Fifty three discourses : containing a connected system of doctrinal and practical Christianity, as professed and maintained by the Church of England ..

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OF THK

PRINCETON, N. J.
SAMUEL AGNEW,

OF P H I I. A I) E L P H I A , V i

Theo

1 Case, _^

Shelf.
1 Book,

OP TOE

logi(3al Sem

PRINCETON, N.J
Diviaon.,

1

i nary ,

1

Section

No

.../.J

FIFTY THREE

DISCOURSES

CONTAIN INO

A CONNECTED SYSTEM

vr

OF

DOCTRINAL AND PRACTICAL

CHRISTIANITY,

AS PROFESSED AXD MAINTAINED BY TIIS

CHURCH OF ENGLAND ;

PABTICULAnLT ADAPTED TO TH8 USE OF FAMILIES, ANO
COWNTRY CONOREGATIONa,

VOL.

That theu mightefi hnov) the certainty of those things wherein thou hujl
been injlru6ied. Luke i. 4.

REV. EDWARD BRJCKENBURY, A.B.

▼ ICAR OF SKl-.NDLEBY, IN THE COUKTY OF UNCOLX,
ANB FORMEHLY OF LINCOLN-COLLEGE, OXFORD.

LONDON: «

FEINTED rOK F. C. AND J, RIVINGTOy,
MO. 6z, ST. Paul's chvrch-yaru.

1806.

I'rJRted by Bye and La^v, St. John's-Squarc, Ck:rkenwfll.

PREFACE.

The followins: DifcouiTes were drawn
up by the Author Avith a particular de-
iign of imprinting upon the minds and
hearts of his appropriate Congregation,
a connected fyltem of do6trinai and
practical Chriftianity. He had long
been in the habit of preaching to them
(as is the ufual mode) from detached
texts of Scripture, fometimes infifting
upon the pecuHar doctrines of the Gof-
pel, efpecially at particidar feafons, and
on high fcftivals ; at other times " laying
**the foundation of repentance from dead
*' works, and of faith towards God*," and
not unfrequently inculcatmg moral du-

* Heb. vi. 1.,

A 2 ties

IV PREFACE.

ties upon Chriftian principles. But this
manner of preaching always appeared
to him fomewhat deficient in its nature
and execution before a ftated audience,
though accompanied with the utmofl
energy, and moll impreffive ferioufnefs.
The great and leading doclrines of
Chriftianity requiring deliberate confi-
deration, and minute difcuffion, it is
almoll impoffible to give them a right
underftanding of them, fo as to make
them " wife unto falvation*," without a
particular detail of their nature and
importance. The plan here adopted
feems to afford fufficient amplitude for
that purpofe. To inculcate " Vine upon
" line, and precept upon prccept-f" in
a defultory and unconnected mode of
inftruClion, during a continued feries of
years, fcarcely feems to give the preacher
that advantage in *' declaring the whole
" counfel of God |.," of which he might
avail himfelf, by a judicious arrange-

• 2 Tim. iii. 15. f ^^'^i^h xxviii. 13. t Ads xx. 27.

ment

PREFACE.

ment of his matter. And it may alfo
be fairly prefumed, that the human
underllanding is more likely to imbibe
a right conception of religious truths,
when its faculties of perception and
memory are dire6led by method, and
llrengthened by arrangement.

Under this perfuafion, the author,
upon refledlion on tlie fruits of his
miniftry, was defirous, if poffible, of
rendering it more ufeful and edifying
to his people, and therefore undertook
the following plan.

Fearful of omitting any part effential
to the execution of his defign, he deem-
ed it neceffary to begin with the very
firft principles of religious knowledo-e,
and thus, by degrees, unfold the great
truths, as well of natural as revealed
religion, knowing that no rational accefs
can be procured to the heart, but
through the convi6lion of the under-
^ 3 Handing.

VI PREFACE.

ftahding. When that is accompiiflied,
fome hopes may then be entertained,
that the heart will be interefted, and
Avon over to the love of " the truth as it

" is in Jefus*."

Guided by thefe motives, and weigh-
ing the great importance of the charge
committed to his trull, he refolved upon
the attempt (without claiming any pre-
tenfions to originality, and acknowledg-
ing himfelf in many refpe6ls indebted
to the works of fome of our beft Divines)
and is free to own it abounds not with
tlie perfuafive words of man s wifdom,
or the grace and elegance of harmo-
nious periods : he humbly hopes, how-
ever, it will be found to contain, in a
reo-ular and f^'ftematic order, the necef-
fary and fundamental dodrines of the
Gofpel, as profeffed by the Church of
England. His fmgle defign in making
them public, is to promote, in fome

* Eph. iv, 21.

5 deojree,

PREFACE. VU

dciiiee, the glory of the eternal God,
and the edification of his fellow-chrif-
tians. And if fome perfons of piety
and judgment, to whom he commu-
nicated it, had not judged it conducive
to that end, he fliould not have ven-
tured to offer it to the world. His only
ambition is to acquit his confcience in
the fio-ht of that God to whom he makes
his appeal ; and if he can be in any
degree inllrumental by thefe imperfe61;
efforts to enlighten the ignorant, to
comfort the feeble-minded, to ftrengthen
the weak, to convince the ungodly, and
to fet thofe free who are bound with
the chain of their fms, he fliall think
his labour and time amply recompenfed;
and with joy and gratitude afcribe the
honour and glory to God, who alone
fupplieth ability for the work of the
Miniltry, and from whom " our fuffi-
" ciency*" is derived through the alone
Mediator, Jefus Chrift the Righteous.

* 2 Cor. iii. 5.

A 4. CON-

CONTENTS TO VOL. I.

INTRODUCTORY DISCOURSE - - l

DISCOURSE I.

On the Exiftence and Attributes of the

Deity.
Exodus iii. 14. I am that I am - - - 10

DISCOURSE II.

The Trinity in Unity.

Ephefians ii. 18. Through Him ae both have
Accej's by one Spirit unto the Father - - 37

DISCOURSE III.

Of Creation in general.
Hebrews xi. 3. Through Faith we underjland
that the Worlds were framed by the Word of
God, Jo that Things zijhich are feen zee e not
made of Things zchich do appear - - 51

DIS-

CO:N'tE-NTS.

discolrsl: IV.

On the Creation of AJan in. particular,
and his Original Innocence.

Pag«

Genefis i. '27. God created Man in his ozm

DISCOURSE V.
The Fall of Man.

Geneils iii. G. And when the Woman faw thaf
the Tree ims good for Food, and that it was
pleafant to the Ei/es, and a Tree to be defired
to make one wife, flie took of the Fruit thereof,
and did eat, and gave alfo unto her Hujhand
with her, and he did eat - - - 85

DISCOURSE VI.

Providence.

Hebrews i. 3. Upholdiiig all Things by the Word
of his Pozcer - - - - 101

DISCOURSE VII.
Oricfinal and aQ;ual Sin.

o
Romans iii. 23. All Imve finned, and come JJiort
of the G lory of God - - -119

DISCOURSE VIII.

The New Covenant, and Abrogation of

the Old.
Hebrews viii. 13. In thai He faith, a new Covc-

tumi, lie hath made the Jirji old - - 1 35

DIS-

CONTENTS. XI

DISCOURSE IX.

The PeiTon and Titles of the JMediator.

Page

Hebrews i. 3. Who being the Brightnefs of his
Glory, and the exprefa Image of his Perfoji, - 149

DISCOURSE X.

The Teftimony of Prophecy, that Jefus is
Chrift.

Rev. xix. 10. The TejUmony of Jefus is the Spirit
of Prophecy - - - - 1 63

DISCOURSE XI.

The IMediatorial Office of Chrift.
1 Tim. ii. 5. There is one Mediator between
God and Man, the Man Chriji Jefus - - 183

DISCOURSE XII.

Univerfal Redemption.

1 John ii. 2. He is the Propitiation for our Si?is,
and not for ours only, but alfo for the Sins of
the whole World 199

DISCOURSE XIII.

Tlie Incarnation of Chrift.

Galatians iv. 4. When the Fulnefs of the Time
was come, God fent forth his Son, made of a
Woman ...--, 2J5

DIS-

xii CONTENTS.

DISCOURSE XIV.

The Sufferings of Chrift.

1 Pet. iii. 18. For Chriji aJfo once fuffered for
Sim, the Jitjt for the Vnjiijl, that He might
bring us to God - - - - 23 1

DISCOURSE XV.

Chrifts Burial and Defcent into HelL

John xix. 41, 42. Now in the Place where he

zcas crucified, there was a Garden, and in the

Garden a new Sepulchre, wherein was never

Man yet laid, there lay they Jefus therefore - 247

DISCOURSE XVI.

Chrift's Exaltation.
Philipplans ii. 9. Wherefore God alfo hath highly
exalted Him, and given Him a Name which is
above every Name _ _ _ _ ggl

DISCOURSE XVII.

Chrift's Afcenfion and Seffion at the

Right-hand of God.
1 Peter iii. 22. Who is gone into Heaven, and is
on the Right-hand of God - - -273

DISCOURSE XVIII.

Chrift's coming to Judgment.
Rev. XX. 13. And the Sea gave up the Dead
which were in it; and Death and Hell delivered
up the Dead zchich were in them, and they zvere
judged every one according to their Works - 285

DIS-

CONTENTS.

DISCOURSE XIX.

The Operation and Influence of the Holy
Spirit.

Page
1 John ill. 24. Hereby know zve that Tie abideth
in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us 301

DISCOURSE XX.

The Holy Catholic Church, and Com-
munion of Saints.

Romans xii. 4, 5. For as we have many Mem-
bers in one Body, and all Memoers have not
the fame Office; jo zee, being many, arr one
Body in Chriji, and every one Members one
of another - - - - - 315

DISCOURSE XXI.

Forgivenefs of Sin.

Pfalni xxxii. 1. Ble()ed is He whofe Tranf-
grejjion is forgiven, whofe Sin is covered 333

DISCOURSE XXII.

Refurreftion of the Body.

Philjpplans iii. 21. Who Jliall change our vile
Body, that it may be fajhioned like unto his
glorious Body, according to the Working
whereby He is able to fubdue all Things unto
Himfelf . - - . . 347

DIS-

XIV CONTENTS.

DISCOURSE XXIII.

Life Everlafting.

Daniel xii. 2. And many of them that Jleep in
the Duji of the Earth Jhall awake, fome to
everlafting Life, and fome to Shame and exer-
lajiing Contempt - - - - - 36l

DISCOURSE XXIV.

The Chriftian Vocation.

Ephefians iv. 1. / therefore befeech you, that
ye r£alk worthy of the Vocation wherewith ye
are called - - - - - 377

DISCOURSE XXV.

Regeneration.

fi Cor. V. 17. If any Man be in Chrift, he is a
new Creature - - _ _ - 39s

DISCOURSE XXVI.

Juftification.

Galatians ii. l5. Knowing that a Man is not
jnflified by the Works of the Law, but by the
Faith o/jefus Chriji ^ - - -" -411

DISCOURSE XXVII.

Sanftification.

I Theff. iv. 3. This is the Will of God, even your
San^iifcation ----- 425

DIS-

CONTf-NTS. XT

DISCOLRSP. XXVHL

Adojnion.

Page
John i. 12. ^.v mnnif as received Ihiriy to them
gave lie l*<ncer to become the Sons of God,
even lu l/i^iu I /tat ielitvc on his Same - - 439

ERRATA TO VOL. I.

p. 239, line 24, for in hight r(ad in his right

274^ 23j inftrt a comma after could be,

310, 25, after obedience infert a comma

33Pj 15j for obe- read obedience

354^ ^Ai^from the words, yet a little while, fo

the end of the Difcourfe, fhould be
epojrophizfd (thus "^ in reference to
Dr. Home's 5th Sermon, Vol. II.
404,— — 19, /or affeft read effc6l
4SPj 8j for in nad to

IMTRODUCTOEY
DISCOURSE.

DISC.

1 O facilitate the reader's anticipation of inttiod.
the Defign of the following Plan, it may not
be deemed inexpedient to endeavour to give
a Sketch of it in the Introduction ; hoping
that the great importance of the different
Subje6ts refpe6tively treated of, will, of
itfelf, pre-engage a ferious attention. It
will be no lefs the conttant prayer, than it
is the earnelt wifli of the author, that his
readers of every del'cription may learn to
know the certainty of thofe things wherein
they have been inftructed; and may God
grant, for the fake of his beloved Son, by
whom " grace and truth came,'' an hearing
ear, and an underftanding heart.

First then, however generally acknow-
ledged and believed the do6tiine may be
VOL. I. B of

2 Introduciory Difcourfe.

iNTBOD. of the exiltence of a God, of his divine
DISC. , ., . ... -

nature and attributes, it will be neceliary,

in fuch an expofition of the grounds of
Rehgion as will be delivered in the enfuing
Difcourfes, to begin at the fountain-head,
that the ftreams which flow from it may be
pure and unpolluted ; pure, I mean, in
themfelves, as proceeding from the un-
adulterated word of God, and unpolluted
with any human opinions and traditions,
or principles of fcience falfely fo called ;
that the feveral topics fucceffively difcufled,
may, when colle6tively taken, fet forth and
illuitrate the fubftance of the Chriftian
Religion. If however they ibould contain
nothing new, but ferve only as a foundation
upon which ferious and inquifitive Chrif-
tians may build their faith, and form a
well-grounded hope of falvation, it will be
his duty to afcribe the leali bleffing derived
from them to God, and to elteem it a
more than adequate recompence, to have
been inftrumental in dire6ting them how to
reap that " joy and peace in believing,"
which are infeparable from a true and
found faith.

Such

Introductory T)ifcourfe. 3

Such a fyftem of reli2:ious inftruftion, il introd.

/ ° ' DISC.

may be prelbnied, may be not only profitable, '^^\'^j.
but necessary in tbel'e days, in which even
tliofe who profeis and call themlelves
Chriftians, are apt not only to forget the
fundamental principles of Religion, but to
negle6l its ordinary duties, and flight its
facred truths ; and if at any time they
vouchfafe to give it a ferious thought, their
minds are leis occupied in the eflentials of
Chriflianity, than in its difcipline and cere-
monies. Not content with the revealed
prefcript of faith and praftice, and to be
guided by that clear hght which fliineth in
the word, they are led on by their own
fancy, daily forming to themlelves a diver-
fity of new opinions, and by not " afking
*' for the old paths," and " not hearkening
*' to my words nor to my law *," faith the
Lord, they form different fefts, and caufe
divisions in the church ; they recede from
the communion of faints, as if it were no
article of their creed ; and, bigotted to
their own new tenets, (often nothing more
than the abortion of their own brain) they
contend for tliem with all the ardour of

* Jer. vi. 16, 19.

B 2 enthu-

4< IniroduBory Difcoiirfe.

INTROD. enthuficiftic zeal, and but too often bitterly

DISC.

v,^^/^/ calumniate and uncharitably cenfure thole
who differ from them in religious opinions :
as if they did not profefs the fame faith,
ferve the fame God, and believe in the
fame Saviour. The author's heart's defire,
however, and prayer to God for all who
may fee caufe, in the perulal of thele Dif-
courfes, to differ from him is, that, all igno-
rance, prejudice, and contempt of God's
word being removed, they may be faved
among the remnant of the true Ifraelites,
and be made one fold under one Shepherd,
Jefus Chrift our Loud.

In public difcourfes of this nature, a
plain fniiplicity of ftyle and uniform per-
fpicuity which are level to the meaneft ca-
pacity, feem befl adapted to the ends of
religious edification ; he fliall therefore
make no apology for the want of elaborate
embeUifliments, but humbly ftrive, with
the bleffmg of divine aliiftance, to fet forth
God's true and lively word, that by means
of found doctrine, and approved know-
ledge, others may be dire6ted to the at-
tainment of divine truth, and taught to
walk in the path which leadethto eternal life.

From

Iniroduciorij Difcowfe. 5

From the confideration of the exillcnce, l^'TROD.
nature, and attributes of the Deity, it will ^^.^«^
be an eafy tranfition to contemplate the
awful, important, and myfterious Do6lrine
of the Trinity, as revealed in the Scriptures
of the Old and New Teftamcnt. Next
the Difplay of the Divine Power in the
AVorks of Creation in general, and of Man
in particular, his original ftate of innocence,
and his fubiequent fall. The adminiftra-
tion and fuperintendance of God's Provi-
dence over all his works ; the introdu6lioii
of original, and the permiffion of atSlual
Sin in the world, too'ether with its o'uilt
and punifhment.

This will naturally lead us to take a view
of the old Covenant which God was plcafed
to make with Abraham ; its temporary
defign and duration, and the final abroga-
tion of it, when a new and better Covenant
was introduced upon better promifes. Here
a door will be opened for us to look into
the wonderful myfteries of divine Grace,
and the tranfcendent glories of the Gofpel.

The firft objed which prefents itfelf to

our view will be the perfon of the great

and only Mediator between God and man,

B 3 the

6 Introducicrij Difcourfc.

INTROD. the man Chrift Jefus. ]^eforc we lake
another ftep in the oeconomy of divine
Grace, we mult paule awhile to contem-
plate the nature and dignity of his divine
Perfon ; the etymology and import of his
titles ; the teftimony of Prophecy in behalf
of his divine preteniions ; the nature of his
mediatorial offices, as a Prophet, Prieit,
and King ; and the nature and univerfality
of that Redemption which he has pur-
chafed ; the preparatory (tages of his humi-
hation, incarnation, fufferings, death, burial
and defcent into hades ; the confequent
circumftances of his exaltation, viz. his re-
iurre8ion, afcenfion, and feffion at the right
hand of God, before he had finally accom-
plifhed the work of man's redemption.

The next fabjeft of inquiry will be the
awful truth of his fecond advent to judge
the world, and in the mean time the ope-
ration and iniluence of the Holy Spirit on
the hearts of believers; the nature and
conftitution of the holy catholic Church,
and the communion of faints; the im-
portant dodrine of forgivenefs of fin ; the
new and appropriate truth of the refurrec-
tion of the body, and the life everlafting.

Prow

IntroduBovu Difcourfe. 7

From the conrideratioii of thefe general ^^^^•
truths, ^ve iliall pals on to Ibme of the more ^-^^r^
pecuhar do6lrines of the Gofpel, which
conftitute the prefent happy privileges of a
Chriftian. Such as the Nature of theChrif-
tian Vocation ; of Adoption ; of Regene-
ration ; of Juftification by Faith ; of Sanc-
tification ; Chriftian Liberty, in oppofition
to Legal Bondage ; the IMeflednefs of
Final Perfeverance, and the Genuine Fruit
of true Chriftianity in a comfortable Ex-
perience of Divine Affurance.

In the exphcation of thefe diftinguiflied
and important doctrines of the Chriltian
Revelation, it will unavoidably follow, that
the efficacy of the Word of God will be
proved to be the power of God unto fal-
vation to every believer ; and that the next
ordinary means by which the benefits of
redemption are conveyed to us is Prayer,
without which no divine bleffmg is either to
be obtained or expe6ted. And as our bleiied
Lord has fo fiir condefcended to take
compafiion on our infirmities as to teach us
how to pray ; the author will endeavour
to (liew, not only that all our prayers Ihould
be grounded upon that pattern, but that it
B 4 is

18 Introdu^oiij Difccurfe.

^i)isc^' ^^ ^" itfelf the moft comprehenfive, the
.^•^^--^ moft perfe8, and the moft godhke.

After fliewing the necefiity of Prayer,
the next confideration will be the Two
Sacraments peculiar to the Chriitian
Church, viz. ]3aptifni and the Supper of
the Lord, which will be ihewn to be the
Seals of the Chriftian Covenant.

In the farther progrefs of this Defign,
it will be necefiary to advert to the moral
law of God, and to enter into a particular
explanation of each commandment, as it
has refpect to God, our neighbour and our-
felves ; that we may trace the nature of
true Chriftian Obedience, as a link in the
fame chain ; for Christ " came not to
" deftroy, but to fulfil the Law * ;'" to
confirm both by his doctrine and example
the duties of the Moral Law, to oblige
men to a more ftri6l obfervance of them
than the Pharifees had inculcated, and to
give grace and ftrength for the perform-
ance of them.

The firft will point out the true nature
and Object of Divine Worftiip; the fecond
will illuftrate the nature and evil of Ido-

* Matt. V. 17.

latry,

Introdu^ory Difcoiir/e. 9

latry, which will be ihewn to be internal introd.

1)1SC.

as well as external. The third will extend ^*%^^
to the regulation of that reverence which
we owe to God in our whole converfation
and behaviour. And the fourth, which
clofes the extent of our duty to Cod,
teaches us the time in which he prefcribes
thefe duties to be more efpecially tendered
to him; viz. on the Sabbath, which will of
courfe lead us to confider the following
particulars pertaining to it ; to wit, the
reafon and inititution of it, its proper fanc-
tification, and its change from the laft to
the firft day of the week, together with
its Sanation.

Under the fifth Commandment will be
coniidered not only the more immediate
duty of children to parents, but that alfo
of inferiors and fuperiors in general, and
of fervants and mailers in particular.

In difcourling on the (ixth Command-
ment, it will be obvious to notice the
various kinds of IMurder which may be
committed, and particularly fome of thofe
fins which the best Interpreter and Ful-
fiUer of the INIoral Law, thought fit to

rank

10 Introdu^orij Vifcoiirfe.

^^iisc^' ^^"^ "^ ^ ^^^^^^ ^^' criminality, little leG
than actual murder.

In detecting the deformity and fm of
Adultery, it is almoft impofilble to recount
the evils of it ; the aggravated guilt, the
palpable injuftice, the infidious deceit, and
confequent punifhment that muft await the
commiffion of it, from that Judge who
feeth in fecret. From hence likewife
there is room to enlarge with much pro-
priety, on the chaftity and modefly re-
quired of all perfons, and on the fatal
effects of promifcuous lewdnefs in general.

In explaining the eighth Precept, it will
be proper to pomt out the various kinds of
Theft of which mankind are guilty, that
they may efcape the puniihment which
awaits them here and hereafter ; and in fo
doing, it will be neceflary to advert to the
proviiion M-hich this Commandment hath
made for the fecurity of every man's pro-
perty.

In the ninth Commandment we fmd
ample provifion made for the prefervation
of every man's good name againlt the poi-
sonous darts of calumny, and the piercing
ihafts of falfe teftimony ; the evil of which

will

JntrocluBory Difiourfe. 11

will be marked in dirtin6tive colours in the i-Vi^oD.

, . . J)ISC.

Expoiition here given. ^-^r^

In the foregoing Precepts of the divine
Law, he has endeavoured not only to lay
open the maniieft corruptions of human
nature, and the vaft variety of fm to which
it is obnoxious ; but in the tenth and lafl
commandment, he is called upon to dive
into the fecret receffes of the human heart,
and flrive to lay a redraint upon the in-
ward dehre, as well as outward a6t. It is
evident therefore, that he muft be more
than a human, even a divine Lawgiver,
who undertakes to impofe fuch tranfcen-
dant precepts, and to controul thofe work-
ings of the foul, which are invifible to every
mortal eye, and amenable to no human
tribunal. This precept may therefore be
confidered as the fpecial bond which
ftrengthens and confirms the fecond table
of the Law ; and in unfolding it, it will
be neceliiiry to characterize the ieveral
degrees of iin which are the objects of it.

From inch a general expoiition of the
Moral Law of God, which his readers
will doubtleis perceive (according to the
Pfalmift's obfervation) to be ** exceeding

« broad/*

12 IntroduBory Difcoiirfe.

iMROD. " broad *," reachino- to the thouobts and

DISC. . / ° . ®

^^-v-*w/ intents of the heart, it will be necelTary to
obferve what is the ufe of the Law, whicL
will be found to anfwer two important pur-
pofes, viz. for conviclion of fin, and refor-
mation of heart and life. Thefe truths
will evince the neceffity of denouncing its
terrors, as well as inculcating its precepts
in order to bring us to Chrift, and prepare
us, through him, for the benefits of Salva-
tion.

But it will be impoffible to accomplifli
thefe great ends, unlefs we are alfo careful
to enforce the fandions of it by fetting
forth its divine promifes, and denouncing
its awful threatnings. By the former, it
will appear to operate aS the rule of our
obedience ; by the latter, as the rule of
divine juftice in punifhing the tranfgrelTbrs
of the Law.

From fuch an expofition of the pofitive
duty of man in all its branches, as is im-
plied under every precept of the Law, and
the penalty incurred for every the leall
violation of it ; it will be an caly but inte-
refting tranfition to the confide ration of the

♦ Pfal. cxix. 9^.

nature

Introductory Dlfcotirfc. 13

nature of that fpiiitual warfare in which we lyTKOD.
are engaged, which may ler\'e to put us on ^^/-^
our guard, and excite us to be vigilant
agciinft the power and fubtilty of our ene-
mies. To this end he lliall endeavour to
point out the variety, ftrength and danger
of Satan's temptations, and the abfohite
necefiitv of rehitinsr them, in order to be-
come partakers of everlalting falvation.

Tliat reiiitance will then be lliewn, only
to be rendered invincible, by putting on
the whole armour of God, which necefla-
rily conhfts of various parts ; it will there-
fore require fome Ikill to know how to put
it on, and after it is put on, to apply it, for
unlefs it is made etie»5lual to the purpofes
of a complete and final victory it will avail
nothing.

From the confideration of the foregoing
Subjefts, carefully diicuiled and enlarged
upon, agreeably to the tenour of God's
Holy Word, and in conformity with the
doctrines of the Eftabli'ihed Church ; he
humbly hopes to be able to fubmit to the
ierious attention of his Fellow-Chriftians,
by means of the labours and afiiftance of
many of our belt Divines, fuch a body or

ly Item

14 IntroduBoi-y Difcourfe.

rxTRoD. fyftem of religious in[tru6lion, as may com-
municate that knowledge which will " make
*' them wile unto falvation."

Whoe\'cr will give his attention with a
pure intent of finding out the truth, and,
after he has made that happy difcovery,
will take care with equal fmcerity to fteer
his courle according to the compafs marked
out for his obfervation, will not, it is to be
hoped, fail in the end of arriving at the
deli red haven of everlafting reft and peace>
throup'h the all-fufficient merits of his Re-
deemer. He may perhaps meet with
lome rocks and Ihoals in his tedious voyage
over the tempeftuous ocean of life, yet
nothing but the darknefs of the night of
lin, or his want of due vigilance, will ever
caufe him to make ihipwreck of faith and
a good confcience. What greater ^encou-
ragement then can any one have, than to
open his eyes that he may fee the hght,
and no longer continue in darknefs ; and
by the help of divine light and grace, fo
walk through this vale of mifery, that h«
may enjoy the daily and happy profpe6t of
life and immortalitv.

- Thid

Introduciory Difcourfe. 15

This is the end of all our preachino-, in'Trod.

^ ^'^ DISC.

and it is but loft labour on the part of our s^.^*--
hearers, if it be not alio their ultimate aim.
Let them ferioufly conlider how great will
be their advantage, if they avail themfelves
of the prelent leafon in lavins; a sood
foundation of religious knowledge, found
faith and pure practice. It will be a gem
of great price, for which the world with
all its allurements can make them no re-
compence. " For what iliall a man Us
" profited, if he gain the whole world,
" and lofe his own foul ? or what fhall a
" man give in exchange for Ijis foul ?"

Indeed fb ufeful and indifpenfible are
the knowledge and practice of true Reli-
gion, and lb necellary the means by which
they are promoted, that unlefs fome ferious
attention be paid to the attainment of
them, no man can certainly enjoy any real
happinefs in this world, nor entertain any
well-grounded hope of a better life in that
which is to come.

In the early ages of the Church, it w^as
an undoubted mark of their pious zeal,
that Chriftians then were as eager to have-
religious inftru^tion imparted to them, as

thofe

16 IjitrodiuJori/ Di/coiirfe.

^ Di^c^' ^^o^s ^^ho were of a worldly and carnal
^^^.-^' fpirit were to puriue the empty and delu-
i\ve vanities of the world. The Apoftles
themlelves, no doubt, in writing their epif-
tles, aimed at the fpiritual edification of
the whole Cathohc Church ofChrift; and
we may well fuppofe that thofe particular
Churches to whom their Epiftles were re-
fpectively addreffed, read them with more
particular regard, and poffibly reaped more
lignal benefits from them than others.

Whatever may be the refult of the Au-
thor's humble endeavours and ftudious
efforts to promote the knowledge and prac-
tice of true Religion (and he relies on that
Almighty Power, who alone can give the
increafe, that they may not be altogether
fruitlefs) he can only aver that they are
fmcerely intended for the general edifica-
tioft of his Chriftian brethren, and (if any
preference is due) to them more efpecially
to whom they were at firft addrelfed.
There is a paramount duty incumbent on
every Pallor to his own flock, and in the
exercife of his public miniftry, he can in no
inftance perhaps be more initrumental to
their fpiritual welfare, than in gradually

unfolding

J-iUroduclory Dlfcourft, IJ

unfolding the firft principles of the Oracles JNtrod^
of God; in which many, no doubt, require w-,-n^
" the milk of the word," though fome
have need of " ftrong meat*." It is with
earneftnefs he repeats it, that he lincerely
wiOies every one in proportion to his know--
ledge and meafure of grace, may receive
(lability in the Faith, and not be " toffed
" to and fro, and carried about with every
" wind of doctrine -j-," but be " rooted
" and grounded J" in the faith. It is a
juft obfervation, that it will not avail any
man to falvation, that he is an outward
and vifible member of the Church, unlefs
he live in a6lual conformity to the precepts
of the Gofpel. Thefe are the means,
which on man's part, may poffibly lead
him to the falvation of his foul. God
hath made ample provifion on his, by the
obedience and death of liis Son, for the
falvation of all mankind. It is their part
to repent of their fins, to believe in Chrift,
to accept his proffered mercy for the par-
don of them, to feek to be fanftified by his
Holy Spirit, and enabled to perfevere in
holinefs and righteoufnefs unto the end,

* Heb. V. 12. t Eph. iv. 14. J lb. iii. 17,

VOL. T. c A6luat4d

18 IntroduBonj Bifcourfe.^

IVTROD. Aauated by fucli a faith, the exerclfe of
N^i^ religious duties, inftead of a burden, Mill
be accounted " perfed freedom,'' and in-
fpire a kind of foretafte of thofe pleafures,
M'hich are at God's right hand for ever-
more.

If any religious inftrudion can lead
them to this happy experience, they will
have reafon to blefs God that ever they
difcovered it, let it flow through what
channel it might ; and it will be their
higheft wifdom, as long as the fpark of
life glows within them, to endeavour to
perfevere in higher attainments of divine
grace and goodnefs, looking unto the end
of their hope, even the falvation of their
fouls, through Jefus Chrifi

DISCOURSE

DISCOURSE r.

ON THE EXISTENCE AND ATTRIBUtES
OF THE DEITY.

Exodus iii. 14»
/ am that I am.

1 HESE words are the declaration of disc. i.
Jehovah himfelf to Mofes, when he en-
quired of him by what name he fliould
make him known to the children of Ifrael.
They conftitute the very foundation of all
religion, and are peculiarly expreflive of
the exiftence, nature, and effence of the
Supreme Being. A clear unequivocal
conviction of this facred truth is therefore
the firft obje6l of divine knowledge. In-
deed to a contemplative and unprejudiced
mind, the perfuafion or belief that there
c 2 doth,

^0 On the Exiftence and

DISC. T. dotli, ever did, and ever will exift one Su-
'"'^'"*^ preme Being, of nitinile power and vvif-
dom, of perteaju(lice,goodnefs, and truth,
the Creator and Preferver, the Sovereign
Lord and Ruler of the Univerle, is the
prime dictate of natural reafon. " The
" inviiible things of Him from the crea-
" tion of the world," argues the great
' Apoltle of the Gentiles, " are clearly feen,
" being underftood by the things that are
" made, even his eternal power and God-
" head */' In laying the foundation or
corner-done of all religion upon the being
of a God, as that, upon which alone can
' be ere61ed the fuperftru6lure of revelation,
let us endeavour more fully to illuftrate his
divine nature and attributes from the reve-
lation w hich he has been pleafed to give of
himfelf.

If then it be an incontrovertible axiom,
that there is a Being, the fame who ftiles
himfelf, " I am that I am," or, in other
words, " the fame yefterday, to-day, and
" for ever f,'' it follows, that this Being
is a neceiiiiry Being, the author of his own

' I^um. i..20. ■\ lleb. xiii. 8.

exiftence.

At tributes of the Deitif. 21

cxiftence, befides whom " there is none i^i-^c. r.
elfe *"." This necefiary, felf-exifting, inde-
pendent Being, is that which we call Je^
hovah, or CioD. AVhen therefore we are
well alibred and convinced that there is
fuch a God (and none but " the fool Y'
will deny the avowal) our next concern is
to ftrive to know that God aright.

o

In order therefore to attain to this di-
vine indifpenfable knowledge, it will be
necefifary to fhew what apprehenfions we
ought to have of God, and his holy attri-
butes, what impreffions thofe apprehenfions
ftiould make upon our hearts, and the
effe6ts they fhould produce in our lives.

In condefcenlion to our weak conceptions
and finite underflandings, which are in-
fufHcient to difcover the nature, and find
out the perfe6lions of the Almighty, God
hath o;raciou{l\- vouchlafed in his holy word,
to reveal himfelf, and manifeft his glorious
nature to us. There we learn that he is
an " eternal, infinite, immaterial, invifible,
•' incomprehenfible Being, a fpirit of
*' tranfcendent glory, to whom nothing in

* Jfaiiih xlvi. 9. f Pfalm .\iv. 1.

" heaver)

22 On the Exijience and

DISC. L " heaven or earth can be likened *." In
contemplating his divine eflence, our ap-r
prehenGons lliould be raifed to the higheft,
hoheft, purelt, and moll fpiritual concep-
tion? of him poffible ; the higheft attain^^
ment we can afpire to on earth, is to bcr
hold, with the eye of faith, " the King
*' eternal, immortal, invifible f- ;'' to en-
deavour to trace out his power, wifdom,
and Godhead by the vifible manifeftation
of created nature^ and by the lively ora-
cles of his own revealed word. That infi-
nite Being, therefore, whofe chara6leriftic
is, " I am that I am,'^ and which hath
communicated to all other creatures their
exiftence, power, life, virtue, and all other
their endowments, is the God whom we
are taught to acknowledge, adore, and
ferve.

,2. The divine attributes are the next
important fubje6t of awful confideration.
The glorious excellencies of the divine na-
ture will here unfold themfelves to our
viev/j and enable iis, in fome degree, to
catch a glimpfe, though it is but through

♦ Gen. xxi. 33. Job xxxvi. 26. 1 Tim. i. 17. Huiajj
xlvi. 9. t 1 Tim. i. 17.

a clouded

Atlributesofthc Bdty. 23

a clouded mirror, of the mojefly of the disci.
divine glory. ^^-^r— '

The beft and ablell divines have gene-
rally coniidered them as of an incommuni-
cable and communicable nature. The
former are appropriate to God onlv, as
God, and cannot belono^ to an^^ creature.
Such are his eternity, omnipreience, om-
nipotence, and omnifcience. The latter
are fuch, that, though they be infinite per-
fe6lions in the Godhead, fome reiem-
blances of them are to be found in the
creatures, viz. his wifdom, holinefs, juftice,
mercy and truth.

The firit in order are his incommunicar
ble attributes,

God is an eternal being, and none is
eternal but himfelf. " From everlafting
*' to everlaftinci; thou art God *." That
which had no caufe, had no beginning ;
and that which had no beginning is eter-
nal. Time, which is a duration that hath
beginning and end, is appropriate to man,
and other vilible creatures ; but eternity,
oi which there is neither beginning nor

* Plalm xc. 2.

C 4 end.

24 On the Eai/ience and

DISC. I. ,gjj(]^ i^ the attribute of God alone. " He
^' is the high and lofty One that inha^
^' biteth eternity *;" with whom one day
is as a " thoufand years, and a thoufand
" years as one day -f-."

He is alfo omniprefent : '' Can any
" hide himfelf in fecret places, that I iTfiall
^' not fee him, faith the Lord ? Do I not
*' fill heaven and earth j ?" The holy
Pfalmift, imprefled with a deep fenfe of
this awful attribute, exclaims, " Whither
" fhall I go from thy Ipirit ? Or whither
" fhall I flee from thy prefence ? If I af-
" cend up to heaven, thou art there ; if I
^' make my bed in hell, behold thoa art
" there ; if I take the wings of the morur
" ing, and dwell in the uttermoft parts of
" the fea, even there (hall thy hand lead
" me, and thy right hand (hall hold me.
" If I fay the darknefs fliall cover me,
^' even the night Ihall be light about me ;
" yea, the darknefs hideth not from thee,
*' but the night fliineth as the day ; the
,?' darknefs and light are both alike to
?« thee§/'

* liiiJah Ivii. 15. f 2 Pet. iii. 8. J Jcr. xxiii. 24,
'^ Puilm cxxxix. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.

The

Attributes of the Deity. 25

The omnipotence of Jehovah is alfo aw- disc. r.
fully linking-: '^ With God all things are ^"^
** poflible */' His eflence being infinite,
his power nuiit be fo too ; for the power of
God is the abfolute perfection of his
eflence, which fubiifts of. its own nature
by and of itlelf infinite, and is comprifed in
that incompvehenlible appellation, " I am
** that I am." AW things which argue
perfeclion, and are fimply poffible, are the
proper object of divine power ; for " no-
" thing is too hard Ibr the Lord •^%"
Whatfoever he can will, the fame he can
do. The will of God is therefore the
adequate meafure of his power, If the
power of God could be limited by a fupe-
riorcaufe, or by the difticulty of the things
to be performed, it would not be infinite,
and therefore not a divine attribute. But
he made all things out of nothing, •' and
■' calleth thofe things which be not as
" though they were:|:/' And, if " the
^* Lord of Ilofts hath purpofed it, who
<* ftiall difannul it ? If his hand be flretch-
" ed out, who ihall turn it back § V' For,

f Mat. xix. 1Q. t Jer. xxxii. 17. X Rom. iv. 17%
§ liaiah xiv. 27.

26 On the Exiftence and

DISC I. "He doth according to his will in the

^^^'**' " army of heaven, and among the inha-

" bitants of the earth ; and none can ftay

'* his hand, or fay unto him, what doeft

« thou*?"

From the irrefiftible power of the Al-
mighty, let us pafs on to make a few ob-
fervations upon his omnifcience. This is
an attribute of the Deity, by which he
knoweth all the poffibilities of things, and
by this perfea knowledge of all things,
every thing whatfoever, that either is, ever
was, or ever Ihall be, with all their appen-
dant circumftances. " His underftanding
« (faith the Pfalmift) is infinite f." " The
" Lord fearcheth all hearts, and under-
*' llandeth all the imaginations of the
^' thoughts J." " All things are naked
*' and open unto the eyes of Him with
« whom we have to do § ;" for " known
" unto God are all his works from the
•^ foundation of the M'orld 1|."

From the abfolute or incommunicable
attributes of the Godhead, our fubjeft ne-
ceflarily leads us to the contemplation

» Dan. iv. 35. t P^alm cxlvii. 5. X 1 Chron,

xxviii. 0- § ^^e^- '^^' 13* 1^ ^'^^^ ^^* ^^'

Attributes of the Beity. 27

of thofe that are relative or communi- ^^'^^- ^•
cable.

Now the firfl of thefe is the wifdom of
God. In his own revelation, he emphati-
cally (liles himfelf " the inviiibie and only
♦' %vife God */' He adminifters the world,
and the affairs of it, with infinite and un-
fearchable wifdom, his ways and provi-
dences being for the moft part obfcure and
intricate. X^y means of this divine per-
fection, he underftandetli the nature of all
things, how they conduce to his own all-
wife purpofes, and how to order and dif-
pofe them in the beft manner to his own
glory, and the good of his creatures. As
at firft he created all things in number,
weight, and meafure, fo in his infinite wif-
dom he ruleth and difpofeth them accord-
ing to his own will, making them " work
" together for good to them that love
" him f."

The next divine attribute under confi-
deration is the hohnefs of God, by which
we are to underftand that he is infinitely
pure and holy in himfelf, hating iniquity,

^ 1 Tim. i. 17. f V^^'^- ^"i- -8.

28 Oft the Exiftence and

DISC. I. tranfgreirion, and fin. Indeed the liolw
nelb of God is fo effential to him, that as
foon might he ceafe to exift as to be defti-
tute of this godhke perfection. He neither
does nor can approve any thing but what
is holy, jufl, and good. " For he is not
" a God that hath pleafure in wickednefs,
" neither fhall any evil dwell with him *."
,We are taught to conceive fo highly of
this divine perfedion, that God ftiles him-
felf emphatically, " the Holy One of
« Ifraelf;" " Glorious in Hohnefs + f
" Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God A1-
" mighty, which was, and is, and is to
" come §."

Another relative attribute of the God-
head neceflary to be noticed, is that of
juftice, the import of which is, that God
is efTentially juft in and from himfelf, and
*' righteous in all his ways ||." " A God
*' of truth, and without iniquity, juft and
" right is he ^." The manifellation of
this divine perfe6tion is no lefs difplayed in
rewarding than in puniihing. When God
of his mere mercy had purpofed to fend

* Pfalm V. 4. t Ifaiah xlix. 7. J Exod. xv. 11.

§ Rev. iv. 8. II Pfalm cxiv. 17. U Deut. xxxii. 4,

Ai tributes of the Deity. 29

his Son into the world, to fatisfy iiis jul- P^^_^j
tice for our fins, and to purchale grace and
glory for us, he promifed in Chriil, and.
for his fake, to juftify and fave all that be-
lieve in him, and walk in the obedience of
the Gofpel. What God thus promifed,
he is bound to perform, becaufe it is juft,
that he ihould acl according to his pro-
mile.

But the vindiftive juftice of God no
lefs obliges him to puniQi the wicked ac-
cording to their deferts. However great
may be the mercy of God in pardoning
the penitent, it never operates in deroga-
tion of his juftice ; for " he will by no
'* means clear the guilty *." When men
have filled up the meafure of their iniquity,
God will pour upon them the full vials of
his wrath ; and the meafure of their pu-?
nilhment Ihall be proportionable to the
meafure of their fins. The declaration of
the Pfalmifi; does, and for ever will, (land
uncontroverted by all the world : " Juf-
'^ tice and judgment are the habitation of
" his throne -j-." But in the exercife of

* Exod. xxxiv. 7, t Pf^ini Ixxxix. 14.

this

so On the Exiftence and

»isc. I. this dread attribute, there is the greatcCt
conlolation to poor loil (iniiers, that it is
always tempered with mercy ; a conlidera-
tion at all times animating to thofe who con-
tinually ftand in need oi" it. In this view
of the divine Majelty, we behold him in-
finite in compaffion, and delighting to ma-
nifefl himfelf to the children of men in
that moft endearing character : " The
" Lord, the Lord God, merciful and
" gracious, long fuffering and abundant
*' ingoodnefs and truth, — keeping mercy
" for thoufands, forgiving iniquity, tranf-
" greffion, and fm *.'' How enlivening
the confideration, that the mercy of God
is as extenfive as the univerfe ; and how
pleaiing the afifurance, that " his tender
" mercies are over all his works -f- Y* To
the whole human race, created after his
own image, he hath exprefled peculiar
marks of compaffion, " not willing that
" any (hould perifli, but that all fhould
" come to repentance '\J' His property
is always to forgive, rather than to execute
vengeance on the moft unworthy; none

* Exod. xxxiv. 6, t Pialm cxlv. p. J 2 Pet. iii. p.

are

Attributes of the Deiti/. 31

are excluded from the arms of divine ^^^^- ^:
mercy, but thofe who exclude themfelves
by their own obdurate impenitence.

Through the benignity of the divine
nature, therefore, a door of mercy has
been opened to the loft race of vidam, for
pardon and reconciliation, in the merits
and through the mediation of JefusChrift,
The mere mercy of God the Father moved
him " to fet forth Chrift to be a propi-
" tiation through faith in his blood, to
" declare his righteoufnefs for the remiffion
" of iins that are paft *." And in him
he hath fully difplayed the abundant
riches of his redeeming mercy to them,
" who, by patient continuance in weli-
" doing, feek for glory, and honour, and
*' immortahty f .'*

Laftly. From this compendious view
of the divine nature and attributes, let us
endeavour to ihew what apprehcnlions we
ought to entertain of them, and what im-
preffions they (hould make on our hearts
and lives.

* Rom. iii. 25,, f I^'^l- "• 7>

When

32 -0)1 the Exiftence and

DISC. T. When a religious aril contemplative
irsind retlects upon the eternity, omnipre-
ience, omnipotence, and omnifcience of
that great and glorious }3eing, whofe deno-
mination is, " 1 am that I am," it mud be
filled with the moft profound and adoring
thoughts of his divine Majefty. The very
idea of eternity overwhelms the foul with
amazement, and makes the boafted days
of man appear lefs than nothing, yea, even
as a ihadow that departeth. Compounded
of body and fpirit, he mufl, in a moment,
in the twinkhng of an eye, in comparifon of
eternity, reiign the one to its kindred dull ;
and unlefs he afpires to be immortalized in
the other, in an eternal and glorious flate
in the prefenceof God, through the great
Mediator, he is of all men mod miferable.
To this end, living as you continually are
in the prefence of God, learn to be circum-
fpe6l in your thoughts, and words, and
a6lions ; " for his eyes are upon all your
" ways, they are not hid from his face,
" neither is your iniquity hid :iom his
" eyes *.'* At all times, therefore, and

* Jcr. xvi. 17.

in

Attributes of the Dc'Uy. 33

in all places, think and demean yourfelveS disc. i.
ai thofe who are aOiired, that they fland
in the prelence of the great God of heaven
and earth.

And let the awful confideration of an
all-powerful Being make you tremble at
his judgments ; let the infinite power and
greatnefs of the heavenly JNiajefty be upon
you; not indeed a fervile fear^ void cf love,
but fuch a dread as will make you afraid
to offend him. Make him your refource
in all dangers and diftrefies; and remem-
ber, to your comfort, that the ground of
all the petitions in the Lord's Prayer is,
" Eor thine is the kingdom, and the power ^
" and the glory, for ever and ever *."
Let the enemies of the church be never ^o
ftrong, God is (Ironger than they ; and
he has promifed that " the gates of hell
'* ftiall not prevail againft it j-." And if
any other motive can add weight to the
argument, let the omnifcience of God
teach you to be fincere, upright, and con-
fcientious, as well in avoiding fecret fms,
as in performing private duties.. " Lay

* Matt, vi, 13, t Ibid. xvi. 18,

VOL. I, D afide

34 On the Uxijhnce and

pjsc. I. « afitle all guile and liypocrify *,'* knowing
that the " Lokd fl-archetli the hearts, and
" trieth the reins -j-.'* The very idea that
God knowelh all our thoughts, andweigli-
etb all our a6tions, (hould move us to
pra6life our duty in fincerity of heart, and
not aflimie " a form of godlinefs J," when
in fecret we follow the works of darknefs.

Under the influence of this truth. Me
ilrall ftrive to be " holy as he is holy §.'*
Sanctity of manners will be diffufed over
the whole man, holinefs Vvill dwell in our
thoughts, purity in our hearts, fincerity in
our intentions, truth in our words, and
juflice in our a6^idns. Temperance, humi-
lity, and modefiy Svill 'adorn our outward
deportment and converfation, knowing that
" nothing can enter into the New^ Jcrufa-
« lem that defileth \\r

And becaufe God is jufl as well as holy,
it ihould make the impenitent tremble :
their conditic^n is fearful indeed; and
thoiigh God deals^ not with them "as an
abfolute fovereign, but as an equitable
judge, yet will he take vengeiihce ion' them

* 1 PelMi. 1. t Rom. viii. £7- Pialm vii, 9.

: '} 2 Tim. ill. 5. § Lev. xx. 7. ^ Rev. xxi. 27.

according

Attribict'es of the Tyaty. 35

Qi-cord'inf^ to thek works, " without refped o^-c. r.
*' of ^loii^ *." O reniember then, how ''^
*' fearful a thing it is to fall into the hands
" of tl^e living God -f- ;" for his ways will
inollailij redly be jtiftified before men, and
the equity of -his difpenfations before the
alfembled nations of the earth.

Happy, thrice happy, however, is the
refledion, that the feverity of divine Juftice
is tempered with mercy ! Be then this
lovely attribute the fubje6l of our daily
praifes, and let it produce in us thofe
grateful returns to him, and that compaf-
lion to our fellow-creatures, which are the
greateft confolation in life, and the happieft
foretafte of that mercy which we ail hope
to experience at the hand of a long-fiiftering
God, through the mediation of a merciful
Redeemer. It well becometh them who
live continually upon his bountiful mercy,
to have their hearts, Uke the fweet finger
of Ifrael, tuned to the harp with a pfalm
of hankfgiving. Love, thankfalnefs, and
praife fhould conftitute their daily and in-
ceiTant chorus, " for the Lord is gracious,

♦ 1 Pet i. 17. t ll^h. X. 21.

D 2 « and

36 On the Exiftmce^ ^-c.

DISC. I. " and his mercy endureth for ever */'
Be it therefore our utmoft care and con-
flant endeavour, to render honour, and
glory, and praife to the eternal, omnipre-
fent, almighty and all-wile Being, who is
infinite in holinefs, juftice, and mercy;
the incompreheniible " I am that I am,"
three perfons and one God, bleffed for
evermore. Amen.

* Pfalm cvi, 1.

DIS-

DISCOURSE II.

THE TRINITY IN UNITY,

JEpiiesians ii. 18.

Through Him we both have Accefs by one
Spirit unto the Father,

The being and attributes of the Deity dtsc^l
having been the fubje£l of a former Dif*
courfe, our next inquiry will be, (though
not without the molt fubmiflive awe, and
godly fear) to contemplate the manner of
his exigence, or the adorable myftery of
the Trinity in Unity. In taking fo fear-
ful a ftep, it is fome confolation even at the
very threlhold to be fupported by the
hand of our own church. Her article, On
this fundamental do<^trine of Chriflian
f^ith, is, ** That there is but one living
p 3 " and

58 The Trimly in Unitij,

DISC. II. " and true God, everlafting, without body^
^"^"^^^ « parts, or paffions, of infinite power, wif-
^' dom, andgoodnefs; the Maker and Pre-
" ferver of all things, both vifible and in-
" vifible ; and in the Unity of this God-
^' head, there be three perfons of one fub-
" ftance, po\ter, and eternity, the Father,
" the Son, and the Holy Ghoft*." Thefe
three perfons thus related, and thus deno-
minated, conftitute that one true God,
into whofe name, faith, and profeffion,
Chriftians of all nations are and have been
baptized. Without controverfy, therefore,
we may infer from either of the texts
above cited, that there is but one God
iubfifling in three perfons, each of v/hom
hath the whole divine elTence, and yet are
diftinjguifhed amongft themfeives by their
perfonal properties. The divine nature
being infinite, it cannot be divided or mul~
tiplied ; it is therefore \yhole or entire in
every perfon of jthe Godhejid.: and though
the perfons do not retiily differ from the
eflencej yet there is fiicb a <li{ti««Stiion her
tween them, that, fome things are appro-
priate to the perlbns which aye Dfitito th«

• * Art. J. ■'• ;'"•'•'

3 <i eflence;

The Trin'tfy in luitif. 39

fflence ; for, if we may be allowed fo to disc. ii.
fpeak, the effe nee of the Godhead is com- ^^-^^
municable, the perfous incommunicable.
The eflence is qne only, but the perfpns
are three. " There is one perfon of the
" Father, another of the Son, and another
♦' of the Holy Ghoit; but the Godhead
*' of the Father, of the Son, and of the
^' Holy Ghoft, is all one ; the majelty,
" glory, and perfection co-equal and co-
■' eternal''^." This is the doctrine of the
Chriftian religion ; a r'r^ht uiulerftanding,
therefore, of fo impo-rtunt a point as the
pature of God, and the maniier of his e.\-
iftence, is highly nerefii-uy to every be-
liever of that religion ; nor can any one
miftake more dangeroufly and fundament-
ally than in fuch an article as this.

Let us then confider how this doftrine
}5 confirmed by the tefliu^onies of Scrip-
t;urc, and the perfonal properties of each
divine perfon ; and the refult will ihe\y the
intereft \ye have in the do6trine that fliall
\ie thus eftabl idled.

Some of the tcftimonics which may be
alleged in proof of the doftrine of the

•' Athan.'iiian Creed.

' p'V' floly

4.0 The Trinity in Vniiij,

DISC. II. Holy Trinity, the beft commentators have
agreed are the following. — " God faid,
" let lis make make man *." The words
f' God Jaid,^'* denote the Unity of the
Godhead, and " let its,'" the Trinity of
Perfons. And, •' by the word of the
*' Lord were the Heavens made, and all
" the ho ft of them by the breath or fpirit
f of his mouth f." Here, " the Lord,"
denotes God the Father; '* the word of
f' the Lord," God tlie Son ; and " the
^' breath or fpirit of the Lord," God the
Holy Ghoft. So alfo in the prophet
Ifaiah is this remarkable fcripture, " The
" angel of his prefence faved them, but
" they rebelled and vexed his Holy Spi-
" rit J." Where " the angeV emphati-
cally denotes God the Son, " of his pre-
f* fencef' the prefence of God the Father,
and the Holy Ghoft, is the divine perfon
declared to be vexed by the rebellion of
linful men.

The teftimonies alfo of the New Tefta-
ment are numberlefs, and more expref*; and
unequivocal.—" Go, teach all nations,"

♦ Oen. i, 26. t Pfalm xxxiii, 6.

X Ifaiah ixiii. 9, 10.

fail^

The Triniti) in Unity, 41

faith the founder of Chriflianity to his dif- disc, il
ciples, " baptizing them in the name of the
*' Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
" Ghoft*." Such is the natural, the ob-
vious import of this rite, by which we are
federally admitted into the church of
Chrifl-, that it can admit of no other con-
ftru6lion, but being l^taptized into the faith,
worlhip, and fervice of the Holy Trinity,
in oppolition to all falfe gods, and falfe
worlliip. A few more paffages, in perfe6l
harmony with the one preceding, (hall fuf-
fice to eltablifli this important point of
do6lrine. '• The Comforter," faith Chrift
himfelf, " which is the Holy Ghoft, whom
" the Father will fend in my name -j/'
Again, " AVhen the Comforter (hall come,
*' whom I," laith Chrift, " will fend unto
*' you from the Father, even the fpirit of
*' truth, which proceedeth from the Fa^
*' ther J." That remarkable benedidion
too of the Apoflle, viz. " the grace of our
*' Lord Jefus Chrift, the love of God, and
♦* the communion of the Holy Ghoft §,'*
as plainh' intimate, as wordy can exprefs,

f JSbtt. xxviii. 19. t Jofi" ^iv. 26. % Ibid. xv. 26'.
§ 2 Cor. xiii. 14.

the

4^ The Trinity in Unity,

pKG^ii. the exigence of three Perfons in the Vmty.
of the Godhead. But for the fake, if
poffible, of farther confirmation in 1;his
fundamental article of Chriflian faith, hear
the declaration of Go© himfelf at the bap-*
tifm of our Lord. " The fpirit of God
^* defcended like a dove, and lighted upoi;
** him ; and lo ! a voice from Heaven, fay-?
*' ing, this is my beloved Son */' Here
the three divine perfons clearly maniiefted
themfelves : the Father, by a voice fron'i
Heaven, proclaimed Chriflto be his beloved
iSon, the Son himfelf flood in the waters of
Jordan, and the Holy Ghoft defcended
like a dove.

To purfue the argument ftill further, it
might eafily be proved, that the fame per-
fections of the Godhead are equally attri^
buted to each of the three divine perfons ;
and that the fame divine operations, the
fame honour and worlhip, and the lame
titles peculiar to the Deity, are equally
afcribed to all three perfons. The divinity
of the Father is unqueftionable. He is
repeatedly called " God Almighty -j-.'*

* Matt. Hi, 16, 17.

t Gen. xvii. l ; xxviii. 3 ; xliii. 14.

Chrif^

The Triniiy in Unity, 43

Phrifl is frequently called '' Jehovah '^^'' discii.
a name which can belong tQ no one but
God. And ''• to lie tq the Holy Ghollf ,'*
is the fame thiag a^ " to lie tq God.'*
As therefore we believe that there is one
only true, eternal? inftnite Gpp, fo mul^;
we alfo believe that thU one God is three
in perfons, Father, >Son, and Holy Ghoft,
and that neither of them is at all interior
or lefs than another, but that all three per-
fpns are true and very God, co-eternal,
co-equal, and co-effential in gl<)ry, power,
majefty, and perfe6lion.

But though the three divine perfons
liave all the fame effence and perfe6li6ns,
we are taught to diftinguifli them amongft
themfelves by their perfonal properties,
which was the next propofition to be con-
fide red.

The perfonal property of the Father,
(however myilerious to human intellect) is
to beget the Son, who is emphatically
ililed, " the only begotten of the Father,
" full of grace and truth:]:." The per-
fonal property of the Son is alfo to be be-

* Jer. xxiii. 6. Zech. x. 12. t Afts v. 3, 4.

t John i. 44'.

gotten

44 The Trinity in Unity ^

Discii. gotten of the Father, and the diftinctive
property of the Holy Ghoft is to proceed
from the Father and the Son. The Fa»
ther worketh of himfelf, by the Son and
by the Holy Ghoft. The Son is fent of
the Father, and worketh from the Father
by the Holy Ghoft. And the Holy Ghoft
proceedeth from the Father and the Son,
and worketh by both. And though we
can form no adequate idea of thefe per-
fonal properties and adions of the blefted
Trinity, nor fully comprehend how they
are diftinguiflied, yet they are ufed in
Scripture as different terms, forming a reaj
diftin6tion among the divine perfons.

