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often experienced, when they have been suffering for the testimony of their conscience. They have often burst out into transports of joy and songs of praise, while their executioners have been glutting their hellish malice, and more than savage barbarity, by making their torments artificially grievous; but the crucified Jesus cried out, in the distress of his spotless and holy soul, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ?* ·

§. 7. Look upon our dear Redeemer; look up to this mournful, dreadful, yet in one`view, delightful spectacle; and then ask thine own heart, Do I believe that Jesus suffered and died thus? And why did he suffer and die? Let me answer in God's own words, he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, and the chastisement of our peace was upon him, that by his stripes we might be healed: it pleased the Lord to bruise him, and to put him to grief, when he made his soul an offering for sin; for the Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all. So that I may address you in the words of the apostle, be it known unto you therefore, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins; as it was his command, just after he rose from the dead, that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem; the very place, where his blood had so lately been shed in such a cruel manner. I do therefore testify to you, in the words of another inspired writer, that Christ was made sin, that is a sin-offering, for us, though he knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him; that is, that through the righteousness he has fulfilled, and the atonement he has made, we might be accepted by God as righteous, and be not only pardoned, but received into his favour. To you is the word of this salvation sent; ** and to you, O reader, are the blessings of it even now offered by God, sincerely offered; so that, after all that I have said under the former heads, it is not your having broken the law of God, that shall prove your ruin, if you do not also reject his gospel. It is not all those legions of sins, which rise up in battle array against you, that shall be able to destroy you, if unbelief do not lead them on, and final impenitency do not bring up the rear. I know, that guilt is a timorous thing; I will therefore speak in the words of God himself, nor can any be more comfortable; He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life;†† and he

* Matt. xxvii. 46.
2 Cor. v. 21.

Isai. liii. 5, 6, 10. ** Acts xiii. 26.

Acts xiii. 38. || Luke xxiv. 47. ++ John iii. 36.

shall never come into condemnation*: there is therefore now no condemnation, no kind or degree of it, to them, to any one of them, who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit. You have indeed been a very great sinner, and your offences have truly been attended with most heinous aggravations; nevertheless you may rejoice in the assurance, that where sin hath abounded, there shall grace much more abound‡; that where sin hath reigned unto death, where it has had its most unlimited sway, and most unresisted triumph, there shall righteousness reign to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. That righteousness, to which on believing on him thou wilt be intitled, shall not only break those chains, by which sin is (as it were) dragging thee at its chariot wheels with a furious pace to eternal ruin; but it shall clothe thee with the robes of salvation, shall fix thee on a throne of glory, where thou shalt live and reign for ever among the princes of heaven; shalt reign in immortal beauty and joy, without one remaining scar of divine displeasure upon thee; without one single mark by which it could be known, that thou hast ever been obnoxious to wrath and a curse; except it be an anthem of praise to the Lamb that was slain, and has washed thee from thy sins in his own blood¶.

ance.

§. 8. Nor is it necessary, in order to thy being released from guilt, and intitled to this high and complete felicity, that thou shouldst, before thou wilt venture to apply to Jesus, bring any good works of thine own to recommend thee to his acceptIt is indeed true, that if thy faith be sincere, it will certainly produce them: but I have the authority of the word of God to tell thee, that if thou this day sincerely believest in the name of the Son of God, thou shalt this day be taken under his care, and be numbered among those of his sheep, to whom he hath graciously declared, that he will give eternal life, and that they shall never perish**. Thou hast no need therefore to say, Who shall go up into heaven, or who shall descend into the deep for me? For the word is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thine hearttt.

With this joyful message I leave thee; with this faithful saying, indeed worthy of all acceptation; with this gospel, O sinner, which is my life; and which, if thou dost not reject it, will be thine too.

John v. 24.
Rev. i. 5.

+ Rom. viii. 1.

** John x. 28.

Rom. v. 20.
++ Rom. x. 6,7,8.

Rom. v. 21.
1 Tim. i. 15.

The Sinner's Reflection on this good News.

OH my soul, how astonishing is the message which thou hast this day received! I have indeed often heard it before; and it is grown so common to me, that the surprise is not sensible. But reflect, O my soul, what it is thou hast heard; and say, whether the name of the Saviour, whose message it is, may not well be called Wonderful Counsellor*, when he displays before thee such wonders of love, and proposes to thee such counsels of peace?"

"Blessed Jesus, is it indeed thus! Is it not the fiction of the human mind? Surely it is not! What human mind could have invented or conceived it? Is it a plain, a certain fact, that thou didst leave the magnificence and joy of the heavenly world, in compassion to such a wretch as I! O hadst thou, from that height of dignity and felicity, only looked down upon me for a moment, and sent some gracious word to me for my direction and comfort, even by the least of thy servants, justly might I have prostrated myself in grateful admiration, and have kissed the very footsteps of him that published the salvation†. But didst thou condescend to be thyself the messenger! What grace had that been, though thou hadst but once in person made the declaration, and immediately returned back to the throne, from whence divine compassion brought thee down! But this is not all the triumph of thine illustrious grace. It not only brought thee down to earth, but kept thee here in a frail and wretched tabernacle, for long successive years: and at length, it cost thee thy life, and stretched thee out as a malefactor upon the cross, after thou hadst borne insults and cruelty, which it may justly wound my heart so much as to think of. And thus thou hast atoned injured justice, and redeemed me to God with thine own blood‡.

