guage, a true propitiatory facrifice for expiating the guilt of fin, and rendering the exercise of mercy to the finner confiftent with the holiness and justice of God; yet in expreffing our abhorrence of their error, we must beware of running into the oppofite extreme: for nothing can be more clearly afferted in the oracles of truth, than that "the Son of God was manifefted for this "purpose, that he might destroy the works, "of the devil;" or, in other words, that he might prepare men for heaven, by the fanctifying influences of his Spirit, as well as that he might purchase a heaven for them by the merit of his blood. And it deferves particular notice, that though the main difficulty the first preachers of Christianity had to struggle with among their own countrymen, was to bring them off from a proud dependence upon their own righteousness, that they might rely upon Chrift alone for pardon and acceptance; yet in declaring this doctrine, they never failed to establish the infeparable connection between faith and holinefs, left any fhould turn the grace of God unto wantonnefs, and, by claiming the the privileges of the gofpel while they refufed fubjection to its laws, fhould reprefent Chrift as the minifter of fin. 2dly, We are further obliged to live unto the Lord, as we regard the honour of our Master, and the credit of that faving religion which he taught. For hereby we most effectually ftop the mouths of gainfayers, and cut off occafion from those that defire occafion to blafpheme that worthy name by which we are called; prefenting to their view a convincing proof, that Christianity is an effectual means of falvation, and that Chrift is truly and properly a Saviour. The death of Christ appears to have a mighty efficacy indeed, when it maketh thofe that believe on him to die unto fin. And it is impoffible to doubt, that he is alive, and hath all power committed to him in heaven and in earth, when he visibly lives in his members by his all-conquering grace, and causeth them to live unto him: Whereas a contrary behaviour doth the greateft poffible injury to the cause of truth, furnishing the world with a handle to fay, that Christianity is nothing nothing more than an airy fpeculation, and that the religion of Jefus is of no effect towards reforming the hearts and lives of its profeffors. 3dly, I fhall only add, that we are bound to live in the manner I defcribed by the ftricteft ties of juftice and equity. "Ye are not your own," faith our Apostle, 1 Cor. vi. 19, 20. "for ye are bought with 66 a price." From whence he draws this practical inference, "Therefore glorify God 66 in your body, and in your fpirit, which are God's." As creatures who derived their being from God, we are bound to love him with all our heart, and to ferve him to the utmost extent of the powers he hath given us. But his redeeming grace brings us under a new and ftill more endearing obligation to his fervice. When we had destroyed ourselves, and lay exposed to all the dreadful effects of his righteous displeasure, having no eye to pity, a d no hand that could help us, then did he pity us, and his own arm brought falvation. He iffued forth the gracious command, "Deliver "them from going down to the pit, for I ❝ have have found a ranfom." And in the ful nefs of time our Lord Jefus Chrift, "the "Lamb flain" in decree "from the foun"dation of the world," appeared in our nature; and with the infinite price of his own precious blood redeemed us from the hand of juftice, and parchafed for us complete and everlafting falvation. And now, with what face can we decline his fervice, or refuse subjection to any of his laws? It is purely by his merit that we live at all: and fhall we reckon it grievous to walk by his direction? Surely nothing can appear more just and equitable, than that he who bought us fhould poffets us, and that the ranfomed fhould be entirely devoted to their Redeemer. LET these confiderations prevail with us to live unto him, who "died, and rofe, and "revived, that he might be Lord both of "the dead and living." And while we look up to him for that divine aid, which he hath not only encouraged us to afk, but commanded us to expect, let us go forward in his strength, making mention of his righteousness, teousness, even of his only; that when we die, we may fall asleep in that Jefus, unto whom we now live, and commit our bodies to the duft, in the affured hope of a glorious refurrection; when that promife fhall be fulfilled in its largest extent, "If any man ferve me, let him follow me; “ and where I am, there shall also my fervant "be. If any man ferve me, him will my "Father honour." Amen. SER |