truction--to that place of
endless torment prepared for the devil and his angels, to which Satan
is dragging you. He has even been seeking the destruction of your
body, that he might have you secure.

"O, my son, think. Has he proved a good master? What have you
found in his service? and has he not disappointed all your gayest
hopes, and fed you with husks? Have you, my son, been happy? Are you
not obliged to drive away your own reflections? I know you are. Dare
you, my son, sit down and think over all the past, all the present,
and look forward to the future with any degree of comfort? My son, you
cannot. Hear then the word of the Lord; that Lord, that merciful Lord,
who has seen you in all your rebellion, heard every profane oath you
may have uttered, seen you rioting among the sons of Belial; yet what
is his voice to you? O, my son, it is not, 'Bind him hand and foot,
and cast him into the lake that burns with fire and brimstone; where
there is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, where the worm
dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.' No, my son, the door of
mercy is still open to you; the Lord calls, 'O sinner, thou hast
destroyed thyself, but in me is thy help.' Only repent, so iniquity
shall not prove your ruin.' 'Hearken unto me, ye stout-hearted, that
are far from righteousness: I bring near my righteousness; it shall
not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry.' 'Hear, and your
soul shall live.' 'Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be
saved'--saved from hell; saved from Satan and his snare; saved from
the force of corruption in your heart.

"I do not call upon you, my poor corrupt boy, to turn from sin
and work righteousness in your own strength; this you can no more do
than the Ethiopian can change his skin; but I do call upon you to
receive the whole of God's salvation, and power to resist sin is a
principal part of it. In God's word it is said, that the Lord gave
Christ to be a covenant to the people: we have to covenant with him on
our part; we are all poor, lost, miserable creatures, I as well as
you, by nature; but the Lord Christ is God's gift to sinners. All the
other promises are made to those who have received and accepted of
this gift; but Christ himself is God's gift to sinners--to the chief
of sinners--_to you, John Graham, by name_; and the Bible says,
to as many as receive him, to them gives he power to become the sons
of God. God gave Christ to become the