This belief of a Trinity of Perfons in
the Unity of the Godhead, is required, as
neceffary to falvation, of all to whom the
Gofpel hath been preached. " For all
*' men (hould honour the Son, even as
" they honour the Father. He that ho-^
*' noureth not the Son, honoureth not the
" Father which hath fent him. AVho-
" ever denieth the Son, the fame hath not
*' the Father, but he that acknowledgeth
" the Son hath the Father alfo *."

* John V. 23. 1 Jc^n ii. 25.

The Trinity in Unity, 45

The Holy Spirit muft likewife be ho- ^^- ^i-
nouretl and worihipped as God, for he is
frequently allerted in Scripture to be the
author and infpirer of it, to be thefearcher
of hearts, the helper of our infirmities, our
comforter and our advocate. " Blaf-
" phemy againft him is unpardonable.
" To refill him is to refifl God. Our
" bodies are the temple of the Holy
" Ghoft; and by being his temple, are
" the temple of God *," which could not
be unlefs the Holy Ghofl were GoD. It
follows, therefore, that if any acknowledge
and worlhip the Father without the Son
and Holy Ghoft, they do not pay him that
homage and adoration which he requires
according to the revelation of his own
word. It is therefore indifpenfably re-
quired of the fame authority, that " we
** woribip one God in Trinity, and Trinity
" in Unity, neither confounding the per^
" fons, nor dividing the fubftance -J-.*'
And though we cannot comprehend the
divine nature in itfelf, yet we ought to be-
lieve it to be fuch as God himfelf hath re-

* Sec Bp. Home's 15th Difcourfe, Vol. V.
t Athanafiaa Creed.

vealed

46 The Trhmty in Vnihy-^

DISC. IT. vealecl it to be. His own cxprefs Revela-
tion is the only foundation oi" divine truths
thou^ii not perhaps in all points fathomable
by human Veafon. It is^ howe\'er, a pro-
per aft of realbn, to believe the revelation
God hath given of himfelf, becaufe weai-e
fure that his teftimony is infallible^

Having thus briefly confidered the doc-
trine of the Holy Trinity, as declared in
the words of the text, and confirmed by
the teftimonies both of the Old and New
TeflaSMerit, together with the propertiies t/f
each divine perfon, I (hall endeavour to
point out, as propoied, the intereft we all
fe^e in -the d<)6tirine thus eftablilhed.

If any truth, then, of divine revelation
'ca'n at till afie6l the reafon and heart of
TMifenv^it'iiicrfl be that which dirrefts him to a
tisfht knowkds^e of that God which he
ptofeffes 4:6 believe, adore, and ferve. Who
theji i-s tile God of us Chrifiians, as dif-
tingiiiniedfrom all the world ? . And how
did we become fo ? Was it not by being
** baptized in the hame of the Father, and
*' of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft ^?*'
Being made Chriftians in the name of all

* INIat. xxviii. 19*

three.

The Trinity in Unity. 47

three, we ceaib to be Chriftians, if we be- ^'^- "•
lie^ve only in one. A firm, unfliaken faith
ih God the Father, God the Son, and God
the Holy Ghoft, is therefore the charac-
terifdc of a Chriilian; and in this faith and
profeilion we have great caufe to make our
boaft. Mere all our means of grace and
bleffing begin, and all our hopes of happi-
nefs and ihlvation end. Let us then not
apprehend the doctrine of the Trinity to
be a mere fpeculation only, a matter of n'o
moment, concerning which we may think
and difpute at our pleafure. There cail-
"hot be a itiore grofs error in judgment i
for if any truth in the life of a Chriftian be
■of real imjiortance, it is that in which Ms
falvatioh is at (lake. And who (hall f^y
that his redemption is not the firft grand
' objeft of a rational foui ? Kfedemption ribt
from temporary bondage and mifery, but
■from fm and Satan, from death and eter-
^rial deftru6%ion, into '* the glorious liberty
" of the children of God *" here, and a^
joyful immortality hereafter. But of fuch
redemption \\'hat detail do we find in the
Scriptures ? By whom was the gracious

* Rom, viii. 21.

defign

48 Ihc Trinity in UniU^.

DISC. IT. tlefiga origiiKiliy planned, and afterward';
carried into execution ? Was it not by the
three perfons of the aver bleffed and glo-
rious Trinity ? " Did not the Son conde-
" fcend to take our nature upon him, and
" in that nature make a full and fufficient
" oblation and fatisfaiSlion for the fms of
" the whole world ? Did not the Fatht^r
" accept that.oblation and fatisfa6lion, and
" in confequence forgive thofe fins ? And
" did not the Ploly Ghofl come forth from
" the Father and the Son through the
" preaching of the word, and the adminif-
" tration of the facraments by his enlight-
" ening, healing, and comforting grace, to
*' apply to the hearts of men, for all the
" purpofes of pardon, fan^tification, and
*' redemption, the merits and benefits of

." that oblation and fatisfaftion *" ?" Now
if this be the plain ftatement of divine re-

^ relation, who fliall prefume to call the doc-
trine of the Trinity only a curious, amu-

; iive, uninterelting topic ? It is the \ery
foundation of our religion : if therefore
you wifii to be Chrifi:ians more than in
name, continue ftedfafl: in that faith by

* Sec i3p. Home's 15th Difc. Vol. V.

which

The Triniti/ in Umt}f. 4.Q

which voii became fo. Be careful to a\OKl ^^^^- if-
thoie iiumberlels errors and enliiaring he-
relies which Satan hath of late fo abun-
dantly fown amongd us, and efpecially
thofe which ftrike at the very root of
Ctniftianitv. But remember, at the fame
time, that it will avail but little to excel
others in the truth of your profeffion, and
belief of the Trinity, if you do not excel
them alfo in the hohnefs of your life and
converfation. Manifell yourfelves there-
fore to be Chriftians, not only by the
Ibimdnefs of your faith, but l)y an unfliaken
confidence in the promifes, by a juft dread
of the threatenings, and by an uniform
obedience to the precepts of the Gofpel,
that both infidels and heretics may be
convinced of their errors, b}^ beholding
the purity of your faith, your piety to-
wards God, vour love towards your neigh-
bour, and your unity among yourielves.
Such condu6l will be a clear demonftra-
tion, that your faith is better than their's, •
when your lives thus adorn your doctrine ;
and it may perhaps prove the happy means
of convincing them, that your faith is none
VOL. I. i: olhtr

50 The Tiinitif in Unity.

DISC. iL other tliaii that of ". the true God, and
" eternal hfe */'

In the power of this divine faith, then,
be it your privilege and happinefs to live,
as well as your glory to die. In the fame
faith have the fpirits of juft men made per-
fe6l, departed out of this life, who are now
linging the praiies of the ever blefled and
glorious Trinity, with Angels and Arch-
angels, with Cherubim and Seraphim, with
the glorious company of the Apoftles, with
the goodly fellowftiip of the Prophets, with
the noble army of JMartyrs, and with all
the company of Pleaven. And until we
join the blefied affenably and church of
the firft-boruj let our tongues and our
hearts be filled with the fame Hallelujahs,
faying, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of
Holts, heaven and earth are full of thy
glory. Glory be to thee, O Loud, molt

high.

1 John V. 20.

DIS

DISCOURSE III.

OP CREATION IN GENERAL.

Hebrews xi. 3.

Through Faith we underjiand that the
Worlds were framed hy the Word ofGod,
fo that Things which are feen were not
made of Things which do appear.

1 il^j firft a6l of God, revealed to us in disc. in.
his holy word, Avas the creation of the hea- ""^-^^
vens and the earth, or that outward and
vifible frame of things, which, of his own
good pleafure, he made in the beginning
out of nothing, for the manifeftation of his
wifdom, power, and goodnefs. Creation
is therefore the proper work of God, de-
monftradve of his exiftence. In the con-
templation of this great and fublime fub-
E 2 jea,

52 Of Creation in general.

DISC. III. je6l, in order to convey a more perfed idea
of it, it will be neceli(ary to confider the
caules, the matter, the manner, and the
end. Theie will afford abundant Icope
for meditation on the great Author, or
efficient, caufe, of nature, and on the va-
riety and goodnefs of the creatures in mi-
niftering to the ufe of man.

1. Be it affiimed then as an axiom in
religion, that the Author, or efficient caufe,
of creation, is God alone. The truth ot
this pofition (lands confirmed not only by-
plain and manifold teftimonies of Scripture,
but by the glimmering, feeble light of
natural reafon ; for ftie herfelf teacheth,
that there muft be a firft caufe of all
things from which they proceed, and that
all perfections which are in other things
by participation, muft be in the original
caufe itfelf, in which fo much wifdom,
power, and goodnefs, are manifefted by the
works of creation, none of which are af-
cribable to any other being but Jehovah,
or God: for which reafon, when the Gen-
tiles would have done facrifice to Paul
and Ijarnabas, becaufe they had reftored

'' a cripple
7

Of Creation in general. 55

" a cripple from bis motlier's womb *'* to ^^'^^- "^•
tbe perfecl ufe of bis bmbs, tbo apoftles
admonilbed tlicm *' to turn" from their
idolatrous " vanities to the living God,
" who made beaven and eartb, tbe fca,
" and all tbings tbat are therein -j^." In-
deed natural reafon teaches us, that the
creatures receive their beinir and iroodnefs
from God ; and the fame teftimony is con-
firmed by revelation, " for bis pleafure all
" things are and were created %." In tbe
ftupendous work of creation, we are in-
ftrufted, by tbe higheft authority, to ac-
knowledge and believe, tbat the three di-
vine perfons of the Godhead were engaged.
" By Chrift, the eternal word and wifdom
" of God, all things were made, and
" without him was not any thing made
" that was made §." In the primitive
chaos, " the fpi) if of God moved upon tbe
" face of the waters ||," before it \\as pro-
duced into that comely order and beautiful
form in which it now appears.

2. Suffice it then, in tbe next place,
briefly to enquire, whereof were all things

' Act- xiv. 8. 1 Ibiil, i5. I Rev. iv. 11.

§ John i. 3. li Ccn. i. '2.

E 3 made ?

54f Of Creation in general,

pisc^ii. made ? of nothing : God's volition in-
ftantly produced them into exiftence. —
** Let there be light, and there was
" light */' " In the beginning/' that is,
before there was any thing but God, the
great " I am," " God created the heaven
" and the earth f."

3. The manner how God created the
world, is the third fubject of inyeftigation.
No means or inftrumentality were em-
ployed : by the fole power of his word the
foundations of the univerfe were laid,
" calling thofe things that be not as
" though they were J, for he commanded,
" and they were created §/' Yet the
work of creation was not inftantaneoufly,
but in the fpace of " fix days'' confum-
mated ; when " God faw every thing that
" he had made, and behold it was very
" good ||." The different modifications of
matter were not fuch, as in their own na-
ture they could affume, independent of the
will and power of the Creator ; " for by
" faith we underftand, that the worlds
" were framed by the word of God, fo

* Gen. i. 3. f lb. i. 1. Exod. iii. 14, I Rom. iv. 17.
§ Pfalm cxlviii. 5. |l Gen. i. 31.

" that

Of Creation m general. 55

" that things which are feen, were not ^^^c. iir.
" made of things tliat do appear *."

4. The end or delign of creation was to
manifeft the wiicloni, power, and goodnefs
of God. His wifdom is amply dilplayed
in the variety, order, fubordination, con-
nexion, and adaptation of nature, in all
its parts, to general and fpecific purpofes.
The excellency of the creatures is of itfelf
a clear manifeftation of divine wifdom.
Imprefled with the conviction of this truth,
the devout Pfalmift exclaimed, " O Lord,
" how manifold are thy works, in wifdom
*' haft thou made them all -f \" It would
far exceed the bounds of a difcourfe of this
nature, to trace out the wifdom of God in
the feveral parts of creation, and their par-
ticular application to his all-wife purpofes.
It is fufficient to glance at them, to be con-
vinced that they difcover the work and
wifdom of their incomprehenfible Author.

The power of God is alio no lefs demon-
ftrated beyond all poflibility of^difpute,
" for the invifible things of God, from
" the creation of the world, are clearly

* Ilcb. xi. 3. t Pi'alni civ. 24.

E 4 '* feen,

56 Of Creation in general.

DISC. TIT. '« feen, being underftood by the things
" that are made, even his eternal power
" and Godhead*." And his goodneis
towards his creatures is fo ftrongly marked
ill every part of animated nature, that it is
no more than a juft tribute of praife and
gratitude to the Ahnighty Creator, to de-
clare, " Let every thing that hath breath,
*' praife the Lord -f."

In whatever lio-ht we take a view of the

o

works of c. nation, they exhibit a great and
ilriking variety. Whether we contemplate
the heavens, and their numerous orbs, or
whether we furvey the earth, and its inha-
bitants, together with its inanimate, as
well as animate produ6tions, they each of
them exhibit fuch a vaft and infinite va-
riety, as exceeds the conipreheniion of the
human underftanding, and, as it were,
overwhelm it in wonder and amazement.
" For by Jehovah were all things created
" that are in heaven and earth, vifible and
" invifible, whether they be thrones, or
*' dominions, or principalities, or powers [.."
But amidft all this manifold wifdom of the

* Rom. i. 20. t Pfalm cl. 6. J Col. i. \6.

great

Of Creation in general 57

great Creator, the moft excellent and di^c. hi.
principal workmanihip is that of angels and
men. Angels are created Ipirits ; created
in the beginning, not improbably on the
firft day, together with the very heavens
themfelves. " Praile him all his angels,"
faith the Pfalmift, " praife him all his
" hojis. Praife him fun and moon, praife
" him all ye fturs of light. Let them
" praife the name of the Lord, for he
" commanded, and they were created ''^.'*
They are invifible, immortal lubftances, in
number infinite. " A fiery ftream," faitH
the prophet Daniel, " iff bed and came
" forth from before him, thoufand thou-
" fands miniflered unto him, and ten
" thoufand times ten thoufand flood be-
" fore him -j^." Their general appellation
is angels or meffengers ; fometimes they
are denominated cherubim and feraphim ;
the former title was alcribed to them when
they appeared in a vilible Ihape with wings,
and had the refemblance of a young man
in the excellency of his beauty, ftrength,
and vigour. The latter, in the vifion of

* Pfalm cxlviii. 2, 3, 4, 5. t Dan. vii. 10.

Ifaiah,

58 Of Creation in general.

DISC. Ill

DISC. Ill Jj^iah, importing their fervent zeal in exe-

cuting the will of God *. In the book
of Job they are character ized by the
pleafmg name of fons of God. " When
" the morning ftars fang together, and all
*' the fons of God lliouted for joy -f-." In
the Gofpel before cited, they are emphati-
cally ftiled " thrones, dominions, principa-
lities, and powers %," They are endowed
with peculiar wifdom and power. David's
chara6ler is defcribed as being " wife, ac-
" cording to the wifdom of an angel of
" God §." And the Pfalmift himfelf de-
voutly exclaims, " Blefs the Lord, ye
" his angels, that excel in ftrength [j ;"
but in the exercife of their wifdom and power
they are limited ; they are not able of
themfelves to work miracles ; they know
not the hearts of men, nor the contingency
of future events. Thefe are the fole pre-
rogative of the Almighty.

In their primitive ilate of creation they
were pure, happy, upright; they had fuffi-^
cient ability to fulfil the whole will of God,

* Ifaiah vi. 2. t J"b xxxviii. 7. : Col. i. \6,

§ 2 Sam. xiv. 20. |} Pialm ciii. 20.

and

Of Creation in general 59

an<1 to perfevere in their obedience, yet i>'SC. iii.
they were fubje6l to a poffibility of defec-
tion ; good and evil, happinefs and mifery,
were within the fphere of their choice :
they who continued in obedience to the
will of their Creator are ftill angels of light,
whilft they who apoftatized, through pride
and rebellion, became fpirits of darknefs.

Next to angels, in the order of creation,
came man, " being made," as the Al-
mighty himfelf hath declared, " a little
" lower than the angels *." Man is a
creature coniifting of a material body, and
a reafonable immaterial foul. The body
of the firll man was made of the earth,
earthy ; his fpirit formed by the divine
power, after the image of God, an incor-
poreal fubdance ; free from any corrupting
qualities, and therefore immortal. En-
dowed too with intelleft, will, and paffions,
eflential faculties of a reafonable foul.
Thefe are ftill his inheritance, notwith-
ftanding they have fuftained both a moral
and intelledual change. The purity of his
underftanding, the reftitude of his will,
the regular fubordination of his paffions to

* rfalm viii. 5.

reafon.

60 Of Creation in general.

DISC. m. reafon, and even that immortality of body,
with which man was at firll created, were
fupernatural gifts. His knowledge won-
derful and divine ; his fenfibility of happi-
nefs exquifite and celeftial ; his will un-
tainted, and abfolutely free to the exercife
of good. Of fulficient ability to have paid
an exa6l and perfect obedience to the com-
mands of his Maker, and to have perfe-
vered in that obedience. If therefore man
had not fmned, he had never tafted death.
It was of his own choice and power to
fland or fall, to hve or die. * " For God
" made man upright, and left hmi in the
" hand of his counfel *." But amidft this
wreck of our fallen nature, (at which it may
fuffice juft to take an oblique view) our do-
minion over the creatures, though impaired,
is not annihilated. In the order of crea-
tion, it appears to have been the will of
Providence, that while the flefh continued
in fubjeftion to the fpirit, and man in obe-
dience to his Maker, fo long the creatures
were fubordinate to man, as fervants are
fubje6l to their lord and mailer. This
original fubjeftion was doubtlefs uni^erfal

* Eccluf. XV 14.

and

Of Creation in general. 6r

and ablblute. From the creatures man i^isc. m.
has even now much to learn, but nothing
to fear. If, to anfwer the purpofes of cre-
ation, or to convey to his mind ideas of
his invifible enemies, any were at that time
Avild and noxious, with regard to man in
his paradifaical ftate, they were tame and
harmiefs. In perfect fecurity he faw, con-
templated, admired them ; but the inftant-
he rebelled againft his Creator, the crea-
tures renounced their allegiance to him,
and became, in the hands of their com-^
mon Maker, inftrumcnts of his puniihment.
They were no longer at peace with him.
Yet in confequence of the covenant and
promife made by God to redeem man-
kind, it was declared after the flood, that
" the fear of you and the dread of you ihall
*' be upon every bealt of the earth, and
" upon every fowl of the air, and upoi>
" all that moveth upon the earth, and upou;
** all the fiflies of the fea */' So far is the
fuperiority of the human fpecies ftill pre-;
ferved, that " every kind of beafts, and oli
'' birds, and of ferpents, and things in the
" fea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of

man-

^ Of Creation in general.

DISC. III. « mankind */' In perfeft correfpondence
with the fame do6irine, the holy Pfalmift,
in contemplation on the works of creation,
obferves, " Thou hail made him (viz. man)
" to have dominion over the works of thy
" hands ; thou hail put all things under
" his feet; all Iheep and oxen, yea, and
" the beafts of the field, the fowl of the
" air, and the fifh of the fea, and whatfo-
*' ever pafieth through the paths of the
" feas. O Lord, our Governor, how
" excellent is thy name in ail the earth -f'T*
Was Adam then invefted with fovereign
dominion over the creatures ? And was
every thing therein made to minifter to
the ufe and fervice of man ?

Learn we from hence to be thankful
and obedient to the great God of nature,
who hath bellowed fuch power and ho-
nour upon the fons of men. Even natural
religion teaches us to ferve and adore the
Creator of all things. And reafon herfelf,
however blind and averfe to the things of
God, cannot but give her fan6lion to the
facred employment of dedicating all our

* Jam. iii. 7, t Pfulm viii. 6, 7, S, 9-

faculties,

Of Creation hi gcneraL 6Z

faculties, both of mind and bod}^, to- his i>isc. ih.
honour und iervice, " in whom we Uv^^and ^^^"'^
" move, an(l liave our being*." Other
creatures, in their kind, by the. general
Law of their , tjature, arQ obedient Jtp the
will of their Maker. The fun, and moonj
and ftars, obferve their appointed courfesj
and fliall.mafU, the great mailer and lord
of the creation, prove himfelf the only in-
fenfible, ungrateful being? God forbid!
Xet gratitude and devotion confpire to
kuidle in his heart an inextinguiihable
flame of divixie love and praife ! The ani-
;nate . p^rt . of the creation, though they
pofleCs iiot th« ineltimable gift of realbn,
a>r0 fubordinate to that end to which they
were ordained. They Ihew forth the praifes
pfHim .tjhajt nxade tliem. Nay, even the
inanimate creation befpeak their Maker:
" The heavens declare the glory of God^
^''^nd ^V^ firmament ftjeweth his handj^
" woi:k, .One day telleth another, and
" oiife nigiit certifieth another. There is
^' neither fpeech, nor language, but their
" jYpilces -^ are heard among: them-ij:/-

.III'.' ' ; ■ .i '';'j ' -• ■'■ ''

, , , * Afis xvii. 28. . .. t Plalm xix, 1, 2, 3-

liJV.

a

And

64 Of Creation In general.

^^'^' " "^"^ ^^^"-^^ ^^^ ^'^'^T heavens, by their
" manifold and beneficial operations, as
" well as by their beauty and magnifi-
" cence, proclaim the glory of their Crea-
" tor, and afford inexhauftible matter for
" contemplation and devotion to the phi-
" lofopher and the chriftian. They never
" ceafe to inftruct us in the fcience of di-
*' vine wifdom. There is one gloiy of the
^': fun, which Ihines forth by day, and
" there are other glories of the moon and of
" the ftars, which become vifible by night.
" And becaufe day and night interchange-
" ably divide the world between themj
*f they arc therefore rep relented as tranf-
'f :mitting in fucceffion, each to other, the
>-*f:taik enjoined them, alternately chanting
" forth the praiies of God. O how does'
" inanimate nature reproach us with in-
" dolence and indevotion !" And though
the heavens are thus appointed to teach,
" yet there is neither i'peech nor lan-
" guage ; their voice is not heard. They
" are not endowed, like man, with the
" faculty of fpeech, but they addrefs
" themfelves to the mind of the intelligent
" beholder in another way; and that,

" when

Of Creation in genicral. 65

" when underftood, a no lefs forcible way : ^^^^ "^•
" the way of picture, or reprefentation..
" So manifold is the wifdoin of God—
" fo various are the ways bv which he
" communicates it to men* !"

Shall not we then, who are the nobleft
part of Creation, " being made only a
'* httle lower than the Angelsf," extol
the praifes, and glorify the name of our
tranfcendent Creator ? It is our preroga'-
tive to be " made in the image of God,'*
that we might at all times offer an accep-
table facrifice of praife and thankfgiving.
Plow then (hall we dare to abufe thofe
noble faculties with which we are endowed
above other creatures, to the greater dif^
honour of him who save them ? God
forbid ! Rather let our thoughts and me*
ditations on the manifold works and varie*
gated beauties of Creation, ferve to en-
large our views of nature, to difcover the
wifdom of the Almighty in his largell: and
mod minute operations, and teach us to
magnify and adore him as the infinite
maker and ruler of all things.

* Sec Bifhop Home on the Pfalms. f Gen. i. 26.

VOL. I. r This

66 Of Creation in general.

DISC. m. This is the delightful employment, and
never-ceaiing chorus of angels, who fang
h3^mns of praife at their Creation, and
will for ever rejoice in the contemplation of
it, though doubtlefs it is, in many refpefts,
too wonderful for their comprehenfion.
Can it then be a lefs rational, pleafmg, and
honourable employment, for man to ac-
quaint himfelf with the vifible works of
God, and with thofe more efpecially
which were ordained for his ufe, conveni-
ence, and enjoyment ? It would be bru-
tal ftupidity not to know the value of God's
gifts, and impious ingratitude not to apply
them with thankfulnels to the purpofes for
which they are bellowed. It is the re-
ligious application of all knowledge that
makes it valuable, and giveth true wifdom
and underftanding. Tor what avail the
deep refearcbes of the philofopher, if they
ferve not to lead him gradually nearer and
nearer to the great fountain of all wifdom ?
A V here is the ufe of his being able to
mealure the heavens, to tell the number
of the ftars, and call them all by their
names, without, perhaps, acknowledging
their Creator, or magmfying and adormg

the

Of Creation in p;vncrai. ^)

tlie imiiienfll V of lii.s power, wifdon^, and '0\yc. iil
goodnefs ? Such knowledge, however woii-
derful, aiul iiirpailing the ordhjary [^puers
bf liuman underltanding^ is much wo,ri^s
and more crimin:;!, draii iguorauce. . Qj-,
could he Ipeak, like Solomon, '- of every
" herb, from the cedar which h in Leba-
** non, unto the hvfibp that ipringeth out
** of the v.'all*," — could he recoimt the
names of all their tribes, ciiid diilinguilli
all their properties — and yet, in this pleni-
tude of vvifdom^ Ihoukl overlook the hand
and delign of Providence in their forma-
tion, and not direct his phllofophical con-
templations of tlicm to tlie praiie and
glory of God, he would only foohildy in-
dulge a fruiilefs and impious curioiitv.
God is villble in all his v»orks, and there-
fore to be adored and gioriiied in them alb
** The heavens and the eaith, day and
" night, funnner -dml wiiiler, th(j nioun-
" tains and valleys, fruiiful trees, and
" all cedars 'J'," proclaim his Beins; and
Providence ; do him homage; prallii hi'a
and magnify him for ever. Thev fupply

* 1 Kings iv. 33. f Plalm cxiviii. 9.

r 2 mate-

68^ Of Creation in general.

DISC, tir; materials of adoriition to intelligent be-
ings ; and it is through the tongue of man
they Utter their fongs of praife. Let us,
therefore^ ttiagniij him with thankfgiving;
tell of jall his wondrous works, and fing
praifes unto him with underftanding. Let
us give utterance to all the works of nature;
and, when our hearts are filled with a
fenfe of the divine majelty, both in heaven
and earth, we Ihall cheerfully join with
one voice in this triumphant acclamation :
" Great and marvellous are thy works, O
" Lord God Almighty ; in wifdom halt
*' thou made them all ; the earth is full of
*' thy riches ! Worthy art thou, O Loud,
" to receive honour, autl glory, and
" power, for thou haft created all things
" for thy glory, and for thy pleafure they
** are and were created*.'*

Now to God the Father* God the Son,
and God the Holy Ghoft, be afcribed
all honour, might, majefty, and dominion,
forever and ever. Amen.

* Plalio cxxxix. 14. Rev, iv. 11.

DLS^

DISCOURSE IV.

OF THE CREATION' OF MAN IN PaPw-
TICULAR, AND HIS ORIGINAL IN-
NOCENCE.

Genesis i. 27.

God created Man in his own Image.

ONa contemplative review of the original ^i^^^^.
ftate of Adanj, the great progenitor of
the human race, nothing feems to refleft
greater glory on the wifdom, power, and
goodnefs of the Creator, than that he
condefcended to make ^^ man in his own
" image, after his likenefs." A curfory
furvey of the prefent ftate of human nature
will eafily convince us that mankind are
not in fucha ftate now. Our inward feelings
arc in pcrfec-t unifon with the lofs we have
F 3 fuftained

70 Of the Creation of Man.

DISC. TV. fLiftajjjed in moral reciitude. Confcience
' 18 a never-iaiimg monitor ; a louice ot evil
is unhappily fprung up withiri us, and as
the It ream is polluted, the fountain mult be
fo too. But whatever change may have
pafied upon man 11 nee his creation, certain
it is, that in the beginning it was not lo :
f Go!> made man upright* ;*' and that
participation of the divine nature \vhich
he enjoyed in his primitive ftate, the fame
oracles of divine truth affure us be for-
feited by his tranfgreflion, through the
feduciions of Satan. Waving, however,
the conlideration of his prefent ftate, m'c
uill contemplate only the glory of his
original innocence, and endeavour to fhevv
\vherein it conlifted.

At man's firft creation, GoD endued
|iim with all intellectual perfeclions re-
quifite for a reaibnable creature, v.hich he
had formed for his oy n glory ; with all
natural endowments too, appropriate to
the conftitution of his being, and with
all moral excellencies adapted to the end
of his creation. His foul was pure, holy,
divitue ; iiis body rightly organized to

* "* ' * Ercl. vii. 90.

winifter

Of the Creation of Man. 71

minirter to its ibperior faculties. His mind ^i>^- i^'-
was void of prejudices, his heart unoc-
cupied with fahe principles, his under-
Handing capable of knowing and compre-
hending truth when diitin6tly propoled to
it; and his memory tenacious only of
good. The firlt ideas of things were im-
printed on his mind by the fniger of God ;
and thefe ferved as the bahs and rule of
his judgment. His will was alfo free to
an extent, only not infinite ; being filled
with a fupreme love of God, and a
natural propenlity to all goodnefs. I J is
appetites and paffions were under an im-
mediate fubordination to reafon, and pro-
perly adapted to the p refer vation and pcr-
fe6^tion of his being. They were equally
eftranged from all immoderate dehres, as
from a fupine lukewarm nefs ; they coveted
nothing but what was truly defirable, an
intimate communion with the divine na-
ture, and an eager third after the fupreme
good. They fuggelted defires only in
conformity to the will of God, without
any fenle of remorfc or compun6tion.
AVhiKt every natural, intelle6tualand moral
iaculty, thus harmonized in the breaii of
? 4 4<^lam>

72 Of the Creation of Man,

^^yrHi' ^^^^i his bodily organs contributed no
lefs to the perfe<5tion of the great mafter-
piece of the Almighty Creator. This was
in all points neceflary : for man, being
compounded of body andfpirit, and capable
of an infinite variety of a6lions, fenfations,
and paffions, which depend upon and
refult from the union of body and foul,
could not be called " upright,'* in a
natural as well as moi'al fenfe, if his body
had not been partaker, in its degree, of
that fitnefs of parts and difpofition peculiar
to fuch a ftate. A diforg^nized body
would have impeded rather than fuccoured
the operations of the mind. It would
have been a perpetual fource of diforder
and diftradion, inftead of a ftate of per-
fe6l harmony and innocence, in which all
the parts of the human frame were in
unifon. The body, therefore, had a con-
formation, health, and vigour affigned it
in all parts, internal and external, naturally
adapted to the laws of union with the
foul. In that (late Adam might be con-
fidered of himfelf, as a microcofm or little
world, called forth into exiftence with all
the perfe61ion of natural beauty and fym-

nietry.

Of the Creation of Man. 73

metry, in which no want or redundance disc. iv.
could be found. No milts of darknefs or
ignorance could arife to eclipfe his under-
standing, nor any ftorms of paffion to
tranfport his foul. The prefent incelTant
druggie betwixt the flefli and the fpirit
had then no room to exert itfelf, but the
powers of each were always in a flate of
reconciliation and amity. Such was the
original (late of harmony and union be-
twixt the body and foul of man. " God
" made man upright :" during his enjoy-
ment of that happy ftate, he was in all
refpe6ls obedient to the will of his Crea-
tor. As a creature, it was foreign to his
nature to be independent, fole mafter of
himfelf; he owed, and was obliged to pay,
homage to his Maker. It was both jull
and neceffary : the very gift of exiftence
Itfelf claimed of him love, gratitude, obe^
dience. Thefe duties were the natural,
immutable laws which necelTarily fprang
from the reciprocal relation of Creator
and creature. The great progenitor of
'the human race being a rational agent,
could not, like the brutes, be guided llni-
ply by impuife, or natural in(tin6l, inde-
pendent

74 Of the Creation of Man.

DISC. IV. pendent of a knowledge and fenfe of duty.
He was endued with reafon ; and he could
not, in conformity with the law of his
nature, refifl her di6lates. The faculties
with which God had gifted him, rendered
him capable of knowing and difcerning
good and evil ; and he was in all refpe6is
competent to make that difcernment effec-
tual to all the purpol'es of his creation.
His will was fubordinate to that end, be-
ing of itfelf inclined to fubmit to thofe
laws, whether natural or pofitive, which
God had enjoined him. He felt the force
of the former as moral obligations, which
his reafon difcovered to him of itfelf to be
neceffary and indifpenfable ; fuch, for in-
flance, as the obligation of loving and
worfhipping his Maker. This was a kind
of irrefiftible impreffion, refulting from
the plained ufe of reafon, and ^o well
adapted to man's primitive ftate, that fuch
homage and dependance could not but
approve itfelf to his natural underitanding.
As the angels in heaven are fufceptive of
their duty without any exprefs revelation,
fo Adam, by means of a fimilar impreffion
on his fpirit before his fall, was competent

to

Of the Creation of Man, 75

to the knowleds-e, and love, and fervice of i>^^c. w.
his God. This evidently appears to be
the caie after his tranfgreifion, becaufe he
ftill retained a confciouihefs of good and
evil ; or, as the Apoftle exprefles it, " the
** Gentiles flievv the work of the law
?' written in their hearts ; their confcience
^' alfo bearing witnels, and their thoughts
?' the mean while accufing or elfe excufing
^* one another*." Thefe natural im-
preffions were perfedly correfpondent to
the inclination and bias of his will : he
^as not confcious of any innate principle
of contrariety to them — nor of any fug-
geftion prompting him to cancel thefe
natural obligations, and make him doubt
pf what he ought to do, or forbear.

Superadded to the power of thefe na-
tural laws, it was higlily reafonable that
God (hould give him fome pofitive com-
mands—fome precept of arbitrary infti-
tution, to make him better acquainted
with his fovereign and abfolute right over
him, and to eftablifli that empire which
he had, as Creator, over the creature.
Accordingly he gave him that memorable
but fatal prohibition—** Thou (halt not

♦ Rom. ii. 15.

«' eat

76 Of the Creation of Man.

DISC. IV. « eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge
^'^ a of good and evil*." Compliance with
this nijunaion was all that was required ;
fuch proof of Adam's homage and de-
pendance was indifpenfable ; but alas ! he
did not long pay this little tribute of obe-
dience to his Creator—^* for Eve took of
« the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave
*' alfo unto her hulband with her, and
« he did eatf.'* The divine precept
carried with it an exprefs menace of
death ; aud alfo a tacit promife of life
and immortality. God was, therefore,
pleafed to aa federally with Adam;
he propounded to him his laws, as his
rewarder and benefaaor-^he required
conditional obedience to them— he for-
tified them with the flrongeil fanaions,
and left him, as a rational agent, " in the
" hand of his own counfelj.'* What
then could God do more ? He had not
only created man in his own image, but
he had ufed (fo to fpeak) every precaution
to preferve him in that (late. How then
could he complain ? His original purity
and innocence could not but render him

* Gen. ii. 17. t Gen. iii. 6. J Ecclus. xv. 14.

happy,

Of the Creation of Man. 11

"happy, whilft he a6led in conformity with ^^^^- i^'-
the will of God and the didates of his
own confcience. In that blefled ftate he
knew his God, loved him, held commu-
nion with him, and enjoyed the aflTurance
of his prote6iion : he felt an undifturbed
ferenity of mind, and enjoyed full vigour of
conftitution. Thefe were fome of the na-
tural bleffmgs which neceffarily refulted
from man's primitive ftate of innocence.
How far they were calculated to conftitute
a ftate of happinefs, we may judge in pro-
portion to our prefent defires and endea-
vours after them. For it is an undeniable
truth, that the more we are conformed to
the image of God, in which we were
created, the more we participate of real
joy and fubilantial felicity. To entertain,
therefore, too faint an idea of the original
purity of Adam, leads only to fcepticifm
and infidelity, becaufe it is apt to prevent
us from fufficiently diftinguiQiing his ori-
ginal (late of innocence from our prefent
lapfed condition. Hence it comes to pafs,
that they who endeavour to fubvert the
do6lrine of original lin, and wilh to leave
man after the fall equally prone to good,

and

78 Of the Creation of Man.

Bisc. IV. and as free in the exercife of his will to-
wards it, form a very erroueous idea ot
that divine image in which he was created.
For in that ftate lie had no propenfity to
evil : (hall we then refie6l diilionour upon
God, in fupport of fuch falfe doftrine, to
extenuate the prefent fmfulnefs of man ?
Surely, if there be any taint in the crea-
tion of man, as it now appears, it is not
imputable to the Creator. Who then is
bold enough to aflert that the corruption of
man's nature derives its fource from the
very Author of his being ? The very idea
is blafphemy : it derogates from the holi^
nefs, juilice, and goodnefs of God, as if
he could not create a moral agent without
fin. Yea, " God made man upright;'*
^nd that uprightnefs was originally effen-
tial to his nature. His purity and inno^
cence were not merely as a beautiful robe
with which his Creator had invefted him ;
they were the conftitution of his very
nature itfelf, though not infeparable from
it ; the inheritance of his birthright ; and
admirably adapted by his all-wife Maker
to the end of his being.

The

Of the Creation of Man,

;^ -^ 7f}

The difference then betwixt his original '^^sciv.

and prelent ftate is this : in the former he
was created in the image of God, in
righteoufnefs and true hohnefs ; in the
latter he is conceived and born in fni.
Plis refemblance of the Deity was emi-
nently confpicuoiis in many refpects, par-
ticularly in the immortality of his foul,
the fpirituality of his affe6lions, and the
treedom of his will. His moral p8rfe6iions
alfo neceffarily conftituted a part of that
fimilitude which he bore to his divine
Author. As, therefore, other chara6lers
of a godlike relemblance were imprinted
upon x\dam belides thofe of innocence
and purity, which rendered him partaker
of a divine nature, fo all of them united,
formed the diftinftive beauty of his nature,
and the peculiar fplendor of his perfec-
tions. God placed him in this lower
world, as in a temple, to receive that tri-
bute of homage and adoration from him
which was due from a creature to its
Creator. To confecrate him to this holy
office, as the pried of God, he had by
nature endowed him with gifts and graces
appropriate to tlie difcbarge of it ; the

fame

80 Of tilt Creation of MaU.

DISC. IV. fame being imprinted on the fleflily table
of his heart, by the immediate finger of
God.

Another confideration, which may ferve
to convince us that man was formed in the
image of Cod, Is, the ruins that remain
of io fine a fabric. Whence our know-
ledge of good and evil ? whence that in-
ward confcioufnefs of right and wrong,
but the precious rehcs of that integrity
and primitive innocence with which God
at firlt endowed man ? We judge by thefe
of the grandeur and beauty of the antient
edifice, as travellers judge of the pyramids
of Egypt, and the wonders of antiquity,
by a view of their ruins. Virtue and
vice, good and evil, light and darknefs,
are now fo blended together in our nature,
that they conftitute a kind of chaos in the
foul of man. Yet we muft judge by thefe
of the original beauty of our primaeval
ftate. There is even yet fome refemblance
betwixt its former innocent and its prefent
corrupt (late, when regenerated and re-
newed. The fcripture every where points
out a ftriking analog3^ It calls upon us
to be ** renewed after the image of him

" who

Of titc Creation of Man. 81

" who crented us *." Tlie work of grace is ^i^C- iv.
to form in us a new man, created in true
holinefs and righteoufnefs. " If any man
" be in Chrift, he is a new creature *f- ;" we
are God's workmanihip, " created in
" CliriR Jefus unto good works J." Now
this new-birth is the recovery and re-
eltabUfliment of our fallen nature to the
divine fmiilitude, which confifts in a par-
ticipation of the divine nature and per-
fections. How then can we refleft upon
the glory and innocence of Adam's para-
difaical ftate, and not acquit his Maker of
any fault in his tall ? Shall we not rather
confefs our preient ftate of inabihty and
imperfedion, and regret with deeper fen-
fibiUty our deprivation of that once blefled
fruition ? Yea, let us adopt the language
of the wife fon of Sirach, and own, " that
*' God made man from the beginning,
" and left him in the hand of his counfel,
" if he would, to keep the commandments,
" and to perform acceptable faithfulnefs§/'
"What then fhall we fay ? Shall we liften
to the murmurings of impiety, and lay any

* Col. iii, 10, t 2 Cor. v. 17. t Eph. li. io.
§ Eccluf. XV. 14

VOL. I. Q thincr

82 Of the Creation of Man.

DISC. IV. thins: to the chartre of God ? God for-
bid : let every mouth be • (lopped — " let
" God be true; but every man a liar*."
He was the adorable author of our inno-
cence. We, alas ! the fole caufe of our
fall. " Who art thou, O man, that re-
" plied againft God ? Shall the thing
*' formed fay to hin) that formed it, why
" haft thou made me thus}?" When
the clay of the earth was fafliioned into a
velTel of honour, how iliall it complain,
when, through its own fault, it became a
veilel unto diihonour 't The tranfcendent
glory and perfe6lion of our firft eftate,
ought to excite in us a ihame of our pre-
fent fallen and degenerate condition, and
teach us to behold ourfelves iinners in the
mirrour of the innocence of our firft
parents. But loft and miferable as we
are, groaning under the body, of this
death, we know, that through the grace of
God in Chrift Jefus, and the benefits of
that covenant eftablilhed in him, we may
regain the image and love of God, and
even greater bleflings than thofe which

• Rom. iii. 4. -t Ibid. ix. 20.

accom-

Of the Creation of Man. 83

accompanied the creation of Adam ; r^isc. iv.

though it is true, we cannot become on

eartii what he was in Paradife. With

propriety, however, may we apply to our-

felves the language of Job — " O that I

" were as in months pad, as in the days

" when God prelerved me ; when his

" candle fliined upon my head, and when

" by his light I walked through darknefs;

" as I was in the days of my youth, when

" the fecret of God was upon my taber-

" nacle, when the Almighty m as yet with

" me. I put on righteoufnefs, and it

" clothed me ; my judgment was us a robe

" and a diadem, my glory was freOi in

" me*." And blefled be God, we may

all recover, in fome meafure, by the fecond

Adam, our lofs in the firft. Which God

grant, for the fake of his dear Son, Jefus

Chrift our Lord ; to whom, with the

Holy Spirit, be afcribed all honour, glory,

praife and dominion, both now and for

evermore. Amen.

* Job xxix. 2, 3, 4, 5, 14.

DIS-

DISCOURSE V.

THE TALL OF MAN.

Genesis iii. 6.

And when the Woman faw that the tree
was good for food, and that it was
pleafant to the eyes, and a tree to be
defred to make one wife ; flie took of
the fruit thereof, and did eat, and
gave alfo unto her hujband with her,
and he did eat.

In thefe words are recorded by the fpi- d^sc.v.
rit of God, the moft melancholy cataftro- ^^^-^^^
phe that ever befel the human race. It
originated with the firft pair, the root of
all mankind, and its confequences have
been entailed upon all their pofterity.
How different, alas ! is the pi6ture from
the pleafmg portrait we lately took of
G 3 man's

86 The Fall of Man.

DISC. V. man's primitive ftate of innocence, where
all was light, purit}^ and perfe6tion ; and
nothing is now exhibited to our view but
darknefs, impurity, and imperfection.
Gloomy however as the profpecl may be,
as the foundation-fione on which the re-
demption of mankind, and the pecuUar
do6lrines of the Gofpel through Jefus
Chrift are laid, we will endeavour to '\\-
luftrate the important truth of the fall of
Adam with its confequences and effe6ts,
taking care at the lame time, to (liew that
it was imputable to man, and not to
God. And may the good fpirit of God,
who alone can reftore us to that divine
image we loft in Adam, enable us to be-
hold with heartfelt forrow and concern,
our prefent corruption and mifery !

To a contemplative mind, viewing its
prefent ftate, and reflefting on the out-
ward courfe of nature, it is evident that
a moral, as well as natural change, hath
taken place hnce the creation of Man.
And, if we trace the channels of cor-
ruption and depravity, up to their foun-
tain-head, we ftiall iind, we cannot derive
the fource of moral and natural evil from

any

The Fall of Man. 87

any other root, but the common proge- disc. v.
iiitor of tlie whole human race. The
ftrcam as naturally partakes of the qua-
lity of the ipring, as the caufe produces
the efte6l, and that the current of human
aftions is polhited, every one's experience
is but a melancholy proof. How theh
did it become fo ? The words of the text
are an infalhble folution of the queftion :
— " AVhen the woman faw that the tree
" was good for food, and that it was plea-
" fant to the eyes, and a tree to be de-
" lired to make one wife ; (he took of the
" fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave
" alfo unto her hulband with her, and
" he did eat." God indeed had made
our firft parents pure, holy, happy: and
fo long as the}'- complied with the natural
and pofitive law of their Maker, they
could not but continue in that innocent
and blelTed ftate. But alas! that happy
innocence was foon infringed upon by the
evil fpirit, which had apoftatized from
God hmifelf; and through envy and ma-
lignant fubtilty had beguiled Eve, ** and
'' file did eat of the fruit of the tree *,"

* Gon. iii. 13.

G 4 of

88 The Fall of Man.

DISC. V. of the which, on pain of death, God
had faid, " ye (liall not eat *." As foon
however as they began to flatter them-
felves, through the artful iniinuations of
the ferpent, that they " (hould be as
" Gods, knowing good and evil-j-," they
began to conceive thoughts of increduhty,
pride, and independence towards their
Maker; "they fought out many inven-
" tions;]:," and inftead of fliewing that
obedience due to their Creator, as a pre-
fent and permanent principle in their
minds, they turned afide from that pri-
mitive limplicity, unity of defign, and
uniformity of condu6l fo congenial to
their nature. AVhen they had thus once
loft light of their homage and depen-
dence upon God, they were from that
moment overwhelmed in the vanity of
their own imaginations, and became, like
their infernal feducer, a melancholy ex-
ample of apoftacy and rebellion. They
did not indeed feek their own deftru6tioia,
but being tempted, they liftened to the
fedu6lions of their grand adverfary.

* Gen, iii. (). t It>itl- 5. % Ecclcs. vii. 29.

The

The Fall of Man, 89

The o-reat diiriculty then is, to difcover disc. v.
the pollibihty of man's detection, and de-
.parture from his original innocence, fince
he uas lb newly created in the image of
God. The fa6i is, the fall of Adam was
voluntary, not neceffary ; being tempted,
he fell, but he had ftrength enough given
him of God to have vanquiflied the
tempter, and to have flood firm to his
obedience. It was in no lenfe caufed by
God, though foreknown. It was indeed
permitted, becaufe he would not impeach
the freedom of will he had given unto
man. But it is as impious, as abfurd,
to afcribe it to the power of an inevita-
ble fatality. Until w'e know the whole
account of the temptation, what induce-
ments they themfelves gave the tempter,
and what progreffive fteps they took to
confummate their own ruin, we ought
not to afcribe it to the effe6ts of a pre-
ordained neceffjty. It is impoffible to
determine how far the operations of the
mind as well in Adam, as in every good
man who yields to a temptation, will
carry him, before he commits an evil
action. The emotions of the mind, when

once

^0 The Tall of Man.

Discv. Qfj^.^ ^i^gy j^^^.g gained the confent of the
will, are often quick and fudden ; in him
they thus unfortunately operated to his
ruin. To deny the fa6^, is to dii'pute the
authority of divine revelation, and to
queftion the truth, which hoth fcripture
and experience daily teflify, of the cof^
ruption of human nature. And though
man was made upright, he was ilill liable
to fall. As a finite being he was necef-
farily fufceptible of change : it was an
appendage of his condition : for he was
placed by his Maker in this world, only
in a ftate of probation, to prove his fide-
lity and allegiance ; being thus left for
-awhile to his own counfel, it of courie
implied a poffibility of change of con-
dition. At the fame time he was made
capable of knowing and loving him, and
was endowed with a power of free-will, to
choofe the good and refufe the evil.
Such an end-owment was at all times fuffi-
cient to guard Him in that ftate of trial.
The^erv angels themfelves were on(?e
under fimilar circumilances, during which
they were capable of perfevering in their
original purity, or of falling from it. Ac-
cordingly

The Vail of Man. 91

cordingly fome of them fell: Is it then to i>t?c. t.
be wondered at, that God (hould fufter
our firft parents to follow the natural dic-
tates of thofe faculties, with which He
had endowed them, and make the con-
tinuation of their own happinefs depend
«pon themfelves ? But the truth is, they
\vei*e free to ftand or fall: If they pre-
ferved thofe powers and faculties inviolate
with which they were intrufted as good
and faithful ftewards, they (hould pafs
into a more perfc6t and unchangeable
(late. But alas ! every one knows, every
one feels the lad event. They went from
•incredulity to independence, from inde-
pendence to inordinate concupifcence, and
from concupifcence to the actual tranf-
grefllon of eating the forbidden fruit..

The fall of Adam, it may therefore
-fairly be inferred, was free and voluntary,
and by no means imputable to God.
This dedu6tion refults from the cleared
and moft inconteltible principles of rea-
lon and revelation. The former abun-
dbntiy ratifies that confcioulhefs of cur
own freedom of will, of which every ra-
tional agent is (^iiceptible. Tor will fuch
'■ '^ an

92 The Fall of Man,.

Disc.v. an one be bold enough to affirm, that
in the commiffion of a crime, neceffity
or conftraint was the only motive ? Or if
he fliould be hardy enough to avow it,
who will give him credit for his avowal ?
Who will believe that he did not aO;
only in compliance with the choice of his
own will ? And if this be fo now, when
the freedom of man's will is confefledly
fo enflaved to fin, how much more in a
ftate of innocence, when he enjoyed the
abfolute privilege of choofmg good, and
refufmg evil ? It was not becaufe he chofe
error for error's fake, or did evil for evil's
fake, but he determined for himfelf, fm-
ned of his own accord, and yielded to
the temptation in fpite of his knowledge
and conviftion to the contrary. Eve
was not ignorant of the prohibition, fhe
even alledged it herfelf, in excufe to Sa-
tan, and Adam was in the fame circum-
ftances. Thus far does the teftimony of
realon avail on behalf of the fall of man.
The latter, or the evidence of revelation,
is (till more explicit : there is fcarce any
truth in fcripture, either exprefs or im-
plied, more frequendy inculcated, than

that

The Fall of Man. 93

that man was the author of his own i>i^v.

ruin. " Thou haft deftroyed thyfelf,

" faith the Lord, but in me is thy

" help*." " Shew us thy mercy, O

" Lord, and grant us t/ii/ falvation.

" My foul, faith the Pfahnift, waiteth

" on God, from him cometh 7711/ falva-

" tion. — He only is my falvation, my

** God is the rock of 7711/ falvation -i'/*

This leads us to another refle6tion, the
confequence of the former confiderations,
that the fm of Adam cannot be imputed
to God. There is no truth fo evident,
as that, God being infinitely holy, He
cannot be the fource of evil. And, be-
ing fupremely juft and good. He could
not render that being whom he had
created in his own image unhappy, in
fpite of itfelf, or produce in it by a ne-
cefifary and efficient caufe the fame evil
which he had prohibited, abhorred, con*
demned and punilhed. Shall it then be
faid, that God enjoined upon man a pro-
hibition, which was the occalion of big
fm, and ferved as a Ihare to him ? But

* Hosea xjii. Q. f Psalm Ixxxv. 7. Ixii. 1, 2.

Ixxxix. 26.

how ?

94 The Fall of MfJiL

DTscv. how? Is the lawgiver the caufe of the
criipe, becaiife he prohibits it ? Is the
mailer the caufe of his fervant's unfaith-
fulnefs, becaufe he gives him a command
in order to prove him ? Is it not agree-
able to the fovereign majeliy of God,
and the necefiary dependence of man,
that the Almighty fhould prefcribe an
abfolute rule of conducf, and in making
a covenant with him, impofe certain con-
ditions ? Surely then it is impious ingra-
titude to lay any tiling to the charge of
God, becaufe he endowed him with a
freedom of will, by which he deftroyed
himfelf. What elfe is it but to reproach
the x4.1 mighty for his mod valuable gifts,
becaufe we abiife them ? Will even the
common intercourfe of life juftify any im-
putation upon a benefactor, for the mif-
application of his benefits ? Adam indeed
might have fallen without the diltinguifli-
ing faculty of frec-wili, but deflitute of
that which dire6ted both his knowledge
and his choice, he would not have been
a reaibnable being, capable of loving
God, and enjoying an infinite and Ibve-
reign good. It was enough that God

had

The Fall of Man. 95

had endowed him with all the perfections, i^isc.v.
moral and intelledual, necelTary for the
well-being of his nature, and futTicient to
render him happy in that Itate, though
it was indeed fufceptible of alteration.
Mud we then impeach the all-wile
Creator of man, becaufe under tempta-
tion, he left him to his own free-will,
without preventing his fall by a Ibper-
natural interpolition ? We (hoiild remem-
ber that God purpolely left him in a
date of probation, and to have fupplied
any extraordinary aid to withltand the
temptation, would have been to fruilrate
his own delign. The argument feems
to apply thus : How ihould I prove the
fidelity of my fervant, if by fome invin-
cible means, I prevented him mylblf from
a poflibility of difobeying me, if he
would ? God indeed lays a ftrong in-
junction upon us to be faithful, and at
the fame time by his grace enables us
to obey him, becaufe we are not merely
under the covenant of nature, but un-
der a fupernatural dilpenfation of grace
founded in Chrifl Jefus. And it is
through the benefits of this new cove-
8 nant.

96 The Fall of Alan.

D.'sc.v. nant, that we have any hope of deliver-
ance from the miferies of our fallen
nature. " Chrilt is the true light that
" lighteth every man that cometh into
" the world *." " No man cometh unto
" the Father but by him -f-." In his blood
are all our fins, both original and a6tuai,
waflied away. " He lifteth up the poor
" out of the mire," and " giveth medi-
" cine to heal their ficknefs \,."

Let us then humble ourlelves at the
thought and experience of our loft and
fallen condition by nature, and have re-
courfe to the grace and mercy of our
Lord Jefus Chrift, to fave us from death
and eternal ruin. And let us be tho-
roughly perfuaded, that how capable fo-
ever we were of deftroymg, we are now
not able to fave ourfelves. " For no man
" can redeem his brother §," how much
lefs himlelf, " or give to God a ranfom
" for him.'' If in a ftate of innocence
we could not maintain our integrity, how
Ihall we be capable of relieving ourfelves
from the fad confequences of the fall?

* John i. 9' t Il^id. xiv. 6. J Psalm cxiii. 7.

^ Ibid, xlix. 7.

The

The Fall of ]\fan. 97

The only poffible means of recovery now disc. v.
are, to renounce the natural pride and
felt-fufficiency of our own ilrength, and
have recouri'e to the free and Ibvereign
grace of God, " for we can do all things
*' throuali Chrift flren "then ins: us'^."
.Deftitute of his fupport and fuccour, mc
are like a lliip without a pilot, in a teni-
pefluous ocean. " Lord, fave us, we
" perillif-!" Indeed, our naturalflatc is
enough to fill us with fear and trem-
bling, but '' the grace of God which
** bringeth falvation .j;," infpires us w ith
hope and confolation. Bleiled therefore,
for ever bleifed be that mercy which
came to vifit us, " miferable fmners,
" who lay in darknefs, and the fliadow
** of death, that it might make us the
" children of God, and exalt us to ever-
" lafting life§.'* How pleafmg, how wel-
come, would thefe glad tidmgs be, were
we but once truly fenfible of our mifery
through the fall of Adam ! With what
unfeigned gratitude and praife fhould we

* Phil. IV. 13. + Matt. viii. 25. J Tit. ii. 11.
§ Coinmun. Serv.

VOL. I. II exclaim.

PS The Tall of Man.

DISC. y. exclaim, " thanks be to God for his un-
" fpcakable gift*." " Not as the offence,
" fo ahb is the free-gift, for if thyough
" the offence of one many be dead,
'* much more the grace of God, and
" the gift by grace, which is by one
" man Jefus Chrilt, hath abounded unto
*' many i-." It is our part to receive
with repentance and faith our great Re-
deemer, who came to deUver us from lin
and death, from the curfe of the law, and
from the power of Satan. Let us there-
fore fight manfully under his banners,
againft all our fpi ritual enemies, fo fliall
we be " more than conquerors through
" him that loved us]:." Let us no longer
i(jek out vain inventions and fooliOi de-
lires, which are " conupt according to
" the deceitful lufts §," but earneltly im-
plore the help of God, that mo may
" ferve Him in true holinefs and righte-
*' ouliiels all the days of our life (I/*
Adam fell through unbelief; let us llajul
fail in the faith : he tranlgreiled through

* '.^ C'or. ix. 15. t Rom. v. l,**. J Rom* viii. oj .
S Epli. i\. ■>■,', II Luke i. 74, 75.

a vain

The Fall of Man. 99

a vain dclire of knowledsie, let us liiinibly ^i^t;. v.
and taithfuUv acquiefce in " the trulh as
** it is in Jelus"*." " Chrilt gave bis
*' lil'e to be the propitiation tor our
** lins-J:" His grace and Ipirit are at all
times ready to lan6tiiy our depraved na-
ture, and renew our hearts into the
imaoe of God. If liieb l"an6tification
and renovation be neceliary, (and furely
none ^\ho acknowledge the redemption
that is in Chrilt Jefus will deny it) let
us worthily adore the divine myitery,
and elteem it an invaluable mercy to be
born under the new covenant, " which ijj
" eftabliilied on better promifes ;J;," pro-
mifes more fpiritual, more clear, more
exteniive, and the happinefs refer ved in
heaven for us, more tranfcendent, more
lafting, and more glorious than that in
paradife, even unchangeable, immortal,
eternal.

Grant therefore, O blefiTed Loud God,
that we may all be fo delivered from the
guilt and punilhment of Adam's tranf-
grefllon ; that, being renewed in the

• Eph, iv, i.M. t J John ii. 2. _ ; Heb. viii. 6.

H 2 imaee

100 The Fall of Man,

Pisc V. in^age of God, and made *' partakers of
" a divine nature *," we may be re-in-
ftated in the glorious fruition of the eter-
nal godhead, Father, Son, and Holy
Ghoit, to whom be afcribed all the ho-
nour, and glory, and power, of man's
falvation throughout all ages, world with-
out end. Amen.

* 2 Pet. i. 4.

D1S=

DISCOURSE VI.

PROVIDENCE.

Hebrews i. middle part of ver. 3.

Upholding all Things by the Word of his
Poxver.

