read, salvation is brought near, it is brought still nearer when we understand the word. And has not the word entered into your understanding? Are you not acquainted with your danger as a sinner? Do you not know what has been done to save you? And do you not know what you must do to be saved? Oh, how many have a perfect understanding of the gospel, and yet neglect the great salvation! And their doom may be written, "Ye knew your duty, but ye did it not! Ye knew your duty, but ye did it not! And poured in thunder on the ear of woe." Salvation is brought near when the word reaches the conscience. It may be read, or heard, and understood, and yet the conscience be undisturbed. Sin stupifies the conscience; it often sleeps when it should be awake. But there are times when the word enters the conscience; the sinner is convinced of his sins, and the word is fulfilled,-"I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes," Psa. 1. 21. By whatever means conscience is aroused to do its office, when the sinner feels its reproofs, salvation is then brought near, for he then feels his need of deliverance from sin and wrath. These checks and reproofs admonish of coming punishment; they point to the wrath to come, and show the sinner his need of the Saviour. How often have you felt reproved and condemned by your own conscience! It may have been in the hour of retirement, upon your bed in the silence of the night, or when you have read the Bible, or stood by the grave of a friend, or when listening to the word of God, or when lying upon a sick bed, or when reading some tract or volume; and it may be that even now conscience admonishes you of neglected duty, "Points you to the coming wrath; And warns you from that wrath to flee;" and then how near is salvation to you! The word is not only in your mouth, it is in your very soul; you feel its power there; it renders you ill at ease in your sins, and points you to the only way of peace and safety. Yes, reader, salvation is near to you. An all-sufficient righteousness is offered for your justification. A Divine Redeemer invites you to his bosom; and your own conscience cries, "Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain : escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed," Gen. xix. 17. Salvation is brought near when the word enters the heart and makes some impression there. Not only may the conscience be aroused to do its office, but the judgment may be convinced and the affections moved and excited. Men may be, and they often are, deeply impressed by the truth and Spirit of God. They may feel that they ought at once to close with Christ and become his followers. They may be almost persuaded to become Christians, Acts xxvi. 28. And have there not been periods in your history when this might have been affirmed of you? Have there not been times when you were seriously impressed, and when you were on the very point of deciding for God; on the very point of surrendering yourself to Jesus Christ, and choosing that good part which shall not be taken away? Luke x. 42. How near was salvation then! You were at the very gate of heaven! A little more, and you would have entered; a little more, and eternal life would have been yours! Oh, that little more! If you are lost, how bitter will be the reflection, that you went almost to Jesus, but not quite! almost to heaven, but not quite! O reader, your soul, your precious soul-shall it be lost? Lost, when salvation is so near! Lost, with a bleeding Saviour offered to you! Lost, with the blessed Spirit striving with your heart, and when almost persuaded to be a Christian! Oh, close with Christ now, and the place where you are will be to you not only the house of God, but the very gate of heaven! Gen. xxviii. 17. Salvation is near to you now; but by and by it will be as far from you as heaven is from hell. Soon there may be an impassable gulf between you and salvation; and you may look for salvation, but it will be far off from you, Isa. lix. 11. Oh then accept it now, when it is near! Let me admonish you that the Bible, and the religious book and tract, should be read, and the gospel heard, with seriousness and prayer. They bring life and immortality to light. They speak of the great salvation. It becomes us to be serious and prayerful when things of so great moment are brought before 66 us. Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools," Eccl. v. 1. "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching," Heb. x. 25. The day of death is approaching, and the day of judgment, and how can we be prepared to meet them, while neglecting the worship of God, or hearing the word with indifference, or treating the printed page with neglect? It is a solemn thing to live in the circumstances in which God has placed us. It is, as all admit, a solemn thing to die; but it is no less solemn to live, for we live to die, and our death will be as our life is. This is a state of trial. Means of grace are enjoyed; salvation is provided and brought near; we are surrounded by religious appliances; God has given us precept upon precept, and line upon line, Isa. xxviii. 10; monitory lessons are taught us on every hand; and every step we take is big with character and with destiny. Yet how carelessly we live! We sport on |