a sinner in the sight of God, as well as before men. The knowledge of ourselves as apostate rebels against Jehovah, is absolutely necessary if we would worship him acceptably. An outward invocation of his name without a sight and sense of our wants, is neither to pray in truth nor sincerity, and is only to mock God with a solemn sound, while our hearts are far from him it is mere lip service, and bodily exercise, which profiteth nothing. See Matt. xv. 8. This humble worshipper was far removed from the company of these painted hypocrites. He felt the weight of his transgressions to be an intolerable burden, too heavy for him to bear; and saw himself like the publican, unworthy to lift up his eyes to heaven, when he smote upon his breast, saying, "God be merciful (or propitious) to me a sinner.' Many on account of the abhorrent views they have of themselves because of their sins, are fearfully discouraged and sorely tempted to think that they have neither part nor lot in the living Redeemer, and that they shall one day or other prove castaways. It would be well for these afflicted people to know, that he who sees the odious nature of sin, detests its polluting streams, desires to be cleansed from them in the blood of Christ, and to live to the glory of God, is undoubtedly under a saving work of grace, though at present, through the weakness of his faith, and the strength of inbred corruption, he cannot enjoy the comfort and blessedness of his state. "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted."

"He that

goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." Recollect the light of nature, or human agency, can no more convince a person of his sins, than it can convert or turn him from his sins unto God. It belongs as much to the province of the Holy Spirit to shew a man the depravity of his nature, and to give him to feel the plague of his heart, as it is his office in the mysterious economy of redemption to reveal the glories of Christ, and to sprinkle upon the guilty conscience of his contrite people his peace-speaking blood. "Howbeit when he the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth." "He shall glorify me; for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you." "And when he is come, he will reprove (or convince) the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." This is

the established gospel method of setting a sinner free who is tied and bound with the chain of his sins. "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." To groan under spiritual bondage, is infinitely preferable to false liberty. "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion." But when this deliverance has been accomplished, the happy soul possesses celestial freedom, though its body may be nailed to the fatal tree. Its noble and triumphant song is "Come, and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul." "I will praise thee, for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation."

2. The penitent thief was deeply sensible, that had God left him for ever to perish in his sins, he would have been just, and that his situation was so deplorable that vain was the help of creatures. When he affectingly cried, "Lord, remember me," he desired that he would extend to him, the chief of sinners, his sovereign, free, and rich mercy. This was his only plea. He knew that he had violated the laws of God and man, and deserved to be cut off from the land of the living, and die eternally. "He saw his kinsfolks and companions stand aloof," Ps. xxxviii. 11. unable to help him, had they been willing; and if they at all remembered him, it would be to consider him a reprobate character, and a disgrace to society. The sword of justice was removing him from the face of the earth in the midst of his days; and his former wicked associates in crime, on this account would be glad to forget him, lest a recollection of his ignominious end should remind them of their own deserved punishment, and imbitter the short pleasures of sin by a serious consideration of its dreadful wages-death, temporal and eternal. Christ then is the last and never-failing refuge of a ruined and convinced sinner. This poor penitent could adopt the language of the Psalmist, as remarkably suitable to his forlorn condition-" I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me; refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. I cried unto thee, O Lord; I said, thou art my refuge." Ps. cxlii. 4, 5. Had he looked to all the hosts of heaven, and cried unto them to relieve and save him, they would have replied, O perishing sinner! in us there is no salvation. "There is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved," but by Jesus

Christ. "This is a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father." Phil. ii. 9, 10, 11. To this Almighty Person he was enabled to look; he "looked unto him and was lightened, and his face was not ashamed." See Ps. xxxiv. 5.

Though the Son of God is such a merciful and incomparable Saviour, such is the native pride of the human heart, and the enmity of the mind against salvation by grace, that not one of the children of Adam will go to him for mercy until pressing necessity brings them. It is only the needy and defenceless that gladly "embrace the rock for want of a shelter." The poor in spirit, who are too much impoverished to bring money in their sacks, and the weak, who cannot bring in their basket, a price. through the labour of their hands, therefore they gratefully receive the corn of heaven, "without money, and without price." These are divinely nourished, and satisfactorily fed upon the finest of the wheat. Their troubled and fainting hearts rejoice to hear that Christ Jesus came into the world, according to the Father's eternal purpose, to seek and to save that which was lost; that the provisions of the gospel were prepared for them and them only. The Master of the feast kindly invites the hungry to partake of the bread of life, and freely to receive this immortal food, saying, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever." "He that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled."