After the creation and fall of man, disc. vi.
it is fome confolation to his forlorn con- ^"^^^-^^
dition to be aiTured that the world itfelf,
and man more efpecially, are fuftained,
preferved, and governed by an over-ruling
Providence. Accordingly this doctrine
hath been univerfally admitted by all who
profefs to believe in divine revelation, In-
deed without the admiffion of this facred
and comfortable truth, it would be im-
poffible, upon any rational principle, to
account for the fuftentation, government,
and order of the eftablilhed courfe of
II 3 nature.

102 Providence.

DISC. VI. nature. The very definition of Provi-
dence is, that it is a work of the Alniiglit}',
by wliieh be forefees, directs, and orders
all tbings after tbe counfel of bis own
will, to their proper ends and to bis own
glory. Now as all tbings are the work
of bis wiiHorn and power, fo they conti-
nually depend upon his fuperintending
Providence for their prefervation. " Thou
^* preferveft man and beaft */' *' Thou,
" even thou, art Lord alone ; thou baft
*' made heaven and earth ; the heaven of
** heavens, with all their hoft; and tbe
*' earth, and all things that are therein ;
^* the feas, and all that is therein ; and
" thou preferveft all, and the boil of
^' beaven worfliippeth thee-f." Equally
dependent, alfo, are tbe creatures for
their operations and power of a6lion, as
for their very exiftence ; for God worketb
in them according to their nature and mode
of operation; and notwithftanding this
divine agency in and upon them, tbe effeds
they produce are to be afcribed to their
immediate caufes ; which in no degree

* Pfalm x^gtvi, 6. f Nchcm. ix. 5.

obftrua

Proiidcnre. 103

obftriK^ the fret dom of ihcir refptctlve t)i><-' vi.
faculties, but enable ibem to bring them
forth into action, according to their na-
tures, in iuch a manner, that what they
do is properly their own at:l, though they
cannot do it without the co-operation of
the divine energy.

And as the irrational part of the crea-
tion are thus fuliained in their i'phere by
the all-protecting hand of Providence,
much more are we preferved in all evils
and dangers. Kxcept it watch over us for
good, in vain do we feek for refuge : fo
manifold and great are the evils and miferies
of this prefent life, that we Qiould never be
fecure one moment, if tlie ibperintending
arm of Omnipotence fliould be withdrawn
from us ; — but, " under the Oiadowofthy
" ^^ings*,** O Lord, we are fafe ; for
** thou wilt defend us as with a iliield.'*
God ruleth over all, as the iupremc
governor ; yea, " he ruleth the world w ith
" the palm of his hand, and all things
" obey his will-j-." " The eyes of all wait
" upon thee, O Loud, and thou givelt
^' them their meat in due feafon. Thou

* riUlin xvii. 8. t Kccliil'. xviii. 3.

H 4 " openeft

104 Pi'ovulenre,

Di^cvi. " openeft thine hand, and ialisrieft tlio
" deflre of every living thing*." For
the fame reafon we are taught to believe,
that all the bleOings we enjoy are the
gifts of God, and all our afflitSiions pro-
ceed from him, and are at his all-wife
difpofal. Both the one and the other are
difpenfed according to his good pleafure ;
though it muft be owned that fm natu-
rally induceth evil, and righteoufnefs good.
By the power of his grace we are enabled
to obey his will ; and though, by our
tranfgrellion, he permits evil, he is by no
means the author of it. As by his wifdom
he bringeth light out of darknefs, fo by
his Providence he draweth good out of
evil ; for " God is not the author of
f' confufion f-," but of order. He is even
fometimes wont to dire6l moral evil, how-
ever contrary to its nature, to a good end ;
and by it to take occafion to magnify his
mercy or his juitice. In fa 61;, there is no
event but God ruleth and difpofeth it
according to the counfel of his own will.
He influences natural caufes in their

* Pfalm cxlv. 15, l6. -}■ 1 Cor. xiv.33.

courfe,

Provitknce. 105

courfe, and the univerle itielf is under bis disc. vi.
controul, lor he is the fupreme dii'pofer of
all things.

This belief then of a divine Providence
conftitutes the chief foundation of that
iervice and worfliip which we owe unto
God. If there were no Providence, there
could be no correfpondence between God
and his creatures, and all his perfections
would avail nothing to mankind. What
would the infinite wifdom, and power, and
juftice, and goodnefs ot" God concern
them, if he took no care of their affairs ?
What reafon could they have to fear and
love, to truft in, and pray unto God, if
he fliewed no regard of their aCtions, nor
would render unto them according to their
works .'* Let us, therefore, humbly and
thankfully infer, dependent creatures as
we are, that the belief of a divine Provi-
dence is a ncceffary truth of religion. A
brief refutation of fome of the obje6tions
commonly urged againft it, with the im-
provement the belief of this do6lrine na-
turally fuggeits, will form the remaining
part of this difcourfe.

The firft objection is, that it is not con-
fident

106 Providc7ice.

Disc.vr. ilfient with the majefty of God to take
the rule and chreciion of the affairs of this
Avorkl. Vtut furely the proper exercife of
majefty is to govern : and the government
of the world is fo far from bein^ beneath
the majefty of God, that there is none
but the Lord of heaven and earth can
undertake it. To '■lire6b the helm of the
univerfe, and fteer it with an unerring
hand to the wifeft and beft purpofes, mull
iurely be worthy of its adorable author.
For what dilhonour can it reflect upon the
great Creator to fuperintend the work of
his own hands, and to govern and pro-
vide for all creatures which he hath made?
It is not a work of labour or difficulty to
him to rule over all, like the exerciie of
dominion in created beings, whole im-
perfection and wcaknefs naturally obftru6l
their operations. But God is an infmite,
all-perfecb being, and therefore all things
are to him alike eafy and poffible. It
would be highly derogatory to the nature,
•wifdom, power, and goodnefs of God,
to conceive of him in any other light than
ruling and difpofmg all things for the
benefit of his creatures, pnd for his own

glory ;
3

Providence. 107

glory; and therefore the exercife of his ^^^<^ ^'f-
providential ibperintcndancc is fo far from
being irkfomc, that it mutt be delightful
and pleafing to him.

The next objection urged againft this
do6i:rine is, that it is irreconcilable with
thofe natural and moral evils which abound
in the world. Ijut the warring of the
elements, the earth's produdion of briers
and thorns, and the permiflion of fin in
the world, is no more inconfiftent with
the Providence of God, than the appoint-
ment of free agency in rational beings is
incompatible with the perfe6lions of the
divine nature. When God permitteth fm,
he doth not deprive mankind of the means
of preventing it : he fuflers them to exer-
cife the freedom of their will in choofmg
good, or refufing evil. What difparage^
ment then is it to the Providence of God,
to permit free and rational agents to acb
conformably to their nature ? Jf, when
God on his part hath done fufiicient to
reftrain men from evil, and encourage them
to good, they abufe their liberty, and
fruftrate the inetliods of divine grace to-
wards them, how can they impeach his

Provi-

108 Providence.

DISC. VI. Providence for an act which is the effe6l of
their own folly and perverfenefs ?

If then the permilFion of fin be in no
refpeft repugnant to the ju(tice and good-
nefs of Providence, much lefs can thofe
miferies which abound in the world be
any reproach to it. Moft of the evils to
which we are hable, are either the natural
effe6ls of our fins, or the juft punilhment
of them. And it is neither unreafonable
or unjuft, that we ftiould fuifer according to
our deferts. As mankind in general are
prone to tranfgreffion, fo the miferies con-
fequent upon it, are a ftrong prefumptive
evidence of a juft Providence.

The unequal diftribution of temporal
bleffings is alfo another objection to this
argument, particularly fince the ungodly
are fonietimes feen to profper, and the
righteous to be deftitute and affli6led.
But when we confider the prefent ftate of
things in this world, how fleeting and
tranfitory ! we fliall find that all the dif-
penfations of Providence, however appa-
rently unequal, are not only well adapted
to the nature of things, but neceflary, as
fuch, to the prefent circumftances and con-
dition

Providence. 109

dition of mankind. The very nature of ^'^'^c. vr.
good and evil in this world is fo relative
and precarious, that it might feem rather
to derofrate from the wifdom of Provi-
dencc to be more exact in the diftribution
either of the one or the other. All worldly
bleflings and enjoyments are mean and in-
confiderable of themfelves in the account
of God ; he confequently difpenfes them'
indifcriminately, without apportioning to
every one bis juft recompence or defert.
Indeed the prefent ftate of things (which
is only a Itate of probation) requires 4n
unequal diflribution of temporahties, for
the mutual prefervation, fupport, and fub-.
ordination of the different ranks of men.
The world itfelf is a ftate of public difci-
pline ; temporal afflictions are as neceflary
for the trial of the righteous, and the ex-
ercife of their graces, as an uninterrupted
career of profperity to lead the wicked
to a right knowledge of their dependence
upon God. If the righteous never tafted
the cup of afiBiction, and the wicked were
always deprefled with forrow and tribula-
tion, neither the one or the other would,
in that cafe, be fufficiently tried. But the

1 10 Provideu(te.

DISC. vr. Providence of God has Mifelj tempered
the one witii the other, and made one lot
common to them both. If it were not fo,
many would abltain from iin, not from a
real motive of goodnef^s, but from a re-
gard to felfilhnefs only. The troubles of
the righteous would ceafe to conduce to
their Ipiritual welfare, and the enjoyments
of prolperous fnuiers, would invariably to
them become a fnare and a curfe. The
unequal difpenfutions, therefore, of Provi-*
dence in this world, are io far from being
an evidence againft it, that they highly
contribute to eftablifli the wifdom and
juftice of his dealings with men.

From the argument thus briefly elucidat-
ed, lay thine hand upon thine heart, O
man, and ferioufly alk thyfelf, whether
thou hail any juit ground of complaint
againft Providence, for having placed thee
in this chequered fcene of things ; or
whether thou halt any reafon to delire that
-they ihould be otherwile than they arc ;
or that the general flate of things could be
altered for the better. C'oniider for a mo-
ment the lamentable fall of man, and its
numberlefs confequent evils ; reflect on

the

Providence. Ill

the unfearchable defigns of Providence in disc. vr.
the general adniiniltration of the world ; '^'^^
and liiy whether any other expedient could
be difcovered that would equally contribute
to the "lorv of God, and the <i;eneral crood
of mankind. If, upon the ^vhole, thou art
forced to confefs, whatever trials or afflictions
may have fallen to thy fliare, that thou
fuftereft infniitely lefs than thou delervefl ;
that thy very fufferings themielves (unlefi
foolilhly fruftrated) may be the means,
under the blelling of Providence, of thy
greateft good ; that thy prefent good things
far exceed thy prefent evils ; and though
great in themielves, are but little foretaftes
of thole immortal joys in reverfion, which
thou art taught to hope for, and of which
thou niayeti: be ihortly in poflelfion ; if, I
fay, thou art forced to confeis all this,
then in humble proitration bow down,
and with heartfelt gratitude own, that
" God reigns, and all is well*;'* — " His
" work is perfeei, all his ways are judg-
" ment, a God of truth, and without ini-
" quity ; jult and right is he-i-," I^et u*^

* Stc Dr. Price's Serin, en rrovidcucc,
■J Dfut. x.wii. 4.

then

112 Provideijce,

Difc. VI. then learn to commit ourfelves and all our
affairs to his all-wiie difpofal, and excite
one another to depend at all times and
under all circumftances on his providential
fuperintendance. It is, without doubt, the
beft method of obtaining the good we de-
lire, and of avoiding the evil we dread.
He took care of us when we hanged upon
our mother's breafts, and he hath been
our preferver and proteftor ever fince,
even unto this moment. On God, there-
fore, let us (till place our hope, and our
dependence. But if in addition to his
general Providence over us, we can fecure
his love and favour, as our reconciled
Father in Chrift Jefus, we (hall then be
under his more immediate care ; for he
will protect us in all dangers, and carry
us through all temptations. " We know
« that all things work together for good
" to them that love him *." This perfua-
fion will arm us to endure with patience
and refignation the crofles and difappoint-
ments we meet with here, and flop the
mouth of all ungrateful repinings. As
there is notlnng which makes us more

* Rom. viii. C8.

thankful.

Providence. 1 ] 3

tliankful, than an opinion that the blef- ijtsc- vr.
lings lCc receive, exceed thofc that are be-
ftowed upon others, fo there is hardly any
thing which makes us more impatient than
a conceit, that the affiictions which befall
us are unparalleled ; as it' the Providence
of God did not extend itfelf as favourably
to us, as to the reit of our fellow-crea-
tures.

Henceforth therefore let us fully acqui-
efce in the afTurance of the general Pro\ i-
dence of God over mankind at large, and
over his Church, and every particular mem-
ber of the fame, in an efpecial manner.
For as the world was made for the benefk
of mankind, fo was mankind for the glory
of Chrift's Church ; and as the world (liall
one day have an end, and the generations
of mankind ceafe — fo when the number
of the ele<5l (the members of Chrilt's
Church properly fo called) is fuily accom-
plilhed, then ihall this fublunary fcene of
things pais awav, and the works of Provi-
dence be conlummate. In the mean time,
be aliured, that his fuperintending care
extends not only to the prefervation of
outward nature, but to the faletv and pro-
ve l. i. I tection

X 14 Providence,

DISC. VI. tedion of his Church, which " He keep-
"^""^ «« eth as the apple of the eye */' The
Church triumphant has indeed no need ot
' providential care ; it remains unchangeahle,
hke the fun in his meridian fplendor ; but
the Church miUtant on earth, hke that
feebler luminary, the moon, ever chang-
ing its outward appearance, though never
wholly deprived of light, gives us an af-
furance of recovering its brightnefs, even
in the fulnefs thereof, fo that no clouds of
darknefs, nor ftorms of perfecution, Ihall
ever again obfcure it.

In full reliance on this comfortable ex-
peaation, let us confidently commit every
event to the wife and all-direaing hand of
Providence. Let us be aflured, that not
a " fparrow falls to the ground without
" his permiffion, and that the hairs of our
«. head are all numbered f-" -'^"d if in
thefe minute and comparatively trifling
circumftances the finger of God is con-
feflfedly difplayed, much more in events
which involve the fate of empires, and the
advancement or decline of the Chriftian

Pfalm xvii. 8. t Matt. x. -29, 30.

Church.

Providence. II5

vr.

Church. Revolutions of various defcrip- disc
tions are in the prefent eventful period ^^'
making every llate and kingdom in Eu-
rope rtiake to its very centre, to anfwer
fome unforefeen and momentous defifi^na*
tions of divine Providence *. True it is,
that the period in which thefe important
tranfaftions are accomplifhing is awfully
tragical, fufficient of itfelf to imprefs
even the moft carelefs and unthinking ob-
ferver with a ftriking proof of the truth of
that do6lrine now under conlideration.

In the various tranfactions therefore
that are now carrying on upon the theatre
of the world, wliatever iffues may be de-
rived from them either to the Church or
State to which we belong, let us, in defi-
ance of any modern atheiftical notions, or
the tenets of a falfe philofophy, not im-
pute the event to chance, or fortune, or
fate, but fee and acknowledge the all-wife
and over-ruling Providence of God in
it; for " the Lord is Kingf;"'* he
" putteth down one, and fetteth up ano-
" ther:|:."

* This Difcourfe was written in 17P9.
+ Plalm X. 16. I Ibid. Ixxv.

Let

Proiidt-nce. ^

Let us earneftly inlreat his providential
care over us, and commit ourjtlx es, and
all our concerns, to his ali-wiie dilpofal. For
calamities of ever}^ kind, whether pubhc
or private, luive their commiilion from
Ilim. " Ai'fliction comes not forth of the
" dull*." And as he brings it upon us
for a chafiifement of our fms, fo He pro-
portions it according to our guilt. He
befl knows the ftrength of the difeafe, and
ihe application of tlie proper remedy ;
and it concerns us chiefly to hope, that in
the end he will brms: iiood out of evil,
that we may live to bleis and praife his
holy name for all his wife diipenfations.

Let us then not difquiet ourfelvesin re-
ference to the wellare of our country or
our pofterity ; all things are in the hand of
God; and though we muft every one of
us ibon go hence, and quit this tumultuous
Icene, yet let us apply to ourfelves Jacob's
confolation to his ion Jofeph : " Jjehold
" I die: But CjOD ihall be with you f."

And with refped to the Church of Chrift
on earth, (of vhich we j^rofefs ourfelves
members, and of whole privileges we all

* Job V. G. + Gen. xlviii. '-21.

have

Proildcnce. 117

have llic happinprsoFl-eing partakers, and disc, vl
more efpecially, if we have found God to
be our " reconciled Father in Chrid
" Jelus ;" we liave his infallible word,
that " the gates of hell fliall not prevail
" againft it *."

In full confidence therefore of this di-
vine promife, " let us caft all our care
" upon him, for he careth for us -f ;**
" for the Lord Goj> is a fun and lliield ;
" the Loud will give grace and glory,
" and no oood thins; will he with-hold
" from them that walk uprightly. O
" LoKD of hods, blefled is the man that
" trufteth in thee J."

Now to God the Father, &c.

Matt..xvi. !8. t 1 Ppt. V. 7.

: IMulm Ixxxiv. 11, ]-;;.

T 3

DIS.

DISCOURSE VII.

OlMGIXAL AND ACTUAL SIN

Romans iii. 23.

All have finned, and come Jhort of the
Glory of God.

1 PIE words of the text naturally lead disc. vii.
us, agreeably to the plan already marked
out, to the confideration both of original
and a<5taal 11 n, the lamentable effe<^l of the
fall of Adam. To form a right notion of
this important doclrine and its confe-
quences, it will be necelTary in the fequel,
by way of application, to point out its guilt
and puniihment.

" Original hn then, (to take it in the

*' words of our own Church) is the faulc

" and corruption of the nature of every

I 4 " man.

120 Oj'iginal and a chad Sin.

Di.^r. vrr. «' man, that is naturally engendered of the-
" offspring of Adam, wherebj man is
" very far gone from original righteoaf-
" nefs, and is of his oun nature inclined
" to evil "*." As God vouchfafed to
make a covenant Vvith x4dam, and in him
with aU mankind, fo when he tranfgreiled
it all his poiierity finned in him, and his
aftiial offence, as it is imputed to tlie whole
race of mankind, is become original.

From this iin thus imputed, proceeds
the privation of original righteoufnefs, as
its juft pimiihment. All fupernatural gifts,
with which man was at iirit endowed, were
forfeited by the fall, and his natural en-
dowments much corrupted. I'he foul of
man is now indeed created without the
gifts of fupernatural grace, through the
infection and guilt of the fnft iin imputed.
When the inniiortal fpirit is united to the
polluted body derived from Adam by na-
tural generation, it participates of the
guilt of his original Iin, becaufe every
thing derixed, partakes of the fource from
whence it Iprmgs. it is no wonder then,
that being thus difmantled of its primitive

* Article ix.

innocence.

Original and aditul Sin. 121

innocence", it llioukl contrad corruplion, t^i=^c. vir.
as n-on niit, whole polilii is not to l)e re-
Itored vvithoat a new formation. I'roni
this natural taint of fin, no man, except
Jeliis Chrift f/ic Rin/i/cous, is, or ever \ias,
free. AVe are all by nature deliled by
carnal concupifcence. Even the blefled
Virgin herfelf was conceived in iniquity,
and born in fin. " For all have finned,
" and come fliort of the glory of God ^\'*
And " if we lay that we have no fm, ^e
" deceive ourfelyes, and the truth is not
" in us 'i'." AVe have no power of our-
felves to will or do any thing that is good
without the fpecial grace of God; " tor
" it is God that vvorketh in us both to will
*' and to do of his good pleafure j." And
when we are regenerated and renewed by
grace, there is Hill, even in the belt of
men, a principle of innate lin remaining in
lis, and prompting us to evil, which, un-
iels it be relirained, is apt to produce lin-
ful a6lions. Tor out of the heart of man
proceedeth all iniquity ; and " luft, when
*' it hath concoi\ ed, brlngeth forth" a6tual
^' lm|l."

* Rom. iil. 23, + 1 John i. 8.

I Phil, ii. 13. 11 Jain, i. L5.

Now

122 Original and actual SiJi.

PTSC.vir. ^ow actual fin is a voluntary tranfgref-
(ion of the law of God, and neceflarily
induces guilt and puniiliment. No one is
fo ignorant as not to know, that the law
oi God is the rule of duty, and that
every a6tion is good or bad by its confor*
mity to that law or its violation of it. For
" the flrength of (in is the law * ;" and
" by the commandment fin*' appeareth
*' to be exceeding finfui f ;*' for if there
were " no law," there would l)e " no
*' tranfgreffion J ;" " for fm is the tranf-
" greflion of the law §."

And as the law is the rule, fo the will
is the caufe of all moral a6tions, and from
it they take their eftimate. If an nftion,
which the law enjoins, be done with a
ready mind and upright intention, it is mo-
rally good, but if the will confents to a
violation of the law, it becomes morally
evil : for the will is the principle of a6lion,
and by it a man is denominated either
good or bad. Though many evils may fol-
low the outward conjmiliion of lin, yet
there are no degrees of morality, beyond

* 1 Cot, XV. 56. + Rom. vii. 13. J Ibid. iv. 15.
§ 1 John iii. 4:.

the

Original and aSIual Sin. 12S

the lad a6l of the will, which excites the disc. vir.
execuiion of it. Vv'heii the will hath once
fully conlented to the coniniiriioii of a
crime, God, who knowtth the lieart, ef-
teeins it as perpetrated, and it is as impu-
table in his ali-ieeing eye, as if it had been
aftiially committed. He who piirpoles to
kill another, and watches an opportunity
to do it, though he fliould not carry his
purpofe into execuiion, is guilty of nmrder
before God ; for God judgeth not by the
event, but by the intention. In the fame
manner our bleffed Saviour interpreteth
the law, " A\'hofoever looketh upon a
*' woman to luft afier her, hath ah'eady
" committed adultery with her in his
" heart* ;" where the will is evidently con-
{Irued into the act.

Having thus confidered the nature of
actual fin, let us purfue the lubje6l a little
further, according to its ufual diftribution,
into (ins of commifllon and omifTion. The
former of which happens, when the evil
forbidden is a6tually perpetrated, and
there is no ground of innocence. Every
fuch tranfgrcfllon is a greater hn, than the

* Matt, V. 28.

l)are

124. Orimnal and acliial Sin.

o

DISC. Yii. |ij^,rc omiffjon of a duty, btcaufe it is more
directly contrary to the letter of the law,
to the dictates of confcience, and tends
more to the diilionour of God, and the
difparagement of his holy religion. " Thefe
" ought ye to have done;" " and,'* it
is immediately added, " not to leave the
" other undone */'

The law of God is tranfgreffed, as well
when that is omitted, which ought to be
done, as when that is done, which ought
to be avoided. It is not enough to avoid
evil, we muft alfo do good. " Every tree
" that briiigeth not forth good fruit, is
" hewn down, and call into the fire -j /*
Negative good, as well as pofitive evil,
renders us obnoxious to the wrath of God.
And as God, in compaffion to the
frailty of our nature, has gracioufly vouch-
fafed us a rule of duty, ib he has bound
us to the obfervance of it by the ftrongeil
fanctions. Our guilt in his tight is there-
fore equal, whether it ariies from the fug-
geftion of our own will, the imperioufnefs
of autliority, the influence of perfuafion,
or the power of example. 1( we liri

Matt, xxiii. 23. f Ibk;. iii, 10.

through

Original and actual Sin. 12j

i\\\'o the perverfeners of our own choice, Dr>c.vn.
uitiioiit any extruiilc motive, the gMiilt ^^'
lies wliolly upon our own Ibuls. " For one
" Ihall not bear the iniquity of another,
" but the foul that iinneth, it ihall die*."

Or if we violate the law of God through
the conftraint of authority, it by no means
excules the guilt of the offence ; for \^ hen
man enjoins any thing prohibited by the
divine law, we owe no obedience to it, but
we " ought to obey God rather than
" men •(•." Or, if we fin againft God
through the fear, or perfuafion, or example
of men, we exalt and honour them more
than God, and thereby commit a moit:
provoking abomination by exciting the
jealoufy of the Molt High. We become
like thofe unhappy wretches, who con-
fented to the rebellion of Korah and his
company, in not " departing from the
*' tents of thofe wicked men %."

It is alio a no Ids aggravation of our
fms, when we glory in them, and rejoice
in the iniquities of others. We nrake our-
. ielves acceffaries to them, and, by contri-
buting, as much as in us lies, to theirguiit,

'* y.zok. xviii. CO. f Ads v. ?9. X Numb. xvi. '2G.

we

126 Original and a&ual Sin.

DISC. VII. we are liable to their punifhment. To
avoid therefore, as niuch as poffible, the
commiflion of actual fiii, do we endea-
vour, upon all occalions, to rtmn the caufes
of it ? Do we in general not yield to
temptation, but through the power of di-
vine grace, and the efficacy of earneft
prayer, iirive to withitand it ? All affec-
tion to evil, indulgence of it, and conti-
nuance in it, conftitute the very effence of
■wilful tranfgreffion. \i, on the contrary,
we were careful to uie that meafure of
grace, which Goi> hath given, or is ready
to vouchfafe us, we might, no doubt, avoid
all deliberate iins, fuch, more eipecially, as
are inconfiflent with a ftate of regenera-
tion. *' Whofoevcr is born of God, faith
" St. John, doth not commit fin ;" that
is, known and deliberate fins, nor live in
the i)ra6tice of them, '* for his feed re-
" maineth in him ;" a principle of divine
grace a6luates him, inclining him to hate,
and rnabliu": him to avoid evcrv kind of
ini(|uity ; and therefore, morally fpeaking,
he cannot fo fin,, " becaule he is born of
" God*."

* \ J.jlin lii. .9.

Another

Original and acfiial Sin, 127

Another caufe of adual iin, is, when i>i^c:. vii.
we commit iniquity, knowing it to be for-
bidden by the law of God. *' To him
" that knovveth to do good, and doth it
" not, to him it is Iin * ;" a iin of an
heinous nature. The greater knowledge
of the will of God, evidently implies the
greater guilt. " If," faid our blefled Sa-
viour to the Jews, *" I had not come and
" fpoken unto them, they had not had
" lin-f-;" that is, their iin had not been lb
great ; but becaufe they defpiled the means
of knowledge, and " rejected the couniel
" of God againii: themlelves J," therefore
" they had no cloke for their Iin §." Ig-
norance of the law, and of duty, when it
is not wilful, but unavoidable, will in the
eye of a merciful God, ever extenuate
guilt. " But that fervant which knew
" his Lord's will, and did it not, fliall be
" beaten with many ftripes ; for unto
" whomfoever much is given, of him lliall
" much be required ||.''

A third caule of a6lual tranfgreflion, is,
when we do a thing which confcience con-

♦ James iv. 17. + John xv, 22. J Luke vii. 30.
§ John XV. 22. || Luke xii. 4".

demns.

118 Origtiud and actual Shu

DUG. vir. demns. It is the ft ill voice of God within
us; if M-e a6l contrary to its dictates, we
" fin, and come lliort of the glory of
" God ',' we aggravate our guilt and con-
demnation. Nay, ev^n to doubt of the
lawfulnefs of a thing, and do it, though
in itfelf lawful, is to incur the cenfure of
this inward monitor ; for he that doubt-
eth is condemned of himfelf, becaufe he
doth it not of faith, or with a full per-
fuafion that it is lawful: " For whatfoever
" is not of faith is lin *."

And as there are different caufes of fin, fo
are there alio different degrees of it, fbme
more heinous than others, the guilt of which
is confequently greater, and therefore de-
ferves greater punilhment. And though
all fin is a tranfgreiilioii of the law^, fome
violations of it are greater than others, as
fome matters are more weighty, and fome
duties more excellent than others ; fo the
breach of thefe is more offcnfive, than
the bare omiffion of fome of its precepts.
And as the guilt of fin is in proportion
to its quality, ib is the punifliment,
" for it fiiall be more tolerable for fome"

* Rom. xiv. 23.

in

Original zifid actual Sin. 12^

in the day of judgment " than for disc. vir.

" others

Now the guilt of fin confifts in a great
meafure in the cu'cumftances under which
it is committed. The greater the com-
mandment by which it is prohibited, the
greater the violation of it; and the more
evil and mifchief confequent upon it, the
higher is the guilt. The aftual commlf-
fion of a crime, is therefore of greater ma-
lignity than the firft conception of it in the
heart, becaufe its effeds are more fenfible
and deft ruftive. For the fame reafon, the
repetition of a fm, and continuance in it,
increafe its guilt ; for relapfes not only
contra6l the guilt of fo many more fniful
a6ls, but render thofe a6ts more exceed-
ingly fmful and dangerous, till by an in-
Teterate habit of finning, the guilt is en-
hanced in the highelt degree. When the
power of fm in the human breaft is fo pre-
dominant, as not only to render the finner
hardened, but to caule him to delight in it,
and even to glory in its (hame, then is the
guilt of it exceffive, and there is little hope
of remiffion. The jufl defert of fuch ob-

* Malt. X. 15.

VOL. I. K durate

130 Orimnal and actual Sin.

'O

DISC. VII. clurate wickcdnefs muft end in punidi-
ment — that condign puniflnnent, which is
due to the wilful breach of God's law^s,
and confifts in death temporal, fpiritual,
and eternal.

Now the temporal punidiment of fin is
the death of the body, and the confequent
deprivation of thofe outward comforts and
conveniences appendant on this life. For
" as by one man lin entered into the
" world, and death by lin, fo death pafied
" upon all men, for that all have finned*.'*
Every man is neceffarily fubje6t to death,
as the wages of (in, for fin and death are
correlatives ; the former as the original,
procuring caufe — the latter as the un-
avoidable eifect. "God made not death,''
faith the wife fbn of Sirach, " neither hath
" He pleafure in the deftru6tion of the
" living; but unrighteoufnels bringeth
," death, and the ungodly call it to thera
" both with hands and words f,"

The next punifhment of fm is fpiritual
death, or that which confifts in the depri-
vation of the divine life ; in the lofs of
grace, in blindnels of underflauding, hard-

» Rom. V. v:, + WiW. i. 13.

nels
5

Original and a&ual Sin, 13l

nefs of heart, terrors of confcience, and i>isc. vil
total alienation from the hfe of God.
Thc'fe are fome of the fad effefts and wages
of iniquity. Abandoned to this infli6lion,
we are \vont to abufe the grace of God,
before IJe is inchned to withdraw that
grace from us, and leave us to our-
felves. But alas ! when left to ourfelves,
we commit iniquity with greedinefs, we
Ihut our eyes againfl the light, and harden
our hearts againft the means of amend-
ment. AYe are fpiritually infenlible to all
fpiritual things, deflitute of any right
knowledge of our mifery, " being pad
" feeling *," and have no relifh for hea-
venly things, being utterly ignorant of
their worth. Can any flate or condition
on this fide the grave be compared to fuch
wretchcdnefs and mifery ? It carries with
it the foretafte of that eternal death, which
is the laft and mod extreme punilhment of
fin, and with the confideration of which, I
iliall conclude this difcourfe.

Oh, tremendous thought ! to be eter-
nally leparated from the prefence of the
ever-blefled God ! to endure thofe exqui-

* Eph. iv. 10.

K 2 fite

132 Original and a8ual Sin.

DISC. VII. lite torments, to which the wicked fhall be
""^^"^^ configned in hell to all eternity ! This
death, called in fcripture, " the fecond
" death *," is the full and final wages of
fm, both original and aftiial. For no other
reafon will a juft and merciful God inflid
this puniHiment upon any of the fons of men,
but becaufe they have fmned, and come
fliort of the glory of God. Impenitence
will be their final ruin, " for God hath no
" pleafure in the death of the wicked, but
" rather that they fliould turn from their
*' ways and live •\," " When the wicked
" man turneth away from his wickednefs
" that he hath committed, and doeth that
" which is lawful and right, he (hall fave
« foul alive +."

And, if we would not betray your fouls,
as faithful difpenfers of the word of God,
it is incumbent upon us to alfure you of
the unalterable decree of the Almighty,
that *' indignation and wrath, tribulation
^' and anguifli, fliall be upon every foul of
*' man that doeth evil §/' From the mo-
ment of Adam's tranfgreffion, we became

♦ Rev. XX. 11. + Ezek. xviii. £3. : Ibid. £7.
§ Rom. ii. S, 5.

federally

Origi/nd and actual Shu 133

federally in him finners before God ; and disc, vii
from the very inftant that we violated in
our own perfons the law of works, we be-
came liable to its ciirfe ; and it is abfo-
lutely certain, that there is no deliverance
from that malediction, but by making
fatlsfadion to the offended Juftice of
God. Who then is fufhcient for thefe
things ? Alas ! none of them " can by any
" means redeem his brother, nor give to
" God a ranfom for him ; for the redemp-
" tion of their foal is precious, and it
" ceafeth for ever*." Xone lefs than God,
in the form of man, could pay the price
of our redemption, and deliver us from
the bondage of fin and death. " God
" therefore, who is rich in mercy, for his
" great love wherewith he loved us, while
" we were yet enemies -f-," provided the
bleffed means of our reftoration, and in
the counfel of his eternal wifdom, fent
forth Immanuel, his only begotten Son,
Jefus Chrift the righteous.

To whom, &:c. Amen.

♦ Pfalm xlix. 7, 8. -f Eph. ii. 4.

K 3 DIS-

DISCOURSE VIII.

THE ISi£W COVEXANT, AND ABKOGA-
TION or THE OLD.

Hebrews viii. former claufe of ver. 13.

Ill that He faith, a neio Covenant, he
hath made the fwji old.

oOME of the chief do6lrines which disc. virr.
conltitute the foundation of divine Reve- ^^^^^ *
lation having been illuftrated in the pre-
ceding difcourfes, I {hall proceed, with
the blefli ng of God, to explain, in order,
the great work of redemption. The firft
ftep in this undertaking, will be to point
out the abrogation of the old covenant,
K 4 and

136 The New Covenant,

PISC.VIII. and the confequent cftablifhment of the
new. From the words of the te^jt, we
are neceflariiy led to infer, that fome
abrogation of the covenant of works has
taken place on the part of God, by the
fubftitution of the new covenant of grace.
God, by that abrogation, has now de-
clared that no man, by virtue of the cove-
nant of works, can procure his favour, and
obtain eternal life. " All are now con-
" eluded under hn * ;" all have forfeited
the promife of that covenant, and confe-
quently the hope of enjoying that promife
is gone for ever. Accordingly, the apoltle
argues, " that there is not now a law
" which can give life, fo that righteoufnefs
f* fliould be by the law fJ'

Indeed, that covenant is now fo abro-
gated, that it can admit of no renewal.
For iin is now pre-fuppoied to exift, which
is contrary to that perfe6tion of obedience,
which the covenant of works requires.
How then can God prefcribe a condition
ot" obedience, lefs perfect than that which
He Itipuiatecl by the law ; when even the
law itfelf never pronounced one tittle of

* Gal. iii, 22. f Ibid, iii, !:i.

for-

Q7id Abrogation of the Old. 137

forglvenefs ? Sach a tranfu6tion would be Disc.vm.
unworthy of God, and lb far from a
renewal of the covenant of works, that it
would rather manifeftly deltroy it. For
the penal ian6lion makes a part of that
covenant, in which God threatened the fin-
iier with death ; if therefore he fhould par-
don him without a due fatisfd6tion, he
would a6l contrary to the tenor of his own
covenant, and the immutability of his
trutb.

Let us then inquire in what refpe6ls the
old covenant is repealed ; point out the
mercies of the new ; and the conditions
prefcribed on our part.

Firfl, then, the ceremonial law, as a
part of that covenant, is abrogated ; and
they who ftill adliere to it, and infift upon
the neceffity of it, do in efFe6l deny the
advent of our blelil(?d Lord and Savioun
AH its rites were only typical, forelbadowing
better things to come ; " the body was of
f' Chrid*." He it was that " blotted out
" the hand-writing of ordinances that was
^t againli us, which was contrary to us,

• Coloff. ji. 17 ,

and

138 The IS'ezv Covenant,

Bisc.viii. " and took it out of the way, nailing it to
" his crols */' lie made void all thofe
legal ordinances, and ceremonial injunc-
tions, " which were as a yoke, that nei-
" ther our fathers nor we were able to
" bear-j*;" and he cancelled our obliga-
tion to wrath and punifhment, incurred
through our own lin and guilt, by the fa-
crificc of his death.

But the moral law, as a rule of life, re-
quiring perfect obedience, continues ftill in
force. The precepts of the moral law
are precepts of the new covenant, as well
as of the old, but on different terms. The
one requires Works ; the other, in contra-
diftindion, Faith. The one fays, " Do
" this, and live :];.'' The other, " I>e//^fe in
" the Lord JefusCh rift, and thou (halt be
" faved ||." But this faith is not fo to be
underflood, as if it had no concern with
the preceptive part of the law ; for the
covenant of grace alfo requires works;
though not as the ground of julliiication,
yet as the fruits of faith ; for " the grace
*' of God that bringGtli falvation, teaches

* CoIofT. ii. 14. t Aas xv. ]0. + Lev. xviii. 5.
li Ads xvi, 31,

« US

and Abrogation of the Old. 139-

" us to deny all ungoclilnefs and worldly- J^^sc.viil
" lufls, and to live Ibberly, righteoudy,
" and godly In this prefent world *." And
to this end, " Chrift gave himfelf for us,
" that he mi<:ht redeem us from all ini-

o

" quity, and purify unto himfeif a peculiar
" people zealous of good works -j-.'* The
new covenant, however, differs in its prin-
ciple from the old. The latter requires
obedience throuo'h our own ftrenoth and

o o,

ability, as mere moral agents, independent
.of any fupernatural aid ; but tlie former
fupplies (trength, through the promiie of
Cbriftby the affiftance of the Hofy Spirit...
" I can do all things,'' faith the apoftle,
^' through Chrift ftrengtheningme.'* The
obedience of the Gofpel is therefore called
the " obedience of faith J:,'" as the root
from which it fprings.

The law, then, as a covenant of works,
prpmifing happinefs, on condition of un-
linning obedience, is now abrogated, be-^ '
eaufe the condition itfelf is inipra6ticable :
All men in the fight of God are trar^i^ .
greffors of it, and unable to keep it ; it is in
vain therefore for any man to ieekforjufti-

* Tit. ii. 12. t Jbid. 14. X Rom. xvi. 26.

fication

140 The New Covenant,

DTSc.viii. fication by the deeds of the law. Indeed,
if a pure and holy God fhould deal with
us according to the fpirituality of his law,
our comparative righteoufnefs would con-
duce more to our condemnation, than to
our juftification. The law itfelf threatens
death, and the fevered malediftion, for the
leaft violation of it, and would inevitably
fubje6l the offender to the inexorable
wrath of God, did not the remedial law
of grace cancel the obligation to puniih-
ment. But " there is now no condem-
" nation to them that are in Chrift Jefus,
" who walk not after the flefh, but after
" thefpirit*/'

Secondly, Let us then next confider
what mercies God hath promifed on his
part in the new oeconomy of grace, and
the conditions on our part which we are
bound to perform.

Now the firfl mercy vouchfafed to us
by the difpenfation of grace, is the pro-
mulgation of fuch precepts, as by their
own efiential goodnefs approve themfelves
to our natural reafon and underftanding.
For the precepts of the Gofpel are " put

* Rom. viii. 1.

" into

and Abrogation of the Old. 141

" into our minds, and written in our^^^vnL
" hearts * ;" but it would have been alto-
gether in vain to do fo, if they had not
been hicrhlv reafonable in thenifelves, in-
telligible in their nature, and morally prac-
ticable by free and rational agents. The
great infufficiency of the covenant of
works, however excellent itfelf, and equally
claiming God as its author, was, that, when
confidered as adapted to the natural ftate
and circumftances of mankind, it was ut-
terly impra6^icable by them, in that " the
" law was weak through the flefli -f." And
the inefficacy of the Mofaical ordinances
was amply confirmed by their being, from
the beginning, only " ftiadows of good
" things to come p" But daily expe-
rience confirms us in the opinion, and con-
vinces us of the reafonablenefs and excel-
lency of the Gofpel-preccpts, of their prac-
ticablenefs under the means of grace, and
their furtherance of our bell and higheft
interefts. It is no hard talk then to dif-
criminate betwixt the covenant of works,
^nd the difpenfation of faith ; by the for-
mer we are taught to underftand thofe

• Hcb. viii. 10, 1 Rom. viii. 3. J Hcb. x. 1.

precepts,

142 The New Covenant,

Disc.viii. precepts, by means of which falvation was
to be obtained in the old covenant ; and
by the latter, that doctrine, which points
cut the way, in which, by means of faith,
falvation is to be procured in the new.

The next mercy promifed in the new^
covenant, is ability to fulfil the precepts of
the Gofpel, " according to the oath which
" God fware to our father Abraham, that
" He would grant unto us, that we, being
" delivered out of the hands of our ene-
" mies, might ferve him without fear, in
" holinefs and righteoufnefs before Him
" all the days of our life *." For we are
too impotent of ourfelves to will, or to do
any thing that is good, before (ioD by
bis preventing grace enables us ; and
when we are thus empowered to do the
will of God, it by no means iuperfedes
th'e conftant exertion of our own efforts ;
for we are enjoined " to work out our own
" falvation with' fear and trembling -f-." .

A third mercy vouchfafed us under
'the oeconomy of grace is the pardon of
our fms. This is a peculiar prerogative qV
the Gofpel in contradillin.6Hon to the law ';

* Luka i. 73, H,' 75. f Phil. ii. 12.

this

a?id Abrogation of the Old. 143

thm tliicatens death for every tranfgrefilon ; Disc.vm-
tliat oflfers forgivcneisi, not only of fins of "-^-^^
frailty and infirmity to which we are daily
hable ; b-ut even for all offences of which
we are truly penitent. For God hath
there promiltjd, tliat " He will be merci-
" ful to our unrighteoufnefs, and our fnis
" and our iniquities will he remember no
" more ''•'." But this gracious promife is
not unconditional ; it is attached to an un-
feigned faith and fincere repentance. Thefe
on our part muft as invariably precede re-
miflion of fins through Chrift, as the tree
is known by its fruit. To confider the Gof-
pel-covenant in any other light would be
to make " Chrift the minifter of fin -f-,"
and to reconcile the wifdom and holinefs
of God with the practice of ungodly and
impenitent finners.

The promife of eternal life and happi-
nefs is alfo another appropriate mercy of
tlie new covenant. Like the former, though
freely proftered to all, it is likewife condi-
tional, and belongs only to them who live
in obedience to the Gofpel, and. perfevere
unto the end in well-doing. If we would

* Hcb. 'sij!. v:. ■ + Gill. li. 17.

enter

144 The Nr^; Covenant,

Discvirr. enter into the kingdom of God, we muR
" do the Mill of onr heavenly Father * ;"
any other courfe of pra6lice will make us
forfeit our claim to the hope of eternal re-
compence, for " without holinefs no man
" fliall fee the Lord •^•." We can never
be qualified to live in the prefence of God,
and in the fruition of his glorious Majefty,
but by ** purifying ourfelves even as he is
*' purej." The felicity of heaven being
of a pure and fpiritual nature, is utterly
incompatible with the defires and appetites
of thofe who delight only in the indul-
gence of fenfual gratifications. How then
can they be happy in thofe pleafures of
which they have no reliih or enjoyment ?
The difpolition of the fubject muft be con-
genial with the nature of the happinefs
propofed ; and it requires no illuftration
to prove the contrariety of Chrift to
Belial, of light todarknefs. And it is to
be remembered, that the promifes of
fcripture are for the moft part conditional,
and attach only to the performance of the
covenant. What thofe conditions are on
our part, no one can be ignorant of, who

* Matt. vii. 21. | Ihh. xii. 14. ^ 1 John iii. 3.

has

and Ahrogalion of the Old. 145

has learned the firft rudiments of Chrif-Disc.viii.
tianity ; and if lie has rightly underftood
them, is fully apprized that they are not
the caufe of claiming '* the recompence
*' of reward," fo much as the means to
be purfued not to the rights but to the
poDeffion of eternal life.

Faith is the inftrument therefore by
Avhich \ve lay hold on the Lord Jcfus
Chrift, and have any title whatever to hh
grace and glory. Good v\'orks are the
evidences of our faith, and of our union
with Chrift ; and through his merits and
mediation they confiitute as it vvere our
paffport to the kingdom of heaven. In-
deed repentance, faitli and obedience, are
fo indilpenfably requifite, that without
them the Gofpel itfelf, the great charter of
divine mercy, aftords no ground of hope
for pardon of fin and eternal falvation.
But " there is now no condemnation to
*' them that are in Chrift Jefus, who w^alk
" not af'ter the fledi, but after the fpirit ^^'*
So indifpenfable is an uniform and unin-
terrupted courfe of obedience, that if after
our converfion to the faith of Chrift, we

* Rom. viii. 1.

VOL. I, J. return

145 Tlic NeiD Coxenani,

mscviii. j.gj;y).{-j (_(j QQj. former wickcdnefs, " our
" latter end will be worle than the bc'2;in-
" niiifi"^." Our freedom from the curfe
of the moral law, and puniilmient due to
ihe tranfgrefdoM of it, till we have fmiOied
our courfe in holinefs, is (till conditional.
For " when a righteous man turnetli
" away from his righteoufnefs, and com-
" mitteth iniquity, and dieth in it, for his
" iniquity that he halh done, iliall he
« die f."

But though the general pra6lice of mo-
ral reditude is thus guaranteed by the
covenant of works ; yet let us rejoice, that
*' there is verily a difannulling of the
*' commandment going before J ;" i. e. of
the whole body and frame of the ritual
' and judicial lav/, before the coming of
Chrift, and introdudion of the Gofpcl ;
*' for the weaknefs and unprofitablenefs
thereof," through its inability and imper-
fedion, in comparifon of that " better co-
" venant which was edabliilied upon bet-
" promifes §." When the dawn of the
fuperior light of the fun of righteoufnefs

* 2 Pot. ii. 20. t Ezck. xviii. 26.

; Hiib. vii. IS. ^ Ibid. viii. 6".

arofe,

a n d A brofio t ton of the Old. 147

arofe, liko the grand luminary of the uni- Disc.vnr.
verfe, it echpled the lefler conitellations.
And though the ordinances of Mofes were
obHgatory, while Chrift was not yet made
" perfeft through fufferings *," their ab-
rogation was gradually approaching : Ac-
cordingly, Jeliis faith to the woman of
Samaria; " Woman, believe me, the hour
•* cometh, when ye fliall neither in this
" mountain, nor yet at Jeruialem, wor-
" ihip the Father ; but the hour cometh,
" and now is. when the true worfliippers
*' lliall wordiip the Father in fpirit and in
" truth f/'

I/Ct us then, who experience this high
and comfortable privilege of a divme and
ipiritwal worfliip, be fenfible of the great
and peculiar honour to which we are called.
Let us rejoice that the Mediator of a bet-
ter covenant, Jeius Chri(t our Lord,
*' hath blotted out the hand-writing of or-
•' dinujices that was againit us :]," and, as
was before obferved, " hath taken it out
*' of the way, nailing it to his crofs, and
*' hath abolillied in his flelh, the law

*^Jl€j. ii. 10. j Jjlin iv. 21—23. I CololT. ii. U.

L 2 "of

148 The jScii) Covenant, c$-c.

pisc.viii. u Qf commandments contained in ordi-
" nances*'.'* lie, who was hitherto in
bondage to the elements of the world,
equally with the other woHhippcrs of God,
is now bleiTed with his people " with all
" fpiritiial blefiings in -heavenly places in
*' Chrid'j/' where no inch bondage pre-
vails, bat where the fpirit is given as the
fcal of a milder and more dehghtfal
difpenfation, which we have the unlpeak-
able happinefs of enjoying in all its glo-
rious and diftlngulQied benefits, through
the alone mediation of Jefus Chriit our
bleffed Lord and Saviour. To whom, with
the Father and the Holy Spirit, be afcribed
all honour and praife, and glory and
thankfgiving, now and evermore. Amen.

* F.ph. ii. 16. t Ibid. i. 3,

DIS-

DISCOURSE IX.

YIIE PERSON" AND TITLES OF T 1112
I\! RDIATOR.

t»»«Jj«.r«raT'MngJ

ITeerem^s i. f>.

fVho being the Bj'/ghfncfs of his Chynj, and
the crprefs Image of his Fcrfon.

1 HE confKleration of the eftablKlimGntDTSc. ix.
of a new covenant, by the introduction ^"^"^
of the Golpel, and the confequent abro-
gation of the old one, naturally lead us
to inquire, by and through whom the
former was brought in, that it fhould
make void the latter. The holy Pfalmiil,
in the fortieth Pfalm *, evidently fpeak-
ing in the perfon of the Meffiah, pro-
claims the ineflicacy of the legal facri-

* Psalm xl. 6.

J, 3 ficea

150 The Per/on and Titles

pisc. IX. fJces to take away fin, and cxprefly an-
nounces the divine dilapprobation of
them, when rehed upon for that purpofe.
He then fets forth his own readinefs to
do and fuffer the will of God, imphed
under the phrafe, " mine ears haft thou
opened ;" that is, thou haft made me obe-
dient, as fervants whoie ears were bored :
but more unequivocally exprelied in the
Apoftle's citation by the para phrafe, " a
" body haft thou prepared me," to be
obedient to thy will. He refers to the
predictions concernmg Mcffiah in the
Old Teftament, which in this Pfalm is
ftvled " the volume of the book *.'* He
declares the pleafure he had in doing the
will of his Father, or in yielding perfect
obedience to the law, by laying down his
life, and making himfelf a facrifice to the
juftice of God, for the hns of the world;
♦' I delight to do thy will, O my God ;
** yea, thy law is within my heart -\" I
am ready to perform all that thou re-
quireit of me as mediator. Now thefe
words being applied by the Apoftle to

* Psalm xl. 7, i Ibid. ver. 8.

Chrift,

of tJic Media for. 151

Chrift, in his own perfon, there can be noT>i><^"- i\'-
doubt but that He it \vas who " taketh
" away the firft, that he may eftabhth
" the fecond covenant*."

Having thus proved beyond all doubt,
by and through whom the covenant of
grace was introduced and eflublillied, the
Jiext fubje6t of religious inveltigation, is
the dignity of his peribn and titles, who,
in the words of the text, is emphatically
Itylcd, " the brightnefs of his father's
" S^*^'T' '^"^ ^^^ exprefs image of his
" perfon."

Now the perfon of the Mediator is the
Avord, or eternal Son of Gor, begotten
01 the Father, before the foundation of
the world, and in time became " incar-
" nate and dwelt among us, and we be-
" held his glory, the glory as of the only
" begotten of the Father, full of grace
*' and truth ■)•." Hence we infer, that
He had two entire and diftihiit natures,
divine and human, united in one perfon.
In refpeft of his divine nature, he is very
God of very God, equal to the Father,

* II. b. X. 9. t Jtjhn i. It.

L 4 and

152 The Vevfon and Titles

Pisc. IX. and of ihe fame eiTence and fubftancc
with Him, infinite in all perfections. In-
deed it was requifite, that the Mediator
ihould be God, as well as man, that he
might make fatisfaftion to the divine
juitice, and thereby obtain eternal re-
demption for us. The juftice of God
being offended by the introdLi6lion of hn,
required an infinite fatisfaction, and wh.o
but an infinite Being could make fuch fa-
tisfa^lion ? But Chrift is that infinite Be-
ing, who lliifered " the jufl for the uii-
" juft '",'" and therefore " by him we
" have now received the atonement '^•."
And thouo'h his fufFerino;s were finite in
duration, they were infinite in value, on
account of the divine nature, and dig-
nity of the perfon fuffering. When there-
fore by his active and paffive obedience,
he had " obtained eternal redemption for
" us J," it behoved him to give us thofe
" great and precious promifes, by Mhich
" we might be partakers of the divine
?' nature §."

* 1 Pjt. iii. IS. t Horn. V. n. X Hcb. ix. 12.
§ C Pet. i. 4.

Anc]

of the Mediator. I53

And as Chrift is thus proved to Lc bisc. tx.
God, {o was He alfo man. *' For
^* when the fulnefs of time was come,
" God Tent forth his Son, made of a
" woman */' " For verily Chrilt took not
" on him the nature of angels, but ho
" took on him the feed of Abraham, and
" was made in all thinos like unto his
" brethren, fm only excepted, that he
" mioht be a merciful and faithful hi<ih

o o

" prieft, in things pertaining to God, to
*' make reconciliation for the hns of the
*' people j-/' And as man conlids of two
diftinft parts, body and foul, fo Chrift
aifuraed the whole nature of man in both.
It is eafy to adduce ample tcftimony
from fcripture, that Chrift affumicd a true
human body, with all the natural pro-
perties belonging to it. It is exprefly
declared, that " as we arc partakers of
" fle(h and blood, fo lie alfo himfelf took
" part of the famej." Theaclions andpaf-
fions of his life evidently demonftrated
the truth and reality of his human na-
ture, lie increafed in wifdom and fta-

* Gal. iv. 4. t lU'b. ii. l6, \7. X Ibid. v.. 11-.

3 • lure.

154 The Per/on and Titles

Disc.^ix. ture , he ate and drank; he hiingred and
thirfted; he endured pain und forrow; he
preached righteoufnefs ; he wrought niha-
cles ; he luffered death as a malefa6ior ;
he reflored himfelf to hfe, and openly
alcended up to heaven. Such a6tions vi-
fibly difplayed, could not be real, with-
out a material body. Nay, he himfelf
proved the reality of his body, even after
his refurre6lion. " Behold," faith he to
the unbelieving difciple, " my hands and
*' my feet, that it is 1 myfelf ; handle me
" and fee, for a fpirit hath not fiefli and
** bones, as ye fee me have *.''

And that He affumed alio a true human
foul,, there is as little room to queliion ;
his manhood fubfifted in his godhead ; yet
his divinity was not a mere lubilitution for
thofe rational faculties which belong to hu-
man nature. For fucli actions and paf-
fions are attributed to the Son of God, as
comport neither with his divine or human
natures feparately contldered, but as with a
" rcafonable foul and human flefli fublift-
" ing in the fame perfon-|s" accordingly
He is faid to have " increafed in wifdom

* L\ike xxiv. 39' t Athanafian Creed.

" and

of the Mediator, 155

" and ftature, and in favour with God ^^-^ ^x.
" and men *." But wifdom, it is plain, is
no more an attribute of the body, as fuch,
than Itature of the foul, and therefore he
mull have been endowed with a rcafonable
foul, as the indrunient of attaining wifdom.
In this fenfe, therefore, he is faid " to be
" madelike unto us in all things, fin only
" excepted/'

For this caufe it was that Chrifl became
a vicarious facriiice, that the fame nature
which had offended, might fufier for the
offence ; at the fame time that he made the
atonement, as God. Both thefe natures
therefore united in Chritt, conftituted but
oneperlbn inllim, as foul and body united,
though of diitintl; natures, make but one
perfon in man. For " there is but one
" mediator betwixt God and men, the
'* man Chrift Jefus -|-."

From the confideration of the arduous
fubjecl of Chrift's perfon, let us proceed,
fecondly, to notice his titles, which, in ex-
prefs terms, are three; yiz. Loud, Jefus,
Chrift.

* Luke ii. 52. I 1 Tim. ii. 5.

a Now

355 The Per/on and Titles

T)i?c. IX. Now the title of Lord is afcribed to
him, by reafon of his authority and domi-
nion over ail. As mediator, He hath two
diftinft natures, divine and human ; a fe-
parate power belongs to each. In refpect
of his divine nature, He is abfolutely fo-
vereign, co-equal with God the Father
in power, glorj^, and majefty, for " all
" things were created by Him'^," and
*' without Him, was not any thing made
** that was made-j-;'' for the lame reafon
alfo. He " upholdeth all things by the
*' word of his power 1." What higher
right to fovereignty then can be afferted,
than giving being to all creatures, and pre-
ferving them in the continuance of it ?

In regard of his human nature alfo,
Chrift hath a plenary power and dominion
conferred upon him over all, as the reward
of his merits. For unto this end, faith
the apoftle, Chrift both died, and rofe, and
revived, that he might be Lord both of
the dead and living. And, when our
blefled Lord had fmiibed all things which
were appointed Him to do and fuffer on
earth, to perfe6l the work of redemption,

'" Colofl". i. 16. * John i. 3. % Hcb. i. 3.

" God

of the Mediator, 157

" God fet him at his own right hand in disc. ix.

" heavenly places, far ahove all principah-

" ties and power, and might and dominion,

" and every name that is named, not only

" in this world, hut alio in that which is

" to come *." Yea, " Cod hath put

*' all things in fubjeclion under his feet ;

*' and that He hath put all things in fub-

" je6fion under Him, He hath left no-

" thing that is not put under Him -j."

To this abfolute fovereignty as Lok n
and Creator of all, may be luperadded
his fupreme dominion in right of redemp-
tion. For He hath purchafed and re-
deemed all mankind with the price of his
own blood ; therefore, argues the apoftie,
" Ye are not your own i.." But this
mediatorial power and dominion fliall ceafe
at the day of judgment, when all hi.3 faintii
iliall be glorified, and all his enemies de-
ftroyed. *' Then fliall He deliver up the
" kingdom to God, even the Father ^.'*
Then (hall faints and martyrs, angels and
arch-angels, the cherubmi and feraphin),
join in the univerial chorus of pruife and

* F,ph. i. CO, 91. t H..-h. ii. 8.

t 1 Cor. vi. ly. § iLid. XV. 2A.

dominion,

158 ^he Perfon and Titles

^^^^•^^- dominion, thankfgiving and honour unto
the Lamb for ever u'nd ever; for " lie
" (hall reign over the houle of Jacob for
" ever, and of his kingdom there lliall
*' be no end *.''

