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viving message brought into the world by the prince of peace. This is the record which "God hath given of his Son."

How welcome, how reviving this, to the difcouraged, convinced finner? His very concern and fear, when proceeding upon proper grounds, arifes from a view of the infinite evil of fin, fo provoking to a holy God. But in this plan laid by divine wisdom, he fees the guilt of fin fufficiently expiated by a facrifice of infinite value. "For we are not redeemed with corruptible "things, fuch as filver and gold--but with the "precious blood of Chrift, as of a Lamb with"out blemish and without fpot *." He compares and contrafts, if I may fo fpeak, the greatnefs of his guilt with the price of his pardon. Then appears, with new and uncommon force, the greatness of this mystery of godliness, GOD manifefted in the flesh. A victim no lefs confiderable than the eternal and "only begotten" Son of God," the brightness of his Father's glory, "and the express image of his person." What is it that cannot be purchafed by this marvellous exchange? The believer fees with adoring wonder, the justice of God more awfully fevere, in "awaking his fword against the man who was "his fellow," than if the whole race of offending men had been irrecoverably loft. At the

# 1 Pet. i. 18.

fame

1

fame time he fees the unspeakable dignity and majefty of God, in his infinite and truly royal mercy, great in itself, and greater fill in the way in which it is difpenfed. "Herein is love

indeed; not that we loved God, but that he "loved us, and fent his Son to be the propitia❝tion for our fins *."

I cannot help here observing, that this falvation is fo amazing, fo wonderful in its nature, and fo far removed from any thing we know among men, that we are in danger of being put to a stand, and can fcarcely conceive it poffible. But on the other hand, when we confider that it carrieth not upon it any of the marks of human wisdom, we are naturally led to fay, "Salva"tion belongeth unto God.-His ways are not "as our ways, nor his thoughts as our thoughts." Therefore, when conviction of fin makes us feel the neceffity, and discovers the glory of our Saviour's atonement; we may both rest affured of its truth, and triumph in its power. We may fay with the apoftle Paul, "Who shall lay any "thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God

that justifieth: who is he that condemneth? "It is Chrift that died, yea rather that is rifen "again, who is even at the right-hand of God, "who also maketh interceffion for us +."

# 1 John iv, 10,

Rom. viii, 33, 346

But, "Paufe a little, my foul," faith the convinced finner, "what tidings are here? What "faith the fcripture, Who fhall lay any thing "to the charge of God's elect? Unanswerable "indeed! Happy, happy, thrice happy they, "who are the objects of God's everlafting, dif"tinguishing and electing love. But how can I be "fure that this includes, or rather doth not ex"clude me? Can I ever hope to read my name written in the Lamb's book of life?"

No. But when you confefs you cannot read any thing there in your favour, who hath authorized you to fuppose any thing there to your prejudice? Secret things belong only to God. We are not permitted to fearch, and we are not able to comprehend or explain the infinite depth of the divine councils. But do not things that are revealed belong to us? And how shall we prefume to set at variance the fecret and the revealed will of God? Is not the commiffion fufficiently extenfive? "And he faid unto them, goye "into all the world, and preach the gospel

to every creature; he that believeth and is "baptized, fhall be faved; and he that believeth << not, fhall be damned *." Is not the call unlimited and univerfal? "Come unto me, all ye "that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you reft +." "And Jefus faid unto

* Mark xvi. 15, 16.

+ Matt. xi, 28.

them,

"them, I am the bread of life; he that cometh "to me fhall never hunger, and he that believ "eth on me fhall never thirst *." "And in the "last day, that great day of the feaft, Jefus "food and cried, faying, If any man thirst, "let him come unto me and drink +."

Can you then entertain any doubt of the call reaching to you, or question your title to rest upon this rock of ages? Behold, we preach unto you Chrift crucified, a defpifed Saviour, indeed, "to "the Jews a ftumbling-block, and to the Greeks "foolishness;" but the "power of God, and "the wisdom of God for falvation to every one "that believeth." There is no guilt fo deep, but this precious blood will wash it out. No gift fo great, but infinite merit is fufficient to procure it. No nature fo polluted, but infinite power is fufficient to renew it. Shall we then any more withold our approbation, or refufe qur' confent? Shall not every sinner, burdened with a fenfe of guilt or danger, intimate his compliance and urge his claim, and fay," Thanks, thanks "be to God for his unfpeakable gift.-It is fal

vation by the death of Christ, and therefore "becoming a holy and a jealous God, with "whom evil cannot dwell. It is the fame un"changeable God, who enacted the holy law, "and who publishes this glorious gospel.-It • John vi. 35. † John vii. 37.

"is falvation by grace, otherwife no child of "Adam could have had any claim; and it is "meet that the lofty looks of man fhould be "humbled, and the Lord alone exalted in that

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day. It is falvation to the chief of finners: I

am the man. I hear my character clearly de"fcribed in the word of God. I can read my "name in the general and gracious invitation. "I will accept of the offer, I will receive and "embrace this bleffed Saviour as my Lord and my God, as my life and my all."

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Once more, perhaps the believer is ftill ftaggered, and his faith begins to fail. Aftonished at the greatness of the mercy," he believeth "not for joy, and wondereth." He is ready to fay, "Might I but hold faft this beginning ❝ of my confidence, I would not envy the

greatest monarch on earth, his throne, his "purple, or his fceptre, but would fing the "new song put into my mouth, Unto him "that loved us, and washed us from our fins "in his own blood, and hath made us kings "and priests to God and his Father, to him "be glory and dominion for ever and ever. But "alas! are not all the promises of salvation only " in favour of them that believe? Here then "the conclufion may fail. I am sensible of a "lamentable weakness and backwardness of "mind; and whilft I think I have no doubt of

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