3. He believed that the God-man Redeemer, the glorious Person he had just been reviling, was the only sure hiding-place and safe retreat from the impending storm of a violated law, and the unutterable pain of the wrath to come, and that he would afford shelter and protection to all those who trusted in his blood and righteousness. To this end, he earnestly applied to him for mercy, crying, "Lord, remember me. He was well convinced that he should be for ever secured from all danger, in the protecting arms of his invincible power and love.

Ever bear in mind, my respected hearers, that spiritual

prayer is preceded by faith-"How then shall they call on him, in whom they have not believed?" "Without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Heb. xi. 6. True faith views Christ as the only and all-sufficient Saviour, without the aid of good works, or the intervention of saints or angels. This self-convicted perishing sinner fled directly to Christ for salvation. His faith beheld him, the allsufficient Saviour, without the co-operation of good works, or the interposition of saints or angels. It is worthy of remark, that he did not look to a popish mediatrix, mediator, or intercessor. He did not pray, 'O blessed mother of God! O sacred Virgin Mary, remember me! O St. Gabriel, holy angels, and all ye heavenly powers, remember me! nor did he cry, O St. Peter, remember me!' As it regards poor Peter, he could not remember himself, excepting with detestation and abhorrence, for his perfidious and treacherous conduct to his suffering and unchangeable Friend. After having thrice denied him, "the Lord turned and looked upon Peter; and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out and wept bitterly." This humble penitent was better taught than thus to idolize the creature. His prayer was directed to the Lord, who alone was able and willing to save to the uttermost, from all evil to all good; and to receive his deathless soul into paradisaical happiness. This spiritual desire, like all the prayers of God's regenerated family, was indited in his heart by the Spirit of Christ, and was nothing less than the fervent breathings of the new-born babe of grace.

Further, God may be said to remember the wicked in fearful visitations of his anger, when he marks their transgressions, and punishes them for their sins. All those who know the immaculate purity of God's law, and the exceeding sinfulness of their nature, deprecate this remembrance, importunately praying, "enter not into judgment with thy servant, for in thy sight shall no man living be justified." "If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?" But he remembers his people in a gracious manner, when he takes special notice of them, and delights to do them good, reveals the secrets of his heart, and makes known to them by his

word and Spirit, that they are the peculiar objects of his love, tender regard, and never-failing faithfulness; when he accomplishes his purposes, fulfils his promises, and remembers his holy covenant. "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him, and he will shew them his covenant." Thus he mercifully remembered Noah, for he found grace in his sight, when he saved him and all his household from the inundation of his righteous vengeance, which buried the ungodly world in a watery grave. The same kindness he shewed Lot when he remembered his faithful servant Abraham, and delivered him and his two daughters from the fierce and dreadful tempest of brimstone and fire which consumed the wicked Sodomites. From the days of Noah, when the set time to remember Zion is come, he points to the bow in the cloud, an emblem of his inviolable faithfulness, and saith, "O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me." When his people think upon his name with delight and admiration, trust in him in a time of trouble, or look to their covenant God for pardon, peace, holiness, and all other spiritual blessings, rest assured it is because he thinks upon them, and has indelibly written their names in the book of his remembrance. In these respects, the penitent thief humbly besought the Son of God to remember him. As if he had said, "do not, mighty Saviour, forget me in the awful extremity of my distress, but think upon me for good; for out of the belly of hell I cry unto thee; O Lord, remember me according to thy goodness, and the multitude of thy tender favours."-" Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me, for thy goodness sake, O Lord."-My sins and aggravating transgressions have reached unto the heavens, but thy mercies are above the heavens. My calamitous case is helpless in itself, and far beyond the reach of creatures, and absolutely desperate to all but thyself. If thou, gracious Redeemer, deign to remember me, I care not if friends forsake and finally forget me; my drooping spirit and dying heart "shall rejoice in the Lord, and joy in the God of my salvation." Yea, glorious Saviour, though flesh and heart are now failing, and in a few moments my sorrowful eyes will be closed in death, and the pomps and grandeur of this perishing world will for ever disappear, yet will I fear no evil," for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff