II. Why they are only near.

The reason is not because of anything apart from themselves. The

Christian gospel offers immediate entrance into the Kingdom, and all

the gifts which its King can bestow, to all and every one who will. So

that the sole cause of any man's non-entrance lies with himself.

We have spoken of failure to follow out truths partially grasped, and

that constitutes a reason which affects the intellect mainly, and

plays its part in keeping men out of the Kingdom.

But there are other, perhaps more common, reasons, which intervene to

prevent convictions being followed out into their properly consequent

acts.

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