The next title appropriate to the Me-
diator is that of Jefiis, which lignJHes
Saviour. This appellation was given llim,
to intimate the end of his coniing in the
tielh, which was " to lave his people from
*' their hns •^-." As Jofliiia hud his name
given him, to denote that he was the per-
fon ordained of God to be the temporal
deliverer of the liVaehtes, and to bring
them into the land of Canaan, the type of
heaven; fo was that of Jefiis afcribed to
the Meffiah, in token that He (liould be
the fpiritual Saviour of mankind, and
bring them to the laiid of everlafting reft.
Accordingly that prophecy which foretold
that his name ihould be fmmanuel, was
perfectly fulfilled, when He was culled
Jefus, for He became incarnate, that
" He might give himfelf for us, and
** redeem us from all iniquity .'^j." And

* Luke i. oj. t Matt. i. 21-

; 'lit. ii, 14.

we

of the Mediator, 139

we are alTured, that by his merits, " He ^;^-
" hath reconciled us unto God, and per-
" fe6led for ever them that are fan6ti-
" fied */* Thus is He become our King
and our Saviour ; " for there is fulvation
" in none other; neither is there any
" other name under heaven given amonglt
" men whereby we muftbe liived 'j-/'

The laft title by which the Saviour of
the World is denominated is that of Chrift,
or Mefiiah, which fignifies anointed. In
allufion to the practice of anointing the
prophets, priefts, and kings under the mo-
faical law^ ; this name was, by way of emi-
nence, applied to the bleffed Jefus, who
was the objecl of the " delire" and ex-
peftation " of all nations :{:." He was
accordingly anointed with the Holy Ghoft
*' without meafure §," and endowed with
gifts and graces requifite for the perform-
ance of thofe high offices, and for the ac-
complilhment of man's redemption ; " for
" it pleafed the Father, that in him fliould
*' all fulnefb dwell, who was thebrightnefa

* i Cur.v. IS. Ilcb. X. 11. t Ads iv. 12.

I Hag. ii. 7. § John iii. 34.

*' of

160 The Tcrjon and Titled

DISC. IX. " of his Q-lorv, and the exprefs imaire of
" his puribii ■"'•"."

If then the object of our fahh I)c our
Lord Jefus Chrilt, do we pay him that
homage and obedience which he has a
right to require at our hands as our Lokd
and our King ? Are we deeply fenlible of
the incftimable gift of hfe and immortahty
which he hath brought to hght by the
Gofpel, and in return for fo great a blef-
ling, do we ftudy to ferve him in true ho^
lineis and righteoufnefs all the days of our
life ? Unlel's we thus honour and ferve
our Lord, we can have no ground to hope
.either for pardon, juftification, or falvation
from him. If we will not have him to
rule o\ er us, it is in vain to expect that
his Gofpei lliouid ever become to our fouls
" the povvcr of (iod unto falvation 'f-."
He hath redeemed us from the bondage
of fin, from the curfe of the law, and from
eternal death, that we lliould take him for
our Lord, and fulfil the obligations of
^ our fworn allegiance to him. Let us
therefore invite Ifmi to ereft his kingdom
in our hearts, that we may. receive the

* Col. i. If). t I^onv. i. 10\

prefent

of the Mediator, l6l

present recompence of a good confcience disc. ix.
and faith unfeigned, in a regular confor-
mity to his laws as dutiful and obedient
fubjefts; and, this life ended, we ihall be
made partakers of that future glory,
through his merits, who is the only Lord
and Saviour, to whom " all power is given
" both in heaven and earth *." To whom
therefore with the Father, and the Holy
Ghoft, three perfons and one God, be
afcribed all honour and glory henceforth
and for evermore. Amen.

'* Matt, xxviii. 18,

VOL. I, M DIS-

DISCOURSE X,

THE TESTIMONY OF PROPHECY, THAT
JESUS IS CHRIST,

Rev. xix. latter part of verfe 10.

The Tejlimony of Jefus is the Spirit of
Prophecy.

1 N" purfuance of a plan of do6lrinal and pi^<"_^
praclical Chridianity, by which the fun-
damental truths of our holy religion may
be ufefull}' elucidated and applied, it is
neceffary to proceed flep by ftep, left, if
but one link be wanting in the chain, we
Ihould be found to have laboured in vain,
and have induced you to believe a thing in
itfelf not credible, if the proofs adduced
are not adequate to the fupport of our
faith. But 1 humbly hope what has been
31 2 hitherto

l64 The Teftimony of Provhccj,

DISC. X. hitherto attempted, has carried fo much
coiivi6tioii along with it, that you know,
or are fully perluaded in your own minds,
of " the certainty of thofe things wherein
" jou have been inftruc^ed."

Having in the laft Difcourfe endeavoured
to explain the union of tlie divine and hu-
man natures in the perfon of Chriit, and
the import of thofe titles by which he is
more peculiarly denominated ; it cannot
be deemed foreign to our dehgn, to en-^
deavour to prove, from the teftimoq^ of
prophecy, that Jefus is Chrift.

This is that main article of our faith,
by which our religion is diftinguiflied from
Judaifm ; and, upon inquiry, I doubt not
it will be found, tiiat there is fufficient evir
dence from fcripture to eftablilh the truth
of this important point. Tor if all the
predictions concerning the Meffiah, were
fulfilled in Jefus of Nazareth, it follows
that He mufl be ,,the Chrift. But the
predictions concerning the Meffiah were
fulfilled in Jefus;, therefore He is the
Chrift. This fyllogifm we hope to efta-
blifh by an indudlion of particulars, in
comparing the event and final accojnplilh-

mtiit

' that JefiiS is Chrljl. \6j

ment with the prophecies concerning Ilim. i>^<" x.
Firfi, in regard to the birth of Jefus,
\vhich correi'ponded in all points with the
prophecies of the Old Teftament. The
time, and place of his nativit\' ; his lineage,
and the adorriion of Him by the Wife
Men, were circumftances long before pre-
di6led of Him. The time, in thofe me-
morable words recorded of Jacob, that
" the fcepter fliould not depart from
*' Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his
" feet, until Shiloh, or Meffiah come *."
Accordingly, when Herod, the Idumsean,
had iifurped the kingdom of Judtea, and
tranflated the fcepter from Judah, then
was Jeius, agreeably to that prophecy,
born into the world. The period of the
Meffiah's advent was alfo remarkably
foretold by the prophet Daniel; and though
perhaps it cannot certainly be determined
when the feventy weeks there mentioned
began or ended, yet certain it is, from
this paflage of Holy Writ, that the MefTiah
was to come before Jerufalem and the
temple were dellroyed, ^nd before the
facrifices ceafed.

* Con. xlix. 10.

M 3 Now

166 The Teftimony of Prophecy,

DISC. X. KTovv fince tliefe things have long ago
been accomphihed, the feventv weeks of
Daniel muft be expired, and conCequently
the predifted period of the Meffmh's ad-
vent fulfilled.

If it be neccfTary to adduce further
proofs of the teftimony of prophecy to this
point, let the prophets Haggai and Ma-
lachi be alfo referred to. They uniformly
bear witnefs, that Meffiah fhould come
while the fecond temple of Jerufalem was
ilanding. " The deiire of all nations (hall
" come," faith the one, " and 1 will fill this
" houfe with glory ; and the glory of this
" latter houfe fhall be greater than the
" former'*." " The Lord, whom ye
" feek, fhall fuddenly come to his tem-
" pie," faith the other, " even the melTen-
*' ger of the covenant, in whom ye de-
" light ; behold he (hall come f-'* Ac-
cordingly He who was thus emphatically
foretold, came into the world while the
iecond temple was yet {landing ; for he not
only appeared perfonally, but alio taught
in it, and by his prefence made it more.
glorious than the temple built by Solomon,
which, in refpe6l of matter, workmanfliip,

* Hag. ii. 7. f Mai. iii. 1.

and

that Jefus is Chnjl. 167

and the thino-s contained in it, far excelled wsc. x.
the other. Then was ufliered into the
world the bleflfed Prince of Peace, the
Lord of Life and Glory, who became incar-
nate to perfe(5b the myfterious counfels of
God's decrees, and to procure pardon, re-
conciliation, and redemption for us.

But as the time, fo likewife is the place,
in exa6l cerrefpondence with fcriptural
predictions, particularly noticed by the
prophet Mtcah, fix hundred years before
the fcene of this event. " But thou,
" Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be
" little among the thoufands of Judah,
" yet out of thee fliall He come forth
• * unto me, that is to be Ruler in Ifrael *.'*
And, " by the determinate counfel and
" fore-knowledge of God -|'," it fo hap-
pened, that the Roman emperor had or-
dered a taxation to benkidein all the pro-
vinces of the Empire. This circumftance
brought the Virgin and Jofeph to Beth-
lehem, the city of David, that, being of
that houfe and lineage, they might alio
bfe regifteVed as citizens of that place.
" While they were there, the days were

* Mi^h. V. ?, t A^s ii. 2.1.

M 4 ** accora-

168 The Tejlimony of Prophfxy,

risc.x. « accompliflied that ilie (hoiild be deli-
" vered ''^," and there was Jefus born.

The family alfo of the Meffiah was
foretold to be of the houfe of David. For
" God fware with an oath unto him,
" that of the fruit of bis loins, he would
" raife up Chrift to fit on his throne -j-."
And in the fame prophetic fpirit Ifaiah,
feveral ages before, predi6led that " there
*' fhall come forth a rod out of the fteni
*' of Jefie, and a branch iliall grow out
" of his roots .p" And of a truth, our
Lord Jefus was " made of the feed of
*' David, according to the flefli§;" for
Jofeph, his reputed father, was defcended
from David by Solomon ; and Mary, his
Virgin Mother, by Nathan.

The adoration too of Chrift by the
Magi was foretold by the royal prophet.
" The kings of Tarfliifh and of the ifles
" {hall bring prefents, the kings of Sheba
" and Seba ihall offer gifts4|." Accord-
ing to this prophecy, while Jefus continued
yet with his parents at Bethlehem, " certain
" uii'e men of the Eall came publicly to

* Luke ii. 6. f Afts ii. 30. t Ifaiah xi, 1.

§ Horn, i, 0. II Pfulm Ixxii. 10.

" Jeru-

that Jefus is Chrift. IG9

« Jerufalem */' to inquire for him wlio disc, x,
was born King of the Jews, and by the
conduct of a miraculous ftar ftandingover
the place of his nativity, they " fell down
" and worlbipped Him," prefenting Him
with " gifts, gold, frankinccnfe, and
" myrrh f."

The lite and converfation of Jefus were
likewife in all points anfwerable to the an-
cient prophecies concerning Him. He
was foretold to be " God's righteous fer-
" vant who fliould juitify many .t.." His
meeknefs is prophetically compared to a
" Iheep,'' which, " before her fliearers is
" dumb §." His inofFenfivenefs and Sim-
plicity fo remarkable, that it was predi6ted
of Him, that " He Ihould do no violence,
" neither fliould any deceit be in his
" mouth ||/' How truly his example cor-
Irefponded to this character, the whole Gof-
pel, from beginning to end, bears ample
teltimony ; it unequivocally declares Him
to have been " meek and lowly in heart **"
—to have been " holy, harmlefs, ujidefiled,

• Matt. ii. 1,2. t Itid. 11. J Ifaiah liii. 11.

5 Ifftiah liii. 7. II Ibid. 9- ** Matt..xi. £9.

^ • *' feparate

170 The Teftiinomj of Prophecy,

DISC X. « feparate from finners *." So entire
and perfeft Mas his holy deportment, that
He accomplifhed a work which no man,
either before or fmce, dared to undertake.
He " fulfilled all righteoufnefs f ." In
this fenfc He not only fubmitted to the
rites and ceremonies of the Mofaic infli-
tution, but he performed an abfolute fm-
iefs obedience to the moral law of God.
There was no evil propenfity in his heart,
nor guile found in his mouth ; and though
he was " made fui for us,'' that is, a facri-
fice for (in, yet He himfelf " knew no
'' fin^.."

It is an obvious and eafy tranfition from
the life, to the contemplation of the doc-
trine of the blelTed Jefus, as prophetically
fpoken of in the Old Teftament, and re-
vealed in the New. In the former He is
foretold to be a " prophet, whom the
" Lord thy God fliould raife up unto
**^ thee from the midft of thy brethren
" like unto Moles ; ynto him fhall ye
^' hearken §." " Behold, my fervant,*'
faith the Lord, " whom I uphold, mine

♦Heb.vij. 26. t MattiiL 15. % %Coy^*.1i1u
\ Dcut. xviii. 1^.

that Jefus is Chrijf. 171

" eleck, in whom my foul delighteth ; I disc, x,

" have put my fpirit upon him, He Hiall

" bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

*' He Ihall not fail nor be difcouraged till

" He hath fet judgment in the earth ; and

" the illes ftiall wait for his law *."

Thefe words being dire6tly applied to
Chrift, by an Evangelift, we have only to
put a fair and jult interpretation upon them,
to underlland the do6lrine they contain.
Chrift then might properly be confidered
God's fervant, as he was man and medi-
ator, whom God the Father " upheld,**
or enabled to undertake the work aifigned
Him, both in doing and fuffering ; being
" chofen,'* and fet apart from eternity by
God to the high office of making reconci-
liation between God and man, and fur-
nifhed for that purpofe with all the gifls
and graces of the ipirit without meafure,
and ift due time to " bring forth judg-
" ment to the Gentiles," or caufe the
Gofpel, which is the law or will of God,
to b,e pubhihed to them, and thereby fet
up his kingdom among them, and rule
them as his peculiar people. And it was

♦ If^jali xhi. 1, 4>

eminently

172 The T(jHmo7i}j of FyopJicct/,

Disc.x eminently charafteriftic of Him, that** lie
" lliould not fail, nor be difcouraged'*
by any perlecutions or difficulties he met
with ; but go on courageoufly, " till he
" fliould have fet judgment in the earth ;*'
or publiQied his law and do61;rine among
the nations .by his apoftles anil minifters,
fettled his church, eftablillied his kingdom
in the hearts of men, and fubdued the
oppoiing and perfecuting powers of the
oarth, and " the iiles lliall wait for his
** law," and all nations lliall readily em-
brace thefaving truths of his Gofpel.

Now that our Lord Jefus Chrift, that
great fliepherd of the (heep, came into
the world, " to make known to us the
" myftery of his will, according to his
" good pleafure which he hath purpofed
" in himfelf^%" and "hath," by revelation,
" made known unto us the myfter}^,
" which, in other ages, was not made
*' known unto the fons of men, as it is
" now revealed unto his holy apoftles and
" prophets by the fpirit -f-," is a matter of
fa6t, atteited and confirmed by the whole
lenour of that Gofpel which He tauglit :

*• Eplief. i, p, f Ibid. iii. 3—5.

the

that Jefus is Chr'iJ}, I7S

the docli'ines of which Lave ])een " a ni-r x.
*' hght to lightrn the Gentiles, and the
*' glory of his people Ifrael ^•\" ])v them
alfo we have attained (blt-f/ed be Goi>)
to the knowltfdge of falvation.. Tor *' God,
*' who at lundry times and in divers man-
♦' ners, fpakein times paft unto the fathers
"■ by the prophets, halh in thefe lalt days
" fpoken unto us by his Son -j-." And
by the fame Gofpel which our Lord Jeiiis
Chrid, the Son of Goi), revealed, "..life
^' and immortality are brought to light t/'
and that very Golpel is now become " tho
^V. power of God unto falvation to every
^' one that; believeth §." The doctrine
therefore which our bleffed Lord incul-
cated, correfponds with the prophetical
predictions of it in the Old Teliament ;
and well might we, as vve]l as the difciples
of "old, exclaim with " ailoniftmient,**
*• What new doctrine is this || r" if we
were not allured that it came from God.
For if it were not fo, how could that de-
fpifed doctrine of the crofs have prevailed
iif) univerfally againlt the allurements of

* Luke ii. 3'3. ^ \Uh. i. ], '?. | i? Tim. i. 10.
§ Koni. 1. JO". jl Mark i. 2'2, ^17.

17'^ The Tejlhnonij ofPropheci/^

J>;sc. X. fleOi and blood, and all the blandifliments
of ihi.s world, againlt the rage and perfecu-
tion of all the kings and powers of the
earth ? " What elfe could conquer with-
*' out arms ; perfuade without eloquence ;
" overcome enemies without violence ;
" difarm tyrants without oppreffion ; and
*' fubdue empires without oppofition * ?"

The foretelling of miracles to be wrought
by the Meffiah, and the a6tual accomplifh-
ment of them in the face of great multi-
tudes by Plim, are alfo an irrefragable
proof of the teftimony of prophecy.
" God," faith the prophet Ifaiah, " will
" come with recom pence ; he will come
" and fcive you. Then the eyes of the
" blind fliall be opeii^d, and the ears of
*' thedeaf fliall be unftopped. Then fhall
" the lame man leap as the hart, and the
" tongue of the dumb ihall fing «('•'* 'I'he
lead acquaintance with the record of our
Saviour's life, allures us of the reality of
his performance of fuch miracles. " Fop
" the works which the Father gave him to
" finilh, the fame works that He did, bore
*' wituefs of him that the Father had

* Lcflic on Dcirm. f I^^iiah xxxv. 4, 5, 6.

*' fent

that Jefiis is ChriJI. 175

« fent him*." And He himfelf urged i^'-cx.
his miracles to the Jews, in proof of his
being the Mefhah. *' If I do not the
" works of my Father," faith he, " be-
" lievc me not ; but if I do, though ye
" beheve not me, beheve the works if"
For no man could do fuch miracles as
Jefus did, except God had been witli him.
No lefs agreeahle hkewiie to the tenor
of ancient prophecy were the fufferings of
Chrift. As " the fpirit of Chrift wliich
" was in the prophets, teftified beforehand
" of the fufferings of Chrift j," fo " thofe
" thmgs which God before had fnewed
" by the mouth of all his prophets that
" Chrift fliould fuffer. He hath fo ful-
" filled §.'* For " he was dei'pifed and
" reje6ted of men, a man of forrows, and
" acquainted with grief ||/' And after he
had preached theGofpel, and done good to
them that hated Him, He was at laft be-
trayed, and fold by one of his dilciples for
thirty pieces of iilver; and being appre-
hended by his enemies, all his dii'ciples for-
fook him and fled. When brought before the

♦ John V. 36. t Ibid. x. 37- X 1 P<-t. i. 11.
§ Ads iii. lb. 11 Ifaiahhji. 3.

1 judgment-

176 The Tefthnony of Prophecy,

PTsc. X. judgment-feat, He flood meek and patient
^^^""^ as "a lamb. And when the foldiers who
crucified Him, nailed his hands and his
feet to the crofs, then was fulfilled that re-
markable prophecy of the Pfalmift ; " they
" pierced my hands and my feet *.** And
when they had fo nailed him to the crofs,
they fet him between two thieves, who
were crucified with him, fulfiUing another
part of the fame prophecy ; " and he was
" numbered with the transgreffors." The
foldiers then parted his garments among
them, and cad lots upon his vefture, as
David had foretold. After this. He prayed
for his murderers, and fo likewife was
accomplifhed that memorable predi6lion,
" He made interceffion for the tranf-
'-^ greffors -j-.'* But this is not all; while
the bleffed Jefus was hanging on the crofs
in extreme agony, the malice of his ene-
mies flrove to aggravate his mifcry by re-
viling fpeeches ; and when he faid, '* I
*' thirlt T,'* " they gave him vinegar to
*' to drink mingled with gall §," accord-
ing to the truth of prophecy. And find-

Pfalmxxii. l5. -f Ifaiah liii. 12.

John xix. 28. § Matt, xxvii. 34.

ing

that J ef its is Chrlft, \T1

ing that " He was iilready dead, they ^^^C- ^*
** brake not his legs ''^," as they were
wont to do to all that were crucified in
Juda:a, " but one of them with a Ipear,
" pierced his lide-jV' which was done,
that the Scriptures might be fulfilled ;
*' a bone of Him ihall not be broken J,
'* and they fliall look on Hiui whom they
*' pierced §." And though he Iiiitered an
accurfed death, he was honourably buried,
and " made his grave with the wicked,
" and with the rich in his death || ."

And of that remarkable event of his
refurre6tionj David, whofe fon Chrift is
called, fpeaks frequently of Him in his
own perfon, and in none more explicitly
than in that of his refurreftion, where He
faith) " Thou wilt not leave my foul in
** hell, neither wilt thou fuffer thine Holy
" One to fee corruption ^," which words
cannot be applied to David, for he has
feen corruption, but with appropriate dif-
tinetion belong to Chrift.

Trom thefc circumftances thus taken
together, as foretold by the prophets, con-

* John xix. 53. f Ibid. 34. | Ibid. S6. § Ibid. 37.
Zech. xii. 10. || Ifaiah liii. 0. 1[ Pfalm xvi. 10.

VOL. I. N cernins:

ITS The Teflimony of PropJieci/,

DISC. X. cerning the birth, hfe, fufterings, deaths
burial, and relurredion of Chrift, it ap-
pears that they were all exa6tly fulfilled
in the perfon of the Meffiah, and in Him
only, and therefore from the mod irre*
fragable proofs we coiiclude, that " the
" teftimony of Jefus is the fpirit of pro-
** phecy."

Here then we might venture to reft the
truth of our Holy Faith, without taking
notice either of the afcenfion of Chrift, or
his feffionat the right hand of God. Suf--
.'fice it then barely to allude to the pro-
phetical intimations of both thefc events ;
" Thou haft afcended on high/' And,-
" the Lord fisid unto my Lord, fit thou-
" at my right hand, until 1 make thine ene-
" mies thy footflool,'* which never could
be predicated of any 'but of Chrift;

It might feem like not availing oiirfelves-
of the whole force of this argument to
forbear remarking, that feveral of the pro-
phets forefhewed that Chrift fliould reign
over the Gentiles, and that the diftin<5lion
between them and the Jews ftiould ceafe.
*' Alk of me, and I ihall give thee the
" Heathen for thine inheritance, and the

•'' utmoft

ihat Jefus is Chriji, 179

** utmoft parts of the earth for thy pofTef- ^j^
** (ion *." " I will alfo give thee for a light
** unto the Gentiles, that thou mayeft be
" my falvation unto the ends of the
** earth -f-." ** For, from the rifing of
*' the fun unto the going down of the
" fame, my Name (hall be great among
** the Gentiles J." We, as well as many
other nations upon earth, have reafon to
blefsGoD for the accomplifhment of this
prophecy, upon whom the light (hined when
we *' fat in darknefs and the fhadow of
*' death, to guide our feet into the way
*^ of peace §."

Since then we have fuch a *' fure
*' word of prophecy ||j*' " let us hold
*' fail the profeffion of our faith without
*' wavering ^.'* If ever we had need of
f^edfaftnefs, it is in this fceptical and in-
fidel age, in which the enemies of chrifti-
«nity wi(h to tear up the foundation, and
throw down the pillars of the Chriilian
edifice. But I truft, both minifiers and
people know in whom they do believe,

• Pfalm ii. 8. t Isaiah xlix. 6. fj Mai. i. 11.

5 Luk« i. 79- II 2 Pet. i. I9. H Heb. x. 23.

N 2 and

i so Th e Teft imony of Propkexjj,

DISC. X. and that neither the fophhtry of the fcep-^
tic,nor the vauntings of the infidel, fliali ever
be able to llagger our faitli. We both do,
and will " rejoice/' in fpite of all their
•falfereafonings, and acrimonious revilings^
" iii,^hope of the glory of God *" in
CJArift J-efus, in whom we are fully per-
fuad.(rd , . all the blefied promifes of the
,Go,fp€l " are yea, and Amen'i'." Let us
triumph- in ihe accompliihment of thefe di-
vine prophecies, being now aflured by the
molt infallible proofs, that after the blefled
Saviour of mankind had fuffercd, he was
railed from the dead, and " declared to
" be the Son of God with power J ;" and,
that " when He had by himfelf purged
" our hns §," lie vifibly afcended into the
heavens, and for ever fat down at the
right hand of the Majeity on high, until
lie fliall come again in his more glorious
JMujeily to judge the world in righteouf-
,nefs. Thefe truths are the only hope
•and coniblation of a Ciiriltian m this un-
certain and traniitory ftate ; they are
more dear to him than life itfelf; they

.r: .:..'• .■ i: r: _.:i '^

* Rom. Y. 2. t 2 Cor. i. 20. J Rom. i. 4.

.W -x .■:,. li . . n. . • - '-•-i (
§ lleb. i. 3.

•• , are

that Jefus is Chrifl. 181

are the very " iiiicbor of his foul both i^i^^c. x.
" ilire and itedfaft *," amid(i: the waves
of this agitated ocean of hfc, until he
fliall arrive at the haven of eternal red
and peace, through the merits of the
iame Lokd and Saviour Jefus Chrift.

To whom, SiQ. Amen,.

• Heb, vi, 19^

:^ 3 DIS-

DISCOURSE XI.

THE MEDIATORIAL OFEICES Op
CimiST,

1 Timothy ii. 5.

There is one Mediator between God and
Men, the Man Chrifi Je/us,

In order to form a complete idea of thei^Kc.xt
great work of our redemption, it is ne-*
ceffary to copfider what offices the Me-»
diator between God and men fufiained Xq
accomphfli it. In the execution of that
redeeming procefs. He took upon H^m
three important chara6ters, without which
it would never have been rendered dlec-
jj 4» tual

184. The Mediatorial Offices of Chrift.

Pisc.jci. tual to the purpufes of man's falvalion,
viz. that of a Prophet, Prieft, and King.
Each of thefe in their order, \vill con-
ftitute the fubjeft of the following dif-
courfe.

Now the firft of them confifts in re-
vealing the will of God in all thmgs ne-
ceffary to falvation. It was very early
predifted, that the promifed Meftlah
fhould be a " prophet and a lawgiver *,''
like unto Mofes. Jefus of JSJazarelh was
emphatically that prophet, for he deli-
vered the new law of the Gofpel, and
taught it with fuch power and authority,
that even his hearers " were aftoniihed at
" his do6lrine-j-." And " God who at
<^ fundry times, and in divers manners,
" fpake in timps paft unto the fathers by
" the prophets, hath in thefe laft days
" fpoken unto us by his Son.]:." This
great fhepherd of the .ftieep far excelled
all other prophets. For they received the
gifts of the Spirit by meafure, and had
commiifion to declare only fome particular
precepts, and promifes,' and threatenings,

♦ Dcut. xviii. 18. t Murk i.C:. | Ilcb. i. ;.

But

The Mediatorial Offices of C/nyll IB."*

But this eminent and divine prophet, re- insc.-^i.
ceived not " the Spirit by nieaiinx' *," and
being thus pre-ordained, had authority
to reveal the whole counfel of (ioi), con-
cerning man's ialv:ition. AV'hen he began
to ^pubhfh the Golpel, his authority was
confirmed by divine approbation, for
*' the Father which fent him, bore witnefs
" of him, by a voice from heaven-)-/'
And the miracles which he wTouo'ht to
confirm his doctrine were a fufiicient evi-
dence that he was a teacher come from
God, and the greateft of all prophets.

Now the office of a prophet is not only
to foretel things to come, but to expound
the word of God. This was an eminent
part of Chrift's character, for he revealed
the will of God, and fliewed us all thinjis
neceffary, both for faith and practice, that
we. might obtain falvation. It is alfo a
diftinguifliing part of his office, to teach
US' inwardly by his Spirit, as well as out-
wardly by his Word, and thereby make
his do6trine effi^^ctual, by illuminating the
jiiind, and converting the heart, which

♦ John iii, 3-i, f ibid. v. 37.

no

iSdT Tht Mediatorial Offices of Chrijt;

DISC. XI. no other prophet had power to do. Andt
after He had thus preached the Gofpel,
in his own- peribn, and was ready to de-
part unto his Father in heaven, he or-
daii^ed his Apoftles to guide his church
in the way of truth. Accordingly the
do6lrines they taught, they received from
hini.

The next mediatorial office, with which
Chrift was invefted for the accomplifti-
ment of man's redemption, was that of
a Prieft, which confilted in offering up
himfeif a facrifice for our lins, that he
might reconcile us unto God, and make
intercefiion for us unto the Father, by
virtue of his own merits. Accordingly
it was foretold by the Pfalmift, that Chrilt
fhould be " called of God an High
" Prieft, after the order of Melchife-
" deck*.'* And as a Prieft, having once
offered up himfeif a facrifice for fins, he
>* entered into heaven itfelf, there to apt-
*' pear in the prefence of God for us-f-."
In offering up himfeif a facrifice for lin,
be exercifed the fun6tion of an Aaropical

♦ ?¥alm ex. 4. ■\ Ueb. ix, 24',

Priefl,

^he Mediatorial Offices of Chri/l, 187

Prieft, but in blefllng us, and interceding disc.xi,
for us with God, he is a Prieft for ever
after the order of Melchifedeck. Now
the firft part of Chriit's prieftly office, is
making fatisfa6iion to the jullice of God
for the fins of mankind, by the facrifice
of himfelf. The oblation which Chrift
once offered on the crofs, is of fuch inli-
jiite value and merit, that the whole worl^
of fatiiifa6lion for fin is thereby confuni-
mated ; and there is now no need of any
more ofFeriag for fin ; " for by one ofFer-
" ing Chrift hath perfefted for ever them
** that are fanctified *." He fufFered the
penalty of the law, and was made a curfe
for us, not only to leave us an example of
patience, but chiefly to fatisfy the juftice
of God for our fins. " For Chrift hath
•' once fuffered for fins, the juft for the
f* unjuft, that He might bring us to
" God "f-." " He is the propitiation for
?* our fms J ;" and *' when we were ene-
** mies, we were reconciled to God by
<* the death of his Son § ;" " in whon;

* Heb. X. 14. + 1 Pet. iii. 18.

X 1 John ii. 2. § Rom. v. 10.

188 The Mediatorial Offices of ChriJI,

DISC. XI. " we have redemption through his blood,
" even the forgivencfs of fins*/' But
thefe comfortable declarations 'of God's
word have no foundation in truth, if
Chrift, being innocent, did not fuffer in
our ftead : If the propitiation he made,
\vas not on our behalf: If He' did not
fatisfy the curfe of the law : If by his'
death and bloodfliedding, He did not 6b-
tain eternal redemption for us. But God
being oifended by the breach- of his law,
could not, in honour of his jaftice,- pardon
our fms, without fatisfaction. Of his own
mercy, therefore, " He fent his only be-
*' gotten Son into the AVorld -f-", to make
an atonement for our fms, and " to de-
" clare his righteoufnefs, that He might
" be juft, and the jull:ifier of him that
" believeth in Jefus J/'

The remaining, part of Chrift's prieftly
office, is the making interccihon to his
heavenly Father on our behalf. As the
Priefts under the law were ordained to
offer facrifices for fms, and to pray unto
God for the people : ib our High-Prielt

* E^h. i. 7. t 1 John iv. 0- X r^t>in'. iii. 2^.

havin*!

The Mediatorial Offices of Chrijh 189

liavlno: offered one facrifice for fins, di-^c.xi.
. . . , ^i^*'^

" entered into heaven itlelf, now to ap-

" pear in the prefencc of God for us*.'*
The offering hinifelF a facrifice for fins,
fitted him for the hiirh office of inter-
ceflbr. And He is our " advocate
" . with the Father ;" becaufe " lie is the
" propitiation for our fins-j-." He inter-
cedeth for us by virtue of his own merits,
and God is well-ploafed with his me-
diation, and beftowcth upon us the blef-
fmgs we (land in need of, even grace
and pardon, fanctification and redemp-
tion.

It behoves us too to remember that this
office of interceffion is pecuhar to our great
High-Prieft, becaufe he alone hath recon-
ciled us unto God by his death, and pur-
chafed for us the bleffmgs and privileges
of the Gofpel. " For there is but one
^' Mediator between God and men, the
"man Chrift Jefus." The Holy Spirit
doth not intercede for us as a Mediator,
but when He is faid to make interceffion
for us, it is to be uiiderltood, that He

* Ih-b. ix. 24. t 1 John ii. 1, 2.

flirrcth

19(t The Mediatoiial Offices of Chrijt,

insc.XT. ftlrreth up good motions in our hearts,
hclpeth our infirmities, and enables us to
p-aj wilh fervency and zeal. Neither
are the holy angels and glorified faints
t^.pable of being intercelfors for us.
They know not the defires of our hearts^
tior can they make God propitious to us
hj their merits^ for having none to offer
<on our behalf, they cannot appeafe the
■wrath of God againll us by their prayers,
"Chrift therefore is our only interceffor
ivith the Father, He ftandeth in the
'breach, and, by his mediation, maketh
peace l)etween God and us : He pre-
lenteth our facrifices of prayer and praife,
-with other good works, before the throne
of grace, that for his fake they may be
accepted and rewarded.

The la(t oftice of Chrift's mediatorftiip,
propofed to be confidered, is that of a
'Kingv tvhicli conlKts in governing his
-church, and in fubduing and deftroying his
^enemies. When, as a Pried, He had
•offered up himfeif a facriiice for fms, and
^purchafed eternal redemption for us,
God highly exalted hn-n, and made him

both 'Lord and Kinir. " aivins: him

((

power

.fhc Mediatorial Offices of Chrijl, l^l

** power ill heaven and earth ^." Heaven ^i^- ^^
is the feat of his empire, and his kingdom
is ere6ted in the hearts of his people. He
ruleth them with his Word and Holy
Spirit, adminiftering his goveriiment by
ineans which tend only to fpiritual ends.

In thus governing and protecting his
Church, in the way of falvation, and in
rewarding the faithful obedience of his
fubjefts, He exercifes the power and au-
thority of his kingly office. As He hath
given us the law of the Gofpel to be our
rule, fo He enables us, by the grace of
his Holy Spirit, to live in conformity to it ;•
and if we are careful to improve that
grace, he will by degrees " make us per-
*' fe6l in every good work to do his will,
•' working in us that which is well-
•' pleafing in his fight -(*." As our King
He alio prote6ls and defends us from evils,
which we could not otherwife avoid ; and
tliouo-h He fometimes " fuffer us to be

o

" tempted above what "sve are able, yet
*' will He with the temptation alfo make
•' a way to efcape, that we may be able

* Matt, xxxiii. 18. + Heb. xiii. 21.

" to

192 The Medkdorial Offices of Chri/i.

tations, imd continue bis obedient fubjecls,
figbting under liis banners againft fin, the
world aivd the devil, and finilh our war-
iliro in hoUnefs, he will reward our alle-
giance, and through his merits give us
*' a crown of gloiy, that fadeth not
" awayf/'

Jf, on the contrary, we rebel asrainil
his love reign authoritj^, we are not only
ungrateful, but fubje6l ourfelves, as his
enemies, to all the penalties of his wrath
and indignation. The enemies of Chrift
are either temporal or fpiritual, the former
are thofe who vifibly rellft his governmentj
of whon\ were the Jews and llomans of
old, who periecuted both Him and his
followers, from citj- to city. And of the
ilime defcription are all thofe who in
words profeis Chrift, " but in works
" deny Himj;" whofe end will be, that
they (hall be. made his footftool, in the
day of his vindi6live power. The latter
are thole who invifibly oppofe his domi-
nion, and fet up a kingdom of their own

• 1 Oct. x. IZ. f l Pet. v. 4. J Tit. i. l6.

againft

The Mediatorial Offices of ChrijL 19:3

againft the kingdom of Chrift. Such are i^i^f xi.
(in, iatan, and death. All theie Chrift
will in due time deltroy, and abolifh their
power and dominion, in reference to the
faithful. The guilt of lin, and the pow'er
of fa tan over them, are now in part done
-away, for " He hath waihed them from
" their fins in his own blood*";" He hath
bruifed fatan under their feet, and will
finally " ranfom them from the power of
" the grave 'f-.'* When the faithful fliall
be thus raifed from the dead, they fhall
die no more; death iliall have no more
dominion over tlicm. But it will not be
fo with the ungodly ; though they too fhali
be raifed from the dead, they iliall rife
only to experience ihame and everlaft-
ing contempt, and to die the /eco/zc^ death,
a ftate infinitely worfe than their former
one.

Such are the high and important offices
our bJelTed Redeemer fufiains, as the one
Mediator between Goo and men. Froiu
his prophetic chara61er then let us learn
to be ready to hear, and willing to receive

* Rev. i. 5. t Hoseaxiii. 14.

VOL, I. o the

194 The Mediatorial Offices of Chrijf,

DISC. XI. ^\^Q facred truths he taught, for a right
knowledge of his faving truths muft ne-
ceilarily precede the behef and pradice
of them. To be negligent or remifs in
attaining to the knowledge of them, will
ferve only to demonftrate our contempt of
fo great falvation, and to increafe our con-
demnation ; for our love of his divine
precepts, and our delire of falvation
through Him, will always be in propor-
tion to our incjuiry and fearch alter re-
ligious truth. And it is reafonable that
our refearch after divine knowledge ihould
as much exceed that of all other, as it is
uilimately of more value, and alone can
make us wile unto falvation. AVho then
would not wilh to have fuch a teacher,
and fuch a prophet, in whole in{tru6lions
are contained '* the* words of eternal
" life * ?" To avail ourfelves of any be-
nefit from his divined pjrecepts, we muft
remember, that they muft be accompa-
nied with a found - faith, and unfeigned
obedience. For to pretend to believe
the important doctrines of the gofpel,
(h

* Jotin vl. 68. .

. and

The Mediatorial Offices of Chrijl, 195

and at the fame time to walk contrary disc. xr.
to them, is to difhonour God's holy
word, and to bring reproach and con-
demnation upon ourfelves. This great
prophet, Jeliis Chrill our Lord, hath
revealed the will of God, not fo much
to make us more learned in the myfteries
of his holy religion, as to teach us the
way of lalvation. BleiTed therefore are
they, and they only, who have fo learned
Chrift, as from the heart to obey him.

In the capacity alfo of a Prieft, making
atonement for our fms, and interceding
for us in heaven, the leaft tribute of gra-
titude and acknowledgment we can pay
Him for fo unfpeakable a mercy, is to
repent of our iniquities, and to " ferve
" him in true holinefs and righteoufnefs
" all the days of our hfe*." The end
for which Chrift " gave himfelf for us,
" was to redeem us from all iniquity, and
" to make us zealous of good works -f-."
How then Ihall we be capable of enjoying
the benefits He hath purchafed for us, if
we are not folicitous ourfelves to anfwer

* Luke i. 75. t Tit. ii. 1,4.

o 2 the

196 The Mediatorial Offices of Chrift.

Dt>c.xi. tlie end of his all-fufficicnt facrifice and
'^^ oblation ? The Redeemer of the World
hath not fo procured iklvation for us, as
to fufpend the neceflity of good works,
but that we lliould ftrive " to work out
" our own Iklvation*." He bore our
tins, (that is, the guilt and punifliment
due to them) " in his own body on the
" tree, that we being dead to fin, Ihould
" live unto righteouiiiefs-j-.'* Shall we
then not rely upon his merits, through
faith and obedience for the pardon of
them ? For none are excluded from
God's mercy in Chrift, but ''' whofoever
" believeth in bin; (liall receive, remiffion
" of fins throuoh his name J." ., ,

And from the do6trine ofGhrift's in?
terceffion, let us learn to " come unto
" God by Him, for fie is the way, the
'' truth, 'and the life, and no man cometh
'' unto the Father but by Him.§.'* Doth.
the guilt of fm fling and wound your
confciences ? Remember that you have
^n Advocate, Jefus Chriif the righteous.

Phil. ii. 12. t 1 Pet, ii. 24. J AdS x. 4:

% H.'b. vii. 25. John .xiv. 6".

Ar«

The Mediatorial Offices, of Chrifl, 197

Are you, as poor and loft finners, in want i)isc,xi
of grace, or mercj-, or forgivcnefs ? Call ^^-^^
to mind the words of your blefied Sa-
viour, " Whatfoever ye fliall. afk the Fa-
" ther in my name, He will give it
" you*." And the declaration of an
infpired Apoftle is equally to be believed,
that " He is able to lave to the uttermofi
" them that come unto God by Him,
*' feeing He ever liveth to make inter-
" ceflion for them f-." Laftly, it remains
then to confider, what is required of us
in conformity to Chrift's kingly oflice.
And what elfe can be required, but to
fubmit to his government, and be willing
that He fliould reign over us ? For this '
purpofe He Mas conflituted both Lord
and King, that He might rule over us,
and confer upon us the royal benefits of
his bounty. To become our Saviour, He
muft firft become our King, and we his
dutiful and loyal fiibjccts. It is our in-
tereft, as well as our duty, to ^gyyg and
obey Him, and to feek to Him for help
and prote6tion in all difficulties and dan--

* John .xiv. 13. t Ilcb. vii. '25.

o 3 gers;

198 Th Mediatorial Offices of Chrijh

DISC. XL gers ; then fliall we be faved from our
greateil enemies. And if Chriii; be for
us, who can be again ft us ? He is Loud
of all, He is *^ God blelled for ever-
^* more * ;" He reigneth, and '* will reign
" till he hath put all enemies under his
*' feet-f-." Let us tlierefore joyfully iliout
Hofannas to the King of Heaven, and
continue, as good fubjects, faithful in his
fervice ; then may we confidently hope
that He will blefs and preferve us from
the evil of this world, and " keep us by
" his power through faith unto falva-
*' tionj." — Which God of his infinite
mercy grant, for the fake and through
the alone mediation of the fame Jefus
Chrift our Lord, to whom, Sec Amen,

* Rem. ix. 5. t 1 Cor. xv. 25. J 1 Pet. i. 5.

BIS.

DISCOURSE XII

U NI V^ ER S A L RED E M PTION

1 John

11. 'S.

He is the Propitiation for our Sins, and not
for ours onhj, hut aJfo for the Sins of
the whole World.

Having in a former Dlfcourfe con-£,jc;^^jj
ildered thole feveral capacities in which ^-^^^^
our blelTed Lord made iatisfa8:ion to the
offended juftice of God ; the next (tep is
to (hew for whom He made that fatisfac-
tion or atonement. And there is no doc-
trine more clearly revealed in the Gofpel,
than that He paid the price of redemption
far all mankind. " For God fent not his
" Son into the world to condemn the
" world, but that the world through Him
0 4 " might

200 Univerfal Redemption.

DISC. XII. « „^;g]jt be faved *.*' AVhoevcr, without
exception, believes and obeys the Gofpcl
of Chrift, (hall be juftified and faved by
his merits. " For God is no refpe6ter of
" perfons, but in every nation, He that
*' feareth Him and worketh righteoufnefs
" fhall be accepted with Him f.'* All
men therefore are fo far redeemed by the
death and merits of Chrift, that they are
reftored to a capacity of obtaining falva-
tion, and nothing can prevent them from
becoming partakers of it but their own in-
veterate wickednefs and obdurate impeni-
tence.

It mufl; however be obfervcd, that the
fpecial benefits of redemption, fuch as par-
don of (ins, peace with God, fanctifica-
tion, and life eternal, do not aclually ber
long to all men ; they are limited to the
faithful ; and none but fuch as are become
new creatures, and perfevere in the obe-
dience of faith, fhall enjoy thofe benefits,
Though Chrifl died for all, yet the blefied
fruits of his death are conferred only on
the faithful. Where the Gofpel hath beep
preached, they only who believe in Chrifl,

* John iii. 17 . t Ads x. 34, 35.

and

Vniterfal Redemption. 201

and walk according to that rule, lliall be ^^^c. xii,
accepted with God for Chriit's lake, and
obtain remifiion of (ins, and eternal life.
True it is, that Chrift came into the world
to fave linncrs, but it is only by *' turning
*' every one of them from their iniqui-
** ties *," and by keeping his command-
ments, Unlefs the conditions on our part
'Are faithfully obferved, it is in vain to ex-
pe6l the benefits of his purchale, which will
ierve only to enhance our guilt, and ag-
gravate our condemnation.

Upon this plan the redemption of the
world is clearly revealed in the Gofpel, as
the fundamental doctrine of Chriltianity.
The mercy of God through Chrift, to-
wards the whole human race is fuch, that
He willetb their falvaticn, and not their
deftru6lion. And He hath fworn by him^
felf, that " He hath no pleafure in the
*' death of the wicked, but that the
^* wicked turn from his way, and live -f*."
For this purpofe " He lent his Son into
" the world," and though it was eftranged
from God by wicked works, yet was
" God in Chrift," then " reconcihng the

* Acls iii. 26'. "t Ezt'k. xviii. 93.

" world

202 Univerfal Redemption.

DISC. xii. u ^^.Qj.j^j ^nto himfelf *." And the merits
of its great Redeemer were of fiich infi-
nite value as to be a ** full, perfeft, and
" fufficient facrifice, oblation, and fatisfac-
*' tion for the lins of the whole world -j-.**
This do6trine is confirmed by the exprefs
teftimony of St. John, who afTures us,
that " He is the propitiation for our fins,
" and not for ours only, but alfo for the
" fins of the whole world J.'* Who then
can fufiicientlj admire the greatnefs of
that love, and adore the exceeding riches
of that mercy, which hath fb amply pro»
•vided for the redemption of the whole
human race ! Had it operated only to a
particular and partial redemption, the bc'
nignity of the divine Mercy could not
have been fb fully magnified, nor Mould
the procefs of redeeming Love have been
commenfurate to the defigns of his all-
wife Providence. But it is the pecuhar
and blefled charter of theGofpel, to ofter
eternal hfe and happinefs to all men through
the obechence of faith, that every one who
turneth from his evil ways unto God with
full purpofe of heart, and pra6tifes holinefs

* 2 Cor. V. ig. "t Communion Service. I I John ii. 2,

iii

Vnivcrful Exempt ion, 203

r, may havPgood hope of ialva-
tion ; and lie that hath this well-jrrounded

in his fear, may havlrgood hope of falva- disc, xti-

hope in him, hath ample encouragement
to walk in newnefs of life. Being thus
reftored to a capacity of falvation, if any
perifli, they perilh through their own de-
fault, and nothing can attach either on the
mercy of God on one fide, or hisjuilice
on the other. Nought therefore remains
in this cafe, but that a God of infinite
love and mercy mud reproach them for
their ingratitude, and condemn them for
their impenitence and iinhelief.

If, on the contrary, the greater part of
mankind were not redeemed by Chrift in
the fenfe here fpoken of, his advent in tlie
flelh might be confidered, perhaps, rather
as an evil, than a blefiing. For heavier
puniihment againfl impenitent fmners is
denounced under the Golpel than under
the law. On this prefumption, therefore,
it had been better for them that He had
not come into the world. But coniidered
abftra^ledly, Chrift's coming in the flefli
is ever to be efteemed a juft ground of joy
to all men, and the immediate caufe of
perdition to none. True, however, it is,

that

^Q4> Unkerfal Jiedempfion.

DISC. XII. that many, through their own delinquency,
^"**"^'"*^ abufe the grace of the Gofpel to their
greater condemnation, by their negle6l of
fo great falvation. The primary end of
his manifeltation in the flefli was, doubt-
\e^^y not to dellroy, but to fave the fallen
race of man. But if the greater part of
mankind are abfolutely excluded, by a pre-
ordained decree of the Almighty, from
any faving benefit in the fufferings and
death of' Ghrifl, every effort to avoid evil,
and every inclination to do good, are to no
purpofe ; Faith is no more than a chime-
rical delufion, and Hope, which was here-
tofore wont to be the anchor of the foul,
is uncertoin and unjieady. The fruits of
the fpirit are no longer the teft of obe-
dience, when they ceafe to afford any well-
grounded expectation of the recompence
of reward. If this be fo, and we are to
look upon the Gofpel of our Lord Jefus
Chrift only as a partial tender of falvation,
it ferves rather to dcflroy than to fupport
the Apoilolical injunction, of being able
" to give an aniwer to every man that afk-
" eth us a reaj'on of the hope that is in lis"^.**

••' I Pet. iii. 1-5.

AU

Vniverfal Redemption, 205

All encouragement to piety and virtue ^i-^c. xii.
ceaies, if after a life fun6tified by, the
fpirit of God, and fpent in faithful obe-
dience, no well-grounded hope of falva-
tion can be cheriihed, through a falfe and
dangerous perfuafion that we are not in the
number of the ele6l.

Upon this ground then tlie dodrine of
a particular redemption tends, in its own
nature, to difcourage true religion. : Fo|' if
onlv a very fmall part of mankind be re-
deemed by Chrill, who, notwithftanding
his pretenfions, can be affured, on firm
grounds, that he is of that number? And
if he cannot be fo fortunate as to work, up
his mind to this happy perfuafion, will he
not be apt to conclude in defpair that h,e
oannot be laved, and therefore give up the
reins to the gratification of his lufts, and
the propeniities of his evil nature? But
' before the mifguided religionill proceeds
thus far, let him paufe a moment, and
weigh the conlequences of luch unfounded
temerity. Let him confider upon what; a
precipice he grounds his dearelt hopes and
beli: mterefis, and not abandon the dignity
of his nature, and the immortality of his

foul,

£05 TfnvOerfal lledemption.

DISC. x;i. foul j to preconceived, erroneous opinions.
Let him open the facred volume of God's
word, and coiifole his dejeded fpirit with
that divine truth, that *' when the wicked
" man turneth away From his wickednefs
" th'^tr he hath committed, and doeth that
" which is iawfiii and right, he fliall fave
" his foul alive *," he Ihall put it into
a capacity of being flived through the re-
demption that is in Chrift Jefus. And if
the teftimony of the Gofpel itfelf can
carr3^ itronger convi6iion to his heart, let
him call to mind the polilive declaration
of St. Peter ; " of a truth I perceive that
" God is no refpe6ler of perfons, but in
" every nation he that feareth Him, and
*' worketh righteoufnefs, is accepted with
•*' Him-j-." And our Lord himfelf hath
affirmed, that " whofoever believeth in
" Him, iliould not periili, but have ever-
" lading life X'' It is evident then upon
a comparhbn of thefe two parages, that
believing and zcorking righteoufnefs are
ternis of like fignification, and entitle the
perfon polTeffed of thefe qualities to the
fame hope of reward through the merits

• Ezek.'xviii. 27. t Atls X. 34,, 35, J John iii. l6.

of

Univerfal Redemption, 207

of the Redeemer. To imagine that Chrift t^i'^c- xil
hath purchaled unconditional redemption
for us without reference to our moral hfe
and converliition, would be to evacuate the
whole tenor of the Gofpel, which, on our
part, invariably prefcribes repentance, faith,
xmd obedience. The only misfortune is,
we do not comply with the terms of it. It
is not any want of love in God towards
us, nor any deficiency in the merits of
Chrift, but our own wilful pertinacity in
fin, that brings deitru^tion upon us. Many,
our Lord himfelf declares, *' will not
" come to Him, that they might have
" life *.*' The condemnation is not that
Chrift hath not paid a ranfom for all, or
that God in mercy did not intend to ac-
complilh the redemption of all men ; but
" this is the condemnation, that hght is
" come into the world, and men love
" darknefs rather than light, becaufe their
*' deeds are evil -j-."

Be it remembered then, that the doc-
trine of univerfal redemption, as thus in-
terpreted, is no private opinion, but the
avowed dodrine of our Church. In the

* John V. 40, t Ibid. iii. 19.

form

208 Univerfal ^Redemption.

ISC. XII. fonn of General confeflion, we are direfted
to praj that God would " reftore them
" that are penitent, according to his pro-
" miles declared unto vianlc'uid in Chriil
" Jel'u our Lord/' And in the general
thanklgiving, we are to praife God for all
his bleflings ; " but above all, for his inefti*
** mable love in the redemption of the world
" by our Lord Jefus Chrift/' In the begin-
ning of the Litany like wife, God the Son
is acknowledged to be the Redeemer of the.
IVorld. And in the prayer of Confecration
at the celebration of the Holy Communion,
ChriR is laid to have " made on the crofs,
*' (by his one oblation of Himfelf once of-
" fered,) a full, perfect:, and fufficient facri-
" fice, oblation and fatisfa«5tion, for the fins
*' of the whole J P or Id." And, (not to multi-
ply unneceliary proofs) in the Catechifm we
are taught to '* believe in God the Son,
" who hath redeemed us, and all mankind.^'
If then there be falvatioa in Chrift,
and if " Hq tafted death for every man *,''
let us not prefume to circumfcribe his pre-
cious merits, and limit his grace to a cho^
fan few. Rather let us thankfully adore

bis'

Univerfal Redemption. 209

His divine goodnefs, that " the manlfef- disc. xir.
" tation of the fpirit is given to every "^-^^
" man to profit withal*." If Chrift he
the propitiation for the fins of the whole
world, and the Saviour of all, hut efpe-
ciallv of them that believe ; how can it
be faid that He died but for a few ? If
" His grace, which bringeth falvation, ap-
" pear to all men f-," and " enlighten
" every man that cometh into the world J,"
it follows, that He willeth all men to b6
faved. If the love of God toward a loft
world was fo great, that He gave his only
begotten Son to die for it ; and if the fame
precious gift would hare fufficed for the
Salvation of all, as well as afew^, though it
fliould not have been given for that end ;
it feems to argue fuch evident partiality
for fome, and fuch dereliction of the reft
of mankind, though equally fallen, and in
need of a Saviour, as is inconfiflent with
the character of human goodnefs ; how
much more fo then when predicated of
the divine Benignity ! How contrary does
fuch a procefs appear to the love and
compafiion of Him, who once wept over

*lCor. xii. 7. tTit. ii. 11. J John i. 9.

VOL. I. p Jeru*

2 10 Univerfal Redemption ,

pisc. xn. Jerufalem with fympathizing pity, when
(he relilted the laft effort of his grace !
And though her cafe was defperate, and
her ruin iiretrievable, exclaimed with heart-
felt cornpaffion, " If thou hadlt known,
" even thou, at lead in this thy day, the
" things which belong to thy peace ! but
" now they are hid from thine eyes * !"

The queftion too applies with no lefs
truth and conviclion, how far it is confiit-
ent with the juftice, more than the good-
nefs of God, to leave a great part of man-
kind in a condition into which they had
not brought themfelves by their own per-
fonal tranfgredion, without help or re-
medy ? The anfwer is obtained by the
means employed for the recovery of all
men ; " As by the offence of one," faith
the apoflle, "judgment came upon all men
" to condemnation; fo by the righteoufnefs
" of one, the free gift came upon all men to
" juftification of life -j-." All men thus
becoming fmners by the fall of Adam,
Chrift, the fecond Adam, came to redeem
them, not only from their original fm, but
alfo from their own perfonal iniquities.

* Luke xix, 42. fRoin. v. IS.

For

^^..^^lie

Univerfdl Redemption . 211

For though " judgment was by one to^^Kcxn.
" condemnation, the free gift is of many
" offences to juditication."

Let us not then unreafonably imagine
that the promifes of the Gofpel are not to
be received, as they are generally fet forth
in Holy Scripture. For how can it be con-
iillent with any idea of juftice, to fufferall
mankind to be loll and undone for ever by
one, and, unlefs they are left utterly to
penlh in that ftate, as the due wages of
fin, not to give them an opportunity of be-
ing faved by the appointed Mediator be-
twixt God and man ? The gracious inten-
tion of the one great Mediator is expr^fsly
avowed by Hmifelf, " He came to feek
^ and to fave that which was loft *," but
this being the unhappy condition of the
vhole human race, it follows, that He
came into the world on purpofe to redeem

m.

Here then let us pour forth the whole
chorus of.ourpraife and thankfgiving, and,
with " the four-and-twenty eiders that fell
** down before the Lamb, (ing a new fong,
** faying ; Thou art worthy to take the

♦ Matt, xviii. 11,

P 2 " book.

212 IJniverfal Redejjrption.

DISC. XII. " book, and to open the feals thereof, for
" Thou waft ilain, and haft redeemed us to
" God by thy blood out of every kin-
" dred and tongue and people and na-
" tion *." And may this comfortable and
evangelical doctrine infpire the M-hole loft
race of Adam with fincere refolution to turn
from their fins, and then with a ftedfaft faith
and lively hope to look unto Him, and be-
. faved.. Be it remembered, however, that
the Gofpel of Chrift gives no occafion to
any man to hope for falvation, while ha,
continues in wilful tranfgreffion. The lot
of the wicked, as fuch, muft iffue in mi-
fery ; '* mifery, in degree, unfpeakable ;
" in duration, endlefs ! But perhaps, they
" hope, that the mercy of God will par-
" don their fin through Jefus Chrift -j-:"
Alas ! the very beft of men, thofe who
have fpent their whple :liyes,in jioiinefs and
righteo'ufnefs, in the love of God, and his
fervice, will be obliged to reft all their
hopes of falvation on that ground ; and,
" if the righteous fcarcely be faved, where

* Rev. V. 9.
^ t^Scc page f7, Bi/liop Landers Addfts^ aftc^CofyHf-

'^ "2"^ ' *' iludl

Unherfal Redanpfion. 5213

''* lliall the uii'^odlv and linncr appear'^ p"Disc.xn.
•If the terms of lalvation were any other
than through the gate of holuiefs, they
would make Chrift himfelf the minifter of
fin ; and if when men can fm no more,
they could at lait be faved through his
merits, He himfelf would not have faid,
" Itraight is the gate, and narrow is the
" way which leadelh unto life, and few
" there be that find it f ." If the righ-
teoufnefs of Chrift is to be fo imputed to
mankind, that it will fave them who have
done nothing to fave themfelves, our life
would not be reprefented in Scripture as a
warfare, a race, a combat, in which we
mult fight againfi: the fledi, the world, and
the devil ; for we might, on that fuppo-
fition, be the faft friends of them all through
iife,. and yet be laved at the end of it.
" But let no man deceive you ; he that
" that doeth righteoufnefs, is righteous J."
" Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor
" adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abufers
" of themfelves with mankind, nor thieves,
" nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor re-
" vilers, nor extortioners, fli^ll inherit the

* I Pet. IV. 18.

t Mutt. vii. 14.

I 1 John iii. 7.

