Now to the enquiry already suggested,-for what mighty and equivalent purpose the Son of God, by whom all things both in heaven and in earth were created, condescended to take our frail nature upon him, to dwell amongst us, and to die on the cross, these statements afford an intelligible and perfectly satisfactory answer. In his adorable mercy, in his almighty power, he came to deliver mankind; to recover them from their lost condition; to save them from the dominion of Satan, and from everlasting destruction; to supply all their spiritual need; to reconcile them through his own bloodshedding and mediation to the Father Almighty; to regenerate and sanctify them by his Holy Spirit; to provide for them both indemnity and cure; and thus to secure for them a boundless eternity of perfect happiness. Here are unfolded purposes worthy of the Son of God, and worthy of that peculiar display of his love and condescension revealed to us in the Biblepurposes fully adequate to his divine dignity, and capable of being carried into effect, only by him who, while he suffered in our suffering nature, was ONE with Jehovah-personally participating in the wisdom, power, and nature, of the only true God. Whether, indeed, we re

gard the human nature of Christ-in which he died for us, and is still "touched with the feeling of our infirmities,-or his divine nature, which imparts a mighty efficacy to the whole plan of our redemption;-we cannot but acknowledge, that between the spiritual wants of mankind, on the one hand, and the sure mercies of the MESSIAH OF GOD, on the other, there is a nice, an accurate, a perfect adaptation.

VIII. In order to avail ourselves of the means which God in his unsearchable wisdom has thus ordained for our salvation, it is plainly necessary that we should believe in Jesus Christ. "These are written," says the apostle John, “that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God: and that believing ye might have life through his name ;" John xx. 31. "God so loved the world," said Jesus himself, "that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life;" John iii. 16. "I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die;" John xi. 25, 26. Paul has declared that "a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ," Gal.

ii. 16; and John the Baptist, when he bore witness to the power and excellency of the Lord Jesus, plainly stated the consequences both of believing and of not believing on the Son of God: "He that believeth on the Son, hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son, shall not see life: but the wrath of God abideth on him ;" John iii. 36.

Now, the faith in Christ which is thus frequently declared to be the means of our salvation, is not only an assent of the understanding to the history and doctrines of the gospel. Such a faith is of itself a "dead faith," and we read that the "devils also believe and tremble;" Jas. ii. 19. Saving faith is that living and active principle in our minds, by which, under the softening impressions of the love of God, we accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our only Saviour; spiritually feed upon him as upon the bread of life; place a humble yet sure reliance upon his mercy mercy and power; and, with full purpose and devotion of heart, submit our whole selves to his spiritual government. This is "the faith which worketh by love," Gal. v. 6; this is the faith which enables us to bring forth the pure and lovely fruits of holiness, charity, gentleness, patience, joy, and peace. And thus

"if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away: behold all things are become new ;" II. Cor. v. 17.

Mortally diseased as we are, the fatal malady of sin rankling within us,-how are we to experience recovery, if we refuse to accept the appointed remedy? Then let us endeavour to lay aside the evil heart of unbelief;" let us no longer amuse ourselves with sceptical speculations on the theory of religion: but rather let us lay hold of its substance, and flee from the wrath to come. Let us listen to the words of love and tenderness with which our compassionate Redeemer continues to invite us: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest: take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls: for my yoke is easy and my burden is light;" Matt. xi. 28-30. Yes, we must take upon us the yoke of Christ. "To obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams ;" I. Sam. xv. 22. As we obtain reconciliation with the Father, through the sacrifice of Christ, let us ever remember that we can be brought into a state of true holiness, and avail ourselves of that reconciliation, only by a full submission

to the influence and guidance of his Spirit. It is by his Spirit that our all-sufficient Redeemer changes our vile hearts, mortifies our sinful affections, imparts to us his own holy nature, enables us to walk before him in purity and love, and thus prepares us for the enjoyment of that heavenly inheritance, which he has meritoriously procured for us, by his own perfect obedience, and by the sacrifice of himself. "If we walk in the light, as he (God) is in the light,” says the apostle John, "we have fellowship. one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin ;" I. John i. 7.

Nothing, indeed, can be more futile than even the most correct system of religious opinions, if our faith has no influence on the heart, and fails, therefore, to produce its legitimate consequence--a godly life and conversation. Every thing in christianity is directed to practical purposes; and in the day of righteous retribution, it will only aggravate our condemnation to have heard, understood, and approved, the word of the Lord, if we shall have persisted in refusing to follow its dictates. "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven".... "Every