"What shall I say? Lord I believe, help thou mine unbelief! It seems to put faith to the stretch, to admit, what it indeed exceeds the utmost stretch of imagination to conceive. Blessed, for ever blessed be thy name, O thou father of mercies, that thou hast contrived the way! Eternal thanks to the Lamb that was slain, and to that kind providence that sent the word of this salvation to me! Oh let me not, for ten thousand worlds receive the grace of God in vain¶! O impress this gospel upon my soul, till its saving virtue be diffused over every faculty Let it not only be heard, and acknowledged, and pro

Isai. ix. 6. Isai. lii. 7. Rev. v. ix. | Mark ix. 24. ¶ 2 Cor. vi. 1.

fessed, but felt! Make it thy power to my eternal salvation*; and raise me to that humble tender gratitude, to that active unwearied zeal in thy service, which becomes one, to whom so much is forgivent, and forgiven upon such terms as these!

"I feel a sudden glow in mine heart, while these tidings are sounding in mine ears: but Oh, let it not be a slight superficial transport; Oh let not this, which I would fain call my christian joy, be as that foolish laughter, with which I have been so madly inchanted, like the crackling blaze of thorns under a pot? O teach me to secure this mighty blessing, this glorious hope, in the method which thou hast appointed! and preserve me from mistaking the joy of nature, while it catches a glimpse of its rescue from destruction, for that consent of grace, which embraces and ensures the deliverance !"

CHAP. IX.

A more particular Account of the Way, by which this Salvation is to be obtained.

An Enquiry into the Way of Salvation by Christ being supposed, §. 1. The Sinner is in general directed to Repentance and Faith, §. 2. And urged to give up all Self-dependance, §. 3. And to seek Salvation by free Grace, §. 4. A Summary of more particular Directions is proposed. §. 5. (1.) That the Sinner should apply to Christ, §. 6. With a deep Abhorrence of his former Sins, §. 7. And a firm resolution of forsaking them, §. 8. (2.) That he solemnly commit his Soul into the Hands of Christ, the great vital Act of Faith, §. 9. Which is exemplified at large, §. 10. (3.) That he make it in Fact the governing Care of his future Life to obey and imitate Christ, §. 11. This is the only Method of obtaining Gospel Salvation, §. 12. The Sinner deliberating on the Expediency of accepting it.

§. 1. I NOW consider you, my dear reader, as coming to me

with the enquiry, which the Jews once addressed to our Lord what shall we do, that we may work the works of God! What method shall I take to secure that redemption and salvation, which I am told Christ has procured for his people?" I would answer it as seriously, and carefully as possible; as one that knows of what importance it is to you to be rightly informed; and that knows also, how strictly he is to answer to God, for the sincerity and care with which the reply is made.

*Rom. i. 16.

+ Luke vii. 47.

Eccles. vii. 6.

John vi. 28.

May I be enabled to speak as his oracle*, that is, in such a manner, as faithfully to echo back what the sacred oracles teach!

§. 2. And here, that I may be sure to follow the safest guides, and the fairest examples, I must preach salvation to you, in the way of repentance towards God, and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ: that good old doctrine, which the apostles preached, and which no man can pretend to change, but at the peril of his own soul, and theirs who attend to him.

§. 3. I suppose, that you are, by this time, convinced of your guilt and condemnation, and of your own inability to recover yourself. Let me nevertheless urge you to feel that conviction, yet more deeply, and to impress it with yet greater weight upon your soul; that you have undone yourself, and that in yourself is not your help found. Be persuaded therefore, expressly, and solemnly, and sincerely, to give up all self-dependence; which if you do not guard against, will be ready to return secretly, before it is observed, and will lead you to attempt building up what you have just been destroying.

§. 4. Be assured, that if ever you are saved, you must ascribe that salvation entirely to the free grace of God. If guilty and miserable as you are, you are not only accepted, but crowned, you must lay down your crown with all humble acknowledgment before the throne. No flesh must glory in his presence; but he that glorieth, must glory in the Lord: for of him are we in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption¶. And you must be sensible, you are in such a state, as, having none of these in yourself, to need them in another. You must therefore be sensible, that you are ignorant and guilty, polluted and enslaved; or, as our Lord expresses it, with regard to some who were under a christian profession, that as a sinner, you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind and naked**.

§. 5. If these views be deeply impressed upon your mind, you will be prepared to receive what I am now to say. Hear therefore in a few words your duty, your remedy, and your safety; which consists in this," that you must apply to Christ, with a deep abhorrence of your former sins, and a firm resolution of forsaking them; forming that resolution in the strength. of his grace, and fixing your dependance on him, for your ac

* 1 Pet. iv. 11. Rev. iv. 10.

+ Acts xx. 21.
1 Cor. i. 29, 30, 31.

Hos. xiii. 9. **Rev. iii. 17,

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