^IvI

r 3

" kingdom

214 Unherfal Redemption.

DISC. xii. «< kingdom of God *." If fuch were not
the condition of falvation, the Gofpel it-
felf would be no barrier againit the over-
flowings of ungodlinefs. But we know, to
our unfpeakable comfort, that redemption
is fo purchafed by Him for all men, that
upon true repentance none need defpair
of God's mercy ; though we muft own
it to be a lamentable truth, that all will
not be iaved for whom Chrift died. How
many will l)e lofl, to whom the Gofpel
has been preached, in the abyfs of infi-
delity ! and how many more will link and
perilh in the ocean of difobedience ! For
who (liall prefume to conclude, that remif-
fion of lius and eternal hfe, through the
merits oF the Redeemer, appertain to him
whhout faith, and without holinefs ? True
it is, that Chrift died tor the ungodly, but
He vviU not lave them unholy and unfanc-
tified. " He is the Author of eternal falva-
" tion unto them," and them only, " that
" obey Him/' To whom, with the Father
and the Holy Spirit be afcribed, &c.
Amen.

* 1 Cor. vi. 9.

DIS-

DISCOURSE XIII,

THE INCARNATION OF CHRIST.

Galatians iv. 4.

JVhen the Fulnefe of the Time was come,
God fcnt forth his Son, made of a
Woman.

XlAVING already taken a view of
Chrift's mediatorial offices, and contem-
plated the nature, univerfality, and be-
nefits of that redemption, which He came
into the world to accomplill], the next
fubjeft of our inquiry will be thofe flates
in which that redemption was wrought
out, and thoie offices were fulfilled. The
one was evidently a ftate of humiliation,
the other of exaltation. Our prefent re-
fearch, however, points only to the for-
r r 4 mer :

DISC.

xni.

216 The Incarnation of Chvijl.

55^^- mer : and herein we flmll be led to take
V-v^^ a view of the bleiled Redeemer of man-
kind, fucceffively in his incarnation, fuf-
ferings, burial, and defcent into hell.

1. Firit then in his incarnation. This
%vas that low condition in which for our
fakes He humbled himfelf to be made
man ; became obedient unto death in our
nature; was buried, and continued under
the power of death until the third day.
In this Rate " he made himfelf of no re-
" putation, and took upon him the form
" of a fervant *,'' affuming the common in-
firmities incident to the nature of man,
and enduring, with perfe6l refignation to
the will of God, the miferies, calamities,
and punifhments due to us for our fins.
Accordingly, " when the fulnefs of the
" time was come, God fent forth his Son
" made of a woman -f-," who, by the ex-
traordinary and miraculous operation of
the Holy Ghoft, overlhadowing the blefied
Virgin, conceived, and that holy thing
which iliould be born of her, became in-
carnate, and was called the Son of God,

' Phil.ii. 7. t.tial. iv. 4.

* Being

The Incarnation of Chrljl. 217

Being thus wonderfully conceived in the i^tsc.
womb of a Virgin, lie alfumed the fiib- v^^.^^
(lance of the manhood, without any taint
or corruption of lin. " For fuch an
" High-prieft became us who was holy,
" harmlefs, undetiled, and feparate from
" finners *." Had the human nature of
Chrift not been free from every pollution,
as well original as actual, it could not
have been united to the infinite purity of
the Godliead, nor could the efticacy of
his atonement have been applied to others
for falvation. But it was the peculiar ex-
cellence of his character, that " lie did
" no fin, neither was guile found in his
" mouth 'I'."

The ftate and condition in which the
incarnate Son of God mus born, was no
lefs extraordinary than his conception and
birth. Thouo'h He was the Kin^ of
Glory, he took upon him the form of a
fervant, and was uihered into the world
under a variety of circumftances of more
than ordinary meannefs and humility.
He was brought forth in a liable among

♦ Ileb. vii. 2(J. f i P*-^- "• 22.

the

SI 8 The Incarnation of Chrijh

^^^' the beafts that perifh, and laid in a
manger, for want of better accommo-
dations. And " though He was rich,"
as " heir of all things," " yet for your
'* fakes he became poor," emptying himfelf
of his divine glory and majefty, " that
*' ye through his poverty might be
" rich*;" that ye on the fcore of his
humiliation and fufferings, might be par*
takers of all fpiritual and heavenly blef^
fmgs in Him. He might indeed have
come with all the outward pomp of dig*-
nity and power, as a royal Meffiah whom
the Jews expe6led. But fuch fplendor and
worldly magnificence w^ere not adapted
to the end of his coming, which was to
convince the world, upon principles of rea»
fon and divine Grace, that his religion
■was from heaven, and that it would ap-^
prove itfelf to the confciences of man-
kind, by the reformation of their hearts
and lives. Such a wonderful change and
happy effe6l could not be produced with-
out fupernatural interpofition. The per^
fon by whom it was to be wrought muft

* 2 Cor, viii. 9. Heb. i, 2.

be

The Incarnation of Chrlft. ^\%

be more thun human ; and its divine Au- iii^-c
tbor muft fet tbith luch an example of ^^^-^
profound humility, unfpotted innocence,
and unparalleled patience, as the world
never before had witneilcd. Accordmgly
Chriii came into the world in a mean and
low eftate ; lived an holy and blamelefs
life, and patiently endured the indignities
of the rude and infultmg multitude, to de-
monftrate the truth and efficacy of his re-
ligion, and to '• lca\e us an example that
" wefhould follow his fteps */'

But though the circumftances of his na-
tivity, who was the Lord of glory, were
deftitute of the 2;oro'cous embeililliments
of earthly majefty, and the pride ufualiy
attendant on the birth of princes, yet his
humiliation was rendered eminent and con-
fpicuous by prefages and (igns from hea-
ven. The advent of the iMeffiah being f©
remarkable an event, and m itfelf fo un-
fpeakable a gift to mankind, foon became
pianifeft to all nations, and was fpeedily
imparted to perfons of all ranks and con-^
ditions. The very elements confpired to
notify his approach, and, as if that were

♦ 1 Pet. ii, 21.

not

220 The Incarnation of C/irijL

not fiifficient, Heaven itfelf interpoied by
the miniftry of an angel. For as certain
" fhepherds,'' near Bethlehem, were "keep-
*' ing watch over their flocks by night,
" lo ! the angel of the Lord came upon
*' them, and the glory of the Lord ftione
*' round about them, and they were fore
" afraid. And the angel faid unto them,
*' Fear not : for behold, I bring you good
" tidings of great jo}^, which (liall be to
*' all people, for unto you is born this day
" in the city of David a Saviour, which is
" Chrift the Lord *." But left the {hep-
herds fliould miftake this young Prince,
the angel gave them a fign by which they
might know Him, that they fhould " find
" the babe wrapped in fwaddling-clothes,
" lying in a manger -f-." And fb far were
the angels from envying the bleflmgs and
happinefs of mankind procured for them
by the birth of Chrift, that they rejoiced,
" praifmg God, and faying, " Glory be
" to God in the highefl, and on earth

peace, good-will towards men

* Lukcii. 8, 9, 10, 11. t I^id* 12, "

} Luke ii. 13, 14,

Another

The Incarnation of C/inJt. 221

Another difcovery of the Advent of tlie utsc.
Mefllah was made by the revelation of v^^-^
the Holy Spirit unto Simeon and Anna.
For when the holy child Jefus was brought
to Jerufaleni to be prefcntcd unto the
Lord, Simeon, a juft and devout man,
(to whom it was revealed, that he fliould
fee the Mefliah before his death,) being
influenced by the Holy Ghoil to go into
the temple, publicly profeffed Jefus to be
the Chrift and Saviour of the world ; even
" a light to lighten the Gentiles, !and to
" be the glory of his people lirael */'
And Anna, a prophetefs, at the lame in-
ftant coming into the temple, " gave
" thanks likewife unto the Lord -j-," and
thereby teftified that Jefus was the ChrilL

A third manifeftation of the Incarna-
tion of our Lord and Saviour was made
to the Gentiles by the appearance of a
miraculous (tar. By a fpecial defignation
of Providence, (the parents of the holy
child Jefus coming with Him to Bethlehem,
fome time after his prefentation in the
temple, and while He was there) certain
magi, or wife men (killed in aftrology,

• Luke ii. 32, I Ibid. 38.

beino;

:^i2 The IncarnQfion of ChriJI,

^^j^- lieiiig guided by the light of a refplendent
''^^^^ liar, came thither to leek Him 5 and, when
they hud difcovered Him, " fell down at
" his feet and vvorlliipped Him, prefent-
" ing Him with gifts, gold, frankincenfe,
" and myrrh */*

On paying this humble tribute of ho-
mage and adoration to Hmi, they recog-
nized Him to he the everlafting Son of the
everlafting Father, " in whom dwelt all
" the fulnefs of the Godhead bodily -fJ*
All his thoughts, and words and aftions
were the manifeilation of the moft perfe6i;
reafon, the moft divine wifdom, and the
moft lacred truth. In Him was " the true
" light, that llghteth every man that
" cometh into the world J ;" His Gofpel
is the rule of our life, His conduft our ex-
ample, and Hit> " words are fpirit and
*' life §." It is our misfortune and our
mifery that we do not underftand thefe fub-
lime truths more perfectly, and contem-
plate with more knowledge and delight the
facred myftery of our Lord's Incarnation.
Our fenfes have, alas ! too much afcen-

* ai.-itt. ii. 11. t ColofT. ii. 9. J John i. 9.

§ Ibid. vi. 63.

2 dcncy

The Licaniaiion of Chrifi, 2:23

dency over us, and our imagination, which ^i^^^c.
leads captive our thoughts, will not lufter ^^\-^^.
us to dwell long upon lb pure and hea-
venly a light. A\'e know not ourfclvcs ;
we are for the molt part ignorant of the
corruption of our nature, and therefore do
not fet a true value on the riches of God's
redeeming love in Chrifi Jefus. He calls
us in Him to an immortal glory, and it is
the bleiTed fruit of our faith, through hi^
merits, that will make us partakers of it.
It is that GoD-jMan, the incarnate word
and wifdom of the Father, that hath re-
vealed to us tliefe divine and comfortabla
truths, that hath given us a promife of the
beatific vifion of the Godhead, as the fure
and certain recompence of our faith.

How then, fhall not the contemplation
of our blefied Lord's Incarnation lead us
to adore the love, and magnify the mercy
of our God? " Herein was manifelled
" the love of God towards us, becaufe
" that God fent his only begotten Son
" into the world that we might live
*' through Him *." And " God com-
" mendeth his love towards us, in that

* 1 John iv.p.

" while

224 The Incarnation of Chrift.

Drsc. " while we were yet finners, Chrift died
^^^>^ " for us *." Every thing is lubfervient
not only to our temporal, but to our fpiri-
taal and eternal good through Jefus Chrift:
Grace and holinefs, life and glory, are
made inftrumental to our bleflednefs, and
the kingdom of God itfelf is our inheri-
tance through Him, provided we do not
render ourfelves unworthy of it. Surely,
no greater love on God's part could be
evinced ; and no greater kindnefs could
the Redeemer himfelf beftow upon us,
than by affuming our nature, and in that
nature, laying down his life as a propitia-
tion for the hns of the world. If God the
Father had not commiferated our loft and
iniferable eftate, when we laid in darknefs
and the fhadow of death, expofed to the
wrath of divine juftice, better had it been
for us that we had never been born. And
if Chrift had not come in the flefti to re-
deem us from that itroke of divine ven-
geance, our ruin mufthave been inevitable,
hopelefs, eternal. O that men would there-
fore praife the Lord for his goodnefs in
this inftance more efpecially, and return

* Horn. V, S.

him

DISC.
Mil.

The Incarnation of Chrift. 225

him thanks from the ground of the heart
for his unfpeakable gift, and to his name
give the praife for his loving mercy and for
his truth's fake !

" When the fulnefs of the time was
come," it was matter of fuch joy and be-
nefit to all men, that it fliould engage us
more particularly, to whom the knowledge
of falvation is vouchfafed, to rejoice and
folemnize the revolution of that bleffed ara
with fongs of praife and devout thankfgiv-
ings to the glory of God and of the
Lamb. For by his incarnation and fuffer-
ings Chrift hath reconciled us unto God,
and opened to us the gate of eternal life.
And in contemplating the myfterious ac-
complifhment of that glorious event, how
can we teftify our joy in a better manner,
than by dedicating ourl'elves in renewed
purpofes of obedience to the fervice of
God, and the good of our fellow-crea-
tures ? If angels once rejoiced fo greatly
at the birth of Chrift, how much more
ought we to exult, to whom He is born a
" Prince d,nd a Saviour * ?" The beft me-
thod of celebrating that happy feftival, is

♦Adlsv. 31.

VOL. I. Q not

226 The Trcanuifion of ChriJL

^ij^C- not with wanton jollities, but with hj-mns
\^f^^ of Ipiritual joy, and exercifes of Chriitian
charity. Outward demonftrations of jov,
and feafts of love, and hofpitable enter-
tainment, are doubtlefs, at the fame time,
proper tokens of rejoicing on fuch an oc-
cafion, when they are reitrained within the
bounds of piety and moderation, and ufed
as means to promote good-will towards
men, and advance the innocent cheerful-
nefs of true, religion. When, on the con-
trary, the Advent of our blefled Saviour
is celebrated with intemperance and cx-
cefs, inftead of doing honour to his Incar-
nation with acclamations of heartfelt gra-
titude and praife, it is converted into a
feafon of impious abufe, and irreligious
mockery.

That event which brought glory to God,
and good-will towards men, cannot be
commemorated by them with fenfibilities
too expreliive of praife and thankfgiving.
To cultivate a due fenfe of fuch great and
condefcending love ; — to contemplate the
fuflferings of the Son of God in our na-
ture, the imbecility of his infancy, the
miferics of his low condition, the fcorns

and

XIII.

Thelncarnation of Chri/t, 227

and injuries of his own kindred, tire atro- ^isc.
ciou.s barbarit\' of his enemies, and at laR
the ignominy of his death, to atone for
our fins, and obtain for us an inheritance
of eternal glory, requires the exertion of
all our faculties, and the energy of a
grateful heart. Whoever duly coniiders
the nature of fuch fufferings, and the be-
nefits obtained thereby for tlie fmful race
of man, will be very far from proflituting
the holy feafon of Chrift's Incarnation to
the purpofes of intemperate indulgence, or
\Tanton licentioufnefs. A time of joy and
a feafon of rejoicing truly is it, but of the
moft ferious and happy nature; not a brutal
and carnal feftivity, but a fpiritual banquet
of holy meditation and devout praife.
Every indulgence of cuftomary delight
fhould be fanftified by frequent thoughts
on the nature of thofe glad tidings which
are recorded in God's holy word to have
befallen us at that feafon. A feafon than
M hich none affords a more fit opportunity
for the exercife of benevolence and gene-
rofity to the poor, compatible with our abi-
lity, and thofe means with whicli the
liORD hath bleflfed us in our refpe6live
Q 2 flations.

228 Th^ Incarnation ofdfmjl.

DISC, (lations, above tbofe of our needy bre-

XIII. . *'

^^-^w thren. And furely no circumftances can
more powerfully remind us of Cbriftian
love and cbarity, tban thofe in which the
Saviour of the World preferred to be born.
"With the poor, He firlt drew his breath ;
Avith them He paffed his whole life ; to
them He ureached the Gofpel ; and in our
compaffionate regards to them, he folemnly
declares, our love to himfelf is profitably
ftiewn. And in what inflances can we
more fully evince the ftrength of our faith,
and the fincerity of our obedience, than in
a6ls of Chriftian benevolence to our fel-
low-creatures, and efpecially to them that
are " of the houfliold of faith *." Such
a condu6t will be the beft proof of our
love to Chrift, and of our earned defire
to be counted amongft the flieep of his
fold. He is the good Shepherd that laid
down his life for the iheep, and takes de-
light in knowing them, as well as being
known of them. Let us then not refufe
to hear his voice, nor flight bis proffered
mercy. He is our Immanuel, through
whom alone we can obtain falvation.
Let us not tempt Him to leave us to

* Gal. vj. 10.

the

The Incarnation of Chri/, 229

the nnfery of our fallen nature, left we ^i^C'.
pafs our day of trial in a ftate of fpiritual ^-^/-^^
darknefs and ignorance, deftitute of his
heavenly light and knowledge, and in the
day of his fecond coming to reward or
punidi, our gracious and condefcending
Saviour fliould be changed into a jull and
terrible Judge, denying that He ever knew
us, and defervedly afliamed of us for ever.
Oh, let us now learn to know the inefli-
mable gift of our incarnate God and Sa-
viour ; let us joyfully embrace the terms
on which Pie has fo bountifully promiled
to accept us, to forgive us our fins, and to
admit us into the number of his chofen
people, that we may obtain faith to call
upon Him for every faving purpofe, being
aiTured that " in the fulnefs of time, God
" fent forth his Son made of a woman,
" that we might live through Him *."

Do Thou, therefore, O blefled Jefu, fo
touch the hearts of all who dehre to believe
in thee, on account of thy unfpeakable
condefcenfion in the myftery of thy holy
Incarnation, that they mav glorify Thee
upon earth as their only Lord and Saviour,

* 1 John iv. 9.

Q 3 and

^30 The Incarnation of Chryi. *

^isc. and be glorified with Thee in thy ever-
lafting kingdom, in the unity of the God-
head, Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, to
whom be afcribed all honour and praife,
dommion and thankfgiving, for ever and
ever. Amen.

DIS-

DISCOURSE XIV.

THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST.

1 Pet. iii. 18.

For CJu'iJl alfo once fufftred for Sins, the
Juji for the Unjuji, that He might bring
us to God,

\V E have lately been contemplating theDisc.xiv,
Iledeemer of the World in the firit ftage ^^-'^^
of his humiliation, namely that of his In-
carnation, where we beheld Him delpoiled
of that glory which He had with the Fa-
ther before the world was, making Ilim-
felf of no reputation, and taking upon
Him the form of a fervant in the likenefs
of iinful men, being made of a woman.

^V e are now led to the confideration of

thofe manifold fufferings which He endured

Q 4 in

232 The Sufferings of Chrijh

Disc.xiv. 'lYi human nature, all of which were more oi*
lefs foretold by the prophets, and prefigured
by typical reprefentations under the Mo-
faic law. Such were the legal facrifices,
and particularly that of the Pafchal Lamb.
To point out the certainty of the fufferings
of Chrift, Ifaiah prophefied of them in
fuch exprefs terms, as if they had been
already paft. " He was wounded," faith
lie, " for our tranfgreffions ; He was
" bruifed for our ini(]uities ; the chaftife-
" ment of our peace was upon him, and
" with his fl:ripes we are healed *." And
after him the prophet Daniel with the ut-
mofl precifion foretold thatMeffiah " ftiould
" be cut off, but not for himfelf -j-."

Indeed whoever will take the pains to
compare the prophetic predictions of the
Old Teftament with their accomplilhment
in the New, will find that they were ful-
filled in the life and death of our bleffed
Saviour. He was made a curfe for us,
and fuffered the punilhment which the law
denounced, that He might redeem us from
the curie of it. To this end his whole
life, from his birth to his crucifixion, was a

* Ifaiah liii. 5. •}■ Dan. ix. 26.

continued

The Sufferings of Chiijl. 233

continued fcene of lutfcrin";. He was born ^^^^c.xiv.
into the world under liie molt afflicting
circumftances of nieannefs and poverty ;
and not long after his nativity, lie was per-
fecuted by Herod, and his anxious parents
were forced to flee with Him into Egypt
for the prefervation of his life. So low and
diilrefsfid too was his condition in the
world, that " He had not where to lay his
head *." As foou as He M'as baptized,
and began his public miniftry, he was led
by the fpecial dire6lion of the Holy Spirit
into the wildernefs, where He continued faft-
ing forty days ; during which time He was
ftronglyafiaulted by Satan, and in all points
" tempted like as we are, yet without iinf/'
After He had chofen his difciples, and
conimiffioned ihem to go forth and preach
the Gofpel, and was Himi'elf engaged con-
tinually in going about doing good, he was,
notwithftanding, " defpifed and reje6ted of
*' men J," reviled as a friend of publican^
and finners, and treated as an impoftor.

The more miracles He wrought in con-
firmation of his doctrine, and in proof of
his MefiTiabniip, the more was He re-

*Matt. fiii. 20. t Hob, iv. 15. J IHi. liii. 3.

proached,

234 The Sufferings of Chrift,

Disc.xiv. preached, hated, perfecuted. But hght
and inconfiderable were the indignities of
his hfe, in comparifon of thofe agonies
which He endured at his death. They
are emphatically fliled the Tafflon,- — the
parts of which ihall confl:itute the fubject
of the following Difcourfe.

Now the firft part of our Saviour*s paf-
fion was his agony. When he had eaten
the PalTover with his difciples, and infti-
tuted his holy fupper for a memorial of
his approaching death, He went forth with
them into the Mount of Olives, and pafs-
ing thence into a garden in Gethfemane,
He was fo overwhelmed with the appre-
henfion of the heavy wrath of God for the
fms of the world, that his foul was exceed-
ing forrowful, even unto death. The op-
preffion of fuch unparalleled lb rrow caufed
Him to fall proftrate three times on the
ground, and earneftly intreat his heavenly
Father, with perfect fubmifiion to his
will, that if it were poffible that cup might
pafs from Him, though it was the very
end for which He came into the world.
But inflead of removing the cup of his
Father's indignation from Him, God fent

an

The Sufferings of Chr'ijh 235

an angel from heaven to fupport and disc.xiv.
ilrcnglhen his human nature under the ^"^'"^
fufFerance ot" a o-reater burthen. And as

o

the mtafurii of his ftrength was increafed,
fo were his Ibrrow and anguidi mukiphed.
For fuch was his inward agony, that his
body began to belray the diitrefs of his
ibul, " Ihedding, as it were, great drops of
" blood falhng to the ground*."

2. The next part of our Lord's paf-
fion was his apprehenfion-f*. Asfoon as his
bitter agony was abated, he was appre-
hended by his mahcious enemies. When
the chief Priefts and Rulers of the Jews
had confulted how they might take Him
without tumult, not daring to do it by
open violence, left the people who took
Him for a prophet fliould oppofe them,
Judas the traitor offered to affift them in
this tragical delign, and actually engaged
fecretly to betray his Mafter to them for
thirty pieces of filver. And, having re-
ceived a band of officers and foldiers for
the accomplilhment of his purpofe, He

* Luke xxii. 44. f Matt. xxvi.

tame

256 The Siiffenugs of Chrifl.

Disc.xiv. came to the place where Jefus was; and
He, knowing all things that (hould come
upon Him, went forth and told them He
was the perfon whom they fought. By
the word of his mouth they were inftantly
flruck to the ground, an event, one would
fuppofe, enough to have checked their
fury, and fruftrated their wicked enter-
prize. But, prompted by the evil fpirit,
Judas drew nigh unto his Mailer, and
with a kifs betrayed Him into the hands
of his enemies, a token, of all others, the
moil exprefiive of homage and love !
Forthwith his difciples forfook Him and
"fled. And when they had bound Jefus,
they led Him away to Annas, a man of
principal authority, who inquired of Him
concerning " his diiciples and do6irine,'*
to whom He replied, " He fpake openly
" to the world ; he ever taught in the {y-
" nagogue and in the temple, whither the
" Jews alway reforted*," and therefore
his doftrine was generally known. For
this free and undiiguifed anfwer, a fervant

•>• John xviii. ]<), 20.

" ftandin":

The Sufferings of Chrijf, 237

*' ftanding by, (truck Jelus with the palm disc.xiv.
" of his hand,'* laying, " anrwereft thou '^^^'^
" the High PrieftVo*?"

3, Upon the apprehenfionof our Lord,
prefently followed his arraignment, both
before Caiaphas the High Prieft, and
Pontius Pilate the Roman governor. Af-
ter Jefus had been examined bj x\nnas,
the fame night he was lent bound unto
Caiaphas ; and while he was detained in
expectation of the council, which was to
aflemble in the morning, " the foldiers,'*
who guarded him in the palace of the High
Prieft, " mocked him and fmote himf-;'*
and, to aggravate his sorrow, Peter de-
nied him thrice with oaths and impreca-
tions. In the morning the Sanhedrim, or
great council of the Jews, aflembled toge-
ther, and fought falfe witnefs againft Je-
fus, but found in him nothing worthy of
death. The High Prieft then adjured Je-
fus to tell them plainly whether He was
the Chrift; and though He knew his
defign to be an inquihtion for blood, yet,
becaufe his hour was come, he profelled

John xviii. 22. f Liike x\ii. 63.

himfelf

^38 TJie Sufferings of Chrijf.

Disc.xiv. himfelf to be the Mefliah. The High
Prieft then rent his clothes, accufing him
of blafphemy, and prefently called for
fentence upon Him ; and, according to
their pre-determination, they all condemn-
ed Him- to be " guilty of death *."

As foon as He was thus condemned, he
was led bound to Pilate the Roman go-
vernor, before whom they accufed Him of
feveral crimes ; — of feducing the people,
forbidding to pay tribute to Caefar, and
of being a King. When Pilate, there-
fore, alked him whether he were a King,
He anfwered in the affirmative, but declar-
ed that his " kingdom was not of this
world-}-," and fo attempted nothing againfl
the Roman government. Pilate perceiv-
ing the injuitice of the accufation, openly
pronounced that he found nothing worthy
of death in Him. But inflead of releafin<r

o

Him, (which he was in confcience bound
to have done, particularly when he found
that He was of Galilee, which belonged to
Herod's junidiftion) he fent him to be
judged by Herod m ho was at Jerufalem at

* Malt. xxvi. 6(5. \ John xviii. 36.

that

The Sufferings of Chnjl. 239

that time. Herod was exceedingly glad toi^isc.xiv.
lee Jelbs, becaule he had heard many
things of Him, and hoped to have feen
iome miracle done by Him, but failing in
his expectation, and being ftirred up by
the Jews, he, with his men of war, fet
Him at nought, and mocked Him, think-
ing Him worthy of no greater punifhment
than fcorn and derifion, " arrayed Him
" like a King in a gorgeous robe, and
" lent Him again to Pilate *;''who, when
he had re-examined Him, announced his
innocence the fecond time, and offered to
releafe Him in honour of the feaft. But
the Jews preferred a murderer to Him,
and with incelTant clamour required Him
to be crucified. Then Pilate, to gratify
the Jews, caufed Jefus to be fcourged;
and the icldiers who fcourged Him, in
derilion d relied Him hke a mock-king,
clothing Him " in a fcarlet robe,'* and
•putting on his facred head a " crown of
" thorns," and, inftead of a fceptre, a
" reed in hight hand,'* faying, " Hail,
*' King of the Jews f /' In this difguife
and contemptuous mockery, Pilate brought

* Luke xxiii. 11.

t Matt.xxvii. 28,29.

6

Him

240 The Sufferings of Chrijl.

Disc.xiv. Him forth before the Jews, hoping; that
fo fad and pitiable a i'pettacie voiild ap-
peafe their rage, and iTiiii< vie their ma-
lice. Pilate then the ihird lime profefied
that He found in Him njthiiig worthy of
death. But when the Jtws told the Ro-
man governor, that if He did notput Jefus
to death, he was " no friend to Ca?far*,"
even againft the convi6tions of his own
confcience, and after havmg declared Hi*
innocence, he condemned Hmi to the ig-
nominious and accurfec^ death of the crofs.

Tlie laft tragical fcene of our blefied
Lord's paffion was his aclual crucifixion and
. death. After his arraignment and conie-
quent condemnation, the foldiers forthwith
took the fcarlet robe off from Him, and put
his own raiment upon Him, and led Him out
of the city to crucify Him, and according
to the Roman cuftom, Jefus bore his own
crofs. But exhaufted with an overwhelm-
ing agony the night before, and his flefli
bemg torn with fcourges, and his fpirits
fpent with fatigue, it may be prefumed he
was ready to faint under the heavy burden;
and one Simon of Cyrene was compelled

* John xix. 12.

2 to

The Siiferings of Chriji. 241

to bear it. When they brought Him to disc.xiv.
Calvary, the place of execution, they ^^'^'^'"^
ftripped Him ot his garments, which were
divided among the Ibldiers, according to
the Plahnilt's predi6lion. And the body
of Jefus being ftretched upon the crofs,
they nailed his hands and his feet upon it,
and over his head a tablet was fixed on
which his accufation was written, " This
" is Jefus the King of the Jews*.'* Hav-
ing thus faftened Him to the crofs, they
railed him up in view of all the fpedators,
and placed Him, for the greater ignominy,
between tMo thieves, Mho were crucified
with Him, as if He had been the chief of
malefa^lors. In the midst of this agoniz-
ing torture. He who came into the world
to fave finners, in great pity made inter-'
celTion for his murderers. And though
his pains were exquifite and intolerable,
the malice of his enemies was implacable,
and, to aggravate his forrow, in " palling
" by, they reviled Him, wagging their
" lieads and faying. Thou that deflroyeft
'• the temple and buildeft it in three

* Mat. xxvii. 37.

VOL. I. R « day?.

242 The Sufferings of CJiriJl.

Disc.xiv. " days, fave thjfelf. If thou be the Son
" of God, come down from the crois*."
One of the malefactors alfo, who were cru-
cified with Him, railed on Him, but the
other rebuked his fellow-fufferer, and turn-
ing to Jefus with a lively and aftoniftfmg
taith, profefled Him to be the Meffiah,
and immediately received from his dying
RedeciTwjr a promife of falvation.

After, this melancholy cataftrophe, the
whole frame of nature feemed to be dif-
folved, becaufe the God of nature was
fuffering and dying. About the fixth
hour the fun began to v/ithdravv his light,
and ivi a ftiort time \Va8 totally eclipfed, fo
that there was a palpable darknefs over all
the land of Judiea, and the adjacent coun-
tries, until the ninth hour. About that
time, the bleffed Saviour of the world, be-
ing overwhelmed with the heavy indigna-
tion of his Father's wrath due to our 1ms,
cried with a loud voice, " My God, my
" God, why had thou forfaken me-j-?"
At. length, being a-thirft, he tailed -the vi-
negar rtiingled with gall, which was in-

IVIat. xxvii. 39, 40. f lb. 46\

fultingly

The Sufferings of ChriJL 243

fultingly put to his facrcd lips, and kiiow-Disc.xiv.
ing that all the prophecies concerning Ilim
were now accompliflied, lie faid, " It is
" finiflied*/' and, bowing his head, cried
■with a loud voice, " Father, into thy
** hands I commend my fpirit, and having
" faid thus, He gave up the ghoit-j-/'

If then the Saviour of the World fuffer-
6d fo much for our iins, ought we not to be
imprefled with a deep fenfe of their hein-
oufnefs and the neceffity of an hearty re-
pentance ? Nothing can fo fully demon-
flrate the juftice and hatred of God
againft fin, as the fufferings and death of
Chrift. How can that be accounted a
flight matter, for ^hich God, in all the
rigour of his juftice, puniihed his own in-
nocent Son ? And fince it required fuch
an ineftimable expiation as the blood of
Chrift for the fms of mankind, fliall we
not be grieved at the commiflion of every
the leaft. tranfgreffion ? When the Re-
deemer of the world hung upon the
crofs, and yielded up the ghoft, " the vail
" of the temple was rent in twain, the

• Jolm xix. 30. t Lukexxiii. 46.

R 3 " earth

Uh The Suffahigs of Chnjl.

prsc.xiv. « earth trembled, and the rocks rent ^.**
Shall not then our hearts be moved at tlie
Gruel and ignominious torments He en-'
du red for us men and for our falvation ?
Can we meditate on all the bitter circum-
flances ot' our dear Lord's crucifixion; — -
his head crowned with thorns, his back'la-
cerated with fcourges, his hands and liis
feet perforated with nails, his fide pierced
with a fpear, and the derelitrtion of his
God and Father; can we, I fay, think
on thefe things, and not be grieved for
thofe ims which were the caufe of thofe
very iiifierings ? Surely if we have any
love ibr our blelTed Saviour, or any kind-
nefs for ourCelves, we muft lay our (ins to
heartv tmd earneftly turn unto God
throtii»h Jefu.s Chrift. Let us remember
that for this caule Chrllt " bare our fins
" in i his own body on the tree, that we,
*^ bein^ dead to fai, ftiould live in? to
*-* rigkteoasness-j-." L^nlefs, therefore, we
ceafe ta do evil, and become holy as he
vi-as Ijolv, v/e frudrate the end of Chrilis
Ififfierings as to ourfelves, and becoipe in-

* Mult, xxvii. 51 . t 1 Pet. ii. 24.

capabla

The Si{fiThii!,-s ff Chrlft. 245

capable of receiving any benefit from Ilini.»'^c.xrv.
Nay, the very death of Chrift to impenitent
finners is full of terror, and a forrowful
occafion of lieisrhtenin<^ their condenma-
tion. For Chrift is a " Itone of itumbling,
" and a rock of ofience to thoni who
" ftumble at the word, being diibbedi-
" ent*.'* If, therefore, we would be juf-
tified by his obedience unto death, and
faved by his merits, let us " cleanie our-
*' felves from all filthinefs of fleih and fpi-
*' rit-j-," and feek to be " renewed*' by his
grace " in the fpirit of our minds J." \i
He fuffered ib much for our fakes, why
fliould we be unwilhng, after his example,
to take up our crol's, and endure aff^liftions
with patience ? He fuffered not only to
fatisfy the divine juftice for our offences,
but to *' leave us an example, that we
fliould follow his lleps^/' And in what
refpe6l is it either unjult or unreafbnable,
that as meml)ers of Chrilt, we fliould be
partakers of his fufferings? For " the
" difciple is not above his Mafter, nor the

* 1 Pit, ii. 8. t 2 Cor. vii. 1. \ Kph. iv. C3.

§ 1 Pot. ii. iil.

ji 3 " fervant

246 The Sufferings of Chrijf,

Discxiv. a fervant above his lord ; it is enough that
" the dilciple be as his Mafter, and the
^' fervant as his lord*." And in all our
trials and fufFe rings upon earth, let us
remember, that, if the blefied Jefus enter-
ed by the crofs into his glory, we ihould
be content to endure reproach and fuffer-
ing for his fake, that we alfo may enter
into his everlafting kingdom.

To whom, with the Father and the Holy
Ghofl, three Perfons and one God, be
afcribed all the praife, and honour, and
glory of man's falvation for ever and ever«
Amen.

* Matt. X. 24, 25.

PIS-

247

DISCOURSE XV.

CHRIST" S BURIAL AND DESCENT
INTO HELL.

John xix. 41, and part of ver. 42.

Now in the Place where He was crucified,
there was a Garden, and in the Garden
a new Sepulchre, wherein was never
]\fan yet laid, there laid they Jefus
therefore.

After taking a view of our blefled disc xv
Saviour in the two former ftao-es of his hu- ^"^"^'^^
miUation, viz. his Incarnation and Suffer-
ings, we are prompted by a fort of na-
tural curiofity to trace his hiftory a httle
farther, and fee how He was difpofed of
after his death ; and as far as the Scrip-
tures dire6l us, to contemplate Him even
R 4 beyond

248 Chrl/s Burial and

PL-c.xv. beyond the grave, in his delcent into hell,
or hades, the region of departed ipirits.

Firft, then, as to his burial. Though
fuch as were crucified, had not by the
lloman law the benefit of a fepulchre, yet
the chief magiftrate had a power to grant
it. And the Jews themfelves beibught
Pilate, that the legs of Jefus, and of the
two thieves who were crucified with Him,
might be broken to haften their death, and
that their bodies, according to the law of
Mofes, might be taken away, and buried be-
fore fun-fet *. Then " came the foldiers,
" and brake tl^e legs of the two thieves,
*' but finding that Jefus was dead already,
" they brake not his legs, but one of them
*? with a fpear pierced his fide, and forth-
*' with came thereout blood and water -^j,"
infallible figns of his death.

After this unqueftionable proof of bis
departure out of life, " Jofeph of Ari-
'-'mathea," an honourable counfellpr, being
before a difciple of Jellis, fccrelly took
courage, " went boldly to Pilate," and,
conquering his worldly fears, ^" begged
'* the body of Jefus." Hjivjng obtained

* Dcut. xxi. 23. + John xix. '3Q, 33, 34..

his

Defcent info Hell. 249

his rcqucft, be " look the body'' down from i>i>5c. \v:
the crols. And when he bad " wrapped
** the body in a clean bnen cloih *," and
embalmed it with fpices, according to the
cuftom of the Jews, be laid it " in a gar-
" den near the place where He was cru-
" cified, in a new tomb hewn out of a rock,
" wherein was ne\er man yet laid j-.'*
And to fecure the body from outward in-
juries, as well as from claiidelline ftealtb,
" he rolled a great ftone to the door of ibe
" fepulchre, and departed J." Thus was
our blefied Saviour entombed by two ho-
nourable perfons, and, according to the
prophecy, " made bis grave with the rich
" in his death ^." Such ample tcitimony
did the burial of Chi'ilt afford in proof of
his antecedent death, and i'ubiequent re^
furrection.

But the inveteracy of malice and rage
of jealouly Hill burning in the hearts of
■the chief priefts and pharil'ces againft the
dead body of Jefus, they btfought Pilate,
that the iepulchre might be made lure until
the third day, to prevent the pollibility of

* Matt, xxvii. 57, 58, 59. + I.uko xxiii. 53.

t Matt, xxvii. ()'0. § lluiali liii.C).

a fit-tit ions

250 ' Chnft's Burial and

I)isc. XV. a fi6litious refurreftion, becaufe he had
foretold, that after three days he would
rife again. They accordingly fealed the
fepulchre, and fet a guard of foldiers over
it. But this device did not avail them ;
for it was fo ordered by Providence, as to
operate in direft confirmation of the truth
of our blefied Saviour's refurre6lion.

From the eventful circumitance of our
Lord's burial, (hall we not learn fo to
mortify the whole body of fm within us,
that it may never revive, for as He died
and was buried for us, fo fliould we die
unto fm, and bury our corruptions in his
grave. In the heart of every regenerate
fnmer there mult be a fpiritual death and
actual burial of the body of fm, or there
cannot be a conformity to Chrili in the
leading features of his humiliation. AVe
cannot become living branches of the true
vine, unlefs we are grafted into the body
of Chrift ; neither can we be reputed to
be " dead unto fm, unlefs we are alive unto
" God through Jefus Chritt our Lord *."
The death and burial of our blefied
Redeemer may alfo ferve to comfort us at

* Rom. vi. 11.

the

Pefeent into IlelL ' 251

the approach of that awful jiirnrture, and J^is<^ xv.
under the apprehenfions of aur own cor-
ruption. I'or Chriit by his death halh
overcome death, and by his burial hath,
as it were, coufecrated our graves. Inftead
of habitations of perdition, they are now
become chambers of reft. Death in iifelf
is indeed moft terrible, being " the wages
'' of fin ^s" and the grave in its own na-
ture the prifon of darknefs ; but Chrift by
his a6live and paifive obedience hath got-
ten us the vidor}', and we are now becqme
" more than conquerors through IJim that
" loved us -f,'*

II. The Idtt degree of Chrift's humi-
liation which fialls under our confideration
is his defcent into hell, about which the
learned have entertained various opinions.
In order tlierefore, if poilible, to point
out the right one, it nia}' not be improper
to make a few oblervations upon each.

The firit opinion then is, that Chrift's
deicent into hell iignilles onl}' his burial ;
tliis interpretation the Greek text will un-
undoubtedly admit of, and in this fenfe it
is ufed in the Athanaliau Creed; but- this

* Rum. vi. 23. | Ibid. viii. 37.

• cannot

'2.52 Chr/jVs Burial and

DISC. XV. cannot be its {o\g im|)ort, witljout manj-
feft tautology, becaafe the burial of Chriit
is before ipoken of in exprefs terms.

The next opinion is, that it is merely a
figurative fpeccb, fignifying his fuffering
the torments of hell in his fool. But if
thefe be taken in a ftrict fenfe for thofe
torments to which the damned are con-
iigncd, then Chrift did not undergo them,
for in hell there is an abfoliite defpair of
anj/ better condition ; remorfe and anguith
are there never-ccafioig evils, evils which
the immaculate Lan)b of God did not en^
ffure. But if the lonnents of hell may
be taken metaphorically for very grievous
fnfferings, then the Saviour of iinncrs may
undoubtedly be faid to have fulhiincd
them, becaafe they exceeded the fum total
of all human milerv, and were accompaT
nied with tlie moft poignant {ttn^ii of the
vindicitve wrath of (xOD againll the tins
of mankind. This interpretation, how^
ever, does not feem to coincide with this
article of Chriftian faitl}, fmce it appear*
rather to denote fomething done or fuf^r
fered after his death, and iiinnediately be-
fort; Iji.s refurreelion.

Another

Dcfcent into lltll. $53

Another opinlort concerning ChrilVs de- I'T'^r. xv.
fc€nt into hell, is, that between his death "*^
and refurjveiion. He defcended really and
locally into the reuion ot" damned ipirits.
And to oonhrni this notion, theie two texts
of Scripture are ufliallv alledged. " Thou
" wilt not 'leave my ion 1 in hell "*," which
leems to import that once lie was there ;
and that remarkable pallage of St. Peter,
." By which alfo he went and preached
■" unto the Ipirits in prilbn -j-." But on
iair inveftigation, neither of theie texts •
prove Chrilt's real defcent into hell. The
true fenfe of the former is, that his foul
Hiould not lb long continue in a fepaPate
ftate, that his body (liould be corrupted.
And the (ignification of the latter appears
to be, that Chriii:, by his fpirit in Noah',
(as the fpirit of Chrilt is faid to ipeak by
■the prophet.-) " went and preached to
" them who were diibbedient, when once
*' the long-liiHerlng of CioD v.'aited in the
" days of Noiih :|." •• But net hearkening
to Him then, they are now in prifon 're-
ferved for the awful lenteiice of the lait
day.

* Pialm jcvi. 10. | i Wt. m. 19, ; IbiJ. ?0.

' ■ I'his

554 Chriffs Burial and

DISC. XT. This opinion therefore of Chrift's real
defcent into hell hath no fufficient founda-
tion, nor would it, on farther inquiry, be
found confonant either to reafon or Scrip-
ture. If it be faid that He defcended into
hell to convert the fpirits detained there,
and to releafe them upon their repentance,
this aiTertion is falfe and groundless ; for
they that are caft into hell, have no means
of repentance and converhon, neither can
they change or ameliorate their condition.
• From hell there is no redemption, but
there " the worm dieth not, and the fire
** is not quenched */'

If it ihould be farther remarked, that
Chrift defcended into hell to triumph over
Satan, Snd the powers of darknefs within
their own dominion, there is no warrant
for this opinion in the word of God,
for we do not read of our Saviour's tri-
umphing over principalities and powers any
where but on the crofs. And " when He
" afcended into heaven, he led captivitj*'
" captive ^."

The facl is, the place of torment is
never determinately exprefied in Scripture

* Mark ix. 44. + F.ph. iv.^.

Defcent into Hell. 255

by the word Ilades^ {which is invariably disc. xv.
ufed in fpenking of Ch rift's defcent into "^-^^
hell) as if it fignified what we mean by it
in common fpeech, the place where evil
fpirits and wicked men are puniQied. Un-^
happily our tranflation hath ufed the fam«
word for both, initead of calling the for-
mer, what it ftri6tly imports, the invifible
region of departed fpirits. In this ftate
we conceive our bieffed Lord to have
continued for fome time after his foul was
feparated from his body, and that nothing
more is intended by the expreffion *' de*
*f fcended into heil," how unfortunately
foever it may be worded.

Let us remember then, in repeating
thefe words of our Creed, that this is the
whole of what we are bound to profefs by
thein. But in what part of fpace, or of
what nature that receptacle is, in which
the fouls of men remain from their death
until their rel'urreftion, we fcarce have any
knowledge at all, except that we can enter-
tain no doubt of its being divided into tw^o
extremely different regions, the one, the
habitation of the righteous, denominated

by
5

Q56 Chrijrs Burial and

DISC. XV. by St. Luke, " Abralram's bolbm *," to
uhicb Lazarus departed; tlic other, tbat
of the wicked, in vvhicb " the rich man*^-*'
was, when he " bfted up liis eyes, be-
" ing in torments, and between which
" there is a great guU'lixed J." We have
no proof whatever that our bleffed Sa-
viour went on any account into the kit-
ter, but as He told the penitent thief on
the. crofs, that " He (hould be that day
*' ^^ ith him in Paradife ^ ;" we are certain
He was in the former, where they who
*' die in the Lord, relt from their labours,
** and are ble^ed || ;" waiting for a ftiil
more perfeft ftate of ha|)pineis at the re-
^rredion in the lait day.
d:.'How the foul of our dear Redeemer
Nvaa employed in tbat intermediate abode,
or why He continued there, except that
JHe might be " hke to his brethren in all
.** things ^,'' we are not, told, and need
not conje6ture. But probably this article
•was made a part of the Creed, m order to
affert and prove, that He pofielJed a real
human foul, which was feparated from his

*Lul-c vvi. '2'>.

t Ibid.

CI.

- t H'iJ. 2(>.

§ Ibi.'.. :-:xiii. 4J.

11 Rov. xiv,

, 13.

51 Ilcb. ii. 17.

body.

Defcent into Hell. 257

body. And it may reafonably be pre-^'^c. xv.
fumed that its refidence, during the repa-
ration, in the fame ftate and place where
other " fpirits of juft men made perfect''
are, greatly enhanced their felicity. For
" Abraham, who rejoiced to fee his day*,''
even in the womb of futurity, muft be in-
expreffibly more rejoiced to i'ee Him pre-
fent in " the general affembly of the firft-
born -f*." There can be no doubt but
thofe bleifed fpirits whofe departure hence
into Paradife preceded the death of our
Lord, muft in fome degree have been
partakers in the joy i And it affords a kind
of confolino; reflection to all who have
fmce, or (hall herefifter come into that
region of blifs, where their common Re-
deemer had been " admired J" of ten
thoufands of his faints, and where his di-
vine prefence once fan6li{ied the abode,
and to which, in fome peculiar fenfe, it is
yet continued, for we learn from an in-
fpired Apoftle, that the inmiediate confe-
quence of a pious man's departure out of
life, is " being witli Chrift ^."

* John viii. 56. f Hcb. xii. '23. J 2 Tlieff. i. 10.
§ Phil. i. 23.

VOL. I. s But

2.58 Chrift's Burial and

DISC. XV

Bat were the reafons of his defcending
into hades, or the region of departed fpi-
rits, ever fo obfcure, it may fuffice us to
learn, that thofe of his fufferings and death
Tire \eTy plain as well as very important.
Among the principal of them, no one can
be fo ignorant as not to know that He fuf-
fered, died, and was buried, " to deftroy
" the works of the devil *," to make
atonement for fin, " to bring in everlall-
" ing righteoufnefs -j-," and by fetting us
an example of perfect ilibmiffion to the will
of God, to teach us the way of falvation.
By his own a6tive and paffive obedience
He hath merited the purchafe of our re-
demption, a redemption fo free and uni-
verfal, that He is willing to beftow it upon
all them who are " planted in the likenefs
" of his death, that they may be alfo in
" the likenefs of his refurre6lion J/' But
this is in its nature impoffible, unlefs in the
firft inftance we are " buried with Him by
" baptifm into death % ;" i- e. have com-
munion with Him in his burial, which re-
prefents a farther degree of the deftruftion
of the body of fin, to which we were actu-
ally engaged by baptiim, and of w hich we

■♦ 1 John iii. 8. f Dau. \\/2i. : Rom. vi. j. § lb. 4.

arfi

Befcent into Hell. 259

are made partakers by bis burial. For tbe d sc. xv.
bodily aclioiis and luiierings of Cbrift, fucb
as his crucifixion, death, burial, and re-
furre^tion, are not only reprefentative of
fpiritual works in us, viz. of our mortifica-
tion of fm, and riling unto newnefs of life,
but produ6tive of the fame by the fpiritual
efficacy of Chrift's body through its per-
fonal union with the Holy Ghoft, by which
it is made a fpiritual body, and a quicken-
ing fpirit.

His example likewife fiiould be no lefs
efficacious in urging us to work out our
own falvation, than the different a6ls of his
humiliation. In his own perfon He was
the nobleR and moll engaging pattern of
every Chrifiian virtue, not only of forgive-
nels of his enemies, but of abfolute re-
lignation to the divine will under every
diipenfation. Pie had done no aft worthy
even of the lead reproach, yet he patiently
fubmitted to the moll ignominious death.
Well therefore may we poor, iinful, and
miferable mortals as we arc, be reiigned to
our lot, wht'tbicr in life or death, becaufe
" Chrift alio fullered for us, leaving us
" an example that we Ihould follow his
" fleps, who did no fin, neither was guile
s 2 " found

260 Chri/l's Burial, ^-c.

^^^^^^^ found in his mouth ; who, when he was
" reviled, reviled not again ; when he luf-
" fered, he threatened not, but committed
" himfelf to Him, who judgeth righte-

In the manifeftation of thefe feveral
acts of our Lord's humihation, let us
ever remember that they were wrought
and accomplilhed not for his fake, but
ours, that in confequence " we are not
" our own, but bought with a price -|-,'*
and otight therefore thankfully to acknow-
ledsre that He hath refcued us who laid
in darknefs and the (liadow of death from
the power of the grave, and " delivered us
*' from the bondage of corruption into
" the glorious liberty of the children of
" God :t". Unto Him therefore that
loved us and " waOied us from our fms
" in his own blood §/' and hath made
as more than conquerors over death and
the grave, even kings and priefls unto
God ; unto Him be glory and dominion,
thankfgiving and praife, world without
end. Amen.

» 1 Prt. ii. 21, 22, 23, 54. f 1 Cor. vi. 20.

X Rom. viii. 21. ^ Kev. i. 5.

DIS-

DISCOURSE XVI.

CHRIST S EXALTATION.

PjiiLippiANs ii. 9.

Wherefore God alfo hath highly exalted
Hun, and given Him a Isanie which is
above every JSJaine,

In unfolding to your view the facred discxvi.
truths of the Ciolpel, particularly that ^"^^^
fcheme of redeeming proceis which the
Saviour of the World vouchfafed to under-
take, we were under the neceility of exhi-
biting Him to the eye of your faith in the
different ftages of his humiliation from the
manger to the grave. But the light of
divine truth begins now to (hine upon us
with greater lultre, and we are led from
the darkncfs and horrors of the gnne to
^ 3 behold

262 ChrijVs Exaltation.

Disc.xvr. behold the " clay-fpring from on high vi-
** fiting us*" in the glory of divine Majefty.
"VVe Ihall now look upon Hirn riling from
the dead, afcending into heaven, fitting at
the right hand of God, crowned with glory
and honour, and coming again at the laft
day with power and majedy to judge the
world.

By the manifeftation of that glory which
He had with the Father from all eternity,
and by the acquifition of all power and
dominion both in heaven and earth, the
perfon of Chrift was very highly exalted;
but it was not until his fufferings were
confiimmated, that He was thus glorified.
The ground of his fuhfequent exaltation
■was his antecedent forrow : '^ Becaufe
" Chrift humbled himfelf, and became
" obedient to death, even the death of the
'' crofs; therefore God highly exalted
" him, and gave him a name above every
" name-f."

The exaltation likewife of our blefled
Saviour, with refped to his human nature,
was manifefted in laying afide the infir-
unities which He had afiUmed, and putting

* Luke i. 78. ■ t I'liil- "■ 9-

on

Chrift^ Eaaltation. 263

on the robe of divine majedy and glory, disc.xyi.
After he had accomphihed, through fufJer- ^^"^•''^
ings, the arduous work of Redtmption, he
diveded hlmfelf of the iuiperfettions of
humanity, being no more fubje6t to pam,
or mifery, or death; but, glorified both in
body and ibul, was advanced " far above
" all principality, and power, and might,
" and dominion, and every name that is
** named not only in this world, but alio
" in that which is to come*."

Now the firit itate of our Redeemer's
triumph was his Refurre6tion. He had
not tafted corruption before he burft in
funder the bands of death, revived and
rofe again. If his continuance for a time,
under the dominion of death, had not
been necelTary to prove the reality of his
death, and the truth of his refurrection, he
might, by the like energy, have re-allumed
life the next inftant. For by his cruci-
fixion, he triumphed over hn, the caufe of
death, and merited immediate freedom
from the dominion of it. If He had in-
Itantaneoufly rifen from the grave, there
might have been fome doubt of the reality

• Eiihciians i. 21.

s 4 of

264 ChrijVs Exaltation.

Disc.xYi. of his death, and if that had been ambi-
guous, the fa6l of his refurreO-ion could not
have been afcertained. But when lie
had continued fo long in thefiate of death,
that its reality was beyond all contradic-
tion. He rofe from the dead according to
the Scriptures.

I'he prophet Ifaiah foretold this event
in thofe memorable words : " When thou
" flialt make his foul an offering for fin,
" He ftiall fee his feed, He (hall prolong
♦' his days*."' But how could this be
accompliihed after his death, without a
fpeedy prolongation of his life ? It was
necefiary, therefore, that He fhould rife
again. The Pfalmift in the fame pro-
phetic drain declares in the perfon of the
Mcffiah, " Thou xvilt not leave my foul in
" hell, neither wilt thou fuffer thine Holy
" One to fee corruption •)•." St. Peter
affirms, that David is here fpeaking of the
refurre6i:ion of Chrift ; " that his foul was
" not left in hell, neither did his flefli fee
" corruption J." " And David after he
" had lerved his own generation, by the
" will of God", faith another Apoftle,

^* Ifaiah liii. 10. f I'^^ili" xvi. 10. | Ads ii. 31.

«* Ibli

ChrijFs E.valtation. 265

^* fell on fleep, and was laid unto his fk-Disc.xvr,
*' thers, and faw corruption*;" butChrift,
whom God raifed again, law no corrup-
tion. Our blelled Saviour himfelf like wife
foretold his own dealli and refurreaion,
with the preciie time of his rifing again, in
very remarkable words : " Deilroy this
*' temple,'' meaning the temple of his
body, " and in three days I will raife it
" up againf /' According to thefe predic-
tions, our Lord was raifed from the dead
after his paffion, and thereby highly ex-
alted.

After his refurrection he perfonally ap-
peared at different times to his Apoftles,
'' (liewing himfelf alive after his paffion,
*' by many infallible proofs, being feen of
" them forty days, and fpeaking of the
♦* things pertaining to the kingdom of
« Goi)+.'' The difciples themf elves, who
were eye-witnefles chofen before of God,
gave teftimony of the Refurreftion of the
Lord Jefus. They had all the rational
convi6tion of its certainty they could re-
quire, the evidence of their fenfes; accord-
ingly they preached it as the fundamen-

* Acts xiii. 36\ t John ii. 19. j Ads 1. 3.

tal

^6G Chrifs Exaltation,

Pisc.xvi.tal do^lrine of the Gofpel, they delivered
it as the truth of the divine Oracles, coht
firmed it by miracles, ratified it by the
accompliQiment of prophecy, and fealed it
with their blood. It cannot be prefamed
that they would have facrificed their lives
in teftimony of fuch a faft, had it been
nothing more than a forgery of their own
contrivance. No reafonablc man would
be fo prodigal of his life, and all he holds
dear, as to throw away both without any
confideration of gaining fome prefent or
future greater advantage. What hope
either of temporal or eternal benefit could
the Apoftles of our Lord have enter-
tained by preaching fuch a doclrine, if
they had known it to have been falfe os
ficlitiovis ? Neither can the idea one mo-
ment be allowed, that a God of infinite
wifdom and juftice would have endowed
the Apoftles of Chrift with the power of
working miracles, in atteftation of his re-
furreclion, if it had not been a real faft.
Nay, it is blafphemy to imagine that the
God of truth, and hating iniquity, would
fet the feal of his Omnipotency to a lie.
We then, who believe on the teftimony of

the

Chriffs Exaltation, Q67

the Apoftles, have no reafoii to doubt it; discxvi.
and if we cannot im peach the vahdity of
their attertation.-, it follows that we mull
believe them.

As then we believe that Chrift rofe from
the dead, lb we acknowledge, that having
entered into his glory, he is now highly
exalted " at the right hand of God,
*' angels, and authorities, and powers,
*' being made fubjed unto Him*." In
this glorified ftate " he ever liveth to make
" interceflion for us-f-,*' and is both able
and willing to confer upon us all the bene-
fits and privileges of his purchafed redemp-
tion. By this ineftimable gift He hath
given us affurance, that He hath made a
full, perfeft, and fufficient atonement for
the hns of the whole world. For had the
leaft tranfgreffion remained unexpiated, it
would have (till detained Him a taft pri-
foner in the grave, and the work of Re-
demption would have been unfinifhed for
ever : " But thanks be to God who hath
" given us the vi6fory through our Loud
« Jefus ChriftJ/'

Imprelfed with a powerful fenfe of this

^ 1 Pet, iii. 22. f Hcb. vii. 25. J 1 Cor. xv. 57.

faving

568 Chrifi's Edultafioii.

Dsc.xvi. favino^ truth, uill it not excite us to rile
from the death of fin unto a life of righte-
OLifnefs, that we alfo may partake with
Chriit our head in a proportionable de-
gree of exaltation ? But to attain to
fuch a fpiritiial advancement in grace and
holinefs, we muft remember our baptifmal
engagements, and " continually mortify
" all our evil and corrupt affedions, and
" daily proceed in all virtue and godlinefs
" of living*." Thefe are the indifpen-
fable qualifications for a life of glory.
Have we then thus put on Chrift ? and do
we lead a pure and holy life, as thofe who
are rifen with Him from the death of fin,
*' looklno' for the mercy of our Lokd
" Jefus Chrift unto eternal lifef ?" Or
are we dead in fin while we live, " fenfual,
" having not the Spirit,'" not ftriving to
** build up ourfelves in our moft holy
" faith, not praying in the Holy Ghofl,'*
and confequently not having any fellow-
fliip with Chrift here, nor any welt-
grounded hope of glory hereafter ? If
this be our unhappy condition, the infer-
ence is but too plain; we have neither

♦ Form of Baptifm. + Jude 21.

been

Chrifs Exaltation, 269

been " planted in the likenefs of his death, nisc.xvi.
*' neither (hall we be in the likenefs of his
*' refuiTe(5lion*." Omiferable and wretch-
ed ftate ! Better had it been for us that
we had never been born ! On the con-
trary, what can adminifier more eafe and
compofure in troul)le, or greater confola-
tion in the hour of death, than the joyful
hope of a glorious refurrecTtion ? What-
ever afflictions or calamities may befal us
here, if we "are in Chrilt," that is, true
Chriftians, nothing can deprive us of the
hope of a bleffed immortality. This is
the only " anchor of the foul both fure
" and Itedfaflj-, "whatever ftorms or bil-
lows may drive us " to make fliipwreck of
" our faith j." Holding faft by this, we
(hall at lad arrive at the haven where we
would be. And the mean while this hope
will enable us to look upon " the fufferings
*' of this prefent time, as not worthy to be
*' compared with the glory which ftuill be
" revealed in us^/* Under the prell'ure
of all outward calamities and afiliclions, we
(liall fledfaiily conlide on the arm of that

* Rom. vi. .'5. + Hebv vi. ly.

