Page:Memoir of the Reverend David Wilson (2).pdf/17

 to him. The works ascribed to those on the right hand, show, that love to Jesus is the grand feature of their character, the governing principle of their conduct: And this love arises from the right knowledge and faith of his name. The want of these works, on the part of those on the left hand, manifests them to have been, when in the world, such as neither knew, believed in, nor loved the Saviour!

This leads us directly to the reasons of their respective sentences.—The one class belong to Christ, the other are none of his. The one have built their hopes upon him, and they are not disappointed; the other have trusted to refuges of lies, and these are now swept away. The one are his brethren, the other his enemies.

Reader, dost thou believe on the Son of God? the question is important; for 'he that believeth, shall be saved; he that believeth not shall be damned.' Have you ever duly considered the end for which he came into the world, the dignity of his character, and the nature and perfection of his work? He came into the world, he himself says, 'to seek and to save that which was lost,' Luke xix. 10. 'His name was called, because he was to save his people from their sins,' Matt, i. 21. He is a Divine Saviour—'Immanuel, God with us,' Matth. i. 22, 23—'God manifest in the flesh' 1 Tim. iii. 16—2Jehovah our righteousness," Jer. xxiii. 6.—He who rejects him, rejects at once the counsel and the work of the eternal God.

In order to save his people from their sins, the eternal 'Word was made flesh, and dwelt amongst men,' John i. 14. By his perfect obedience, the spotless righteousness of his character, he magni-