_there_, they think, with trembling, of _the great Judgment day of all mankind_, and of the _more awful consequences_ of condemnation _then_. And where in the universe can they behold a more true and dreadful representation of the 'house of wo and pain,' than is constantly before their eyes? To _one_ class of religious motives, then, they must be peculiarly sensitive--_the terrors of the Lord must make them afraid_. They _cannot resist them_. Feeling as they _must_, and surrounded as they _are_, the truths of God come home to their consciences, _emphasized by their own experience_, and they might as well change their dungeon into a palace, and exchange their misery for the bliss of cherubs, as to resist these _sacred thunders_ of the Eternal, _thus awfully sounded in their ears_. With me this is neither idle declamation nor uncertain theory, for I speak from observation and experience, declaring only what I have seen and felt; and could you associate my observation and experience with your own, you would believe my testimony. But you need not depend either on my declarations or reasonings on this subject; I am willing to throw the question into the scale of acknowledged facts. Facts cannot lie, and we will view our subject in the light of those connected with the ministry of Christ and his apostles. As he went about doing good, who followed most cheerfully in his train? _Publicans and sinners._ Who were the most remarkable subjects of his saving power? _Mary Magdalene_, whom he had dispossessed of _seven devils_, and a _hardened criminal expiring on a gibbet_. Why was he styled the friend of sinners? why did he declare the object of his mission to be to call sinners to repentance? and why did he rebuke the grumblers at his associating with those who were reputed the lowest and vilest of the human race, by saying, 'The whole need not a physician but they that are sick?' Because _sinners_, as they _most need_, so they most _feel their need_ of, and most _cordially embrace the salvation of the gospel_. And who were the first to espouse the cause of Christ, after his resurrection? They whose hearts had festered with _malice_, whose hands were red with _innocent blood_--those very men who had been the _betrayers_ and _murderers_ of the Just and Holy One. One fact more and I shall have done with this topic. Who is that furious and determined individual, commissioned by the chief priests, and, Jehu like, speeding his way to Damascus? The same _dark and wicked spirit_ who had _assisted in the murder of Stephen_, who had _thirsted for the blood of the saints_, and had _dragged many of them to prison_. The _same spirit_, too, who became a _chosen vessel of the Lord_ to bear his name to the gentiles, and _build up the faith_ which he had labored to demolish, and who, in the most affecting and solemn terms declared himself to have been the _chief of sinners_.