I 1 Tim. i. 10. h Rom. viii. 18.

Saviour

270 Chrift'i Exaltation,

DISC.XVI. Saviour who is " highly exalted, and to
" whom is given a name, which is above
*' every name*;" that by his authority and
power may be adminiftered to the children
of men the ihpply of all their wants, and
in and through whofe name alone they can
hope for falvation. And let us remember,
to our unfpeakable comfort, that the day
is not far didant to ev^vy one of us, when
" the Loud himfelf Ihall defcend from
" heaven with a fliout, with the voice of
" the Arch-angel, and with the trump of
" God ; and the dead in Chrift (hall rife
*' firft, and they which are alive and re-
" main, ftiall be caught up together with
" them in the clouds, and fo (liall we ever
" be with the Lord -)•,'' and witnefs the
manifeftation of the power, excellency, and
glory of his exalted Majeily. Being cal-
led to the participation of thefe great and
precious promifes through the blood of the
everlafting Covenant, let us, in the words
of an Apoftle upon this very fiibje61, de-
voutly pray, " that the God of our Lord
" Jellis Chrift, the Father of Glory, may
•' give unto us the fpirit of wifdom and

* Phil. ii. p. t 1 Then: iv. 16, 17.

8 *' rove-

Chrift's Exaltation* 271

" revelation in the knowledge of Him : disc.xvl
the eyes of our underftanding being en- '''~^"*^
** lightened, that we may Know what is
*' the hope of His calling, and what the
** riches of the glory of His inheritance in
" the faints, and what is the exceeding
" greatnefs of his power to us-ward who
" believe, according to the working of his
*' mighty power, which He wrought in
" Chrift, when He raifed Him from the
" dead, and fet Him at His own right-hand
" in the heavenly places, far above all
" principality, and power, and might, and
" dominion, and every name that is named,
** not only in this world, but alfo in that
" which is to come; and hath put all
** things under His feet, and gave Him
" to be head over all things to the Church,
«*, which is His body, the fulnefs of Him
" who filleth all in all*."

To whom, with the Father and the Holy
Spirit, &:c. Amen.

* Eph. i. 17—23.

DIS-

DISCOURSE XVII.

CIIRISTS ASCENSION AND SESSION AT
. ;, JTiH J6 ( Ji I G H T- H A N 1> OF GOD.

••(obd yaffl fhi •• •

o

^ ^ .1 Peter iii. 22.

7F/m> {^-jgone, info fleaven^ oii(f, is. QXjk^thc
. " • M . i . Might-h and of G od, o, ji j^v h j » j

1 HE[ next decree .df iChrift's exaltation disc.

• • » x\'[r

after, his rerurre(:tion, was his Afcenfion v^>.^

into Heaven, and litting on the right-hand

of God. Accordingly, when He had fuf*-

ficiently proved the truth of his refur-»-

reftion to his deiponding difciplee, by

" fhewiiig himfelf ahve to them after his

" paflioii, by many infallible proofs, being

" leeni-ol'- them forty days, and fpeaking

*' of the- tilings pertaining to the kingdom

*' of God *", it was expedient he ftiould

..r ... * Aftsi. ^

vo*.^ I. T return

274 Chrifi's Afcenjion and Sejjlon

xvii' r<^tuni to thoie blefled manfions, from
which his compaffion to a loft world had
brought llitti down, in conformity to the
tenour of his own prayer : " Father, the
" hour is come : I have glorified thee
*' on earth : I have finiihed the work
"which Thou gavefl me to do. And
" now, G Father, glorify thou me with
*' the glory which I had with thee before
" the world was*/' This being the cafe,
there was no farther reafon for his perfonal
appearance amongit men, until he fhould
come again at the end of the world to
judge the quick and the dead. Many
ages were to pafs away before that great
and terrible day of the Lord fhould come.
It was fit therefore, as St. Peter fpeaks,
that " the Heaven fhould receive Him,
'*' until the times of reftitution of all
*' things-f*." And though the Redemp-
tion of mankind was completed by our
blefled Saviour, io far as in this lower
world, it could -be yet there was left an
important part of' it to be accomplifhed
above. The JewilTi dilpenfation, we learn,
was only " a {hadow of good things to

• John xvii. 1, 4, 5. + Ads iii,/fil.

*« come.*'

at the Right-hand of God. 5275

" come.'* Under it, the greiit facrifice of disc.
atonement was yearly ilain without the ^^
ian&uary firft, and then the Iligh-prieft
entered alone with the blood of it, into the
mod holy place, there to offer it before the
Lord as an atonement for the has of the
people. So under the Gofpel, was Jefus,
as the Lamb of God, to be facrificed for
our fins on earth ; and then, as the High-
prieft of our profeffion, to enter with his
own blood into heaven, the true holy
place, of which the other was a figure,
there to appear with it in the prefence of
God for us; and thus, having offered one
facritice forfms, he was for ever to fit down
on the right-hand of God.

I fhall now difcourfe to you on each of
thefe in their order.

Firft, his Afcenfion. After our Lord
had fully inftrufted his difciples in his doc-
trine, the fa6l ftands recorded on the tef-
timony of Lifpiration itfelf, *' he led them
" out as far as to Bethany, and lifting up
" his hands and blefling them, he was
" parted from them, and carried up into
" heaven''^." No words can be more ex-

* Luke xxiv. 50, 51.

T ^ preffive

!^!j6 CIi riffs Afcenfion and Stjfioii

DISC, prcffive of a plain matter of fa6l; let us
/ not then "jive way to the falfe and fanciful
idea, that the Afcenfion of Ch rift was only
figurative, denoting a more glorious con-
dition after his refurreclion, but Jet us
conftrue plain words in plain fenfe, and
confider them as defcripti\'e of, a refil ai|d
local trandatibn of his human nature from
earth into heaven. • lor in the pretence of
divers witnelTes^ as -^ ■f«''in> he- afc^nded
really and vifibly into heaven, there to re-
main until he return to iudo;ment. And
■ ■ though .Chrifl:, ;ds^;GjOD, be Itill^, pref^pt
^witfi us oi eartii.by his powder, grace, and
Holy Spirit, yet as to his bodily prefence,
he is abfe'nt from ^ us in heaven. He^ is
gone to take polTeflion ofhis kingdom, and
to prepare a place for us. lie is, "exalted
" to be a Prince and a Saviour, ^tOr^g-ive
" repentance to Ifrael, and forgiVenefs of
*' fms*.'^' ■And when by the. lanclifying
influence of , his grace, He hath prepared us
to be meet partakers of the heavenly in-
heritance, '-he will exalt us unto the fame
place, ^vhliher he IS gone before •f'.'''

After confiderins^ tUe truth of 'oqr

■■:^^ tJi^jin

*Aasv. 31.. . t.r^^ifSnfion Collca.

Lord's

XV II.

at the Right-hand of God 277

IvOT^d's afcenfion, tlie next degree of bis dkc
exaltation that prelents itlelf to our in-
quiry, is his i'eflion at the right-hand of
God the Father Ahiiiohtv.

The phrafc of fittino: at God's ri^ht-
hand is plainly a figurative expreflion, and
therefore cannot, in a literal ienle, be
afcribed to God, who is a Spirit without
any bodily parts. It imports an invefliture
of power, dignity, and glory; and, when
attributed to Chrift, is emphatically ex-
preflive of his fupreme authority and domi-
nion both in heaven and earth. David
accordingly forefeeing the extenfion, power,
and duration of the Meffiah's kingdom,
])rophelied concerning the exaltation of
Chrift in theie remarkable words: " The
" Lord faid unto my Lord, lit thou at
" my right-hand until I make thine ene-
*' mies thy footltool*." i\greeabl^ to the
fame do6trine, St. Paul afterward declared,
that when " Chrift had by himielf purged
" our fnis, he I'at down on the rijiht-hand
" of the Majelty on high-^-i" And when
God had railed Him from the dead, " He
^' fet him at his own right-hand in hea-

* Plalm c\. 1. t liflj- J- •">.

T 3 " venly

.278 ChrijVs Afcenjlon and Scjjhn

DISC. « venly places, far above all principalities,
" and power, and might, and dominion,
** and every name that is named, not only
** in this world, but- alio in that M^hich is
*' to come*." This was an honour never
promifed, never given to any but the Mel'-,
fiah, for " to which of the angels faid He
^* at any time, Sit on my right-hand -j- ?"
They indeed ftand about the throne of
Gop, but our glorious Redeemer was fo
afifured of this honour, that when He faw
all the inftrumeijts of death, and the hor-
rors of the crofs preparing for Him, he
lexclaimed in the hearing of the chief-
priefts and elders : ^* Hereafter (hall the
*' Son of Man fit on the right-hand of the
*^ power of God J.'*

From this two-fold do6lrine of Ch rift's
afcenfjon, and feflion at the rightrhand of
Gop, let us learn to rejoice in ib glorious
an e?:altation of Chrift our head, and
humbly have recou rfe to God in all our
necefiities, fmce we have fo powerful an
advocate with the Father. Under tjie
forrows and afflictions of this infirm and
piortal ftate, let the alfurance of Chrift's

t» Eph. i. 20, '21. t Ilcb. i. 13. % Luke xxii. 69.

srlorious

lit the Ilight-hiuid of God. 279

glorious afcendon revive our drooping Dm
fpirits, knowing that it' we be his members, n*--.-^
we Ihall aicend alfo. " Father, I will,"
faith he, " that tiiofe alio whom thou haft
" given me, be with me where I am, that
" they may behold my glory which thou
" haft given me *." 80 infallible is this
hope and glorious expectation, that St.
Paul fpeaks of the afcenfion of true be-
hevers, as a thing already effefted by the
afceniioQ of Chrift, who " hath raifed us
** up together, and made us fit together in
" heavenly places in Chrift Jefus f." Such
is the ailimilating power of that fpirit of
life by which Chrift rofe from th6 grave,
that being quickened by the fame I'pirit,
we have an alfured hope that we (hall not
only rife from the dead, but aicend alfo
with Him into the higheft heavens, and in
due time " lit down with Abraham, Ifaac,
and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven ;t/*

Let this animating do6trine teach us alfo
to exercife that lively faith in Chriit, which
the Apoftle, with fuch peculiar energy,
entitles " the evidence of things not feen^."

• John xvii. 24. f ^'Ph. ii. 6. J Matt. viii. U.

S lieb.xi. 1.

T 4 Let

?80 ChriJi'sAfcenfLon and Sefion

xvir "^^^ ^^ excite us to obtain a reward ade-
.y%^ quate to the greater holinefs and righ-
teoufnefs to which we may attain, by en-
lightening our underftandings, reforming
our hearts, amending our hves, and ianc-
tifying our wills and affections.

Let it remind us alfo of our Lord's
promife, " Bleffed are they that have not
" feen, and yet have believed ;" a bleffedr
nefs which He hath left to his whole
Church the means of acquiring ; *f that the
f' trial of your laith may be found unto
** praife, and honour, and glory, at the
f appearing of Jefus Chrift; whom hav-
*.' ing not feen, ye love; and in whom,
" though now ye fee Hmi not, yet, be^
." lieving, ye rejoice with joy unipeakable
" and full of glory, receiving the end. of
." your faith, even the falvation of your
" fouls*." If the abfence of our Re-
deemer thus tries our faith, the manner of
Lis going away powerfully conlirms it, the
Apoitles were eycrwitnefies of his afcent
into the clouds, and none but an infide
will queiiion the credibility of tbtir tel?
timony.

* 1 Pet. i. 7, 8, 9.

So

ai the Bight-huml uf God. 281

; So full of confolation, too, is this evun- w^fj-
gelical doctrine, that it may fcrve in feme s^y^
meafure to remove from us the fear of
death, if not make it defireahle. Over-
powered with the anticipation of " being,
« with Chriit," wh^n St. Paul " was in a
" Itrait betwixt two*," whether he fliould
defire to hve or die, confidering the need
the. Phihppians had of his miniftry, he
r^iblved.on his own behalf, that He " had
*? a delire to depart, which was far better,"
knowing that having fuftered with Him, he
Ihould alfo reign with Him.

It Ihould alfo excite us to live as Gran-
gers upon earth. We know from the ex-
perience of pad ages, as well as from the
Itrongeft convictions of our own mortality,
that this world is not our home., " nor have
*.* we here any continuing city, but we
" feek one to come, which hath founda-
♦* tions, whofc builder and maker is
*' God ')•.'' Our convcifation, therefore,
is in heaven, where our J^Ord is; and it
we are denizens of that city, we (liali in-
fallibly feek after it, and endeavour " to
.•^' pafs the time of our iojourning here in

* Philip, i. 23. ' t llcb. xiii. U.

" the

XVII.

fS2 Chrijf's Jfcenfion and Sii/Jion

pisc. " the fear*" of God. Though we are in
the world, yet we fliall not live as thofe
that are of the world, but demean ourfelves
as flrangers, fetting our affe6lLons on things
above, and afcending in heart and mind
after Him, who fitteth at the right-hand of
God. For furely it ill becomes thofe who
profefs themfelves difciples of the humble
Jefus, to faften their affe6iions on earthly
things, and fhew an anxious folicitude
about them. But if we ** love the Lord
" Jefus Chrift in hncerity-jV we fhall long
for a nearer approach and clofer commu-
nion with Him ; we fhall eagerly anticipate
the joys of heaven, and, in the mean time,
walk " as obedient children, not fafhioning
*' ourfelves according to the former lufts in
" our ignorance ,"[:," until we are called to
reign with llim in his everlaltino^ kina:-
dom.

This bleffednefs he hath refe rved for us
through his own merits, as the ineitimable
purchafe of his blood, and will, in due
time, beflow it upon thole who are " kept
♦* by his power through faith unto falva-

* 1 Pet. i. 17. t li''i- vi. 2-i. : 1 Pot. i. U.

«< tion."

at the Righl-haml of God. 283

" tion*/' To our unfpeakablc conitbrt it disc.

•I , . . . ^ , XVII.

IS, Uiat this promile can never be eva- «^^,-^-

cuatecl ; for Chrift will exercife this regal

power at the right-hand of God '" till his

" enemies be made his fbotltool -f-." When

the whole oftice of his Mcdiatorlhip Ihall

be coniumniHted, then, and not till tlien,

fliall every brunch of its execution ceafe.

" Then conieth the end, when He fhall

" have delivered up the kingdom to God,

" even the leather, \\hen lie Ihall have

" put dow^n all rule, and all authority and

*' power, and when all things iball l)e fub-

'* dued unto Him, then IhuU the Son alfo

" himfelf be fubjett unto Him that put all

" things under Him, that GoD mav be

" all in all :\. ;" and of his kingdom there

fliall be no end.

Inftead, therefore, of amufing ourfelves'
with the ipeculative conlideration of Chriit's
afcenfion and feliQon at the right-hand of
God, let us learn from his departure to
prepare for his return. Are we then care-
ful to behave in iiich a manner, that we
may be ready to meet our Lord at his
fecond coming, and enter with Him into

• 1 Pet. i. 5. t Hcb. X. 13. I 1 Cor. xv. 2 1— 2S.

hi3

XVII.

284 Clmji's Afcevfion and Se/Jton, ^^c.

DISC, his joy ? Enthroned in glory at the right-
hand of the Majeftj on high, he invites
us to become partakers of it by the tender
motives of love, gratitude, and obedience.
What then remains, but to fix our hearts
where our beft treafure lies, and fet our
afFe6lions on things above ? But in vain fhali
we make this pretenfion, and rejoice in the
aifurance of a glorified Redeemer, unlefs
w;e firft become his friends by fulfilling his
commands. In vain do we lift up our
hands and our eyes to his bleffed abode,
unlefs by imitation of his example in
purity and holinefs, we quality ourfelves to
become partakers of the reiemblance of his
glory. Unavailing for ever Mill be our
beft performances for acceptance with a
pure and holy God, unlefs we plead the
all-atoning merits and interceffion of our
great Advocate, Jefus Chrifl the righteous.
To whom, with the Father and the Holy
Spirit, three Perfons and one Cjot3, be all
honour and glory, praife and thankfgiving,
for ever and ever, Amen.

DIS-

DISCOURSE XVIII,

CHRISTS GOMING TO JUDGMENT.

Rev. XX. 13.

And the Sea gave up the dead which were

, X in it J and Death and Hell delivered up

// the dead which were in them, and thejf

were judged every one according to their

,jj JV0rks.

.I^E

'^. E ane now arrived, iii the cpurft^; of disc.
our intended plan, at that great and awful ^^^.-^
do6trine which makes all , the precedii^g
ones fo important tO-MV^-.f Fpr..,fi Q.flp
" hath appointed a day,, in which He will
" judge the world in righleoufnefs bj^that
" Man whom he hath ordained ,trO" a
truth, the belief of which it infinitely con-
cerns us all to be fully perfuaded of in

* A6ls xvii. 31.

our

286 Cliriji's coming to Judgment.

our own minds, that we may be prepared
to ftand beibre the awful tribunal of our
Judge.

Before we attempt to defcribe the nature
and circumftances of the oewerr// judgment,
let us make a few obfervations upon that
particular '^^wAgm^nt which, is fuppofed to
pafs upon every indiridual at his death.
As foon as the ipirit dej)arts from the body,
it is afijgned its ftate in another world,
and, according to the works done in the
body, is partaker in fome degree, until the
final judgment, of a flate of happinefs or
mifery. This we learn from our Lord's
remarkable parable of the Rich ]\Ian and
Lazarus, the former of whom " lifted up
*' his eyes in hell being in torments,'*
While the latter was " carried away by
"angels into Abraham's bofom*." In-
deed we are exprefsly told by an apoftle,
that the righteous, as foon as they are
'**^'abfen't from the body, are prefent "Nlvith
'** the LoRDf."

But befides that particular judgment
which is fecfetly pafied upon the fouls of
men at their departure hence, there will

" Luko xvi. 2?; ?3. t 2 Cor. v. S.

be

XVIII.

ChrijVs coming to Judgment. 2H7

be a general jiKlginent, when all nations ^J^c.
iliall be gathered together before the judg-
ment-leat of Chrift, that all mankind may
be publicly abfolved or condemned, and
Teceive in body as well as in Ibul, a jufl
recompence of reward or punilliment, ac-
cording to their deeds. For in the laft
day " Chrift ihall defcend" from heaven
with great power and majefty, " with the
" voice of the archangel, and with the
" trump of God *," and He Ihall fit as
a judge upon the throne of his glory. By
the power of his Godhead He fliall raife
the dead, and change thofe that be alive.
" For we fiiall not all deep, but we (hall
*' all be changed, in a moment, in the
** twinkling of an e^'e -f-."

Let us then briefly confider the feveral
particulars of this awful tranfa<5lion, the
perlbns, the judge, the fubjeft-matter, the
manner, and the confequence of that final
fentence which Iball be pronounced on the
whole race of Adam.

1. The perfons, are evil angels and the
whole fpecies of mankind. That the for-
mer will conltitute a part of that vaft af-

. » 1 Thcff. iv. 16. t 1 Cor. XV. 52.

5 fembly,

XVIil.

288 ChrijVs toming to JudgmeiU.

DLsc. fembl}', we iMve the authority of an iinf-
.fpired Apottie, who hath declared that
"the angels : which kept not their firit
•" eftate, He hath relerved in : everlafting
;■*■ chains under darkneis, unto the judg-
" . naent of the great day *." , How great
their, numbers, how aggravated their , of-
fence, how fore, their punithnient, is knovvj;i
.only; to that. AJiiiighty Being, >vh,ofe. pre-
rogative it is t^y-jfU^lgejn abfol,ut^jj^jti€c
and equity, oil her. '^^ •?•,>, j ■i)<|/njifr

The next '^ill^)^ the whole huiiian' race,

both quick jrnd dt;ad. The quick will b

all thole wl^o iliall be found alive upoi

leaj^th at, pjir^t'i?* fecond coming ; and) th^

dead are all they, without any exception,

who departed out of this life before thai

rgre^i^vand awfijljday of judg^ient. " For

.^I'J.we mutl a//^ ftand before the judgment-

.".feat of Chrift,;and every qi]e give an

ff' account on]Imiyff||nto Go jp^ ,•,{;;.'' ''rTJl^

" dead both fniall ^and great fliull {land

*' befoie God :r. :*' neither the power of

the highefl:,, nof ^he wealth of the richeli:,

nor the wifdom;of the wifeii, nor the fo-

phi|try of the moft fubtlc, nor the bold

* Judc 6'. t Roiii. xiv. 10, 12. : Rev. x.x. 12.

Atheift

ChriftU coming to Judgment, 2S(

Atheid, or fcolfing Infidel, any more than i^isc*
the ignorant wretch, or protiigate volup- ^— r*>
tuary, ihall be able to evade the judgment
of God. It will be of no confequence
what ftation of life wo held, provided we
fulfilled the duties of it faithfully and con-
icientioully. The more knowledge we had
of our duty, and means of doing good, fo
much the more will be required of us.
The inquiry will not be how great, or how
rich, or how powerful we were, but whe-
ther, according to our ability, we " fed the
" hungry, clothed the naked, vilited the
" lick *," and comforted the affli6ted, and
endeavoured " to follow Chrift in the re-
" generation -f-." All other dillin6lions,
how confiderable foever they may have
appeared in the eyes of our fellow-crea-
tures, will then avail us nothing. " For
" there is no refpe6l of perlbns with
" Cod, for as many as have fmned with-
" out law, fliall perifli ^vithout law, and
" as many as have finntd in the law,
" Ihall be judged by the law, in the day
" when God iliall judge the lecrets of
" men by Jefus Chrift {:." AVe are all

* Matt. XXV. GO', t Ibid. xix. i'8. J Rom. ii. 11, ix?, l6\

VOL. I. U " equally

XVIII.

290 Chri/i's coming to Judgnicnt,

DISC, equally the work of his Almighty hand ;
we are all the (heep of his paiture, and we
have all more or lefs gone aftray ; we are
all therefore Iial)le to the fentenceof con-
demnation, and have no caufe to juftify
ourfelves in his fight more than another.
Here we are ail put in a ftate of prohation,
according to our refpeftive talents, with-
out any partiality, or inequality whatever
in the fight of God. The moft honour-
able, and the moft contemptible, as to
worldly circumftances, may be the moft
happy, or the moft miferable in the next
life, according to their refpe6live demeanor
in this. Let thofe then of high rank learn
to be humble, thofe of low degree, con-
tent, and let all, both high and low, rich
and poor, be watchful over themfelves,
that they may be able to give a good ac-
count.

2. The Judge by whom the fentence
(liall be pafied is JefusChrift. " For He
" hath commanded us to preach unto the
" people, and to teftify that it is lie which
" was ordained of God to be the judge
" of quick and dead *.'' And " the

* Ads X. 42.

Father

Chrijl's coming to Judgment, 291

" Father juclgeth no man, (that is, imme-
diately by himlelf,) ** but hath committed
" all judgment unto the Son," and hath
given Him authority to execute it, " be-
** caufe He is the Son of Man *," before
^v■hom, according to the prophet Daniel,
" the judgment was to be fet, and the
" books opened f ;" and He is no lefs pe-
culiarly qualified, than exprefsly appointed
for it, in whom divine perfe6lion is joined
with human infirmity. So that being
judged by one, " who was in all points
" tempted like as we are, yet without
" lin J," we may be fure that every due
allowance will be made for our unavoidable
weaknefs, and no undue one for our wilful
wickednefs. Unlefs therefore we repent
us truly of our fms, He, \Wio in mercy
came the firft time to fave us, will come
again in jufticc to condemn us, and the
nu^ekand mercifuljefus will appear clothed
with fuch terror, that we (hall be ready
*' to cry out to the mountains and to the
" rocks, fall on us, and hide us from the
" face of Him that litteth on the throne,
" and from the wrath of the Lamb, for

• John V. 22. t DJ"!' vii. 10, % Hob. iv. 15.

u 2 " the

292 Chri/Fs coming to Judgment:'' '•

" the great day of his wrath is come, and
w ho (liall be able to iland ^' ?"
3. isow the things tor which we
Oiall be judged are all our voluntary
thouglit.s, and words, and actions, whether
good 01^ bad. All the actions of mankind
are written in the tablet of their conlcience,
and in the book of Cod's remembrance:
'i'hefe volumes (hall then be opened, and
ihcy Ihall be judged out of thole things
which are written in the books according
to their- Mor]<s. The righteous fliall be
finally a blblv'ed from any imputation of
■guilt, and crowned with everlafting happi-
nefs for the fake, and through the alone
merits and mediation of their bleiled Sa-
viour. The mere mercy of God in Chrift,
they will joyfully proclaim to be the fole
caufe of their juitilication, and redemp-
tion : and will with ail humility acknow-
ledge, that their faith and obedience to
the Gofpel are only the conditions on
which thole benefits were promifed and
conferred. In heaven, it is true, there
are many manfions correipondent to the
difioi'enl: talents received and improved,

* Rev. vi. \G, 17.

and

Clirijrs coming to Judgment, 5?93

and there can be no doubt, but tliey w
have applied them inofl to the glory oi'
God and the good of their fellow-crea-
tures, (hall be advanced to a proportionate
degree of ielicity.

If then fuch will be the comparatively
blifsful (late of the righteous, who would
not Mill], who would not ftrive to be of
that blelled number ? No tongue can tell,
no thought can conceive the happinefs
which God hath referved for them in that
day.

But we fliall be able perhaps to form a
more adequate idea of it, by conlidering
for a moment the punifhment which awaits
the wicked. If there be any truth indif-
putably difclofed in the holy Scriptures,
it is, that " when the Lord Jefus ihall
" be revealed from heaven, he iliall take
" vengeance on them that know not God,
" and obey not the Gofpel *." Their
punifhment fliall be proportioned to the
meafure of their iniquity, and moft juft it
is, that they who refufed mercy proffered,
fliall have " judgment without mercy •h"
When the awful fentence is pafled, judg-

* 2 Their, i. 7. f James ii. 13.

u 3 ment

10 T)i,s(:.

XVllI.

294* Chri/t's coming to Judgment,

xvm ^^^^ ^^'^'^^ t)e executed without, delay : the

WV righteous fhall go away into hfe eternal,

and the wicked be conligncd to ^' everlaft^

" ing deftrudion from the prefence of the

« Lord*."

Mean while, with refped to others, let
us be charitable, and "judge nothing be-
^' fore the time, until the Lord come,
^* who both will bring to light the hidden
" things of darknefs, and make manifeft
" the counfels of the heart *j-." And
with regard to ourfelves, if we have not
merited the reproach of human cenibre
let us be eafy and contented, for, in that
cafe, *? it is a fmall thing to be judged of
" man's judgment J." There is no me-
thod of preparing for the awful fentence
of the great Judge of all without terror
and amazement but by a life of true holi-
nefs and righteoufnefs. And though " we
" know nothing by ouriclves," that is,
though we are not confcious of anv wiiful
tranfgreflioi s, " yet are we not hereby
" juftificd, but He that judgeth us is the

" LORD^

* 2 Their, i. 9. t 1 Cor. iv. 5. J Ibid. 3.

§ Ibid. 4.

4 As

DISC.
XVIII.

Chriji's coming to Judgment. 295

4. As to the manner and procefs of the
day of judgment, it will be condu6led with
that awfulnels and folemnity which be-
comes the divine Majefty, and adniinillered
in perfect juliice and equity. The Lord
himfelf Ihall deicend from heaven with his
mighty Angels, in tlaming fire ; the trump
of God fliall Ibund, and awake all that are
in their graves, and they ftiall come forth.
AMiatever confcioufnefs may attend the
trembling linner, he, no leis than the glo-
rified Saint, (liall acknowledge "jufticeand
" judgment to be the habitation of his
" throne*.'' Then ihall the Almighty
Judge fit upon the throne of his glory,
and the books of God's Omnifcience, of
confciencc, and of the law, (hall be opened,
and every individual of all the afiembled
nations of the earth (hall be "judged out
*' of thole things which were written in the
" books, according to their works -|-.'* " As
" many as finned without (a revealed) law,
'* fiiallperiih without (a rexealed) law ; and
" as many as iinned in the law, whether
" Jewirti or Chriftian, ihall be judged by
" the law. I.." And, as a criterion of the

• Plalm xcviii. 14. t 1^«-'^'- -^^■. 12. X Rom. ii. V2.

V 4 recom-

296 Chrifi's coming to Judgment.

rccompence to be paid to e^ery one, it
will infallibly occur to his recollection,
" unto ■whom much was given, of him
" fhall much be required */' And " what-
" foever a man fowed, that fliall he alfo
" reap-}'." When the awful fentence is
gone forth, it will be irrevocable, and
the righteous will be feparated from the
wicked through all eternity.

5. The laft confideration which occurs
as part of our prefent inftruSlion is the con-
fequence of that awful day. When the
Redeemer of the world hath put all ene-
mies under his feet, and glorified all his
faints, then fliall He " deliver up the king-
" dom to God even the FatherJ.'' His
mediatorial kingdom Ihall ccafe becaufe it
will be no longer necefiary. Then " fliali
" the earth and all things that are therein
'' be burnt up, and the elements lliall melt
" with fervent heat §." And " behold ! the
" Lord cometh with ten thoufand of his
*' faints to execute judgment upon all, and
*' to convince all that are ungodly among
" them of all their ungodly deeds M'hich

* Luke xii. 4S.

t Gal. vi. 7.
§ 2 Pet. iji. 10.

X 1 Cor. XV. 24.

" they

C/iriJl's coming to Judgment, 297

" ihoy have unootHy committed, and of disc.
" all their hard Ipeeches which ungodly ^-»^,^^
" hnners have fpoken againfl him *.'*

Let US then all iblemnly and ferioufly
prepare for this great trial, b}^ letting up a
judgment feat in our own Ibuls, that we
may keep a confcience void of offence.
The expectation of a future judgment is a
powerful motive to keep us from fin, and
to make us careful to ferve and pleafe '

God, that we may be found of Ilim in
peace without fpot and blameiefs. If our
minds were continually imprefted with the
awful terror of a judgment to come, and
were daily expefting the glorious appear-
in*]: of the i>;reat God, how diligjent Ihould
M'e be to " deny all ungocllinefs and
" worldly lulls, and to live Ibberly, righ-
" teoully, and godl}^ in this prelent
" world j!" lor the mod obdurate fin-
ner muli own (if not infenfible to every re-
ligious fentiment) that the terrors of the
Loud are great, and enough to excite juft
appreheniioiis of his dil'plealiire, and to in-
ipirc him " with reverence and godly
*' fear J." If he really believed and feri-

* Judc, 15. t Tit. ii. i:. % Hob. xii. 28.

oully

298 Chriji's coming to Judgment,

xvm ^"% confidered that God will bring every
w-v^-w work into judgment, he would doubtleis
not be io bold and prefumptuous in his
provocations, but feel himielf ibmewhat
more folicitous " to work out his own lal-
" vation with fear and trembling */' Be
perfuaded then " to watch and to pray that
" ye enter not into temptation -f," " for
" the day of the Lord cometh as a thief
** in the night J," and when men are wont
to triumph in their wickednefs, and flatter
themfelves with peace and fafety, then
" fudden dertru6lion cometh upon them
*' as travail upon a woman with child §.'*
The furprize of death, under fuch circum-
ftances, is enough to overwhelm the foul
in defpair, but the horrors of the day of
judgment who can bear? It will then be
too late to cry for mercy when the ientence
is pronounced — "■ Go, ye curled, into ever-
" iaftmgfire||!"

And, as the thought of a judgment to
come, can only ferve to awaken in the
bieaft of an hardened fmner the mod
dreadful fenfations, fo let the belief and

♦ I'hilip. ii. 12. t Mail< xiv. 38. J 1 ThefT, v. 2.
§ Ibid. 3. II Malt. xxv. 41.

certainly

Chrijl^s coming to Judgment. 299

certainty of it infpire the liumhle CMiriftian
with hope and coniblation. Ii is, and ever
fhould be, ph inexhauitible fountain of joy
to all the faithful people of God. " For
" tl.^ re i* now no condennialion to them
" that are in Chrilt Jefus, who walk not
"after the flefh but after the Spirit*.''
Chrift himfelf will be not only their
judge, but their advocate ; and if He fliall
juftity them, " who Ihall lay any thing to
" tli^ir charge-^- ?" " They ihall not come
" into condemnation, but (liall pals from
" death unto life J/' As Chrift was once
offered to bear the hns of many, fo ihall lie
appear the iecond time for the ialvation of
thoie that look for Him, and are prepared
for his coming. Let us, therefore, " pafs
" the time of our fojou ruing here in
" fear§," that we may be accounted
worthy to efcape the wrath to come, and
to (land before the judgment feat of
Chrift.

'Jo whom, Sec. Amen.

* Rom. viii. 1. t Ibid. 33. J John v. 3-t.
S 1 Pet. i. 17.

DIS-

DISCOURSE XIX,

THE OPERATION AND INFLUENCE Oj
THE HOLY SPIRIT.

1 John iii. 24,

Hereby know we that He ahideth in l/y,
hi/ the Spirit which He hath given Us.

We have been contemplating our bleffed dkoxtx.
Lord in feme former difcourfes as Medi-
ator of the new covenant, and the humih-
atlon and fiifferings which He fuflained in
his own perfon to accomphOi the work of
man's redemption. In order to form an
adequate idea of the whole procefs, it will
be proper to turn our attention alfo to the
third perfon in the Holy Trinity, and
conficler his operations and influence in
perfecting the fame (lupendous undertak-

302 The Operation and Influence

Drscxo ing. It is oar part thankfully to accept

^"^'"^ the rnerci'jb conferred by each divine per-

fon in the Godhead, ami strive to perform

the duties we owe to each of them dif-

tin6tly.

For, as to take God for our God, is
nior© than hapely t-o believe that there is a.
God, and -ta taive Chrift for Qur Saviour,
is more than barely to believe that He is
the Meffiah ; fe to beUeve in the Holy
Gholt is not merely to believe that He is
the third person in the Trinity and very
God ; but to take liim for our guide,
our fanQ:ifier, our helper, our advocate,
and ottp coHifo^rter. He is denoniina|:ed
the Holy Spirit, becaufe his peculiar of-
fice is to fanetify the church and people of
God. i\ccordingiy the Apoftle tells the
Theffalonians, that " God had chofen
** them to ii)lvalion through fanctification
" of the fpirit and belief of the truth *\"
Some, however, pretend to believe in the
Holy Ghoft, Avho rejeft all his fan6tifying
influences, and make even thole the objects
of enthuiiaftic ridicule who are lanftified
by Him. But the whole tenor of Scrip-

♦ 2 Their, ii. 13.

tore,

of the Holy Spirit. - 303

ture, as well as every part of the Liturgy disc.xix.
of our church, avow and declare the faiic-
tiiying operations of the Spirit; and none
but profelVed unbelievers, wlio deny the
authority of Scripture, will dare to deny
his infpiration of it.

To guard you therefore from error on
one fide, and enthufiafm on the other, in
this important doctrine of Revelation, I
lliall attempt to give you a right under-
ftanding of it, and point out the duty you
owe to the Spirit of God.

The doctrine of the Holy Clioft, necef-
fary to be believed by every Chriftian, we
have already explained in a former dif-
courfe upon the Trinity ; in which, with
the moft profound deference and devout
awe, we Ihewed that the Holy Ghoil
is a divine perfon, not a mere quaUty or
operation, but is of the fame nature with
the Father and the Son, and therefore
very God; a perfon diftin6t in the God-
head, and yet proceeding both from the
Father and the Son.

Now the tirft truth to be believed con-
cerning thp ofiices and operations of the
Holy Spirit is, that He infpired the pro-
phets
5

504 The Operation cmd Infiuenc6

Disc.xT'K. phets of old, and alio the Apoftles and
Evangelilts, to preach and propagate the
the word of God as contained in the holy
Scriptures. And when thus promulgated
under his diredion and affiftance, he ianc-
tioned their teftimony, confirmed their
do6lrine hy the operation of miracles, and
many other wonderful works which He
enabled them to perform, and convinced
the unbelieving world, through their mi-
niftry, of " the power of God unto falva-
" tion to every one that believed*^," and
thereby gradually planted and eventually
eftabliilied the biefied Gofpeiof our Lord
Jefus Chriil.

The fame Holy Spirit having conftitut-
ed the various offices, and ordained the
minifters of the church, qualifies and pre-
pares them by requifite gifts for the or-
dinary work of the miniflrj^, and affifts
them in the faithful difcharge of their holy
function to explain and apply the word of
God, to adminilter the holy facraments,
and to guide and govern the flock of
Chrift.

The fame bleffed Spirit, by the miniflry

* Rom. i. 16.

of

Of the IIo/i/ Spirit. 305

of the word, illuminates the mind of man, disc.xix.
renews his aiie6lions, fan6tifies his will, and
draws him to Chrift for life and falvation,
as the only propitiation of our hns. When
this great work of light and life and reno-
vation is accomplilhed, he aflifts them that
are fanclified in the exercife of thofe
graces which he has given, and perfeCls in
their hearts the work of repentance, faith,
obedience, and felf-denial. He directs
and governs their converfation, enabling
them to walk with diligence and circum-
fpedion, that they may not dilhooour
God, nor difcredit their holy profeffion.
For if we live in the Spirit (being quick-
ened by his renovation) we muft alfo walk
in the Spirit ; and if we *' walk in the Spi-
" rit, we fliall not fuKil the lulls of the
" fle(h*." For as many as are thus " led
" by the Spirit of God, t\uy are the Sons
" ofGoD-f-."

He alfo teaches us to pray, opens our
hearts to receive the word of Go J), iniiu-
ences our aflections to take delight in it,
and excites our wills lo act conformably to
it, for which reafons godly perlbns are faid

* Gal. V. U". t l'^"f>i- '*■'•'• l+-

VOL. I. X to

306 The Operation and Influence

Disc.xix. to be led by his influence, and all Chril-
tiau traces are denominated " the fruits of
" the Spirit*/' Them who yield to his
godly motions he renews, and " (trength-
" ens with might in the inner manf-;" lie
" helps their infirmities j,'' directs and
animates their prayers, making, as it were,
interceffion within them. By the influ-
ence of the fame Spirit, Chriltians are
united into one body, and made to love
each other. " l^y Him the love of God
" is flied abroad in their hearts §," teiich-
ing them to look upon him, not as an auf-
tere Mafter, but as a kind parent, crying,
in the language of St. Paul, " Abba,
" Father ||.'' And thus " the Spirit itfelf
" beareth witnefs with our fpirit, that we
" are the children of God -jV' from which
teftimony arifes that comfort and joy in
the Holy Ghofl: which different perfbns
experience in different degrees. No one
therefore fliould defpond, becaufe he feels
but little, or at times perhaps no divine
confolation, provided he tridy honours and
Jiirves God. But it is far worle with the

* Gal. V. 22. t I'ph. iii. 16. J Rom. vili. 2^.

^ lb. V. 5. il lb. viii. 15. 51 lb. l6.

ungodly,

of the Hohj Spirit. 307

ungodly, they have no hope of fpiritual disg.xix.
comlbrt. He Itrives indeed, but drives '^^
in vrtin with them ; they wilfully grieve
Him, till they become fo hardened that
he forfakes them, and " gives them over to
a reprobate mind*."

On the contrary, to the pious Chriflian,
this heavenly Comforter, on fome occa-
hons, vouchfafes both llrong aflurances of
his fpiritual condition (" hereby know we,"
faith the ApoRIe, " that God abideth in
" us, by the fpirit which he hath given us")
and iuch lively confolations from it, as
amount to a pledge and foretafte of future
felicity. Accordingly they are laid to be
" fealed with the Holy Spirit of promife,
" which is the earned of their inherit-
** ance-f-;" as a man's feal fignifies the
thing fealed to be his own, fo the fpirit of
holiufcfs imprelled on our hearts, is God's
feal upon us, noting that we are his.
Therefore, faith the Apoltle, " grieve not
" the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye
" are/t^fl/er/ unto the day of redemption ;[.."

The next inquiry is the duty we owe to.
the Spirit of God.

♦ Rom. i. 28. f Eph. i. 13, 14. % lb. iv. 30.

X 2 The

SOS The Operation and Influence

Disc.xrx. fjij^g ^Yst is that p-eneral one of honour-
>^^,-^ .... .

ing Him fiiitably to his nature as God,

and particularly by being baptized in his
name, accordin(>; to the injunction of our
Lord, to pray for his ordinary gifts and
graces, which are proniifed to them that
alk him ; to be thankful for his good mo-
tions, and confcienlioufly to obey them in
every indance. And efpecially to take
heed not to miftake the fuggeftions of Sa-
tan, the wayward neis of our own paf-
fions, or the di6lales of our own flellily
wiidom, for the motions of the divine Spi-
rit. The latter may generally be diftin-
guiflied by the following marks. He in-
fufes heavenly wifdom into the mind, dif-
pofing it to leek peace of confcicnce and
reconciliation with God, and to fecure a
title to the kinodom of Heaven throuirh
the alone Mediator. He likewife never
fails to operate as a Ipirit of love and con-
cord, teaching us to dwell together in uni-
ty, as brethren in the fame bond of holy
fellowihip ; an<l infpiring us with a Ipirit
of humilit}^, felf-denial, meeknefs, pati-
ence, and forbearance. Thefe are Ibme of
his never-faihng fruits, and whoever pof-

fcllcs

nf ihe lloly Spirit. 309

fedes t])( m, hath, without doubt, the fpi- di c.xix.
rit of Chrift. Guided by his influence, fuch
a one will at all times fubniit his reafon and
iindcrftanding to the revealed will of God,
knowing that He can have no fafe re-
courfe to any other rule but " to the law
" and to the tedimony *." He will not en-
thulia(tically follow every ftrong imagina-
tion of his own, or rafiily adopt any vain
pretence of fupernatural light in others,
but ftedfaitly adhere to that rule of life
inculcated in the fcriptures by the infpi-
ration of the Holy Ghoft. Other infpi-
ration than this, exce[it the ordinary in-
fluences of di\ ine grace vouchfafed more
or lefs to every Chriftian, having now be-
come unnecefiiiry, he has no reafon to ex-
pert but to diftruit. ]f, under colour of
fuch authority, he ibould be urged at any
time to violate any })recept of the Gof-
pel, to add to, or diminilli from, any article
of the Chriftian Faith, though an angel
from lieaven ihould require it, he would
not i'urrender that unalterable " ftilth which
" was once delivered to the faints -j-," to
any power real or pretended whatever.

* Isaiah viii. 20. f Jude, 0.

X 3 Con-

310 The Operation and Influence

Disc.xix. Convinced that fuch is the conduct of
a real Chriitian, let us next purfue the
means which the Holy Spirit hath ap-
pointed for our improvement in grace and
fan6tifjcation. Let us not quench his
gifts and graces in ourfelves, or provoke
him to withdraw his benign aid, and
comforting prefence from us. If, on the
contrary, we refill his good motions, and
flifie the efficacy of his quickening grace
within us, we are fo far from fahilling the
duties which we owe Him, that we take
every means in our power to thwart and
oppofe Him. We lofe all fenie of fm
and conviction of our danger, our hearts
imbibe no fendbility of godly forrow and
contrition for our paft offences, they have
no divine love fhed abroad in them, nei-
ther do they feek aijy pardon or reconci-
liation with God through Chrifl Jefus.
However neceffary the divine operations
of the Holy Spirit may be to begin and
carry on the life of faith in the Ibul of
man, and to enable Him to perfevere in
a fteady, active, and faithful obedience to
Him who pays no regard to this hea-
venly monitor, they are utterly in vain,

and

of the Holy Spirit. 311

nnd perhaps it had been better for fuch Disr.xix.
a one that He had never been born.

Alas ! how infenllble is he that the lead
nieaiure of divine <;raee is more to be de-
iired than the gold ot Ophir, and as none
are exchided from the hope of attaining
it, how ineftimal)le a blefling does he re-
jet^l ? If he knew the voice of the charmer,
how could he but h(ten to his lecret whif-
pers ? How could he but encourage every
breath of divine favour ? And though, in
the primitive times of Chriftianity, fpecial
a6ts of i'lipernaturai grace were more fre-
quent than at prefent, when the difciples
and immediate followers of our Lord
were perfecuted for the truth's fake, yet
their joy in the Holy Gholl was propor-
tionably greater, and they have left upon
record, (thanks be to God), ample telti-
mouv of his divine aid andconio! ;iion.
But communications of divine grace have
been the common experience of the faith-
ful in all asies. *' Herebv knov/ we," faith
the Apoftle, " that God abideth in us, by
" the fpirit which he hath given us*/*
And of old, " the fecret of the Lord was

♦ 1 John iii. 24.

X 4 with

312 The Operation and Injliienct

Discxix." ^^,ith them that feared Him*"—" How
" excellent is thy loving kindnefs ! Thoa
" makeit me to drink of thy pleafures,"
faith the Pfalmift, " as out of a riverf-."
It was the lofs of this di\ine confolation
that He ib bitterly lamented, when he ex-
claimed, " Keftore to me the joy of thy
*' falvationj/' Shall we then, under all
the gracious means of the Gofpel, be dif-
couraged from expecting the ordinary
comforts of the Holy Spirit, or lliall we
reduce the power and pleafure of religion
below what God himfelf hath given us
fuch infiilhble affurance of, when he de-
clares that he will abide in us by his fpi-
rit, and that " the fellovvQiip of the Holy
" Ghoft lliall be with us§/' Surely theri
it becomes us to conlider how far the want
of this fpiritual joy and holy communion
may be owing to ourielves. For if the
Holy Ghoft be ftiil the comforter of the
church of Chrift even unto the end, how
fliall frail man, who can do nothing that
is good without his aid, prefume to im-
peach his power, his love, and his conlb-

* J'falm xxv. ]4. f Ib. x.\xvi. 8. I Ib. li. 12.
§ 2 Cor. xiii. 14.

lation .^

of the Holij Spirit. 313

lation? In arcril)ing thefe efle6ls to blsm-c.xix.
holy inipiration, we ni<nin not to contend
for any fanciful or entluifiaftic fenfations,
the groundleis confidence of an overheat-
ed imagination : — no, but for tliat fober
and well-tempered joy which is the un-
doubted fruit of the Spirit. It is much
to be feared that the deprivation of it, is
imputable in a great meafure to our neg-
lect of prayer, to unbelief, and fenfual af-
fections. If, likewife, the cares and plea-
fures of life engrofs too much of our time
and attention, how fliall the love of God
and the influences of his divine fpirit flow
in upon us ? How can an heart, fatiated
with the love of the world, and its flatter-
ing endearments, be at all fuiceptible of
heavenly communications? Light is not
more contrary to darknefs, than Chrifi to
Belial ; let us, therefore, cleanfe ourfelves
from all inordinate aife6tions, or ceafe to
expe6l the abidance of God's Holy Spirit
in our hearts. If we are enabled to bring
forth the fruits of it, and experience any
coniblations of divine grace as the happy
confequeuce, let us humbly praife his good-
nefs, and be thankful. And, to fecure the

continu-

314 The Operation and InJIuefice, ^c.

^^^•^^^- continuance of his blefTed influence, let us
be fober and watchful : fruitful in everj
good work, that, abounding in grace, the
ipirit of God may " help our infirmi-
*' ties*," and " flrengthen us with might in
*' the inner man-t"." Thus fliall we ftir up
the grace of Gou that is in us, and alio
find freih luppiies of it, to enable us to ac-
compliQi our delires, and bring our endea-
vours to good effeft. Then fliall we rejoice
in the Lord, and glory in his holy name,
and with the devout Pfalmift, be ready to
" declare what the Loup hath done for
** our fouls j ; which, as a watered garden,
and as a fpring whofe waters fail not, he
hath made to profper and increafe, abound-
ing in all thofe " fruits of nghteoufnefs
" which are by Jefus Chrift to the glory
" and praife of GoD§," to whom, with the
Holy Ghoft, three perfons and one GoD,
be afcribed all honour and adoration and
thankfgiving for ever and ever. Amen.

* Rom. viii. '26. f Eph. iii. l6. X Plalm Ixvi. l6,
§ Phil. i. 11.

DLS-

DISCOURSE XX.

THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH, AND
COMMUNION OF SAI^^TS.

Romans xii. 4, 5.

For as we have many Members in one
Bodi/, and all Members have not the
fame Office ; Jo we being many, are one
Body in Chrijl^ and every one Members
one of another.

r ROM thefe words I fliall take occafion disc. xx.
to difcourfe to you on thole two articles of '^"'^'^^
the Chriltian faith, the Holy Catholic
Church, and the Communion of Saints,
the former being evidently implied in the
claufe, " many members in one body,'*
and the latter, in the expreffion, " every
" one members one of another;' and
therefore liolding an intimate comniunion,

or

316 The Holy Catholic Church,

DISC. XX: or communication, like the members in the
natunil ])ody, one with another.

Now the Holy Cathohc Church is that
general aflembly or congregation of faith-
ful Chriftians, where foever difperfed over
the face of the whole earth, which, frora
its latitude and extent, is called Catholic,
and from the piety of its profeflbrs, Holy.

In treating on this fubjeft, four remarks
naturally occur to our coniideration :

1. The nature of this Church.

2. The diftin6lions of it.

3. The marks or tokens of it.

4. The head and members of it, and
their communion with one another.

Now the nature of this Church confifls
in an holy and orderly fociety of people
proftffing the true and genuine faith of
Chrift without any mixture of pernicious
errors. This Church is one body united
by one Spirit under one head. And though
there be many particular churches, yet,
being all united in the fame myflical head,
and comnumicatins: in the fame doctrines
and M'orthip, they conftitute but one true
Church. The nature of which may be
difcerned from fuch other public aliemblie--^

as

and CommiDiion of Saints. 317

as may feem to lay claim to this title byr)isc. xx.
two charaftcriftics ; viz. its hohnefs and
catholicii'm, or Lmiverfality. It is holy in
refpecl of its vocation ; all the members of
which are called to, and engaged unto ho-
linefs. " Let every one that nameth the
'* name of Chrift depart from iniquity*."
The end of Chrift's calling thom to be his
people is, that they may be a holy and
** peculiar people to himfelf, zealous of
*' good works •^•." IMofes fpeaking of the
congregation of Ifrael in like manner faith,
" Thou art an holy people unto the Lord
" thy God j;" they were fo collectively by
defignation, though many of them, perhaps,
individually, were not in reality.

The Church of Chriit may alfo be ftyled
holy, becaufe it trains up its members in
the way of godlinefs ; and God is pleafed
to fan6tify it by the graces of his Holy
Spirit.

It is alfo denominated catholic or uni-
verlid in refpeft of its locality, becaufe it is
not now Ihut up in the narrow confines of
Judea. but dilfulcd throuiih tlie world, and
ahnult all nations of the earth are indifcri-

^ 'Z Tim. ii. If). t 'Jit. li. 14. I Dfiit. vii. 0".

minalely

3 1 8 The Hohj Catholic Church,

DISC. XX. niinately called to the faith of Chrift : nei-
ther Jew nor Gentile, bond nor free, are
excluded. It comprehends likewife the
faithful in all ages lince the promulgation
of the firft promife, that " the feed of the
" woman Ihould braife the ferpent's head*,"
even to the days of our blefled Saviour,
and IVom thence by continual progreffion
to tlie end of the world. It not only in-
cludes that part of the church now militant
on earth, but that which is triumphant in
heaven. Both they with us, and we Avith
them, make one myliical body, whereof
Chrilt is the head. And all together, both
the ancient patriarchs, and other holy men
of God under the law, make up that one
glorious Church, which is emphatically
llyled " the general affembly, and Church
" of the firft-born, whofe names are written
" in heaven -f-."

The next head of our inquiry is, the dif-
tin6tions of the Church, which are two,
militant and triumphant.

The Church Militant is that fociety of
Chriftians, which, in this world, fights
under the banners oj:' the Captain of our

♦ Gen. iii. 15. -f IJcb. xii. 2-0.

Sal-

and Communion of Saints. 319

Salvation againft its ipiritual enemies, the ^isc. xk.
world, the flelli, and the devil. The life of
a true Chriltian is a continual warfare ;
and no fooner is he enliited under Chrid's
ilandard, and marching towards heaven,
than he is allaulted by an holl of enemies,
who, by fecret treachery and open violence,
endeavour to overcome him. ** For we
" wreftle not (only) againft flerti and blood,
" but againft principalities, againft powers,
" againlt the rulers of the darknefs of this
" world, againft fpi ritual wickednefs in
** high places*." And, therefore, as good
foldiers of Jefus Chrift, we muft endure
hardnefs'j", and fight the good fight of
failh, *' takmg unto us the whole armour
" of God, that we may be able to with-
" fiand in the evil day:[:."

Now the members of the Church mili-
tant are eiiiier vifible or invilible. The
vilible Church is a company of people
openly profeffmg the faith of Chrift, whe-
ther they do it in truth and iincerity or
not. The faithful only are members of
Chrift, and moft properly the Church of
God. Yet all that profefs Chriftianity in

* Eph. vi. ]:. t 2 Tim. ii. 3. J Ej.h. m. 13.

luiman

320 The Bohj Catholic Church,

DISC. XX. human eftimcitlon are members of the vifi-
ble Cluirch. Though alas ! it be too true
of them what the Holy Gholt witnelKed of
old of profeiling Jews : " 1 know the blal-
*' phemy of them that fay they are Jews,
" and are not, but are of the ly nagogue of
" Satan*."

The. Church confide red in its fulleft lati-
tude containeth members good and bad,
who ugree in outward profeffion, and have
communion in all external rites of divine
vvordiip. For it is compared to a " net
" caft into the feaf-," which gathered
filhes of every kind. To a " field wherein
" were ibwn both wheat and tares J," and
to a " great houfe, wherein are veffels of
" feveral forts, fome to honour, and fome
" to dithonour§." And be it remem-
bered, that tliat vidble Church, which
maintaineth all things neceflary to falva-
tion, and doth not impofe any pernicious
errors, is the true Church with which we
ought to hold communion. For we muft
firit be members of the true viiible Church

* Rev. ii. 9. t Matt. xiii. A:7-

X Ibid. xiii. 25. § '2 Tim. ii. 20.

of

and Coiumuuion of Saints. 321

of Clnhl^ before we can be nicmbers of the disc, xx,
invi(il)le one. ^^.-w.

Now the in\ ifihlc chnrcli is a fociet v of
fincere Chriltians, who nol only protels
the true taith of Chrift, but hve (lecor'ding
to their prolcffion, and rer\e God in
righteoufneis and true holincl"^. Indeed
they are the beft and principal members of
the vifible church, and if they be liridly
taken for tliat fociety which is the nnlti-
cal body of Chrift, united to Him bv the
Spirit, tiien the faithful only are the true.
church of Chrift. And they are denomi-
nated the invilible church, not becauli;
their perfons, their profeflion, or their
works are inviiible, but becaufe the puritv
of their hearts and their inward hohnefs
are not i^uGn by men. Into this aflemblv
or church of the firlt born, whole names are
written in heaven^ let us P'ck to enter,
though '• ilrait be the gate and narrow the
" way which leadeth to it ''\"

Tiie next diftin<5tion incident to the
church of Chrift, is its triumphant ftate :
or tliat " blelled" company of angels, and
of" the i'pirits of juft men made perfect f,"

■ Mall. \ii,

, 11.

t Heb. xii

. 2C>, 23.

Vol. I.

X

which

3^22 The Ilohi Catholic Church,

t)is(' \x. winch reign with Chrift in glory. Thorn
**^''"**' they triumph over God's enemies and
their own, and rejoice in thtit vi6lory
which God hath given them through
Chrift " with joy unipeakahle and full of
^' glory ^%" It is no wonder that the an-
gels fiiould rejoice with them as well oA
account of their own dignity and felicity,
as for their joint celebration and united
harmony in tlie praifes of the ever bleffed
(joD. Heaven refounds with the accla-
Illations of " bleffmg, and glorj^, and wif-
*' dom, and thankfgiving, and honour,
" and power, and might be unto our God
^^ for ever and ever-j-."

A third point of inquiry on this fubje^l
is the marks or tokens of the church of
Chrift.

