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parables, in divers methods coincide in forwarding our instruction. They all display and illustrate the same character of God and of man; and impress the same ideas of sin and of holiness, of time and of eternity, of happiness and of misery. They all concur in displaying the glory of the divine perfections by the dispensations of Providence in this world, and the final distribution of rewards and punishments in the world to come. And though these constituent parts of holy writ do not in all respects answer the same purposes, each has its distinct important use, in the accomplishment of one vast and uniform design.

But though the Scriptures are in themselves. completely harmonious; yet men do not readily perceive this harmony. Numbers imagine they see in them numerous inconsistencies and contradictions: others, judging it impracticable to reconcile the sacred writers, give a partial preference to one above another, and set them in opposition to each other, according to their several opinions. The various sects and parties, professing Christianity, appeal to Scripture in proof of their discordant tenets; and multitudes, content with those passages which seem to speak the language of some favourite system, pass over all the rest as if nothing to the purpose, or nothing to them, a mere caput mortuum' in divinity.

The insipid mass, that remains when the spirits are all drawn off by distillation; or the mere dross left in refining metals.

These things are notorious; but whence do they arise? We allow, that the vastness of the design revealed in Scripture, which has relation to things unseen and eternal, and to the perfections of the incomprehensible God, must very far exceed the capacity of our narrow minds, and cannot enter the understanding at once, nor be apprehended at one glance; and when viewed in parts, the unity is broken and the harmony obscured: insomuch that we may justly question, whether any creature can perfectly comprehend the consistency of the glorious plan, "which angels desire to look into." -But other reasons concur in producing this discordancy of sentiment. The Bible is a revelation from God to sinners: and it seems an apparent intention of the Holy Spirit, so to arrange and constitute this revelation, as to make trial of men's hearts; and to distinguish betwixt the humble teachable enquirer after salvation, and those who read the Scriptures with captious self-sufficiency in order to start objections, with attachment to a party for weapons of angry controversy, or with a worldly and sensual mind to find excuse for their sins. "The way-faring men, though fools, "shall not err therein." But "the LORD taketh "the wise in their own craftiness:" "Because "they received not the love of the truth, that they 'might be saved; and for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should be"lieve a lie; that they might all be damned, who

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"believed not the truth, but had pleasure in un" righteousness.'' "Unto you," saith our Lord to his enquiring disciples, "it is given to know "the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto "them that are without, all these things are done in parables; that seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not

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understand, lest at any time they should be con"verted, and their sins should be forgiven them."" ---My brethren, let us pray for a humble teachable spirit, which will avail us far more in understanding the Scriptures to the good of our own souls, than all the acuteness and learning in the world. In proportion as we possess this temper, and really love truth and holiness, we shall escape these dangers, and perceive more and more the consistency of the word of God.

But as this disposition is imperfect, and counteracted by remaining prejudice, in the best of men; so none of us perceive all that consistency which really subsists in divine revelation.-A satisfactory discovery, however, of the harmony of Scripture is doubtless a good test of the degree in which we really understand divine things: and ever since the Bible became my peculiar study, this discovery has been my invariable object. No arguments could induce my assent even to the doctrine of

Thess. ii. 10-12.

2 Is. vi. 9, 10 9, 10.

Matt. xiii. 11-15.

John, xii. 40, 41.

Mark iv. 11, 12. Luke viii,
Acts, xxviii. 25-27.

justification by faith in Christ, alone, till I was satisfied of its perfect agreement with the honour of the divine law, and the indispensable necessity of personal holiness, and fruitfulness in good works, which I was sure were every where insisted on in the sacred volume. In like manner my objections to the doctrines of personal election and final perseverance were insuperable, till I was fully satisfied of their consistency with exhortations, warnings, invitations, and persuasions on the minister's part; and diligence, watchfulness, and strenuous exertions on that of the people; which are far more spoken of in Scripture, than these doctrines are.

In order to state, with clearness and fulness, the result of my enquiries on this mysterious and controverted subject, I have chosen a very copious text, but neither intend to enter particularly into minute explanation, nor to confine myself closely to it; but, according to a very simple plan and method, to advert to a variety of other scriptures, as we proceed with the subject. I shall therefore take occasion from the text to observe,

I. That Christ came down from heaven to execute the Father's commission.

II. That this commission hath a special reference to those, whom the Father hath given him.

III. That all these, and none else, will come to Christ.

IV. That he will most certainly receive all who do come to him.

V. That his commission reaches to the infallible and everlasting salvation of the body and soul of every one, who is thus given to him, and comes to him; or who sees him, believes in him, and depends on him for salvation.

VI. That all these observations are perfectly consistent with many things which some professed Calvinists object to, and which many Arminians suppose inconsistent with our doctrines. This will naturally lead me to close with a brief application.-And may God the Spirit open all our understandings and hearts to understand and receive his truth; and bless this design to the edification and establishment of many souls, and the promoting of true godliness within us and around us.

I. CHRIST CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN TO EXECUTE THE FATHER'S COMMISSION. "I came "down from heaven, not to do mine own will, "but the will of him that sent me,"

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