Come see a man which told me all things that ever I did.—JOHN iv : 29.

1. The duty of preachers. It is to tell sinners their hearts. "He told me" &c.

2. Preaching which discloses the hearts of sinners, is likely to be remembered. It will be remembered and conversed upon, while other preaching, and other things are forgotten. "She saith to the men of the city, he told me" &c.

3. The preacher who tells sinners their hearts, is not likely to want for hearers. The invitation will be given, "Come see the man" &c.

4. The conversion of one sinner is likely to be followed by the conversion of others. The invitation "Come" &c. was complied with, and a great spiritual harvest followed.

Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee; the remainder of wrath thou shalt restrain.-PSALM lxxiii: 10.

All kinds of wrath

That God will cause the wrath of man to praise him, is evident,

1. From the perfections of God. The wisdom, goodness, and power of God will all lead him to do it.

2. From facts recorded in the Bible-e. g. the story of Joseph, and the crucifixion of Christ. David was kept back by Abigail, but attributes it to God. It is an important and desirable truth, that God should cause the wrath of man to praise him, &c.

Inferences.

1. The doctrine of decrees is true. If God overrules, and restrains the wrath of men and devils, so as ultimately to praise him, then he has determined to do it, and all objections against the doctrine of decrees fall to the ground.

2. The safety of God's friends. Esther vi: 13. "Begun to fall," &c.

3. The folly of opposing God. "Who hath hardened himself against him and prospered?" "No wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel against the Lord."

If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.-MATTHEW xxiii: 30.

1. Sinners may mistake the character of their own feelings. [The Jews.] At the foot of Sinai, said, would do so--soon made a calf. Peter-I will not deny thee-disciples-command fire-"Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of." Hazael-dog. 2 Kings viii: 13. Heart deceitful-who can know it? Herod said he had been desirous to see Jesus, &c.

2. Sinners may think that they are better than others, when they are in heart opposed to true religion. Text.

3. Sinners may do much, and profess great respect for religion, when they are totally opposed to true religion. Text-Build the prophets' tombs, and hate the prophets' doctrine.

.

4. When sinners say they were never opposed to

God, it is no evidence against the doctrine of total depravity.

5. If they never have seen that they were totally depraved, they have reason to fear they are still ignorant of their hearts, and have never yet been thoroughly awakened. Text.

Words betray hearts-when they most seek to cover their hearts, they most expose them—what they did. 1. Built anew, at their own expense, the tombs, &c. 2. Protested against the murder of the prophets. "If we had been in the days of our fathers," &c.— we had never consented to the silencing of Amos-the imprisonment of Micaiah-the putting of Hananiah into the stocks, and of Jeremiah into the dungeon— the stoning of Zechariah, and the mocking of the messengers of the Lord-no-not they. They would sooner have lost their hands, or their lives. What, is thy servant a dog? And yet at this very time, they were plotting against Christ, to put him to death, to whom all the prophets gave witness. They would have heard them gladly-and yet were filled with wrath against Christ. See their enmity-" Ye are witnesses against yourselves." Verse 31. Their own. words and works prove what they are-so now.

Inferences.

1. If mankind may mistake their own character, then the doctrine of total depravity may be true, though they universally deny it. Jews no love to Christ.

2. We see a reason why sinners, when awakened, find themselves to be much worse than they had ever ngined themselves to be.

We see why sinners act worse in certain circums, than they ever imagined they should.

For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. JAMES i: 7.

What man? The man who does not ask in faith.

1. Mankind are prone to think they shall receive answers to their prayers, though they do not ask in faith.

2. This is a mistake.

3. We are bound to correct the mistake. We must not let them think so. If they do, they will act accordingly.

And they all with one consent began to make excuse.-LUKE xiv: 18.

Much as unrenewed men may differ in other respects, there is one thing in which they are all agreed. When invited to come to Christ, they all with one consent, begin to make excuse. They do not say, in plain terms, that they will not come. But they plead some reason to justify themselves in refusing to come.

That we may view this matter in a clear point of light, let us look at the parable of which the text is a part.

A certain man made a great supper, and sent his servant at supper time, to

and bade many ;

say to them that were bidden, come for all things are now ready.

The servant faithful to his orders, delivered his message to one. He said to the servant, I have bought a piece of ground, and must needs go and see it. You know it is our duty to take care of our worldly interests. This I am bound to do; and this I trust, is a sufficient reason for declining the invitation. I pray thee have me excused.

The servant goes to another, and receives a similar answer. I have bought five yoke of oxen, and 1 go to prove them. I pray thee have me excused. He goes to a third. He pleads a different excuse. I have married

a wife, and therefore, I cannot come.

At length the servant begins to expostulate with them. He speaks of the expensive entertainment which his master has made. He tells them that there is sufficient for all who will come, and that every thing is prepared in the best possible manner. All things are now ready. My master is liberal. The invitation is free. Whosoever will, may come and take without money and without price. Thus he attempts to allure them.

tries a different method. fears, by pointing them to

Finding no success, he He attempts to alarm their the consequences of a refusal. He informs them that his master will be displeased, and that fearful consequences will follow. This also proves ineffectual. Perceiving that no considerations which he can present to their minds have any influence to persuade them, the servant at length speaks in plain termsyou are all so opposed to my master, that not one of you ever will come, unless my master comes and brings you. On hearing this, one of the persons invited becomes angry, and begins to dispute with the servant. Did you not tell us, says he, that we are freely invited, and that whosoever will may come?

I did, replies the servant; and so it is. You are all freely invited. Nay, you are commanded to come, and threatened with a fearful punishment if you do not come. But since my master has made such large provision, he is determined that it shall not be lost.