Now the firft token of the true church
is the profeffion of the genuine faith of
Chrilt. This is fo eflential to the true
churchy and fo infeparable from it, that it
is the verv corner ftone of the foundation.
For, without a pure and unadulterated
faith in Chrift, there can be no pretenfions
to anv apoftolical church fmce the Apof-

* 1 iVi. i S. }■ llcv, vli. i2.

ties

and Communion qf Saints, 323

ties tlienifelves laid the foundation ofpisc. xx.
that church ** of which Jelbs Chrift is "^^''^
" the chief corner ftone"^\" And to af-
certain the knowledjre of the true failh, we
can only have recouH'e to the revealed will
of Got). And there we iind the nature,
the reafons and grounds of that faith on
which the church of Chrilt is built. When,
therefore^ the doftrines inculcated by the
church are founded on the holy Scrip-
tures, and nothing contrary to them is
fupported and maintained, we juftly deem
that a true and pure church, of courfe no
other can be fuch^ much lefs one that er-
reth pertinacioufly in fome main grounds
of faith. Of this defcription is the church
of Rome, and confequently neither is, nor
ought to bC) reputed a true church. It
may, indeed, be called a church, becauffe
it profeffes Chritlianity ; juft as a man that
hath the plague, or any other mfe6tious
difeafe, is Itill a man, though every one
would wifli to Ihun him»

Another mark of the true church is the
right ufe of the Sacraments, Baptifm and
thp Lord's Supper.

* Eph. ii. 2Q.

V 2 Thefe

The Hohj CaihoUc Cliurch,

I'lic'le were ordained by Chrift, not
only to be means and pledges of grace,
but alio marks or tokens by uhich to dif-
tinguifii the members of tbe church from
ihofe that are not ; " for by one fpirit
*' we are all baptized into one body; and
" we being many, are one bread and one
" body, for we are all partakers of that
*' one bread*/' As the Jews were for-
mer] v didJnguiflied from all other nations
by the rite of circumciiion and the inftitu-
tion of the pafibver, io the church of Chrifi:,
by the right ufe of Baptifm and the
Lord's Supper, may be known from all
that are (Irangers to the faith. But let it
be obferved, that this is no fure mark by
"^vhich to diftinguiGi orthodox Chriftians
from hereticks and fchifmaticks, becaufe
the/ may all equally obferve the outward
ad mini It ration of the Sacraments.

A third mark of the true church, whiclv
1 ILall notice, is an union of people in the
true faith under lawful paftors. As the
church is one body conlifting of many
members, fo ought the members to con-
lent to the acknowledgment of the fame.

* 1 Cgr. .\il. 13.. Xi 17.

divine

wid Communion of Sain fi^. 32 j

divine truth, and according to their rcfpcc- t:I'C. .\x.
ttve gifts and graces perform their mutual
obhgations of duty in love and charity.
Every faithful minifter of Chrilt will take
care to direct his people (as the only
ground of all acceptable obedience) to a6l
from ftrictly religious motives. AVhen
fuch principles are inculcated on one hde,
and adopted on the other, the connec-
tion betwixt the paftors and their iiock in
the true faith of Chrift is not only main-
tained, but good difcipline alfo preferved,
and fome evidence gi\ en by which to dif- -
criminate true members of the church
from fchifmatics. For fuch they muft be
reputed who rejeft the inftructions of her
lawfully conftituted minifters, and defpife
both her do6lrine and difcipline without
juft caufe.

The laft inquiry on this important fub-
je6i is the head and members of this
church, and their communion one with
another.

Now the head of the Catholic church

is Chrift, " for he is head over all things,"

faith the, Apoftle, " to the church, which is

y 3 " his

526 The Holy Catholic Church,

pisc.xx.«; i^js body*/' As Chrift purchafed it
with his own blood, fo ought it to be fub-
je6l to Him alone. The true members of
it are thofe who, being called with an holy
calling, have obeyed it, and are endued
with an holy faith, uniting them to Chrift,
by which they are juftiiied and fanclified
through the Spirit of God; they are in-
ftrufted and guided in the way of falva-
tion ; they enjoy communion with God
the Father, praying unto andpraih^g Him
with joyful lips, and exercifing fuch a6ls of
faith^ worfljip, love, fear, and truft towards
Him as becomes the children of Gop,
the redeemed of the Lord. They are
not afraid or aOiamed to avow their expe-
dience in the language of an Apoftle — •
*^ That which we have feen and heard,
" declare we unto you, that ye alfo may
" have fellowlbip with the Father and
*' with his Son Jeilis Chrift -j-," In the
fame pious and pathetic Itrain did the
holy tfalmiii exprefs his deiirc of this
blelled communion. — " As the hart pant-
** eth after the vvaterbrooks," faith he,

: ' ■ ■' Kph. i, 22, 23. t 1 John i. 3.

((

io

and Co7nmiinion of Sainf.^. 327

** fo panteth my foul after thee, O God-." Di'^f" xx.
Beino thus called by God to the fellow-
(hip of his Son, they are united to Him by
faith, become partakers of his holinefs,
and derive fpiritual life and grace from
Plim for the purification and lanftification
of their qature.

In like manner they participate in the
communion of the Holy Ghoft, intimated
by thofe wordsof the ApoftleSt. Paul,\vhofe
experience as a Chriftian, nidependwit of
his extraordinary infpiration as an Apoftle,
no one can queiiion. *' If there be any
^* fellowlhip of the fpirit," faith he, " ful-
^^ fil ye my joy -]- ;" and in that heavenly
benediftion which our church hath wiiely
adopted in her liturgy, He fpeaketh more
exprefsly — " The grace of our Lok]3 Je-
*^ fus Chrift, and the love of (ioD, and
♦' the communion of the Holy Ghoft, be
<' with you all J :" as if He had faid to his
Corinthian converts, I M'ilh you may parr
take of all thofe l)enefits which Chrill of
his free grace and favour hath purchafed,
the Father out of his love hath pur-
pofedj and the Holy (ihoft applies, and

* Pfalm xlii. 1. j Phil. ii. 1, X\ ; "2 Cor. x*. ] t.

Y 4 com?

S2S The llolij Catholic Church,

vise. XX. comnumicates to all his taithiul mem-
bers.

Tills is the communion which the mem^
Jbers of Chrift enjoy with the three bleiTed
perfons in the holy Trinity. " If any
" man love me," faith oiar bleffed Saviour,
" he will keep my words, and. my Father
?* will love him, and we will come unto
?' him, and make our al)0(ie with him *.'*
And the prefence of the IJoly Spirit can-
not be wanting M'here the Father and the
Son inhabit, " for if any man have not the
f' Spirit of Chrilt he is none of his-j-.''

The members pf Chrift have alfo com-
munion with the holy angels which are
" miniftring fpirits fent forth to mmifter
^' for them who (hall be heirs of fal-
*' vation;|;." They rejoice, likewife, at
the converfion of a Dnner, and are inftru-
mentalin mapy good ofiices for the people
of God. Such being their defignation
and employment, ought we not to enter-
tain the higheft regard for their minifr
trations, and blefs God for the nftpnifli:*
ing care he hath taken in f^ppointing His
pngels to minifter for the fafeguard of his

* John xiv. ':3. f l^""^* viii- 9- X Hcb. i. 14.

faints^

and Communion of Saints* 329

faints, for the fuccefs of tbeir fpirltual wel-pisc^ xx.
fare, and for the lecurity of their eternal ^^^'^
falvation ?

Moreover, the members of Chrift have,
ill a peculiar fenfe, communion one with
another. " If we walk in the light we
have fellowflup one with another *," being-
children of the fame Father, difciples of
the fame Mafter, aduated by the fame
Spirit, members of the fame body, and
heirs of the fame heavenly kingdom. We
all join together in the ufe and benefit of
the llime ordinances, are all partakers of
the fame bread, have all hope in the fame
promiies, are engrafted into the fame ftock,
and receive life and nouriftniient from the
fame root.

Thefe confiderations ought furely to bo
fufticient to engage us with the utmoit
care, to preferve by prudent order and
mutual forbearance as much unity in the
church as poflil)le. We ought to teach
and admonilh one another to walk by the
liime rule, to mind the fame things, to
pray with and for one another, to com-
fprt and encourage each other in the ways

* 1 John i. 7»

S80 The Hohj Catholic Church,

PJ^-J^'^ 6f godlinefs, and, by all proper means, " to
" edify one another iu love *.*'

But we have not only thus communion
with the faints on earth ; it is alfo the pri-
vilege of Chriftians, as fuch, to have fel»
lowftiip with them who are departed out
«f this life and admitted into the prefence
of God. For we are of one city, and one
family with them who are members of the
church triumphant. They manifeft their
communion with us by loving and pray^
ing for their brethren whom they have left
in altate of probation, and whom they ear-
neftly willi to be partakers of the fame
happinefs with themfelves. But whilit
we maintain the high privilege of the
** Communion of Saints," let us not en^
tertain for a moment, the idea of their
interpofmg any merits for us, and that
for this caufe we are to invocate them,
or perform any aft of religious worfhip to-
wards them. Such doctrines as tliefe are
only the inventions of men, and have no
foundation whatever in the word of God.

If then you profefs to believe in the
Holy Catholic Church of Chrift, and in

♦■ Eph. iv. 15.

the

and Communion of Sainf$. 331

the confcquent ccmmunioii of faints, it be- disc. w.
hoves you ierioufly to confuler whetbep
you are truly ionlible of the inefttmablo
privileges you thereby eujoy, and have put
in your claim to a fbare of them. Many,
it iy to be feared there are, who inlleat^
of '* having fellovvlliip witli the Fatbe-i'
'* and with his Son Jefus Chrift */' the
glorious prerogative of Chriilians, hold
communion with fatan and his agents,
and in fome inftances, perhaps, even anti-
cipate them in the invention of wicked
devices and in the practice of all iniquity.
But be not deceived : "God is light, and
" in him is no darknefs at all. If we fay
" that we have fellowlbip with Him and
" walk in darknefs, we he and do not the
*' truth ; but if we walk in the light as he
" is in the light, we have fellow fhip one
" with another -f-." And it will inflame
our hearts with glowing charity to all
them " who have obtained like precious
" faith with us J." If congruity of man-
ners and like aniiableneis of difpofition will
conciliate and unite afte6lions, what flnce-
^ity of benevolence fbould prevail among

* 1 John i. 3. t Ibid. 5, G, 7- : 2 Tet. i. 1.

thoPj

532 The Hohj Catholic Church, cj-c.

DISC. XX. tliofe who bear the ftamp of the fame di-
vine image, and are animated by the fame
fpirit, following holinefs here, that they may
all meet in a flate of happinefs hereafter,
being " fellow-citizens with the faints and
" of the hoiilbold of God*/* until they
*' have their perfect conlbmmation and blii"s
" both in body and foul, in his eternal and
" everlafting glory, through Jefus Chrift
" our Lord -f /'
To whom, &c.

* Eph. ii. 19, t Burial Service,

mS'

DISCOURSE XXI.

PORGIVEXESS OF SIN".

Psalm xxxii. 1,

Blejfed is He uhqfe Tranfgrefflon is for*
given, wliofe Sin is covered.

Forgiveness of fms is a privilege discxxi.

for which all the preceding ones have been '"'"^''^
preparing the way ; it is a do(5lrine of the
greateft comfort to believe, and of the ut-
moft danger to mifapprehend ; it is pro-
per however fo far to premife, that it be-
longs only to them who are true members
of Chrift's holy catholic Church.

To give you therefore a diftind appre-
henfion of fo important a doiSirine, I (hall
endeavour to explain,

1. The nature of fm, its different kinds,
its guilt, and punilhment.

2, By

534 Forgkenefi of Sin.

Disc.xxr. 2. By whom, aiicl upon what account
fin is lbri>iven, and the nature of that for-
givenefs* Ar,d

3. What is required of them who expe6l
this great pri\ilege. Firft, as to tlie na-
ture of fm* The law of God is univer-
fally acknowledged, (where his revealed
%vill is known) to be the rule of mens' ac-
tions, and any deviation from that rule is
a lin, and brings them under gnilt, there-
" fore hn" is defined by the /\poltle to be
** the tranfgreffion of the law *." Obe*
dience to this law is unqueitionably our
duty : tranfgreffion in any the leait in-
fiance is fin, whether it be by neglefting
its pofitive injunctions^ which is a fin of
omiflion ; or by acting contrary to its pro-
hibitionSj which is a fin of commiffion.

Now fin is of two kind.^j original and
actual. The former is by the article of
our Church defcribed to be " the fault
*' and corruption of the nature of every
*' man that naturally is ingendered of the
" offspring of Adam, whereby mafi is very
*' far gone from original righteoufnefs,
" and mclined unto evilf/' The latter.

* 1 John iii. 4. f Article ix.

or

For give jiefs of Sin, C'S5

or aclual fin, (which is the fruit of original) Df^r.vxi,
is any adion repugnant to the law of God.
Now as God hath a right to give us laws.
He muft have a right to punidi the viola-
tion of them. And we all have an inward
Confcioufnefs that fin deferves punifiiment,
which confcioufnefs is deemed a fenfe of
guilt ; and therefore the Apoftle declares,
" the wages of fin is death *." And as
every fin is a deviation from the law of
God, it necefiarily implies guilt, which
renders us liable to the punhhment due to
it. Every oftence is augmented by the
confideration of the dignity of the perfon
againft whom it is committed, and as all
men fin againft the divine IMajefty, -every
tranfgreffion is highly aggravated, and of
courfe binds them over to fuffer the ven-
geance of eternal punifiunent, unlefs ihey
obtain pardon and remiffion.

This brings us to the next inquiry, by
whom, and upon what account fin is for-»
given. We may undoubtedly forgive of-
fences committed againft each other, fo far
as they concern us: " If thy brother
" trefpafs againft thee, rebuke him, and

* Rom. vi. 23.

jf

336 For given efi of Sin.

i>^xxj. « if he repent, forgive him, and it' be tref-
" pafs againil thee feven times in a day,
" and feven times in a day turn again
" to thee, laying, I repent, thou flialt
*' forgive him *." But as " iin is the
*' tranfgreffion of the law of God -f-,*'
He only can forgive it. It is his prero-
gative : " I, even I am He that blotteth
" out thy tranfgreflion for mine own
" fake, and will not remember thy hns :|:/'
" When Jefus faw their faith," He faid
unto the fick of the palfy, " Son, thy (ins
" be forgiven thee §." The Scribes ahb
afked, " who can forgive fms biit God
" only II ?" The pofition was jufl, that
God only can forgive fms, but their fup-
pofition falfe, that Chrift was a 7uere man,
and therefore could not do it. But upon a
little farther inquiry we fliall find upon
what account, and for whofe fake fins are
forgiven. Accordingly, the Apoftle tells
us, that we are " jufl;ified freely by the
" grace of God ^," and that " in Chrift
*' we have redemption through his blood,
'* even the forgivenefs of fms, according

* Matt, xviii. 15. f 1 Johniii. 4. - | Ifa. xliii. 25.
§ Matt. ix. 2. 11 IVIark ji, 7., ■ f, Rora.iii. 24.

to

Forgkenefs of Shi. 337

« to the riches of his grace *.'* The fuf-i'^^L
fe rings and death of Chriil are the fole
meritorious caule of our forgivenefs, for
" the blood of Jefus Chrift cleanfeth us
" from all fin -j-." The atonement made
by the facrifices under the law had an im-
mediate reference to the death of Chrift,
and whatfoever virtue was in them ope-
rated through his death alone. As by the
foreknowledge and decree of the Almighty,
lie was " the Lamb flain'from the foun-
'* dation of the world J/' fo all atone-
ments which were ever made, were only ef-
fe6lual through his blood. No fm was ever
forgiven but by virtue of his fatisfa6lion,
nor any fmner ever reconciled to God,
but by the death of his Son. The Ca-
tholic doctrine of remifTion of fms was
neve r clea rly revealed , and publicly preached
to all nations, until the coming of our Lord
and Saviour Jefus Chrift. " Be it known
" unto you therefore, men and brethren,
** that through this man is preached unto
" you the forgivenefs of fins §." The in-
quiry of courfe prefents itfelf what this for-

♦Eph. i.". +lJohui.7. J Rev. xiii. 8.

11 Aasxiii.38.

VOL. I. z givenefs

538 Forgkeuefs of Si7i.

Disc.xxr. givcnefs imports. It comprifes recon^
ciliation of an offended, and fatisfa6tion
made to a juft God. By his atonement
Chrift effected both thefe ends : For
" God hath reconciled us to Himfelf
" by Jefus Chrifl *," and by his death
upon the crofs full fatisfa6lion is made to
the juflice of God. If then we confider
our habihty to fm and confequent punidi-
ment, and the full atonement made for us
by the blood of Chrift, we (hall eafily per-
ceive how God forgiveth lins, and in what
the remiffion confifts.

Our bleffed Saviour, by taking upon him
the nature of man, and offering himfelf a
voluntary facrifice to God for the (ins of
the whole world, prefents an infinitely more
valuable and acceptable facrifice, than if
the whole race of xVclam had endured the
everlafting punifhment due to their fins.
For by his propitiation both the guilt and
puniQmient of fin are done away, and
God is reconciled to them. In the mani-
feftation of this gracious a6l of divine
inercy coniifts the pardon of fin. " There-
*' fore," laith the Apoftle, *' being jufti-

*2 Cor. V. IS.

" fied

Forgkenefi of Sin. 339

** fied by faith, we have peace with God disc.xxi.
" through our Lord Jefus Chrift, by whom
" alio we have acct-rs by faith into this
** grace wherein we (land, and rejoice in
" hope of the glory of God *."

No fooner is the heart endued with a
true faith, which is the gift of God, than
a man is reputed righteous, or, in other
words, " his fins are forgiven." " For
" with the heart man believeth unto
•* righteoufnefs -}-/' Jultification and re-
miffion of fins are in Scripture fy nonimous.
In fome pailages of holy writ we are faid
to be " juftified by the faith of Jefus
" Chrift X>" in others, that " by the obe-
^' of Chrift we are made righteous §," and
" juftified by his blood ||/' By thefe ex-
preifions one and the fame thing is in-
tended. For juftification is a cancelling
of the guilt and punilliment of pad fins,
an acquittal from the condemnation of the
law, and making us righteous before God
not for our own merits, but through the
imputed righteoufnefs of Chrift. Annexed
to this bleifing of divine grace are alfo

* Rom.v. 1,2. t Ibid.x. 10. J Gal. ii. l6.

5 Rom. V. 19. II Ibid. 9.

z 2 Other

340 Forgkenefs of Sin,

Disc.xxr. Q|:]rjgj. privileges, for whom " God juftifies,'*
He Tanctifies ; and on whom He confers
thefe graces, " He will alfo glorify *."

Let us then carefully remember that
the meritorious caufe of our pardon and
juftification is the a6iive and paffive obe-
dience of Chrifl. For though the Re-
deemer of the world, when He had af-
fumed our nature, and was made man, was
bound to fulfil the righteoulhefs of the
law, yet, inafmuch as He voluntarily took
our nature, and fubmitted to the obliga-
tion and penalty of the law, this fulfilment
of it rendered his a6live obedience merito-
rious. All his a6lions and fufferings upon
earth were therefore undertaken and ac-
compliihed for the propitiation of the fms
of the whole world. The whole fyllem of
the Gofpel is founded on the fatisfa6lion
made by Chrift to the juftice of God.
In confequence Of which we are faid to be
** ranfomed -f," " redeemed J,'' " pur-
" chafed §,'* and " bought with a price H-**
No works of our own could ever amount
to fuch a purchafe. Could we have either

• Rom. viii. 30. f Ifai- xxxv. 10. J Rev. v. p.

§ 1 Pet. ii. 9. fl 1 Cor. vi. 20.

perfectly

Forgivenefs of Sin, 341

perfectly kept the law, or fuflicienlly atoned i>!sc.xxi.
for the violation of it, " verily rigliteouf-
" nefs fliould have been by the law *," and
Chrift fliould neither have fuffcred or died.

The active and pafiive obedience of our
Lord Jefus Chrift is therefore imputed to
them who perform the conditions required
in the Gofpel. Under fuch circumftances
this imputation will not fail to operate to
their prefent juftification and future falva-
tion. And in this fenfe we may fafely
conclude that " lie is the Lord our
" Righteoufnefs ^•.'* And what can we
defire more, than to reap all the benefits of
Chrift's whole undertaking, and on account
thereof, (it being accepted by God on our
behalf) to be pardoned, juftified, fanfti-
fied, and faved ! And happy is that foul
which hath experimentally found that
" Chrift is of God made unto it wifdom,
" and righteoufnefs, and laml^lification,
" and redemption '\. !"

In the full hope arid enjoyment of thefe
fpiritual bleffmgs, let us not imagine that a
bare aftent to the truths of the Gofpel will
avail any man to falvation. That faith,

* Gal, iii.21. f Jcr. xxiii.6. X 1 C£>r. i. 30.

z 3 which

342 Forgivenefs of Sin.

*^^^'^^^' which the Scripture denominates to be a
juftifying one, is lively and active, includ-
ing in its very nature a correfpondent obe-
dience, it is infeparably conne6led with it,
and conftitutes the leading principle of ac-
tion. Ever fmce the time of Abel the
fpring of all religious conduct has been
Faith, and by the wife appointment of
God himfelf, it muft fo continue till the
confummation of all things, A true be-
liever is therefore a fincere pra6tical Chrif-
tian from a principle of unfeigned faith,
and he *■ is righteous *," becaufe his
righteoufnefs fprings from its proper root.
And it is no fmall confolation to fuch a
believer, that he has the authority of an
Apoftle to warrant his alTurance, tliat " by
♦* works is faith made perfe6l-i/'

Let us then admire the infinite good-
nefs and mercy of God, that there is a
poflibility of pardon for the fallen and fin-
ful race of man, who is by nature under
the wrath of God, and dellitute of any
hope or means of pardon without the in-
tervention of a Mediator, and where could
he have found a Mediator but in the man

* 1 Jol^n iii. 7. t James ii. 22.

Chrift

Forgivenefi of Sin. 343

Chrift Jefus ? If all the choir of angels in disc.xxi.
heaven had united their eftbrts to accom-
pli(h this work, it mud have been left un-
done for ever. It was relerved for the
Son of God alone to elTeft it, not by a
bare mediation, but by a price, the preci-
ous price of his own blood ; the benefits
of which redound in a more efpecial man-
ner to all who are called to this hope of fal-
vation. And we muft acknowledge, if we
view it in its true light, that it is of itielf not
only a great and unfpeakable mercy, but
the foundation of all other mercies. —
" Bleffed is he whofe unri^hteoufnefs is
« forgiven, and whole fin is covered.**
The fenfe of this mercy makes all af-
flictions eafy to be borne. And if. we
be reconciled to God, what fear can
alarm, or what danger terrify us ? To the
weary and heavy-laden Ibul a fenfe of par-
doning mercy brings cafe and confolation,
and a progreffive improvement in all the
fandifying graces of the fpirit. If, then,
remiffion of fm be fo divine and inel-
timable a mercy, what frail linner (hall
prefume to flight or negle6t it ? Or who
iliall dare to think himlelf fo pure and per-
z 4 fea

344 Forgive nefs of Sin,

pisc.xxi. fea as not to (land in need of it ? It lurely
^*^^^^ then behoves us, as linners, to examine
ourlelves whether we have obtained this
blelTedneis or not. Many are apt to con-
tent themfelves with (lender ground on
which they build their hopes of pardon.
They are not fo bad as others, though they
acknowledge themfelves fmners; poffibly
they are not, yet they have much to be
forgiven. Others^ they are perfuaded,
think well of them ; — be it fo : but let them
remember, they Ihall not ftand or fall by
man's judgment. Or they live perhaps in
civil and courteous intercourfe with their
neighbours ; but what avails it if they are
itill unconverted, unpardoned, unfanctifi-
ed ? Without true repentance there can be
no converfion, and without converfion there
can be no juitilication or redemption.

As however God, through Chrift, is
ever ready to forgive, let us ferioufly en-
deavour to fecure to ourfclves the di-
"vine promife in the text — " BlefTed is
^* the man to whom the Lord will not
*' impute fm." J^et us fcek it with all di-
ligence as thofc who niuft fliortly ftand
before the tribunal of Chrift, to be eter-
nally

Forgkenefs of Sin. 345

nally acquitted or condemned. And to disc.xxl
animate our efforts towards the attainment ''^^'^'^
of fo divine a blefling, let us remember
that God hath fworn, " He hath no plea-
" lure in the death of a llnner */' And
our blefled Saviour came into the world
on purpofe to redeem us from fin and
eternal death ; nay, lie even complained
that finners *' would not come to him, that
" they might have life f." It is evident,
therefore, from the uhole tenor of Scrip-
ture, that all the means of gra<:e and invi-
tations to repentance, are only fo many in-
timations of divine mercy, of w hich we may,
jnoft affuredly, reap the advantage and
comfort, unlefs we be wanting to ourfelves.
You cannot, therefore, I truit, but fee
the ineftimable goodnefs of God in provid-
ing fuch means for your prefent pardon and
future acceptance through the Mediator,
unlefs you are full " walking in the vanit}'-
*' of your mind, having the underftanding
" darkened, being alienated from the life
" of God through the ignorance that is
" in you, becaufe of the blindnefs of your
" hejirts .|.." But whilft you behold with

* J^zek. xviii. SQ. t J"''" v. 40. J Epli. iv. 1", IS.

346 Forgivcncfs of Sin.

DISC.XXI. joy and triumph the mercy proffered, turn
not afide from the terms on which you am
to expe6l it. Thefe are not a continual
uninterrupted circle of finning and repent-
ing, a temporary abflinence from fome
fins, and an unlicenfed indulgence in
others, but fuch an abhorrence of all ini-
quity as fprings from an entire love of
God and his law. Until you are arrived
at this ftate of grace, there is but little
ground, I fear, for confidence and fafety.
For, as on the one hand, " if the wicked
" man turn away from his wickednefs he
" ftiall hve;" fo, on the other, " if the
" righteous man turn from his righteouf-
" nefs he fhall die *.'*

Now to God the Father, Sec. Sec.

* Ezek. xviii. 21, 24.

DIS-

DISCOURSE XXII.

HESURRECTIOX OF THE BODY.

PlIILIPPlANS iii. 21.

Who Jhall change our vile Bodi/, that it
may be fajhioned like unto his glorious
Bodif, according to the working whereby
he is able to J'ubdue all Things unto
him/elf.

irlAVlNG, in purfuance of a regular disc.
plan of Chriftian do6lrine, confidered fe- ^'^
veral articles of our common faith, we are
now arrived to the contemplation of that
very important one, the refurredion of our
bodies, without which the preceding ones
are vain. " For if there be no refurrec-
*' tion of the deaJ, then is Chrift not
^* rifen. And if Chrift be not rifen, then
*' is our preaching vain and your faith is

" alfo

348 Refiirrection of the Bodif.

msc. « alfo vain*." But if Chrift rofe from

XXIL

the dead by the power of his Godhead,
-we have alfo good ground to hope that
in and by Him we alfo fliali bo vaifed.
The text powerfully confirms us in this be-
lief; it treats of a moft amazing change to
be wrought in the bodies of men by the
powerful and irrefiftible operation of our
Lord Jefus Chrift. For by his death
and refurreclion he hath redeemed our
whole man both in body and foul, and
therefore hath gotten us the victory over
death and the grave. And there is no
doubt but God, who purpofed in Chrift
to raife the dead, is able to do it; and
his infinite wifdom will apportion every
particle of duft to its identical body, when,,
in the twinkling of an eye, he ftiall quicken
the dead, and " call thofe things which be
" not as though they were-j-." For
though our bodies be diffolved into myri-
ads of atoms, and parts of them variouily
fcattered in the earth, yet they are within
the knowledge and power of that Al-
mighty Being which created them, and
therefore by their feparation and difperfion

* 1 Cor. xv. 13.. J1-. t Rom. iv. 17.

involve

RcfnrreB'ion of the Bochj. 349

involve no impofiTibility in tbem of being disc.
re-unitcd in what manner and at what w^/.«#
time He pleafetb. AVhat is ther^ either
irrational or abfurd in the fiippofition that
God who made all things out of notiiing,
and formed man of the duft of the earth,
can as ealily re-animate the bodies of men
out of fliofe particles into which they ar<*
diifolved, ^s he could at firll command
them into being ? And though our finite
Underftandings cannot comprehend how
the fame bodies of men which undergo io
many changes (liould be identically re-
Itored, yet who can for a moment doubt,
whether the power of the Almighty doth
not infinitely exceed the Ihallow concep-
tions of men ? We know not even hovv
feed fown in the ground brings forth firil
the blade, next the ear, then the full corn
in the ear. Or can we account for the
common principle of vegetation, how the
roots of a plant or tree annually (hoot
forth their buds and bloflbms, their flow-
ers and leaves of like quality, and exqui-
fite form and beauty ? Thefe effei^s in
their feafons we behold and admire, con-
viijced that the great God of nature hath

implanted

350 Kejurreciion of the Body,

DISC, implanted in the vegetable world fuch qua-
lities as never fail to produce their natural
and wonted fruits.

Indeed the natural reftoration of vege-
tables is one of the mod lively images of
the refurre^lion of our bodies ; they lie bu-^
ried in the earth a long feafon till the re-
turn of fpring, when they rife out of their
graves and (hine forth in all the beauty
and glory of a new creation. In allufion
to the fame metaphor the Apoftle remark-
ed, " that which thou foweft is not quick-
** ened except it die*." Now, if the
courfe of nature is thus continued by a
feries of deaths and fucceffive revivals, why
fliould it be thought a thing impofiible that
God ibould raife our dead bodies from
the grave, any more than that he fliould
reftore thefe things to man after corrup-
tion ? At any rate, if the record of God
be true, it is well worth the ferious confi-
deration of every unbeliever, that " the
" fea, and death, and the grave, fliall de-
" liver up the dead that are in them-)-."
*' Then (liall be brought to pafs the faying
" that is written, Death is fwallowed up in

* 1 Cor, XV. 3(j. t Hev. xx. 13.

" vi6tory.

Refurrcciion of the Bocli/^ 351

** victory. O death, where is thy fting, O disc.
" grave, where is thy vidory * ?" ^^^.-w

Jf then there will be a refurre6tion, let
us look alio to the confequences of it, for
it will not be partial but general : not the
righteouiJ only, but the wicked fliall be
raifed again to life, though upon a very
different account, and to a very different
end. The former (hall be railed from the
dead by virtue of Chriil's refurrefiion who
is their fpiritual head and faviour, that
they may be crowned with glory and im-
mortality; and the latter, by the power
of Chrifl as their judge, to fufTer the pu-
niihment due to their (ins. " For there
lliall be,'* faith St. Paul, '* a reiarre6tion
" of the dead both of the juft and un-
** juft-f-." And " the hour is coming,'*
faith the judge of quick and dead, " in
" which all that are in the graves (hall
" hear the voice of the Son of man, and
" ftiuU come forth, they that have done
" good unto the refurre6lion of life, and
" they that have done evil unto the refar-
" re6tion of damnation J."

A di(tin6tion, however, mud neceflarily

1 Cor. XV, 55, 56. f Ads xiv. 15. ; John v. 29-

take

'v^^

>52 RefurreBion of the Body.

^^c. take place betwixt the living and the dead.
A change upon the former Ihall be equiva-
lent to the refurre6lion of the latter : for
" they fliall not all fleep" in death, but
they who are then alive, " fliall all be
" changed in a moment, in the twinkling
" of an eye, at the laft trump */' This
change fliall be in refpe6l of their qualities
and not of their fubftance. For thefe
mortal and corruptible bodies fhall put on
incorruption and immortality ; the fame
bodies fliall therefore be endued with new
qualities, becaufe there can be no change
but in the fame fubftance.

Some, indeed, immortal and incorrupti-
ble as their ftate will be, no lefs fo than that
of the righteous, fliall be raifed in con-
tempt and diflionour, " whofe worm dieth
" not, and whofe fire is not quenched, for
*^ every one,'* i. e. every wicked perfon,
" fliall be ialted with fire f ," both tor-
mented and preferved thereby, that fire
which torments him, fliall be hke fait to
preferve him from total deftruclion or an-
nihilation.

* 1 Cor. XV. 51, 52. f Mark ix. 48, 4i).

7 And

RefttrreBion of the Bdiy. 353

And as fuch will be the condition of the i>r'^c.

XXII.

Ungodly and impenitent after the refurrec-
tion, lb the righteous (hall be raifed in
power and glory : their haturtil body (hall
become a fpiritual body, their corruptible
and mortal part (liall put on incorrUption
and immortahty, and " they fhall not
" die any more, but flilall be equal to the
*' angels, and {hall be the children of God,
" being the children of the 1-efdrrec-
" tion */*

The unfpeakable greatnefs of this change
will herein appear, that " bur vile body
** {hall bie fa{hioned like Unto Chrift*s glo-
" rious body," of which he condefcended
to exhibit a glorious fpecirhen in his tranf-
figuration on Mount Tabor to Peleri
James, and John. There, and thei'e only,
can the human mind pi6lure to itfelf a faint
refemblance of this moft amazing change :
*' The fulnefs of the Godhead which
« dwelt in Chrift bodily t;* there diffufed
itfelf, as it were, outwardly? until he ap-
peared in a manner cloathed with divine
majefty arid glory ; " his face (hining like

* Luke XX. 35. f Col, ii. p.

VOL. I. A a *' the

36^! Refiin-cctlou qf' the , Bodji,

?\a *' the iun, and his' raii^i,efit bje>(^Qipi/ig,-w^^
,^.^ ^' as the hght^.",^^»;f,c>q.rji {jrteylj^o.,.;.
Probably in iilkiiion to this :^ci|l fjileii-
dour of Chrili's glory, St. Johji Oj^iM^l^^s^this
oblervation-^" ijelo,ved,i it 'does ,^>qt yet
*' appear what, we Ihall be; 'but,,lliis. ,\y^
" kiiowj that;when lie .iliall.app.^ar^f.^vt'

_,*^hfliull bejike him^ for '^ve fljall fee. lyai as
J{,Jiqis,:jv' and by feeipg ilim,, " b<^ l,i:anl-

..*,V,.iornied into the lame image, frq^i ^lory

^« to glory J/' . ■ iTOii •*

Now, m order ■ iQ.^cpnfirm ,QU^)x>lief in

{his great and gloriipiis chang^, it will be

necchary to GO-ntid^rt^lfa<.thq lec.oiid cjaufc

un the text, ss^re^ijprefiive of the^ power

, *' wliereb}^ Chrid is .^ble to fubdue ^i^ll
." things unto himfelf,y,rand ,cojalequeiitiy
to eftisctuate lb great; a changt?^,.^. gc,f,,uX.

-jp^. It we have the dj?c'iaration..of o<.ir,loiiD
bimfeh, **, tiiat.idl powci; is given unto him

,,,V^4a heaven and earth %," . ^vho. caii; ^©r »a

: mohient ciueiiion eit^>ci'j.his , right ^oj^^aUi-
.iLly to exert it over ihcfe mortal.bodieii I! r

,^.5';: "heavens und.eome down, and hqivy^^n

•* Mil 1 1, xvii. 2.. .11 Job 11 ui, ':. !,2^Cor. iii. IR.

^ Mute. Kxiuu IS. jl Si;<: Up. homo's '.'th Serm. ^'ol."2.

exit • •• .. . a^"raud

^cfuneBion of the BocJi/. 355

*' and earth ilrall be filled with an over- t^^^c.

*' flowing tide of the IMajefty of his glory,
" as the waters cover the Tea*." The
heawens over our heads Ih-dU melt away,
and the mountains diflolve in liquid fire at
his prefence. ^Vt that initant when the
Ihriek of. millions of the human race fliall
mingle with the trump of the archangel,
\vith the thunders of the departing hea-
vens, and with the c rail i of worlds crum-
bling into dinblution ; at that inftant fliall
the dead be raifed, and we Ihall be chang-
ed— changed — not by the annihilation of
our corruptible body, but by the fuperin-
duclion of an incorruptible one. For the
Apottle's oblervation on this fubjeiSl is —
" We that are in this tabernacle do groan
*' earnefily, dehring to be clothed ztpon
" with our houfe which is from heaven;
" not that we would be unclothed, but
" clothed upon -j-," with a fuperinveitment
of divine light and glory which will enve-
lope thefe mortal bodies as a garment;
and by the eiiergy of its divine power, fo
penetrate and pervade their whole I'ub-
iianccj as to convert, fubdue, and change

* Kaiah xi 9- +2 Cor. v. C, 4.

A a ^ them

XXII.

XXII.

35(3 Refurre^ion of the Body.

DISC, them into itlelf, " that mortulity might be
" fwallowed up of life*/' and corruption
itlelf abforbed, as it were, in the ocean of
eternal duration. I'hen flmll the righ-
teous (land forth viftorioufly in the faith
of their rifen Redeemer, transformed from
the darknefs and corruption of mortality
into the ftate of " excellent glory -f*." It
is with difficulty we can form any idea of
it in our prefent (tate, and we muft be con-
tent " now to fee through a glafs darkly,"
until that bleiTed day dawns, " when we
" fliall know even as alfo we are known J."
In the mean time, however, let us learn
an inftru6tive lefibn from nature, convinc-
ed, that if fhe inculcates any religion it is
the Chriftian, if flie preaches any doftrine
it is the refurredion, and that future
change of which we have been difcourfingo
And if the book of nature, as well as of
Revelation, were not a fealed book^ what
man of common underfthnding, obfervant
of the feaibns through the viciflitudes of a
year, could deny the doctrine of a lefurrec-
tion ? Let him alk the furrows of the fields

* ;? Cor. V, 4, t 2 Pet. i. \7. X I Cor. xiii. 12, 13,-

and

Refurre&ion of the Bodif, 357

and they will inform him. For, except a ^^^"^
grain of wheat fall into the ground and die, v^-v^j
it abideth alone, but if it die it bringetli
forth much fruit. Diflblution, therefore,
becomes an eliential foundation of vegeta-
tion. True it is, the iiulbandman ibweth
only the bare grain, but it fprings forth
clothed upon with a beautiful verdure.
And if God i'o clothe the grafs of the
field, how much more ftigll he clothe our
mortal bodies with the glorious garment of
immorta4ity ? But why need we lake the
revolution of a year, when every night and
day is a natural rehearfal of man's death
and refurreftion ? Does not the day, with
all its luftre, die away in darknefs and the
fhadow of death ? Does not the variegated
f^ce of nature fade ? Does not all beauty
vamih and all labour ceafe ? And does Jiot
every creature (except fuch as fliun the
face of maq) veiled in the gloom of night,
feem to mourn in folemn lilencc the inter-
ment of the world ? Who would not al-
most infer, (unlefs he had been afcertained
of the fa6l, that " one day telleth another,
<* and one night certiiieth another*") that

* Pfalm xix. 2.

A a 3 \%

358 Refurreclion of the Bodij.

xxu ^^ ^^ dead, and fliall never rife again ? Yet,
V--,^^ wait only the illiie of a few hours, in faith
and patience, and this entombed earth, by
the agency of heaven, Ihall burft the bands
of its fepulchral darknefs, and in a natural
as well as fpiritual fenfe, it fliall " arife
^' and fliine, for its light is come, and the
" glory of the 'Lord is rifen upon it*."
Thus does erery morn call up creation to
give glory to God, and to ling the praifes
of a refurre8ion. Happy, thrice happy
they ^vho know how to make this blefied
life of it! God fliall help them when that
glorious morning appearetij, of which every
mornmg has been to them an happy pre-
lude ; to fucli, day unto day uttereth the
word of the everlafting Gofpel, and night
pnto night iiieweth the knowledge of lal-
vation.

" If then our earthly tabernacles are to
become inltruments of glory hereafter,
how ought they to be fultilled with
grace and heavenly bencdi6lion here !
for grace is the dawn of glory", and " is
f' as the fhining light that fliineth more
*' ajid more unto the perfe6l day -j-." It

* Ifaiah ix. 1. f Prov. iv. 18.

faj;iclifiei;

I{pfui'reB.ion of the Bodi/. ^j9

fanftlfies all our adions, and renders our u^^e.
bodies living temples of the Moly Ghoft, v^.^
and fit Aibjects lor that glorious change
ivhich mult paii^ upon them. Mow un-
Ipeakably huppy then is that Ibul wjiiuh
hath previoully " paOed iVom death uijto
Vit'e ■^%' and, by a Hate of preparatory grace,
is qualified for that of glory ! If the foul
of a Chriftian be ever " transtbrmrd by
*•* the renewing of his miudj-/' it muft be,
not while he is in tiie hurry and tu-
mult of the world, but during the ele-
vation of his heart and mind, by faith, tq
'4 future (tate of glorification. Comfort
yourfelves, therefore, with the allurance,
that your '' Redeemer liveth, and that
*' he rtiall ftand at the latter day upon
*^ the earth, and though after your fkiji^
^' worms defb'oy this body, yet in your
♦' flelli (changed and glorified) (hail you ieo
*• God t-" ^^nd may you io look for the.
Saviour, the Lori) Jefus Chrift, by iho
eye of faith, that when you fliall fee liiui
as he is, he may " change your vile body,
" that it may be f^Qlioned like uqto his
^* glorious body, according to the work-

f John V. 24. t Rum, \ii. C. t Job xix. 2.5, 2(J.

S6Q HcfurreBion of the Body.

DISC. " ingr whereby He is able even to fubdue

XXII. P -^ y ■ r ^c■>y

Vvw " all things unto hnnlelr.

To whom, with the Father, and the
Holy Ghoft, three perfons and one GoD^
be all honour and glory, dominion and
praife, for ever and ever. Amen.

BIS.

DISCOURSE XXIII.

LIFE EVERLASTING.

Daniel xii. 2.

And many of them that Jleep in the Diifi
of the Earth Jkall awake, fome to ever-
lajiing Life, and fome to Shame and
evej'lajiing Conteinpt.

1 HE poffibility of the refurredion of disc,
the body having been lately proved, the
doctrine vi-hich next in order follows it, is
life everlafting. This is the grand charter
of the Gofpel, purchafed and procured for
us through the merits of our blefled Re-
deemer. Some llrong intimations of this
divine and comfortable truth were vouch-
fafed under the Old Teftament, particu-
larly by the tranflation of fome holy per-
fons out of this life, without the interven-
tion

562 Life Evcrlq/ting.

xxni ^*'^" ^^ death. E^iiocb, who hvcd bcfoiT,
and Ehjah after the proinnlgationof the
law, are both of them eminent initances of
this fort. And after Abraham, Ifaac, and
Jacob wore dead, God emphatically it} led
himfelf their God. And in confirmation
of the fame truth, our blefled Lord told
the Sadducees, " that God iS not the
*• Cod of the dead, but of the living*.'*
This was as plain An intimation as could
be ^iven, that their fouls, though fepa-
rated from their bodies, did (till exill ;
and from the words of the text, we may
unqueftionably infer the refurre6tion of the
body, and confequently a re-union of foul
and body in a future ftate.

Thus far we can deduce thij? doctrine
from the Old Teftament : but the clear
nianifeftation of it was referved fur the
Gofpel of Chrift, which "hath brought
" life and immortality to hght f-." To
inftance only in a few paflages out of
many. " Thefe," faith Chrift, meaning
the ungodly, ^' fhall go away into everlaitr
"■ ing punilhment, but the righteou'? into
»? life eternal J.'" And, " God fq loved

> !\Iatt. xxii. 32. t ~ T'*"- '• ^O- t ^^att. xx'v. 46,

*' thu

Life Evcrlafting. S65

^' the world that He gave bis only begot^
^* ten Son, tlwt whofoever bebeveih in
''Him fliould not periili, but have ever-
" lajiuiiy lite *." And *' we know," faith
St. Paul, " that if our earthly houfe of
" this tabernacle were difibhcd, we have
" a building of God, an houfe not made
" with hands, eternal in the heavens -f'."
But though all men, good and bad, fliall
awake from the duit of the earth, yet fomc
fliall awake to everlaliing life, and ibme to
ihame and everlafting contempt.

I fliall therefore in this dilcourfe endea,-
vour to explain both thefe (tates, that you
may learn to obtain the one, and avoid |^he
other.

Now life eternal i^ that blefifed ftate, in
which the righteous Ihall be perfe6tly glo-
rified both in foul and bodyj and live in
the prefence of God for ever and ever.
In this heavenly ftate there are three
things to be coniidered, the parts, the de-
grees, and the duration of it.

Now the parts of this heavenly felicity
are two-fold, the glorification of our whole
nature, and the enjoyment of God, in

* John lii^ 1^'. f 2 Cur, v. i.

Chrift.

364 Life EverhJIwg.

Bisr.. Chriit. I'he fouls of tlic righteous iliall
be fo purified and fpirituaiized, that ihej
iliall be advanced to the higheft perfec-
tion of which their faculties are capable.
Their underitanding fliall be fo enlightened
Avith heavenly wifdoni, that they ihall
clearly know all things necellary to make
them perfeftly happy. " For now we fee
" only through a glafs darkly, but then
'' face to face ; now we know in part, but
** then fhall we know even as alfo we are
^* known '^." Their will fhall alfo be con-
formable to the will of God, and endued
with fuch moral perfe6lions of holinefs, and
righteoufnefs, and liberty, as not only to
free them from the fiavery of fm, but from
the very aptitude of fmning. For in a
(late of glory our will {hall be fo governed
by the Holy Spirit, and fo free to the ope-
ration pf good, that we (hall always have
the fame godlike affe6tions as the Deity,
without the leaft propenfity to evil. And
even thofe afFe61;ions which we fhall flill re-
tain, fuch as love, joy, and peace, will be
fo purified ar^d refined by the power of the
divine energy, that they will have but one
objed.

* 1 Cor. xiii. 12.

3 Ai^d

XXIII.-

Life Et'crlajting. 365

And as the fouls, fo alio will the bodies p^^^a
of the righteous be confummated in glory.
They (hall not only be freed from all out-
ward wants and calamities, but from every
inward malady and defe6l. They Ihall no
longer require any external means of fup-
port and nouriihment, neither fliall they
be any more fubje6b to pains, difeafes, or
death. But they fhall become incorrup-
tible and immortal, clothed with comeli-
nefs and beauty, yea, decorated with glory
and majefty. *' For when Chrift, who is
** our life, (hall appear, then fliall we alfo
" appear with Him in glory*."

The next part of our ceieftial blifs will
be the enjoyment of God in Chrift. As
God is the Author of all happinefs, fo wili
he be our " exceeduig great reward 'f."
For nothing lefs than God can fatisfy
the defires of an immortal foul* and fill it
with fulnefs of joy. And if the fountain
of all felicity be our enjoyment, nothing
can be wanting to complete our bappinefs=
And as God only is abfolutely good, He
alone can conititute our fupreme delight.
This fruition of the Godhead confifts in

♦Col.iii. 4-, ^ fCen. XV. 1.

beholding

tGO Life Everldfting.

pr«;c. behdldlno; tbe divine perfections, and cdm-
•^.^ municating with Ilini in the fuhieis of his
glory and excellence. A\hen ve (hall be
thus glorified in bis prefence, the eyes of
our mind will be enlightened, and we ihall
know fo much of the majefty of his glory ^
as will conduce to our eternal felicity.

It will alfo probably contribute to our
happinefs in a certain degree to behold, as
it were, by reflexion, the excellencies of
the divine nature in " the fpirits of juft
" men made per fed *," and efpecially in
the perfon of our Lord Jeiiis Chrifl, " who
" is the brightnefs of his Father's glory,
*' and the exprefs image of his perfon *-j-/'
But this beatific vifion will not be a bare
fight and fuperficial knowledge of God, it
will render us lively images of Him, for
" we know that when lie Ihall appear, we
" be like Him, for we Iball fee Him as
** He is %." In this life He is pleafed to
communicate his goodnefs and his blel-
iings to us by outward means, and compa-
ratively in fmall proportions ; in the next,
without any inftrumentality, He will com-
municate of his fulnels, for " God ftiall

* Ilcb. xii. 23. t Itud. i. 3. J I John iii. '2.

" be

Life i^vcrlajling. 36't

*'• bo all in all '••/' And as He is infinite
in goodnefs and pertcction, lb will be our
bliis, and nilinitely exceed all our concep-
tions.

But to enjoy this unfpeakable commu-
nion with God and the Lamb, and all the
blelKed inhabitants of Heaven, we mull
refemble them ourfelves in all their celeli-
tial graces, and be of the fame mind. For
unlefs our fouls are endued with like holy
dirpolitions, how ihould we be capable of
enjoying any communion with tliem .'' '* Be
•J^t5'€ holy," ikith the Lord, *' as I a|n
" holy," leems to be the firft ftep towards
any approacli to the divine jMajefty. An
aflimilation therefore of heart and mind
is as neceflary in fpiritual as temporal fei-
JowQiip, and wretched indeed would })e
the ftate of that foul, which iliould obtain
a manfioni in heaven (if it were poflible)
without a pre-difpoiition of enjoyment.
To difcovei" vyhat that pre-difpoiition is, is
" to open in each heart a little heaven,"
Life eternal is begun on earth, and glory
is the confummalion of grace.

■' 1 Cor. XV, 28.

Tha

S68 Life Everlapng.

The degrees of this glory is the next fub-
jeft of our enquiry. The firft meafure of
it commences here, when, being juftified
and fan6lified, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jefus Chrift, and be-
come the children of adoption. For " He
" that believeth on the Son/' fo as to
be juftified and fan6tified by Him, " hath
^ everlafting hfe," i. e» the root and prin-
ciple of it in Hinij *' and fhali not come
*' into condemnation i but is paffed from
" death unto life *." It may therefore
hence be inferred, that grace and glory
tire the fame in kind though not in degree.

The next ftep towards everlafting joyj
is that felicity which is conferred upon the
foul on its fepafation from the body. '* The
•' fouls of the righteous, immediately after
" death, are in the hand of the Lord
" where no torment can touch them f."
Orj as an infpired Apoftle hath taught us;
" When we are abfent from the body, we
*' are prefent with the Lord J."

The third degree of heavenly blifs re-
fetved in a future ftate is when both the foul
kild body of man; being re-united in the

* Julm V. 24. t Wifdom iii. 1. J 2 Cor. v; 8:

refur-

Life Everlajiing. 369

refarre6lion, fhall be crowned with glory
and happinefs in the kingdom of God.
Different perfons, no doubt, will be par-
takers of this felicity in different degrees, for,
" as one ftar differeth from another liar in
" glory, fo alfo is the refurre6lion of the
" dead *." As ibme have been more zealous
to promote the glory of God than others,
and through much tribulation have become
martyrs to the faith of Chrill, fo (hall their
reward be ojreater. And thou2;h all the
glorified faints in heaven fhall enjoy God
as their fupreme good, and receive ai
much happinefs as they are capable of, yet
fome fliall doubtlefs excel others in glory,
where there are exprefsly " many man-
" lions -f-,'* correfpondent to the feveral
degrees of holinefs, to which different Ipi-
rits have attained.

The laft propolition concerning the (tate
of future happinefs is its duration, which is
eternal. The joy and felicity of which the
faints in heaven ihall be partakers in God
through Chrift, are like the great Author
hinifelf, everlafling, incorruptible, unde-
filed, and that fadeth not away. They will

* 1 Cor. XV. 41, 42. f John xiv. 2.

. VOL. I. B b endure

370 li/e Everlajiing,

endure through the countlefs ages of eter-
nity, and be evermore as frelh as the
morning dew. And though the eternity
of man's future happinefs be but one con-
ftituent part of it, yet it is fo confiderable,
that without it, it would be infinitely im-
perfed, for the joys in the prefence of God,
and the pieafures at II is right hand, would
not be full and complete, if they (hould
ever have an en(\. The very idea of their
ceffation would neceflkrily be accompanied
with much alloy. Let then the blefled
hope of eternal life animate us by faithful
obedience to become " partakers of the
" glory which (liall be revealed *.'* " If
" thou wilt enter into hfe," faith our blefied
Lord, " keep the commandments -j-.'*
Obedience to the will of God is both the
condition of falvation, and the indifpen-
fable qualification for it. Every one that
hath " the hope,'' of living with Chrift
in glory, " purifieth himlelf even as He-
" is pure J.." And furely, if the happi-
nefs we afpire after be inlinite in great-
iiels and duration, we ought to feek it in
preference to any tranfitory enjoyments of

* i Peter v. 1, t Matt. xix. 17- J 1 John iii. 3.

thi&

Life Everlapng. 371

ibis world. If we were wife for ourfelves, ^I'^c.

' xxiir.

and for our future welfare, we iliould " la- ^^^r^,
" hour more for the meat which endureth
*' unto everlafting life, than for that which
" periflieth *." It is not only the height
of folly, but of madnefs, to forfeit our title
to an heavenly inheritance, for the vain
and momentary comforts of earth. Thefe
which are now fo erroneoufly valued and
efteemed, will one day appear to be lighter
than vanity itfelf. The favour of God,
peace of confcience, and a hope full of im-
mortalit}^, will infinitely outweigh all the
boafted advantages of worldly fplendour
and profperity. Nay, even " the fufier-
" ings of this prefent time, how great fo-
" ever, are not worthy to be compared
" with the glory which fhall be revealed
" in us -j^-." The very hope of that glory
is fufficient to alleviate the weight of all
human woe. How many venture their
lives to obtain the tranlitory honours and
uncertain riches of this world .'' And fliall
thofe who profefs themlelves candidates
for a blefled immortality fcruple to endure
as much " for the prize of their high

* John vi. 57. t I'^f'm- '^J'i- 18.

B b 2 " call-

372 Life Eterlafting.

\^^(i. " calling* ?" Let them call to mind that
'^-^'^ high and facred authority which aflures
them that their " light affliction, which
" is but for a moment, worketh for them
" a far more exceedinor and eternal weioht
" of glory j-." And as the promife of
life everlaiting is made to the righteous,
fo, according to the oracles of the fame
divine truth, everlaiting iLame and confu-
iion will be the doom of the ungodly.
Let us then, in the next place, confider in
what it \vill confiit.

Now Death eternal Is an endlefs fepara-
tion from the gracious prefence of God,
and an exclufion from all that aggregate of
-happincfs in the kingdom of Heaven which
the wicked might have enjoyed, accom-
panied with a bitter remorfe in the lofs of
it, and an everlafting defpair of obtaining
it. " For they that obey not the Gof-
" pel of our Lord Jefus Clirift iliall be
" puniflied with everlafting deftrucTtion
" from the prefence of the Lokd, and
" from the glory of his power J." The
heavy wrath of God, and torments unceaf-
■ing, will be their portion. For " every tranf-

* Phil. iii. 14. t 2 Cor. iv. 17. : 2 Thefl'. i. 9-

8 *' greffion

Life Excrlafthig. 375

" frrefrion and diibbedience fluill receive a '^^'^^
" jult recompence of reward *." They -^.-v
who die in a ftate of impenitenqe, fhall
" fufter the vengeance of eternal fire -]-"
A\ hatever may be the nature of Ilell-tor-
ments, they are fitly compared in the holy
.Scriptures to fire and brimlione, in conde-
fcenlion to the weaknefs of our capacity
to exprefs their horror and dreadfulnefs,
becaufe we know of no natural ingredients
fo apt to inlii6l intolerable pains on the
body.

And whilft we are confidering the ex-
quifite punilhment of Hell, we mufl not
forget its duration. The perfons of the
damned Hiall not be annihilated, but as
the word of infpiration forcibly exprefles
it, " iTiali be falted with fire %y\ i. e. both
tormented and preferred by it, for the,
fire which torments them fljall preferve
them like fait from total dc(tru6tion. Nei-
ther fliall they find any deliverance from
the prifon of darknefs, or any redemption
from the bottomlefs pit ; " where their
" worm dieth not, and the fire is not

* Htb. ii. 2. t Judc 7.

; Mark ix. 49-

B b 3 quenched.**

S74 Life EverlaJIing.

xxui " quenched *.'* Where guilt ahvays re-
maineth, punifhment is ever due, and the
inexorable juftice of God will not fail to
inflift it. After death there are no means
of repentance, and without repentance
there is no pardon, confequently the guilt
of iin muft remain, and therefore its wages
or punifhment, death eternal.

The equity of this death depends on the
choice which God hath given us of being
happy or miferable for ever. And though
there is no proportion between the prefent
pleafures of fin, and the future miferj of
the wicked, yet it is not incompatible with
the juftice of God to inflid eternal punifli-
ment on the fins of our probationary (late.
For God hath purpolely fet Life and
Death before us; Life, on condition of faiths
ful and fincere obedience to his will, through
the merits of the only Mediator; and
Death, in cafe of obftinate impenitence.
And therefore they who refufe life, and
choofe to walk in the way which leadeth
u'nto death, juftly deferve to be punilhed
according to their own choice. How then
is there any injultice in configning thofe

* Mark ix. 48.

to

Life Everhjting, 375

to everlading ihame and contempt who disc.
will not endeavour to efcape them ? And
where is the hardfhip In denying mercy to
them who will not accej)t it on reafon-
able terms, even the gracious terms of the
Gofpel ?

Let then the awful confideration and
ferious belief of Death eternal deter you
from fm, and lead you to repentance.
Nothing, you are all well aware, can bring
you to de{tru6lion, but lln, and no other
but unrepented iin. If therefore you turn
unto God, He will be gracious unto you,
and abundantly pardon all your iniquities.
But if you harden your hearts, " there
" remaineth only a fearful looking for of
" judgment, and fiery indignation * ;" and
therefore let me earneftly intreat you, to
implore God's grace to enable you to
break off your fins by timely repentance,
that you may every one of you efcape the
wrath to come, through the merits and
propitiation of Jefus Chrift our Saviour.

To whom, &c. Amen.

* Hcb. X. 27.

B b 4 DIS-

DISCOURSE XXIV.

THE CHRISTIAN VOCATIOX,

Efhesians iv. 1,

/ therefore befeech you, that ye walk wor^
thy of the Vocation wherewith ye arc
called.

JljIAVING in fome former Difcourfes,
agreeably to the propofed delineation of a
fcheme of do6trinal and practical divinity,
offered to your ferious confideration fome
of the fundamental articles of the Chrif-
tian faith, before we proceed to elucidate
the great duties we owe to God, our neigh-
bour, and ourfelves, let us endeavour to
explain fome of the benefits which Chrift
Jiath procured for us by his merits and iu-
terceffion, one of which, and that not the

Icaft

DISC.
XX IV.

