It might fuffice for an anfwer, to defire thofe who ask the question, to turn over to that part of Scripture where the words I have just now quoted are recorded, 1 John iii. 23. There it is written, "This is his command"ment, that we fhould believe on the name "of his Son Jefus Christ, and love one ano"ther, as he gave us commandment."

Now, no body doubts, that the last of these precepts extends to him; and yet the fame authority which enjoins mutual love, commands us to believe on the Lord Jefus Chrift; and the Apostle, you fee, unites them both in one fentence. How comes it, then, that any fhould make a difference between the two, in point either of extent or obligation, or limit the one commandment any more than the other?

But as this is a difficulty with which the truly ferious only are apt to be distressed, I must not stop here, but beg them to confider, whether it would not be more reafonable to put the question in this form, How do I know, or rather, What ground can I find to fufpect, that the commandment to believe on the Saviour doth not extend to

me?

me? It is undeniable, that none of the human race are excepted by name; the invitation or call is addreffed to men indefinitely; "Look unto me, and be ye faved,

46

all the ends of the earth."-" Unto you, "O men, I call, and my voice is to the fons of men.' Say, then, my friends, under what fatal denomination can you find yourfelves excluded from the fountain opened for fin and for uncleannefs? Surely not as finners; for this denomination is common to all men, and "Chrift came not to call the righteous, but finners to repentance:" this was his very errand, "to feek and to fave "that which was loft." Neither can it be as great finners; for Paul teftifies, that Chrift came to have the c ief of nners. "His "blood cleanfeth from all n;" and many examples are recorded of the most infamous tranfgreffors, who have been washed, and fanctified, and juftified, in the name of the Lord Jefus, and by the Spirit of our God. Much less then can it be as deeply-convinced and felf-condemning inners; for under this denomination you are ex efsly invited to have recourse to him: "Come unto me, all ss ye

ye

that labour, and are heavy laden, and "I will give you reft." The commiffion he received, was to bind up the broken-hearted; to bring forth the prisoners out of the prifon-house, and to comfort those that mourn. Are you wretched, miferable, poor, blind, and naked? Such precifely was the state of the Laodiceans, with this only difference, from whence no difcouraging inference can be drawn, that they knew it not, whereas you do: yet even to them were thefe gracious words addreffed by our Lord himself, Rev. iii. 18. “I counsel thee to buy of me gold "tried in the fire, that thou mayeft be rich; "and white raiment, that thou mayeft be "clothed; and to anoint thine eyes with

eye-falve, that thou mayeft fee." Nay, (which methinks fhould put an end to all further questioning upon this head), the epistle directed to them concludes with that unlimited offer of gofpel-grace, which might justly be introduced with a note of admiration, "BEHOLD, I ftand at the door and "knock; if any man will hear my voice, " and open the door, I will come in to him, and fup with him, and he with me.

Beware

Beware then of fetting bounds where God hath fet none. If you feel your need of Chrift as the only Saviour; if your eyes have been so far opened, as to fee that he is worthy to be depended upon, and “ mighty "to fave," let no objections drawn from your own unworthinefs, which, under the covert and semblance of humility, hides the daring prefumption of giving God the lie, keep you back from this great High Prieft, or prevent your application of his atoning blood, for sprinkling your hearts from an evil confcience, and introducing you into the bolieft with filial boldness, by that new and living way which he hath confecrated for you, through the vail of bis flesh.

WHAT the Apoftle fubjoins, having our bodies washed with pure water, may allude to those purifications enjoined by the law, which ferved to remind the Jews of the unfpotted holiness of the God of Ifrael, and of that reverence which ought to poffefs their minds in all their approaches to his gracious prefence; though I cannot help thinking, that these words were intended

by

by the Apoftle to introduce a new exhortation; and ought therefore to be transferred to the following verfe: in which cafe, without any straining, they obviously apply to the ordinance, of baptifm, and are urged, with great propriety, to enforce a stedfaft unwavering adherence to that faith which the converted Hebrews had profeffed with fuch folemnity, when, at their admiffion' into the church of Chrift, their bodies were washed with pure water, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft.

But I fhall not detain you any longer from the proper bufinefs of the day. Only let me call upon you, before I conclude, to look up to this great High Prieft over the house of God, for that Holy Spirit, without whom neither fermons nor facraments have any virtue or efficacy. It is he alone that can bestow upon us the qualifications here required. Let each of us then plead the promife of the Father, begging, that the Spirit of all grace may be given, "to take of the "things of Chrift's, and to fhew them unto "us;" that from juft views of our HighPrieft, and of the new and living way he

hath