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where expreffed, "having no confidence in "the flesh," comes to him, judging and condemning himself, without any plea but his extreme neceffity, and the infinite and undeferved mercy of God; having no anfwer to the law, but the merit of Christ's obedience unto death, nor any other shelter from avenging juftice. This is what the Apostle, in the verse following my text, calls' receiving the atonement; because then the finner is made a partaker of Chrift's facrifice, his peace-speaking blood is fprinkled upon him, and covers him fo entirely, that from head to foot, if I may use that expreffion, no part of him is left expofed to that fiery indignation which shall finally confume all the adverfaries of God.

AND now let me afk, Who among you can fay, that you have experienced fuch a work of grace upon your hearts?—For the just encouragement of those who are thus reconciled to God by the death of his Son, I shall, in further illuftration of the Apostle's reasoning, endeavour to fhow the powerful influence of the life of Chrift upon every

thing that belongs to their complete falvátion.

ift, The juftification of believers, which was purchased by the death of Chrift, is rendered fure and permanent by his restored life. Upon this the Apostle lays a peculiar emphafis, Rom. viii. 34. where, in support of that triumphant challenge, "Who fhall lay વર્ any thing to the charge of God's elect?" having faid, "It is Chrift that di died," he immediately fubjoins, "yea rather, that is "rifen again, who is even at the right hand ❝ of God, who also maketh interceffion for ❝ us."

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From whence can a fentence of condem nation proceed? Is it not from that very throne to which our once crucified Redeemer is raised, that he may confer that remiffion which he purchased with his blood? And now that he is entered into his glory, fhall the indictment that he nailed to his crofs be taken down from thence, and put in fuit against thofe who, in obedience to his Father's command, have fled to him for refuge? Impoffible! As he bowed his head upon the cross to expiate our guilt, fo he

lifted it up again when he rose from the grave, that he might effectually apply the' merit of his facrifice, and obviate every charge that could be brought against his people.

2dly, The life of Chrift is no less available to insure the fanctification of all who believe on him. For what end did he enter into the heavenly fanctuary, but that from thence he might fend forth his conquering Spirit to cleanse and purify the hearts of those whom he had washed with his blood, that as no guilt might be left to provoke the juftice of God, fo neither should there be any defilement to offend his holinefs. It is impoffible to doubt, that a Redeemer in glory will at length prefent to his Father "a glo"rious church, without spot, or wrinkle, or

any fuch thing." Surely Christ is not gone to heaven, to leave that blood to run waste which he fhed upon earth, or to be negligent in improving the virtue of his facrifice. That prayer, "Father, fanctify "them through thy truth," hath as loud a found from his illuftrious throne, as it had from the footstool, when he was just about VOL. II.

to

to enter upon his agony and sufferings. He did not utter these words upon the confines of his kingdom, to forget or difufe them when he should enter upon the poffeffion of it. What he prayed for in his humiliation, he hath power to difpenfe in his exalted ftate; and he will do it to all who put their trust in him: he will gradually adorn them with the beauties of holiness, and keep them by his power through faith unto salvation. -Which leads me to obferve,

In the third place, That the life of Chrift doth effectually fecure an honourable iffue to all the afflictions and temptations of his people. It is the fame perfon that was crucified on earth, who is now crowned with glory in the highest heavens: and though he dropped the infirmities of that body he had affumed, and left all the weaknefs of humanity behind him in the grave; yet he carried his pitying nature to the throne, and is ftill touched with the feeling of our infirmities, and difpofed to help us in every time of need. "He will not break the "bruifed reed, nor quench the fmoking "flax." He knows our frame; he remem

bers

bers that we are duft; and will therefore "debate with us in measure, and stay his

rough wind in the day of his east wind." And with regard to temptations, the life of Chrift affords the most comfortable affurance, that over these we fhall be finally victorious. He that fuffered being tempted, will certainly be difpofed to fuccour those that are tempted; and there can be no room to doubt, that he is as able as he is willing. If, while in the form of a fervant, he defeated all the artifices of the cunning ferpent, and repelled the most violent attacks of the roaring lion? if in his loweft ftate of abafement, even while he hung upon the cross, he spoiled principalities and powers, making a fhow of them openly; now that all power is committed to him both in heaven and on earth, can he want either wifdom or ftrength to bruife Satan under the feet of the weakest of his fervants? Impoffible!

While the head of the body reigns in glory, we may be well affured, that no member can become the prey of any adverse power: fo that every believer may adopt the language of Paul, and fay as he did, Q 2 "Who