-Isaiah lii. 7. We love the bearer of good tidings. We welcome him for the sake of his message. And we prize the message in proportion to its value. So should we in the concerns of the soul and the things of God. We should greet the bearers of the gospel message. That message, though variously described, may be summed up in a single word-the sweetest word that ever met the ear of mortal mansalvation! "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that. salvation!" Isa. lii. 7. publisheth "Salvation! let the echo fly The spacious earth around; Salvation! Reader, let me spend a serious hour with you upon this theme. The subject is important. No other can equal it in importance. It is the most momentous theme to which the mind of man can be turned. It relates to the body and to the soul, to time and to eternity, to God and man, to heaven and hell. It is a question of weal or woe, of happiness or misery, and that through an endless duration. As it relates to you, it is whether shall be saved or lost; whether you you shall soar and sing with angels, or sink and suffer with ruined spirits. It is a question, too, which concerns yourself, and involves your own individual interests for both worlds, the present and the future. No evasion of the subject can diminish its importance, nor separate from it your own personal concern. In comparison with it, what is this world with all its pleasures, its riches, its honours? Nothing, and less than nothing! Go, count the stars, and they are suns, the centres of innumerable worlds; and were all these worlds |