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" us." To which it is immediately added, as a practical inference, "We ought.”—The expreffion is emphatical, and imports, that it is not left to our choice, but is ftrictly due as a debt; "We ought to lay down our lives "for the brethren." Such is the love that the gofpel recommends. From whence. it appears, that the purest and most fublime morality flows from faith in Chrift as its native fource, and will rife in exact proportion to the knowledge of his grace.

But do we know the grace of our Lord Jefus Chrift?This question demands a ferious and deliberate answer.

It is too evident, that many who bear the title of Chriftians are grofsly ignorant even of the doctrines of grace, and need to be taught "the first principles of the oracles "of God." But befides these, we have just cause to fear, that not a few are to be found among us, who, though they have acquired a theory of Christian doctrine, and can talk of the great truths of the gospel with propriety and fluency; yet they cannot be faid to know that grace whereof they are able to difcourfe to others.

The

The knowledge which the Apoftle fpeaks of, is different from that which may be acquired by ftudy, or mere human inftruction. It is of a kind altogether peculiar to the real faint: It is produced by the Spirit accompanying the word, taking of the things of Chrift, and not only fhowing them unto him, but writing them upon the " fleshly tables of his heart," and thereby transforming him into the divine

image. Let me then ask you, or rather let me intreat you to afk your own hearts, as in the prefence of God, Whether or not you ever were convinced of your need of this grace, your abfolute need of it to fave you from the wrath to come? Did you ever see yourselves, by the light of God's word, to be wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked; under a righteous fentence of condemnation, and unable, as of yourselves, to do any thing that could be effectual for your own recovery

?

Under this conviction of your loft and helpless eftate by nature, were your eyes opened to fee the neceflity and fuitableness of the Lord Jefus Chrift, the per-. fection

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fection of that facrifice which he offered up to the Father; together with his ability and willingness "to fave to the uttermoft "all that come unto God by him?" Animated by these spiritual discoveries of the Saviour, encouraged by his kind invitation to come to him, and constrained by the Father's command to believe on his name, did you humbly and thankfully receive him as the "unfpeakable gift" of God to men? faying with the Apostle Paul, "What things were gain to me, those I "counted lofs for Chrift. Yea doubtlefs, " and I count all things but lofs for the excellency of the knowledge of Chrift Jefus my Lord: And do count them "but dung, that I may win Christ, and "be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but "that which is by the faith of Chrift, "the righteoufnefs which is of God by "faith." Was this acceptance entire and unreferved; did your heart confent that he fhould be made of God unto you, wifdom, and righteoufnefs, and fanctification, and redemption; your prophet to in

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ftruct you, and your king to rule over you,
as well as your priest to justify you by his
blood?-Have you relifhed, or do you now
relish, the sweetness of his grace ?-Above
all, let me afk you, have
felt its power
and influence upon your temper and prac-
tice? The grace of the gofpel is not only
the parent of peace and joy, but an effectual
principle of holiness in all who partake of
it. This was the doctrine which Paul de-
livered to Titus, Tit. ii. 11. et feq.
"The

grace of God which bringeth falvation, "teacheth us, that denying ungodliness, " and worldly lufts, we should live fober"ly, and righteously, and godly, in this "prefent world." This is not only the most fatisfying evidence, that we know the grace of our Lord Jefus Chrift; but so effential an evidence, that where it is wanting, I can read of nothing in the whole book of God to fupply the defect, or that can be substituted in the place of it. I read of a dead faith,-a presumptuous hope, -a falfe peace, and a name to live; but all these are refuges of lies, which ere long fhall be "fwept" away "with the befom

of

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" ofdeftruction." Whereas the true faith of the gofpel is every where reprefented, as "working by love," and overcoming "the world."--The hope of the gofpel incites all who are poffeffed of it," to "purify themselves, even as he" whom they hope to enjoy "is pure."

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"The

peace of God which paffeth all underftanding, keeps," or guards, "the heart “and mind," and fortifies the believer against the fierce affaults of his spiritual enemies. And it is the, distinguishing privilege of those who " are not under the law, but under grace;" that "fin fhall "not have dominion over them :" CC They "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which after God is created in righteoufnefs and "true holinefs.” They fhow, that they live in the Spirit, by walking in the Spirit; and give proof that they are "rifen with "Chrift," and "know him in the power "of his refurrection," by " feeking thofe "things which are above, where Chrift "fitteth at the right hand of God." Thefe are the words of truth: they are pure words,

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