be rejected. These are the Saviour's own words, "Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out." And this is his invitation, Come unto me, all ye that labour, and are heavyladen, and I will give you rest."

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Do not say to yourself, "Perhaps I am not among the number of the saved." But say this, "I am a lost sinner, and without Christ I must be lost for ever. He has shed his blood for such as I am. I will go and ask Him to save me-me, who am the chief of sinners-me, who have so long despised Him! I will go and cast myself on his mercy." And, brethren, I promise this, that no one who thus earnestly flies to Christ can be lost.

But, secondly, there is a question which is deeply interesting to us all

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how shall we know that our names are written in heaven?" I can fancy

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that some of you are ready to exclaim, Oh, what happiness, if we could know that our

names were among the saved, registered among the blest, who shall share God's presence for ever! How little should we crave after the blessings of earth, if we could only be assured, that we were written among God's elect in the Lamb's Book of Life!"

Every

And can we know this? true believer in Christ has a hope, be it strong or weak, that his name is written there. At times he believes that he is the object of God's electing love; he clings to Christ, and rejoices in his union with Him. But at other times, a cloud may seem for a while to hide God from him, his hope is well nigh gone. Still, I believe, the

more we advance in grace, the stronger is our hope. Our faint hope is exchanged for a strong confidence, and a humble, but believing, assur

ance.

In answer to the question, "How may we know that our names are written in heaven?" I reply that such an assurance is only granted to those, who have a true and lively faith, and are living very near to God. Hear what the Apostle John says, "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself." 1 John 5. 10. And again, "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have

eternal life." Verse 13.

This at least is clear, that no man who is living an ungodly life has any ground for believing that his name is

written in heaven. None will be gathered into their Father's presence above, but those who have been fitted for it here. The heart must be changed now, the love of God must be felt, the work must be begun in the soul, or, be assured, there will be no heaven for us.

In short, my dear brethren, do you feel that the work of the Spirit is going on within you? Is your heart touched and melted by the constraining love of Christ? Is it your wish to devote yourself to Him? Do you love his people? Is his word your daily food? Is prayer your comfort? Are his sabbaths your delight? Then you may hope, you may believe, you may rejoice, that your name is written in heaven!

But, thirdly, this truth ought to

keep God's people very humble. It reminds them that they owe everything to the unchanging love of God. What were we all by nature? Born in sin, and the children of wrath! And if we are anything different now-if, whilst many are loving sin, and hastening on to everlasting ruin, we see things differently-then "who made us to differ?" St. Paul himself says, in the fulness of his heart, "By the grace of God I am what I am." 1 Corinthians 15. 10.

I am sure that this is just what every Christian man among us feels. He is ready to say, "Once I was a traveller on the broad road. And there, if left to myself, I should have wandered on; but the Lord in mercy turned my steps, and led me by his grace into a better path. He took me by the hand. He drew me with the