to display the wonders of redeeming love to an admiring universe.-"To the intent that now unto principalities and powers in heavenly places, might be known by the church, the manifold wisdom of God." If it be asked, why did the Son of God become incarnate? In the repentance of a lost sinner, you have the answer. "He came to seek, and to save that which was lost." "He came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Why did the angels announce to the shepherds the news of his birth, and sing 66 'glory to God in the highest?" In the repentance of a lost sinner, you have the answer. Nor is this joy confined to angels. The Lord himself rejoices. Why did the Son of God leave the bosom of his Father, condescend to be born in a mangerand to suffer and die on the cross? In the repentance of a lost sinner, you see the glorious object which he had in view, accomplished. For this he bled, and died. Here he sees of the travail of his soul, and is satisfied. This is the fruit of his toil, his shame, his sufferings, and his death. "Who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame." Every Christian, in his turn, has occasioned this joy in heaven. 5. The repentance of every sinner, when first discovered, is the cause of new joy. The joy of angels is most sensibly felt every time one more is added to the company of the redeemed. The ninety and nine already redeemed, seem to be forgotten, when with wonder and joy, they behold their new companion with whom they expect to dwell forever. Could we know, as well as angels do, the reality of a sinner's repentance, we should know better how to rejoice. The 3SC450R tidings of his repentance, must be received by Christians on earth, with mingled emotions. They "rejoice with trembling." While they delight in each other, the news that a soul is converted to God, excites in them peculiar joy. For a time, they seem to forget themselves and each other. They cannot forbear to assemble, and rejoice together on the occasion. And well they may, for Christ himself rejoices; and he says unto his disciples "rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost." 6. What must have been the hearts of the scribes and pharisees who stood murmuring, while converted publicans and sinners drew near to Christ, to hear the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. While angels in heaven were rejoicing over these sinners, there they stood murmuring. What a contrast! Angels, and the Saviour himself, and all holy beings were rejoicing over the repentance of these sinners, but they stood murmuring and finding fault, and saying, "This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them." How must their conduct have appeared to angels, and to God! My hearers, had you been present on this occasion, what part would you have acted? Would you have rejoiced at the sight of sinners flocking to the Saviour, and weeping for their sins? Or would you have joined with those that murmured? Bring the subject home to your hearts. How would you like to see sinners flocking to Christ in this place? Are your hearts prepared to welcome a scene like this? Scenes similar to this, may now be in the recollection of many present. At least, you must have heard of the conviction and conversion of sinners--some of them perhaps of your own acquaintance. And how did the news affect your hearts? Did you hear the news with angelic joy, or with sullen sadness? I would put the question to the consciences of all my hearers. How does the subject of the conviction and conversion of sinners affect your hearts? It is a subject in which God, and Christ, and the Holy Spirit, and saints and angels, are all interested. All heaven is moved at the repentance of one sinner. And my hearers, if your hearts are not deeply interested in this subject, it is because you have no claims to the Christian character. Beware of deceiving yourselves in a matter of such infinite moment. If you cannot rejoice in the repentance of sinners, you have none of the spirit of Christ. If you cannot rejoice at the repentance of other sinners, you have never yet repented of your own sins. Your hearts are not right in the sight of God. For those who die with such hearts, there is no happiness, and no heaven hereafter. If such tidings vex the heart, and grate on the ear now, and if you would fain fly from such a scene, whither can you go at the solemn hour of exchanging worlds? Can you enter heaven, and be happy there? Heaven is filled with this joyful theme. There the tidings of the conversion of every penitent on earth will be told. And every saint, and every angel that sings in glory, will proclaim it in loud hozannas around the throne of God and the Lamb. There too, the story of your own repentance must be told, ere you leave this world, or you can never join the company of angels and the spirits of just men made perfect. To all my impenitent hearers in this assembly, let me say-You have seen what a lively interest angels take in the repentance of one sinner. Will there ever be joy in heaven over your repentance? Wherever the gospel is preached with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven, there angels are hovering round to witness the effects. "Which things the angels desire to look into." Yes, angels attend on our worshipping assemblies, to witness the effect of a preached gospel. "Invisible to mortal eyes they go, And mark our conduct, good or bad, below." Sinners, these heavenly messengers are now waiting to carry back the tidings of your repentance, to the courts above. And shall they stoop, and gaze, and wait in vain? Have you no tears to shed for your sins? "O ye angels hovering round us, Waiting spirits, speed your way, Tidings bear without delay; Glad the message will obey." SERMON VII. The Parable of the Prodigal Son. And he said, a certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, Father give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land, and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citi zen of that country; and he sent him into his field to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat; and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, how many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger. I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son; make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; hs was lost and is found. And they began to be merry.-LUKE XV: 11-25. and put a ring on his It will be my object to give a plain, practical exposition of this parable for the benefit of all whom it may concern. This is the third parable spoken by our Saviour on the same occasion. The two others show what God does, or the part which he acts, in the recovery of the lost sinner to himself. This is designed to show the criminality of the sinner, and the nature of true conversion. Our Lord always spoke directly to the point, |