XXIV

57S The Chri/tian Vocation,

B^sc. leaft confiderable is Vocation, or that gra-
cious ad of God. by which He invites us
by his Word, and excites us by his Holy
Spirit, to believe and obey the Gofpel.
The efficient caufe of God calling us out
of our fallen ftate of fm and death unto
holinefs and life, is his free mercy and good
pleafure in Chrift Jefus. For " God liath
" faved us and called us with an holy
" calling, not according to our works, but
" according to his own purpofe and grace
" which was given us in Chrift Jefus be-
*' fore the world began *.'* By the ma-
nifeftation of this unmerited goodnefs He
emancipated us from the power of Satan,
delivered us from the rurfe of the law,
refcued us from the guilt and punifhment
of fin, and " called us unto holinefs f"
Every one that is " partaker of the liea-
*' venly calling %," knoweth that there is
nothing in him even when he is holy, that
can merit any biefling at the hand of
God, much lefs can he oblige God, by
any aft of his own, to bellow his grace
upon im, whilfthe is " dead in trefpafies
« and fms §." But of his mere love and

* 2 Tim. i. 9. "t 1 ThclT. iv.7. t Heb. iii. 1.

§ Kph. ii. 1.

unde-

The Chnjiiaji Vocation, 379

undeferved kindneis He affords every one, disc.

. . XXIV.

to whom the Goi'pel is preached, fufficient -^^^"^
means of orrace for his converfion, without
any previous condition on his part. It is
a truth much inculcated in the Gofpel,
however humihating to the natural pride
of man, that we cannot even will or do any
good of ourfelves, until God is pleaied to
call us by his grace, and renew ur hearts.

Now the ui'ual means by which God
calleth us to the knowledge of the truth,
are the miniftry of the word and iacra-
ments, the exercife of prayer, the enjoy-
ment of temporal bleflings, anci, when
thefe fail, not un frequently an afHi6tive vi-'
iitation.

] . The miniftry of the word and facra-
ments. As God has been pleafed to make
a revelation of his will to mankind, in or-
der to make them wife unto falvatj' n, fo
He hath likewife " inftituted and ordained
" holy mylteries, as pledges of his lo^e, to
*' our great and endlefs comfort *." The
former, when " rightly di\ided-f" and
prelfed home to the confcienre, is wont to
be " niighty through God to tae pulling

'^ Communion Service. -j- 2 Tim. li. 15.

" down

XXIV,

380 The CJmJIian Vocation.

51SC. « clown of the ftrong holds *'' of Satan,
and to be effe6tual in producing in the hu-
man heart the faring graces of the Gof-
pel. -And without afcribing any thing ex-
traordinary to the efficacy of the word,
whether read or preached ; its general cha-
racter is defcribed by the Apoftle to be
" quick and powerful, and (harper than
" any two-edged fword, piercing even to
" the dividing afunder of foul and fpirit,
" and of the joints and marrow, and is a
" difcerner of the thoughts and intents of
" the heart f .'*

Now the mildeft interpretation of thefe
words is ; that the miniftry of the. word of
God is lively in convincing, and a6live in
converting thofe that are dead in fm, and
elfe6lual in feparating, as with a fharp in-
llrument, the moft beloved lufts from the
foul, by fubduing the moil inveterate ob-
ftinacy of mind, conquering the mod re-
folute purpofes of the will, and mani*
fefting the inmoft recefles of the heart.
The latter too, viz. the adminiftration of
the public ordinances of religion, is no lefs
conducive to an effedual call. They na*

*2Cor. X. 4. flltb.iv. 12.

tu rally

The ChnjUan Vocation. 381

turally tend to excite holy defires and de-
vout refolutions in the foul, and, when at-
tended to with ferious reverence and reli-
gious iblemnity, they infpire a fweet fere-
nity of mind, and as it were afford a little
foretaite of the joys of heaven. Under
the influence of thefe means of grace, we
are belt prepared to let forth the praifes of
God, and there is no harmony in the foul
fweeter than that which arifes from well-
tuned aflfeftions in the public celebration of
the divine ordinances.

For the fame reafon the exercife of
prayer whether public or private is wont to
reclaim afinner from the error of his ways;
it foftens the heart, and ferves powerfully
to turn the ftream of his aflfections into a
proper channel. It draws the foul nearer
to God, and in proportion as it has that
blefifed efre6t, it eitrangcs it more and
more from the love and practice of fin. It
likewife opens in the foul a difcovery of the
dangers of its natural unrenewed ftate, and
brings it to a conviction of the neceffity of
deliverance from it. Here then a door is
opened by prayer to endeavour to *• make

*' vour

SB"^ The Chrijlian Vocatioiu

DISC. <^ your calling and eledion lure *.** And

XX iV.

■.>w happv, thrice happy is that foul which hath
experimentally found prayer to be ^o great
a blefiing !

Another ordinary means by which God
calleth us to the knowledge of his grace,
and alfo to the knowledge of our depen-
dance upon Him, is the enjoyment of tem-
poral bleffings. Who can reflect one mo-
ment on the abundance of the things which
he pofiefleth without acknowledging the
bountiful hand of the Giver ? and if he has
difcernment and gratitude enough to adore
and praife the fountain of all his bleffmgs,
it is not likely that fuch a perfon fliould be
either ignorant or unthankful that he has
been called to a ilate of falvation through
Jefus Chrift. If he be fo, his heart and
his alFeClions muft be fo funk in the mire
of worldly gratiiications, that he muft ftill
be " in the gall of bitternefs and in the
" bond of iniquity -f-." But when the
grace of God hath taught us to enjoy the
good things of this life with fubmiffion and
thankfulnefs to that power which beftows

* 2 Pet. i. 10. t Artsviii. 23.

them,
6

The Chr'ijiian Vocation. 383

them, then have we kiirnt to extract that msc.
evil out of them, which turns all their ^-^,^/
iweetnefs into wormwood. For want of
this real enjoyment of them, it often
pleafes God in mercy to fend an afflictive
vifitation upon us. Therefore, faith the
Piklmirt, " Foolilh men are plagued for
" their offence, and becaufe of their wick-
** ednefs */' And what wonder is it, if,
when all the gracious calls of divine good-
nefs both in a temporal and fpiritual fenie
do not lead men to repentance, the Al-
mighty fhould " whet his fword, and bend
" his bow, and make it ready, and
" prepare for them the inftruments of
" death •[• ?" Such vifitations are often
wont to prove the greateft inftances of di-
vine mercy ; and happy is he, who, before
it be too late, hath coniidered the hand
that is upon him !

By fome or other of thefe outward
means of Vocation, the Holy Spirit gene-
rally worketh in us that which is good, and
ftrives to " turn us from the power of Satan
" unto God X'' For our will by nature
is corrupt, and prone to the exercife of

* Pfaim cvii. 17. t Ibid. vii. \2, 13. X Ads xxvi. IS.

evil.

XXIV

384 The Chriftian Vocation,

J?}^^; evil ; and no man of his own natural
ftrength " can come unto Chriil, except
" the Father, which hath fent him, draw
" him *." To thefe outward and ordinary
means may be added alfo the inward effi-
cacy of divine grace to all the faithful
members of Chrift. For fmce God hath
made a covenant with us in Chrift^ and re-
quired obedience to it, which of ourfelves
we are not able to perform. He hath freely
promifed to give us fuch a meafure of his
grace, as (except through our own de-
fault) will enable us to fulfil his will. And
though we may be unwilling of ourfelves
to " come to the knowledge of the
*' truth -j^-,'* how often does God feek to
bring us back as (lieep going aftray, and
by his word invite us to repentance, and
wait with great long-fuffering for our
amendment !

But when GoD calleth us by outward
means, and likewife fupplies inward grace
adequate to all the purpofes of falvation,
Hill we may reiiit that grace, itifle our con-
vi6lions, and fruftrate our converfion. God
is not wont to call us by an n-reliftible

* John vi, 44. -j^ 2 Tim, iii. 7.

The Chrijiian Vocation. 385

(energy which would deprive us of free disc.
agency, for then we Ihould ceuie to be ac- s>^,'-^'
countable, but we mull " work out our
** own falvation with fear and trembling/'
becaufe " God worketh in us both to
** will and to do of his good pleafure *.'*

The divine afliftance therefore, inilead
of cancelling our endeavours, ierves only
to render our own co-operation the more
necellary. We mud give ear to the voice
of his word, and not ht down in a Hate of
quietiihi ^xpe6ting to be converted by a
miracle^ To diiregard his call, and refufe
his counfel, is to act over again the part of
the obltinate and rel)ellious Jews, whole
hopes of divine favour mult in reaibnceafe,
and who therefore remain to this day
impenitent, obdurate, unconverted. The
chief reafon likevvife why fo many now-
con tin ue in {in, is becaufe they refill the
grace that is given them. But furely for
a man to be a Chriftian by profeflion, to
own Ciirill for his Lord, and the Golpel
for the rule of his condu6t,and to lead the
life of an unenlightened Heathen, is an in-
iiance of fuch unreafonablenefs, as will

* Phil. ii. 12.

voi.« I4 c c admit

38^ The Chrlftian Vocation.

admit of no apolog}^ What then would
the Apoftle have us to do ? What fort of
converfation does he require of us when he
bids us ** walk worthy of the Vocation
wherewith we are called ?" You your-
felves, and every man in the world, whe-
ther ignorant or learned, who knows what
it is to be aChriftian, are competent judges
in this matter. Afk yourfelves what the
nature of your Chriftian Vocation is, what
you profefs in it, what benefits you exped
from it, and you will need no inftru6lor as
to the fort of life and converfation worthy
of it, neither will you require any further
motives to put it in pra6lice.

It does not require any ingenuity of ar-
gument, or elaborate difquifition, to fliew
what kind of hfe he ought to lead who is
" called from darknefs to light, and from
" the power of Satan unto God *;'' from
the bondage of death, to the certain hope
of a glorious immortality, from a profane
and impious worfliip, to an holy, pure,
and " reafonable fervice -j/* Every man's
reafon, when enlightrncd by the torch of
Revelation, will teach him that in propor-

* Acls xxvi. 18. t Rom. xii. 1.

tiou

The Chriflian Vocation. 38T

tion to the fpiritual advantages he enjoys
above others, he ought to be more hoi),
more careful to approve himielf to God,
more ftudious of his will, more zealous in
his fervice. This is the nature of our Vo-
lition, and therefore, if it docs not produce
in us thefe eft'efts, judge ye liow unworthy
of it we are ! If it be not productive of
fuch fruits, it will probably turn out to
our unfpeakable (liame and confullon. " If
'* I had not," faith our bletoi Lord,
" come and i'poken unto them, they had
" not had fin, but now they have no cloke
" for their fin *." There mioht be fome
excufe for them who lived in the darknefs
of heathen ignorance, and had no other
guide but the mere liglit of nature, ob-
fcured as it was by the cloud of human de-
generacy. But " the times of this igno-
" ranee God winked at -f-," and becaufe
they knew not their matter's will, and
therefore did it not, if they fliould l^e
puniftied for their fins, they fliould be
" beaten only with few ftripesj." The
molt ignorant here prefent, have not, I
fear, that plea to make. What then can

• John XV. S2. t Adls xvii. 30. J Luke xii. 48.

> c c 2 be

388 The Chriftian Vocation.

^^: "be faid for them, if, aflcr having all the-
^^''V"'*-^ opportunities and means ot grace afforded
them of entering into God's everlatting
rell, any of them lliould fall fliort of it
tlirongh difohcdicnec or unbelief? And,
on the contrary, happy are \vc Chrillians
above all men, if, having thefe clear difco-
^eries of the will of (Joi), and the inef-
tiaiable advantages that How from it, we
embrace and improve them as we ought
by adorning our Chriitian profeffion with
a pure and holy life ! U we do not, " it
" had been better not to have known the
*' way of rightcouihels, than after we have
*■ known it, to turn from the holy com-
*' mandnient delivered unto us''^." Pitiable
as is the itate of thofe that l;now not
God, and lamentable as is their darknefs,
it is no fniall part of a Chrillian's felicity
to be fenliblc of the glorious light of the
Goij)el. ^Vhile they have no effectual
moans of grace, and lefs hope of attain-
ing to ev(>rlailing ' ' ^ how richly, yea,
how ab'jiulantly are we /applied with both;
i'o that little elfe is wanting to confummate
our prefent and future happinefs but our.

'V2 Peter ii. 21.

owa

The Chri/tian Vocation, 389

own free choice and voluiitarv concurrence, dtsc.
What unfeigned thanUfuhieis then do we s^,-^
owe to Almighty God for I'uch unlpeak-
able mercies in Cbrift Jefus, and how can
Ave i'o well exprels our gratitude, as by
walking worthy of our Chriitian vocation I
Laltly, Let us lerioully alk ou riches
what kind of converiiiiion bed becomes us
who have folemnly dedicated ourlelves to
God in baptilm, publicly profeiled " to
" renounce the devil and all his works,
*' the vanities of ihis wicked world, and
" all the iinful lufts of the tleQi *," and
luive devoted ourfelves as an holy and liv-
ing iiicriiice to our Creator and Redeemer ?
'J'his is actually the caie of all who have
been called to the Chriitian faith. Let us
then refletft a moment on theie things, and
coniider what kind of life we ought to
lead, who, from being the children of
wrath and fervantsof Satan, are made the
fons of God, brethren of our liOR.D Jefus
Chrift, and joint-heirs v>ith Him of the
heavenly inheritance ? Should not the very
mention of thefe high privileges rajfe our
thoughts in a manner fuitable to the dig-

* Catcchifm,

c c 3 pity

XXiV

S90 The Chriftian Vocation.

DISC, nlty to which we are called, and to that
relation into which we are adopted ?
Ought they not to conftrain us to " bring
" every thought, and word, and adion
**. into captivity to the obedience of
** Chrift * ?"

And when we confider too the promife
which God hath made us of the afliftance
of the Holy Spirit to enable us to carry
on the work of our V-ocation, and to be
in us a prniciple of fpiritual life and fane-
tification, how holy and undefiled ought
we to be both in body and foul ! how
prompt to withiland temptation, and how
ftrenuous to *' make our calling and elec*

^« tionfurefi**

Above all, let us confider ourfelves only
as ftrangers and pilgrims upon earth, the
effecl of which will ahejiate our affeftions
from the things of this world, and lead
them to the more important concerns of
the next. God indeed has gracioufly al?
lowed us the ufe and enjoyment of every
good thing that can make our abode here
eafy and comfortable ; but in the midft of
jDarthly bleflings, let us not forget that

*2Cor. X.5. t 2 Peter j. 10.

country
%

The Chri/iian Vocation. 591

country to wliicli we are all travelling, for ^^^
the fake of which we have entered on our ^'^^.-^^^
Chriftian courfe, and profei's to be aiming
at the " prize of our high calling of God in
" Chrill Jefus *," lb ftiall we fee u re to our-
fclves that cverlaiting inheritance which is
the end of our faith, and the hope of our
calling, through His merits who hath pur-
/chaied it for us with His own moll pre^
cious blood.

To whom, Sec. Amen.

* Phil. iii. U,

c c 4. BIS-

DISCOURSE XXV.

REGENERATION.

2 Cor. v. 17.

If any Man he in Clwijt, he is a iienf
Great we.

In recountino; fome of the benefits which btsc.

XX \'.

redound to u^ throus^h the new covenant ^^v-*-
eftabhihed by Chrift Jelus, that of Rege-
neration, or the new birth, feems to follow
next in order of that of Vocation. And,
as the knowledge of our true (tate in reli-
gion, is at once a matter of lb great im-
portance and difiicully, it will be neceilary
to inculcate " line upon Inie, and precept
" upon precept*." 1 have, therefore,
made choice of thefe words of the x\pol-
tle as peculiarly expreffive of the nature

* Ilaiah .x.wiii. 10.

of

59'i Regeneration.

DISC, of Regeneration. They evidently denote
not only a great change, but a change no
iefa-than than that of a new creation
which fliould take place in every Chrif-
tian. Such is the genuine influence of vi»
tal Chriftianity, when through the power
of divine grace it is fuflfered to have its full
and perfect work in the foul of man.

Now, in order to fliew how far it is pof-
fible this new creation may be wrought in
us, I Ihall propofe three things to your feri-
ous confideration.

Firft, What it is to be in Chrift.

Secondly, In what the new creature
confiils.

Thirdly, The immediate coime6lion, or
neceiTary confequence of the Apoftle's
propofition, that if any man be in Chriil,
he is a new creature.

As to the firlt remark, '■ to be in Chrift,*'
it muft be acknowledged, that the relatiop
in which Chriftjans Itand to Chrift their
head, is of a very different nature from
that which fubfifts betwixt one man and
another. The do6i;rine which the Scrip-r
ture expreffes by a new creature, is a
change or relation quite unknown to the

mea

Regeneration. 393

men of the. world. If thus unknown disc.
amidit all their boafted knowledge, furcly v^\^^/
it is of fome coniequence to inquire what
the phrafe of *• being in Chrilt" imports.
It ligni^ies not only to be a nominal Chrif-
tian, as we ail become at our baptil'm, but
to be in the church of Chrift by the open
profeflion of his do6trine, to be in commu-
nion and fellowftiip with Him by grace,
to live by faith upon him as our governing
principle, and to be united to him by a
pure, holy, and living faith. The force of
this exprefiion, therefore, imports a real
^nd true Chriftian, incorporated into
Chrift by a fpiritual, myftical, and living
union. As w^e fay that the members are
in the body to denote their union with it,
and all of them are aftuated by the fame
life and fpirit, fo are the faithful members
of Chrift united to him, and conftitute one
myftical body in him. 1'hey live by the
fame life and are animated by the fame
fp'irit. " As the branch cannot bear fruit
" of itfclf," faith our Loed, " except it
*' abide in the vine, no more can ye, ex-
♦' cept ye abide in me*." He is the

* Joiui XV. 4'.

fountain

39^ Hfgenerafion,

^^1?- his image, *' is created in righteoufnefs and
\*-v->j " true holinefs *." And in reference to
f:be fame inward change, He exhorts his
Roman converts " not to be conformed to
" this world, but to be transformed by the
*' renewing of their mindj-." Upon the
fame principle, what in one place He calls
^ the new creature :t," in another he ex-
prefles by " faith which worketh by love,"
and by " keeping the commandments of
" God §;" for all thefe, as equivalent cha-
racters. He oppofes to circumcifion and
uncircumcifion, or the mere externals of a
religious profeffion, declaring the utter in-
fufficiency of the latter, and the abfolute
neceflity of the former.

Let us then next confider more particu-
larly in what the new creature confifts.
The general nature and defcription of it
may be und;^ritood by an attentive confi-
deration of the Scriptures already quoted,
which contain the moft eflfential truths of
this doctrine. But for the more complete
illuftration of ihe fubjeft, it is neceffary to
obferve, that where there is reafon to fpeak

* EpI). iv. 23, '24. + Rom. xii. 2. X Gal. v. 6.
§ 1 Cor. vii. li).

of

x\v,

Regeneration. $99

of a man as a new creature, there will be ^[i'c.
new apprehciifions, afleftions, refolutions,
enjoyments, and hopes*. This is the
foundation of the whole Chriitian build-
ing, becaufe, as religion is a reafonable
fervice, all the change which is made in
the affe6lions and refolutions, in the pur-
i'uits, enjoyments, and hopes of a Chrif-
tian, arifes from that different view in
which he is now taught to look on thofe
obje6ls, the nature of which is to dire6l his
choice, determine his condu6i:, and regu-
late his affections. Wherever, therefore,
there is a real principle of Regeneration,
tfiere will be new apprehenfions of things.
As when God created the natural world,
he faid, in the very beginning of his work,
" Let there be light, and there was
** light -jV' fo his power is manifefted in
this new creation, which raifes the foul
from its chaos of darknefs into a beautiful,
bright, and well-ordered frame of light.
" God, who commanded the light to
" (bine out of darknefs, hath fhined into
" our hearts, to give the light of the know-

* See Dr. Doddridgi/s Sermons on Regeneration.
t Gen. i. 3.

" ledge

XXV

400 He generation,

pi^c. " ledge of the glory of God in the face of
" Jefus Chrift'''" Before the beams of
this hght penetrate the hearts of men,
" their underflanding is darkened throegh
" the ignorance that is in them-f-/' be-
caufe of llieir natural blindnefs. This il-
lumination appertains not fo much to a
fpeculative as to a prae'lical knowledge.
AVhen our fouls are once convinced of the
reality, and experience " the power of god-
*' linefs J," they foon obtain a clearer and
fuller knowledge of the do6lrines of Chrif-
tianity, they inquire with greater diligence
after the truth, they feek it with more ear-
neftnefs, they caft off many evil affections
which put a corrupt bias on the judgment,
and they come within reach of thofe di-
tine promifes^ " 'i'hen fliall we know, if
" we follow on to know^ the Lord§;'''
and, " if any man will do his will, he ftiall
" know of the doctrine whether it be of
** God||.'* It is one thing to believe that
€/0D is the omnipotent, all-wife and gra-
cious Gavemor of the world; another and
very different thing tohave the heart pov?-

* 2 Cor. iv. G. t Eph. iv. 18. J 2 Tim. iii. 5.
V lioliia vi.3. || Juhn vii, IJ.

erfully

Regeneration. 401

etfully Imprefled with an appfehenfion of i^t^C-
bis ability and readinefs to help us. Sucli ^^-v/-^
an apprehenlion of the great and bleiled
God has every renewed Chriftian, for he
not only believes in his ]3eing and perfec-
tions, but he knows that " Chrift is of
" God made unto him wifdom and righ-
" teoufnefs, fan^lification and redcmp-
" tion *." Tii€ glories of the divine Be-
ing are known to him in fuch a manner,
as they are not to the moil acute meta-
phylician or the mod recondite philofo-
pher, who are ftrangers to the fpiiituil hfe
of a Chriftian.

By regeneration he is become a child of
God, an heir of heaven, and joint-heir
M'ith Chrift. He was " carnal -f," " ferv-
" ing divers lufts and pleafures J ;" but by
the grace of God be hath " put on the
*• new man which is renewed in know-
" ledge §," and is become holy, pure, and
fpiritual. His natural birth made him
like unto the firft iVdam after his falh, on
whom God pronounced the fentence of
death as *• the wages of lin ||/' But his

♦ 1 Cor. i. 30, + Rom. vii. 14. X Titus iii. 3,
§ Col. iii. 10. 11 Rom. vi. 23.

Vol. I. p d fpirituul

402 Regeneration.

?v\9" Spiritual birth hatli afimiilated him in
^-^r^ heart and mind to the lecond Adam, or
'' the new man, which, after God, is cre-
" ated in righteoufnefs and true hoU-
*' neis*.*' The humihty^ purity, and
lo\e of God are " Ihed abroad in his
" heart by the Holy Ghoil which is crivcn
*' unto him f ." The powers and facul-
ties of his Ibul are renovated, his under-
fianding, which before was eclipfed with a
thick cloud of darknefs, is now illuminated
with the bright beams of the " fun of
" righteoufnefs J." His confcience once
afleep and infenfible, is now awake and at-
tentive to the .voice of reafon and religion.
His heart which before was as adamant, is
now foft and tender ; his will, once ftub-
ftorn and perverle, is now flexible and ob-
fequious to the law of God. His paffions,
before " earthly, lt;3nfual, devilifh §," now
yield to the condu6l of divine grace, and
turn of theml'elves to objefts inviiible and
heavenly ; and the members of his body,
formerly fervants more or lefs to iniquity,
. are nov/ employed in the fervice of righ-

* Eph. iv. 21. t Rom., v. 5. ; Mai. iv. 2.

§ fJinntis iii, I5T

•:... .-.-•.. tcoufnefs

"Regmeraiion* 405

leoufnefs unto holincfs. Hence the whole ^^^;-
man runs with equal rapidity in the lirait ^.^,-*-'
path of obedience, " and the life which he
" now lives in the flefli, he lives by the
" taith of the Son of God*/' Such is
the aftonifliing moral change which a living-
faith produces in the heart and life of a re-
generate Chriftian. Such alfo is the
change which the Apoflle calls a " new
" creation/' It follows, therefore,

Thirdly, as a necessary confequence^
that " if any man be in Chrift, he is a new
" creature/' New in his affections. The
degree in which the affe6lions operate may
be different in different perfons, according
to the frame of their natural conftitution ;
but in whatever degree they a6luate us,
they make an effential part of our frame,
and it is impoffible but they muff be im-
preffed with a matter of fuch infinite im-
portance as religion appears to be. The
apprehenfions of a renewed mind cannot
but awaken the exercife of correfpondent
afte6lions, and dire6l them to objetts very
different from thofe by which they were
before excited, and on which they were

* Gal. ii. 20.

D d 2 fixed.

404 Jxegeiieratioii.

^^^^- fixed. 'I'his, perhaps, will be Left illuf-
'"^r^ trated by the afFeclioii of love, which is in-
deed the ruling paffion of the mind.

And here lies t-he very root of hunwn
mifery in our fallen and degenerate ftate.
AV e are naturally lovers of ourfelves in a
very inordinate degree, and " lovers of
*' pleafure too more than lovers of God*.*'
But the llrlt and great commandment of
the law, — " Thou ilialt love the Loud thy
" God with all thine heart, and with all
" thy foul, and with all thy mind j^," is
written and engraven in the breaft of every
renewed Chrillian. If the foul of man
were indeed entirely cafl into this mould,
/ and hi« attainments in divine love com-

plete, lie would not only ceafe from fin,
but be free from all calamity. For what
evil could effe6t, much lels affail a mind
entirely and unchangeably fixed on God .^
And that the love of God iliould be the
prevailing atiettion, is not merely an inci-
dental circumftance, but an client ial part
of true relinion. While the true Chrif-
tian, therefore, lees II im who is invifible,
us infinitely perfeci in himfelf, and as the

*■ 2 Tiin iii.4. f .Miilt. xxii. 37.

author

llcgcneration. 405

author of being and Iiap[>iners to the whole pisc

creation, he cannot but acknowledge Him
to be beyond companion the moil amiable
of all ol)je6ts. And though it is certain
nothing can ib much excite our love of
(lOD, as a well-grounded ailhrance that
He is become our God and Father in
Chrift, yet before the regenerate ibul has
attained to this, a fenfe of thoie blelhngs
which it receives from God in common
with the whole human race, and more ef-
pecially of thofe which are inieparable
Irom the Chriitian profeflion, together
with the perfuafion of his being accei'lible
through the Mediator, and reconcileable
to the guilty race of men, will diifufe a
deli2:htful favour of the divine soodnefs
over the mind, which will grow fweeteras
its hopes brighten, and \vhile they are
growing towards " a iViU affurance of
** faith *."

And as the afre6lions of the regenerate
man are thus turned into another bias, fo
are his refolutions changed from the prac-
tice of fin into the iervice of God. He
does r|ot now refolve only againit any par-

* Heb. X. 'OS.

J) (\ 3 ticular

xw.

406 'Rcfyenei'aiion.

DISC.
XX v.

ticLilar fin. but againft all kinds of iniquity.
He is convinced of its abfolute contrariety
to the holy nature of God, and its de-
ftru6tion of the honour and happinefs of
the whole rational creation. Guided by
his own convi6lions, W has no defire with
Naaman to compound for any favourite
idol, by faying, " the Lord pardon thy
" fervant in this thing*;" nor does he
even wifh for indulgence in that " fm
<« which moft eafily beiets him •^-." His
will and his judgment are in ftrift league
^gainit every propenfity which may feduce
and enfnare his foul.

His enjoyments are in like manner of a
pure, holy, and reftified nature. They
arife chiefly from a review of himfelf, as
a6ling under the fan6lifying influences of
di\ine grace, as " having fellowfhip with
*' the Father, and with his Son Jefus
" ChriflJ," as being brought into a fl;ate
of favour and acceptance with him, and
enjoying the light of his countenance.
Under a flrailar impreffion, David calls
God his " exceeding joy §," and declares

* 2 Kings \.l^. t Heb. xii. I. j 1 John i. 3.
§ Plalm xliii. 4,

^ the

Regeneration, ^t>,|,

the gladnefs he had put into his heart to he ^';^f'
far preferable to the joy of ihoie " whole ^-^.-n^
" corn and wine increaied */' St. Paul,
hkewife, ipeaks of Chridians " rejoicing
" in the Lord f;' nnd St. Peter defcribes
them as tlioi'e who, " beheving in hnn,
** though unfeen, rejoice w ith joy unfpeak-
" able and full of glory:]:."

His hopes alio are new and lively, not
refemblino- thofe of a vain worldlinsr un^-
taught in the fchool of wifdom, and undil-
ciphned by divine grace, and therefore
ever reprel'enting to himfelf fome new
phantom of eartlily happinels : No — the
renewed Chriitian abandons thefe empty
fchemes, becaufe he is " begotten again to
" a lively hope by the refurreCtion of Je^
" fus Chrift from the dead, even to the
" hope of an inheritance, incorruptible,
'• undefiled, and that fadeth not a\Vay,"
and though it be for the prefent " referv-
'' ed in heaven § ;" it is fo fure and gloria
ous, that he waits for it with patience,
knowing that the " things which are not
" feen are eternal \\." Eternity therefore

* rfalm iv. 7. t Pliil- iv- 4. I 1 Pet. i. S,

§ lb. .3, 4. II 2 Cor. iv. IS,

D d 4 fills

408 Jienencration .

.XV,

inpc. fills his thoughts ; and growing dailv more
feniible of its great importance, he pants
after the hope of a future recompence. To
this his defires and expe61ations are raifed.
Unfpotted hohnefs and perfect happinefs
in the prefence of God for ever and ever,
without any mixture of fm, or alloy of for-
row, are his firm hope and unfliaken confi-
dence, a felicity which an immortal foul
flyall never oi^tlive, and an eternal GoD
will never ceale to communicate. He is
therefore a zealous candidate for heaven,
und no mean citizen of it while he lives
upon earth, for both his converfation and
his treafure are there.

This is the renovatins: change wliich
this do6trine makes in a man's character
and views. And can there be any thing
more ornamental to our nature, than to
have the bias of the mind thus changed
by grace, and our purfuits direcled to fuch
obje6ls as are worthy our beft attention
and regard ? To have our apprehenfions of
divine and fpiritual things enlarged, and
to form right conceptions of GoD and eter-
nity ? To have the ftrcam of our afFe6lion3
turned from earthly vanities tp obje6is

proper

Hegeneration. 409

proper to excite and fix them ? To have
our relbliitions i'ct aiiainfl all fin, and a full
purpofe formed within us of an immediate
reformation and return to Cod, with a de-
pendance on his grace to help us both to
will and to do ? To have our enjoyments
founded in a religious life, and flowing in
upon us from the fwect intercourfe we
have with God in his word and ordinan-
ces ? And, finally, to have our hopes with-
drawn from the things of time, and cen-
tered in eternity. AVhat can be more ho-
nourable to us than thus to be renewed
after the image of Him that created us,
yea, blefl'ed are they that have " followed
" the Lamb in the regeneration*," for
they iliall " ftand before the throne and
" before the Lamb clothed with white
*^ robes and palms in their hands -j-."
To whom, with the Father, cScc. Amen.

* Matt. xix. C8. t R^'v. vii. p.

DIS.

DISCOURSE XXVI.

JUSTIFICATIOJS^,

Galatians ii. 16.

Knowing that a Man is not juftified hy the
Jforks of the Law, but by the Faith of
Jefus ChriJL

\V E are now arrived at that doftrlne
in the fcale of Chriftian redemption which
in different ages of the Church hath been
to fome " a ftone of ftumbhng," and to
pthers " a rock of offence */' But when
rightly underftood, it will, we truft, be
found to magnify the free grace of Gop
in Chrift Jefus, more than any other
fcheme of i'alvation which was ever de-
vifed by the wit of man.

* ilom. ix. 3Z,

Juili-*

412 Jujlification.

CISC. Juftification then is a gracious aclof God,
v-^,..w wliereby He pardons and accepts ofiinners
on the account of Chriil's righteouinefs im-
puted to them, and received bv faith. As
it is an ii6l of mere mercy in God to call
finners to repentance, fo thofe who obey
the call, and truly repent, He abfolves and
acquits from the guilt and punifhment of,
fm, not for their own works or defervings,
** but only for the merit of our Loud
" and Saviour Jefus Chrift by faith *."

Perhaps we (liall attain to a better know-
ledge of this important doftriue, if we at-
tempt to illuflrate it under the four follow-
ing heads : —

1. The kinds of juftification.

2. Its beginning, continuance, an^ cpn-
fummation.

3. The meritorious caufe.

4. The conditions.

Now there are two forts of juftification,
the one legal, the other evangelical.

Legal juftification is that by which tliQ
Jew expe6led to be juftified by paying obe-
dience to the precepts of the law, and to
be difcharged from its curfe. But the beft

* Article *i.

of

Jufijlcation. 413

of men, even now by the help of divine ^|-fj-
grace, cannot perform every requifition of ^-^/^-'
the moral law, and fulfil an exaft, unfm-
ning obedience, " for in many things we
•' offend all *," much lefs could the Jew
"who lived under a feverer dii'penfation of
divine Juftice, a difpenfation under which,
** if Thou, Lord, iljouldeil mark iniqui-
" ties, who could itand -j- ?" If ever there-
fore any legal righteoufnels could be faid
tojuftity. It was that of Jefus Chrift f/^e
Righteous, who, by his obedience unto
death, perfected every part of our redemp-
tion, and, through his merits, procured
the imputation of it to us by faith. This
is the only condition by which we can avail
Gurfelves of this ineltimable benefit. For
it is evident, that that righteoufnefs, (ifany
fuch there be) which could juftify by the
works of the law, muft be lucli as that law-
required ; but the moral law of God re-
quired a perfeft, abfolute obedience, viz.
" that the man who doeth thofe things
" (hould live by them J," which every man
living, (one only excepted) is and ever will
be unable to perform, and therefore never
could be juftified in reference to that law.

* Jamt"' jii 2. f Pfalm cxxx, 3, J /lom. x. 5.

414 Jufiification.

AVe arc confequcntlY C',mpelled toliilve re-
courle to fome other mean of juftification
than that of our own legal rigljtcOijfnefs,and
uhat that is the Apoitle of the Gentiles fliall
declare — "That 1 may be found in Hrni,'-*
faith he, " not having mine own righte-
oufnefs which is of the law, but that which
" is through the faith of Chrift, the ri*rhte-
" oufnefs which is of God by faith*/'
But though it appears our righteoufnefs
can by no means merit an acquittal from
puniihment at the hand of a jufl God, yet
is He gracioufly plea fed to accept, on our
part, faith as the condition by which we
may lay claim to the falvation of Chrift,
<* for we are faved by grace through faith •]■'.'*
This therefore will be as effeftual to our
final juftification, as if we ourfeives had
fulfilled the whole law of God. But be
it remembered, that " neither on the per-
" formance of this condition, can we lay
" that our own arm hath faved us, or that
" we have done any thing towards perfe6l-
" ing our redemption, for this falvation
." through faith, and this faith J" is not of
ourfeives, ^' it is the gift of God §."

* PhiUp. iii, 5. t Kpli- ii- 8.

t See Sherlock's Qd Difcouifc, 2d vol. § Eph. ii. 8.

The

Jiiftification. 415

The evangelical Juftification by which a disc.
Chriilian, as luch, fhall be faved, is a free v^.^^^
act of Cod through Chrift, by which lie
accounts us righteous in Him, by faith,
and the promife of the Gofpel. What the
promife of the Gofpel on this fubje6t is,
fhall be fet forth in the words of the learned
and judicious Hooker, whofe phrafeology
is more pure and expreflive than any I am
able to utter; " The Righteoufnefs^" faith
He, " wherein we rnuit be found, if we

* will be juftified, is not our own : there-

* fore we cannot be juftified by any inhe-
' rent quality. Chriit hath merited righte-
' oufnefs for as many as are found in Him*
' In Him God fmdeth us, if we be faith-

* ful, for by faith we are incorporated

* into Chrifl. Then, although in our-
' felves we be altogether fmful and mi-
' righteous, yet even the man which is
' impious in himfelf, full of iniquity, full
' oflin, him being found in Chriil through
' faith, and having his fm remitted
' through -repentance ; him God uphold-
' eth with a gracious eye, putteth awa^^
' his finby^ not imputing it, taketh quite

* .away the punifliraent due thereto by

" pardon-

XXV r.

416 Jujtlfication.

DISC. " pardoning it, and accepteth him in Jefiia
" Chrift; as perte6tly righteous, as if hef
" had fulfilled all that was commanded
" him in the law : Ihall I fay more per-
*' fectly righteous, than if himfelf had ful-«
*' filled the whole law*?" I muft take
heed what 1 fay : but the Apoftle faith,
" God made him to be fm for us who
" knew no lin, that we might be made the
" righteoufnefs of God in Him -f." Shall
we then not conclude with fame Apoftle ;
" There is therefore now no condemna-
" tion to them that are in Chrift Jefus,
" who walk not after the flelb, but after
" the Spirit :[?"

If indeed we are hypocrites or unbe-
lievers, and confequently violate the condi-
tions of the evangelical covenant, the fa-
tisfaftion of Chrift will avail us nothing,
and we cannot be " juftitied by his blood §.''
Nothing can be more exprefs than the ge-
neral terms of falvation ; " He that be-
" lieveth, a.nd is baptized, fliall be faved,
" but he that belie veth not fliall be
" damned I]." Faith then in the firft in-

* Difcourfc on JuOificalioii, fixth fcdfioii.

t 2 Cor. V. ':i. ; l?om. vjii. 1. 4 Ibid. ^. 9-

li Maik xvi. 10\

ft»9ce

Jiiftification. 417

ftance is the ground-work of our juftifica- ^^sc.
tion, as it was of our father Abraham's, ^--v^-'
" He beheved God, and it was counted to
" him for righteoufnefs. Now to him
" that worketh is the reward not reckoned
" of grace, but of debt; but to him that
*' worketh not, but believeth on Him that
" juftifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted
" for rigliteoufnefs */'

By St. Paul therefore our juftification
is proved by Abraham's example, to be of
faith without works ; and by St. James it
is alfo demonflrated by the fame example,
to be by works, and not by faith onl}^
In order therefore to reconcile thefe two
infpired Apoftles, it is neceljfary only to
obierve, that the former is fpeaking of juf-
tification by faith as the peculiar do6trine
of the Golpel, in contradiltin6lion to the
works of the law, and the other is proving
the efficacy of that faith by the righte-
oulhefs of fanttlfication. " By the for-
" mer we are interefted in the risiht of in-
" heritance,by the latter, we are brought to
** the actual polleliion of eternal blifs, and
" lb tile end of both is life everlalting •^•.'*

* Koin. iy. 3, 4, 5. t Hooker, Ibid.

VOL. I. £6 The

418 Jnjiification.

The next coiifideration is its beginning,
continuance, and confummation.

Now it commences, when God upon
our faith firft accepts our perfons, pardons
our fins, and receives us into favour. It
is confequcnt upon the very firft a6l of true
faith : " Bleffed is the man to whom the
" Lord imputcth not iniquity*!"

The continuance in this happy {late is
aifured to the behever only on condition
of faith, obedience, and unremitting per-
feverance. It is not only an inftantaneous
a6l, commencing with our firll profeffion
of faith, but as a ftate it is progreflive,
which, though in its kind complete from
the beginning, is ftill carrying on to the
end of our Chriftian courfe in righteouf-
nelb and true holinefs. For who will deny
the neceffity of good works, as well as faith,
to fupport us in a final flate of grace and
acceptance with God ?

This bleffed iiate of juftification will be
confummated at the end of our life, and
in the day of judgment, when God (liall
fully and finally abfolve us from our {in^
through the merits of Chrift, and crown

• Pfalm xxxii. C.

US

Sujification, 419

us with glory. And it will have a mani- disc.
fed reference to our works, " For we muft ^^^v/
"all appear before the judgment-feat of
** Chrift, that every one may receive the
" things done in his body, according to
** that he hath done, whether it be good or
" bad */' If we have done good, and
perfe6led the work of our fan^lification, we
fhall be fully juftified and finally faved by
grace through faith.

The third fubjecl of our inquiry is the
inevitorious caufe of our juftification : and
in this argument we mufl be all agreed,
" For a man is not juftified," faith St.
Paul, " by the works of the law, but
" by the faith of Jefus Chrift, even we
" have believed in Jefus Chrift, that we
" might be juftified by the faith of Chrift,
" and not by the works of the law ; for
*' by the works of the law {hall no fleih be
" juftified •|\" All our righteoufnefs in
reference to the extent and fpirituality of
the law of God is exceedingly imperfedl,
and therefore can lay no claim whatever
to the leaft (hare of merit. For this rea-
fon, " no man living in the fight of God

* 2 Cor. V. 10. t Gal. ii. l6\

E e 2 " fhall

420 Jiijiijication.

J^sc. *c ^j.^|i |3e juftified*." " The blood f"
of Jefiis Chrill alone can avail for that
purpofe, and therefore happy is the man
-who is thus acquitted from the guilt and
punifliment of fm !

The laft confideration is the condition of
our j unification, which is evidently,/bww^^^
upon faith, decorated, as a tree in full ma-
turity fpreading forth its leaves and fruits,
with the beautiful fupcrftrufture of repent-
ance, love, and obedience. Thefe render it
fuch as God will accept through thefalisfac-
tion of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift,
who alone by his moft precious blood llied
upon the crofs, hath obtained for us remii-
fion of fins and eternal life. But I know
no part of the Gofpel covenant which pro-
mifes pardon of fm and future falvatiori
independent of a pure and holy life. True
it is, that faith, in St. Paul's fenfe, alone
jultifies, as it includes the whole condition
of the Gofpel, and as it ftands in oppo-
fition to the works of the law.

In this fenie, no doubt, " a man is juf-
" tified by faith without the deeds of the
" law J." But 1 believe no one, except

* PfaUn cxliii. 2. t Rorn, v. 9. J Ibid. iii.-28-

JiiJIification. 421

an Antinomiau, or an I'^ntliufiaft, will af- i^^^^-
lert that taith alone, in oppoiition to all ^^.-w
the fruits of righteoufnefs, is the fole con-
dition of our juftification. Thefe not only
prove our faith to be of a jufiifying na-
ture, but they are thenilelves part of the
condition required in the new covenant.
And in this ^enie St. James expref-^ly de-
clares, that " by works a man is juitilied,
" and not by faith only "^."

The furn of the whole argument then, I
humbly conceive, to be briefly as follows :
A man is then only juitified, when he is
freed from the wq-ath of God, abiolved from
the guilt and punifhment of (in, and is at
peace with God through faith in Chrift
Jefus; and thefe evangelical privileges and
bleffmgs can be applied to none but fuch
as come within thole qualifications and con-
ditions prefcribed in the charter of our
falvation. That God pardons lin, and re-
ceives us into favour, only through the
merits and death of Chrift, is fo fully ex-
prefTed in the Gofpel, that it is not pofllble
for any unprejudiced mind to doubt of it.
Put it is no iefs evident that it is not of-

• J;imos ii. 24,

E e 5 fered

422 Juftlfication,

xxvi ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ abfolutely and unconditionally.

V'^rv^ Repentance and remiflion of fnis are con-
comitants : " Faith which worketh by
" love *," which " purifies the heart -f-,'' and
" keepeth the commandments of God J,"
is the only genuine faith of the Gofpel ;
but be it remembered that this faith is not
a meritorious work, it is only the condi-
tion on which the mercy of God is of-
fered to us through Chrift, we then cor-
refpond with his defign of coming into the
world, " that He might redeem us from
" all iniquity," that is, juftify us, " and
" purify unto himfelf a peculiar people
" zealous of good works §," that is, fanc-
tify us. On a faithful compliance with
ihefe qualifications, our fms are pardoned,
our perfons accepted into the divine favour,
and we are entitled to eternal life through
the merits of our Lord and Saviour Jefus
Chrift,

Shall not then this moft wholefome and
very comfortable do6lrine animate us to
live by faith upon the Son of God, and
conftrain us to walk before Him in true

* Gal. V. 6. t Afts XV. 9. j 1 Cor, vii. 19,

% Titus ji. 14,

holinefs

Jiijiification. 425

holinefs and rishteoufnefs all the days of PJ^<^.
^ ^ ^ , *^ xxvr.

our life ? Shall we not firmly believe that ^^.^w
Chrift died for all penitent and converted
finners, and when we can with truth apply
thefe charafters to ouH'clves, ma}^ we not
infer that lie died for us, and that we are
of the number of thofe who ihall be juf-
tified and faved by Him ? But as we may
fall from this Itate of grace, and forfeit
our hope of immortality, it is therefore
necel!ary to " work out our falvation with
" fear and trembling ^\"

It is impoffible to conceive the praifes
which will redound to the honour of the
everlafting God, and our Saviour Jefus
Chrift, when his redeemed Ihall obtain the
end of their faith, even the falvation of
their fouls. Let us then lift up our heads,
and rejoice, that this complete redemption
•will begin as foon as we are releafed from
the prifon of the body, and admitted into
the regions of the bleiled. There, in the
divine prefence, the celeftial inhabitants
are fatiated with " fulneis of joy -j-," and
" each with his harp J" of praiie and
thankfgiving joins in the long of the Lamb

» Phil. ii. 12. I Puilm xvi. U. % Rev. v. 8.

E c 4 who

4i24 Ji/fiification.

DISC, who hath " redeemed them to God by his

X.XVI,

v^i^v^ " blood*." Howmuch more then ftiall they
triumph in the day of the Lord when the
number of his ele6l ftiall be accomphlhed,
and when they, who have '' hved the Hfe
" which they now hve in the flelh by the
" faith of the Son of God -f/' fliall inhe-
rit the kingdom of their Father ? Then
fhall all the hoft of heaven iliout Allelujahs
to the Lamb triumphant, who hath re-
deemed them out of every nation, and
tribe, and people. And may God grant
that we who fee Him only now by faith,
may be juftified by his biood, fan6tiiied by
his Spirit, and faved through the merits of
the fame Jefus Chrifl our only Lord and
Saviour.

To whom, &c. Amen.

* Rev. V. 9. t Gal. ii. 20.

DIS-

DISCOURSE XXVII.

SANCTIFJCATION.

1 Thess. iv. 3.

XXV 11.

This is the Will of God^ even your SanBi-
fication.

As God, of bis free mercy, bath called prsc.^
us in Chrift Jefus to a ftate of falvation,
and juflified us tlirougb faith, lb he afibrds
grace fufficient to turn every one of us
from our iniquities, and to fanftify our fal-
len and corrupt nature. Aided by the
power of divine grace, and fupported
through fan6lificationof the Spirit, we are
enabled to perform an acceptable, though
imperfe<5l obedience. In the order of na-
ture, therefore, but not of time, we are
juiiified before we are lan^tified, but the
work of the latter muft be begun and con-
tinued,

426 Sancilfication.

DTsc-^ tinued, or it will deprive us of the faving
^—-r^ benefit of the former. They are, as it
were, correlatives, and depend in a great
meafure on each other.

Sanftification is the work of God's
grace within us, by which we, who were
before impure and defiled, are made inhe-
rently holy, enabled to forfake lin, and to
walk in newnefs of life. Then are we
fanclified, when we are a6lually changed
Jrom evil to good, as well in the inward
bias of our will and afFeftions, as in the
outward tenor of our life and converfa-
tion. For fuch as are truly regenerate,
fan6tified, and real members of Chrift,
" have crucified the flefli with the afiec-
" tions and lulls *,'* and they only who
have calt off their old inclinations and in-
veterate habits of fin, can with truth and
propriety be faid to be " fanftified by the
" Holy Ghoft-j'.'' They are renewed by
the Spirit after the image of God in purity
and holinefs. 'i'hey confequently ceafe
more and more from the ways of fin, en-
deavouring in all things to obey the will of
God. The ground of fuch acceptable

* Gal. V. 24. t Rom. xv. ]6\

obedience

Sanctificatlon. 427

obedience is warranted by the Apoftle ;
for *' wholbever," ikith he, " is born of
" God, doth not commit fm, for his feed
" remaineth in him, and he cannot fin,
" becaufe he is born of God *." It is
morally impoffible, as fuch, that He fliould
commit any wilful, deliberate fin, or con-
tinue in the practice of it. There is fuch
a principle of grace in the heart of a fandi-
fied Chriftian, as enables him both to avoid
and to hate iniquity. But this is not the
cafe of that man who wilfully negle(5ls the
good which he knows he ought to do, and
commits the evil which he ought not, for
he fins againft the light of knowledge, and
the convictions of his own confcience ;
mufl not he, therefore, if he refle6l at all,
be confcious to himfelf that he is in an un-
fanclified (late, and confequently not in a
ftate of fulvation.'^

But though a real Chriftian be fo fan<5li-
fied that he keeps the commands of God
in an evangelical manner, and allows not
himfelf in the indulgence of any known
fin, yet is he fenfible how prone he is by
jiature to evil, and how liable to the fug-

* 1 John iii. t).

o-eflions
7

428 Sanciijication,

geftions of a corrupt and carnal principle
within him. For " the fleOi lufteth againft
" the Spirit*." He is apprized that one
of his greateft trials is the mortification of
natural concupifcence. To overcome that,
and " to efcape the pollutions that are in
" the world through luft-f/' is no fmali
victory in the Chriftian warfare ; and
though in a {lri6lfenfe, the mere propenfity
to evil does not conftitute ad:ual fin until
it gains the confent of the will, ^^et to refift
the inclination is an a6t of virtue.

Indeed it is recorded of fome faints in
Scripture, that they were perfe61:, and
" walked in all the ordinances of the Lord
" blamelefsj." But that perfection to
which they attained, was not an abfolute
perfection, though it might fairly be deno-
minated fuch in an evangehcal fenfe, be-
caufe they obeyed from the heart the
words of our bleffed Saviour, notwith-
flanfling they were not perfect in fa6l ac-
cording to the law. For legal perleftion,
excluding the leaft taint of fin, cannot be
attained in this life by any mere mortal.
The ability vouchfafed to him through

* Gal. V. \7. t ^ Pot, ii. 20. J Luke i. 6.

grace

San^lfication. 4^9

grace to perform an acceptable obedience, d:sc.
is all that an " unprotitable lervant *"" can C^-v-^
attain to. " For there is not a juft man
" upon earth, that doth good, and fmneth
" not'j-." — " In many things we offend
" all+." And, " if we lay that we have
" no lin, we deceive ourfelves, and the
" truth is not in us §."

And if the fan6tified believer cannot
perfeftly keep the law of God, but on ac-
count of his numberlefs infirmities ftands
in need of daily pardon, how can he ex-
pe6l to be faved by his own merits ?
Much lefs can He " redeem his brother,
" or give to God a ranfom for him ||."
And though life eternal may feem to be
promifed as the reward of righteouihefs, it
IS a reward of grace, not of merit. No
performance of good works can properly
lay claim to falvation, unlefs it be in every
tittle equivalent to the proffered falvation.
But what equivalence can there be betwixt
the imperfe6t righteoufnels of a poor mi-
ferable finner, and the perfeft infinite hap-
pinefs of heaven .-^ " If then we muft needs

* Luke xvii. ]0. f Eccl. vii. 20. % James iii. i2.
§ 1 John i. 8. II Psalm xlix. 7 •

" glory.

^SO SanBtfication.

" glorj^ let us, with Saint Paul, glory of
the things which "concern our infirmi-
" ties *," and not our performances. For,
" when we have done all thofe things
" which are commanded us, we have done
" only that which was our duty to do -f'/'
For this is the will of God even our Sanc-
tification. The exercife of this Chriflian
grace, its encreafe and progrefs, depend
in fome meafure on ourfelves under the di-
vine influence, and therefore it is enjoined
as the pofitive will of God. When this
holy principle is wrought in us by the fpi-
rit of God, it difcovers, both to the un-
derftanding and will, the knowledge and
excellence of divine truths. The intellec-
tual faculty is foon convinced of their
power, reafonablenefs, and facred origin ;
and the will is difpofed to make choice of
them as its greatefi: good. Drawn by the
indillbluble band of love, it is eager, at all
times, to pay the moll fubmiffive homage
and chearful obedience to them. Both
the one and the other are ready to join in
the devoi^t language of the holy Pfalmift :
" O how 1 love thy law, all the day
* 2 Cor. xi. 30. f Luke xvii. 10.

" long

DISC.
.\X\II.

SanBification, 43 1

" long is my ftudy in it*/' " I delight to
" do thy Mill, O my GoDf." The fame
Spirit of truth and piety which ft)one ib
eminently in the life of our blelKed Saviour,
appears alfo in its order and degree in thofei
that are Chrift's. Hence ariles in the foul
of a fan6lified Chriftian a fieady and fixed
purpole of heart to be in all things con-
formable to the will of God ; eftablifliing
this as a lacred and inviolable principle of
condu<5t, to have the fame inclinations and
the fame averfions with God. " The fear
" ot the Lord," faith Solomon, '' is to
•* hate evil ; pride, and arrogancy, and
" the evil way, and froward mouth do I
" hatej;'

The inferior faculties of the mind being
thus fubjugated to the power of the will,
chearfully obey the commands of God.
And the whole foul, like a weU-dilciplined
army, in which every individual in his
rank and order moves at the firlt word of
command, is ever prompt to obey. This
is that " willing mind §" which is fo ac-
ceptable in the light of God. Guided by
this influence, the tumult of the paflions

* Pfalin cAix. 47. t Pr. xl. 8. : Prov. viii. 13.
§ 2 Cor. viii. 12.

gradu-

432 SanBification.

gradually fubfides, they learn to wait the
commands of realbn and the controul of
grace, and they a6t with more intenfe
energy, or remifs indifference, in propor-
tion to the real importance of the obje6l
on which they are engaged. They now
exert themfelves with becoming zeal in fpi-
ritual and heavenly things, with which they
were once wont to be i'carcely, if at all,
affe8:ed. They now calmly refign them-
felves to the rule of God's word, and the
government of his Holy Spirit. How dif-
ferent from that wretched ftate, when the
impetuofity of luft predominated, and the
paffions were hunting after worldl}^, carnal,
and vicious gratifications with uncurbed
ilcentioufnefs ! Blefled change ! They have
jjot only acquired a more generpus and no-
ble bias, but are tuned to a fong of fweeter
melody; and they carry the mind, by their
miproved and fanctified tendency, towards
obje<f:ts that are not only holy and heavenly,
but in the higheft degree ornamental to a
Chriftian.

In fuch a ftate of religious confolation
He does not even prefume to wifh that
God would either regulate his precepts, or

change

SanBification. 433

change his purpofes from any regard to his disc.
defire, or boj e, or fear. That ielt-denial,
which is the firft leflbn in the fchool of
Chrift, commands all iiis affeftions into
lilence, and a principle of unlimitted obe-
dience oblio;es them to be reli^ned to the
will of God. He is confcious how unbe-
coming in a Chriflian it is to wilh that any
thing God has done or fpoken fliould be
otherwife than it is, and as often as that
prevailing principle of felf-love, which can
never be eradicated, urges him to depart
from God, the fuperior faculties of his
foul, " through fan6lification of the Spi-
" rit *," infpire him with confidence in
that pious ejaculation of the Pfalmift,
" My foul, wait thou only upon God, for
" my expefilation is from Him -f-."

This holy difpofition of mind commu-
nicates itfelf to all the members of the
body, which being before " inftruments of
"unrighteoufnefstofm,arenowinftruments
" of righteoufnefs to God J.'* The eyes,
the tongue, the ears, the hands, and the
feet are not only reftrained from giving the
lead occafion to lin, after the example of

• 2 Thcff. ii. 13. t Tfalm Ixii. 5. \ Rom. vi. 13.
VOL. I. F f St.

434 SanBification.

DISC. St, Paul, who " kept undtT his bodv, and

XXVII. . . .... *'

** brought it into fubiection *," but all of
them are ready and inclined to obey the
will of God, to which the}' yield them-
feives for the performance of cvevy good
work. They then ierve as weapons of de-
ience to ward off the afiaults of Satan, and
to guard againft the temptations to fm.
As long as the moit eminent virtues lie
concealed in the inward recefs of the
heart, they tend but little to the edifica-
tion of others, but \\ lien the}' are exer-
cifed and called forth into action by the
members of the body, tliey contribute, in
their feveral capacities, to the extirpation
of vice, and promotion of virtue. When
the tongue is exerted in the praifes of God,
and the commendation of true holinefs and
righteoyfne.fs ; when the hands and the feet
are prompt to proryjote the temporal and
fpiritual welfare of others, and the general
pra6bice of pure religion, then it is, that
fuch a Chriltian, according to the com-
mand of St. Paul, " glorifies God in
" his body, and in his ipirit which ar^
" God's -f-," " and the very God of peace
" fandifies him wholly j."

* 1 Cor. ix.27. t Ibid. vi. 20. I I Thv.i(, v. 23.

2 True

San&ificatioii\ 435

TrUe San6lification therefore conllfts not
ouly in the outward amendment of the ac-
tions, but in the inward puriiication of the
heart gradually wrought in it. Among
ihofe precious promilesj which, as Chrif-
tians, we may obtain, St. Peter mentions
^* the participation of a divine nature*/'
and a large meafure of thofe virtues,
which, *' if they be in us, they make us
" that we (hall neither be barren nor un-
" fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord
" Jefus Chriftf." And St. Paul, enu-
nierating the fruits of the Spirit, viz. love,
joy, peace, long-fuffering, and the like, in-
timates that thefe graces are habitual and
inherent in the fouls of thofe, ** who by
** reafon of ufe have their fenfes exercifed
" to difcern both good and evil J." The
power of this heavenly virtue is improved,
as the fubje6t in whom it dwells inereafes
" in wildom and fpiritual underftanding § ;'*
though the cfllcient caufe of it is the
uncreated infinite holineis of the divine
Majefty. " That they might know, tnat f
•' am the Lord that doth lanttify them |L"

* 2 Peter i. 4-. ^Wj'A.'H. jHeb. v. U.

\ Col. i. 9. il Exod. xxxi. 13.

F f 2 The

DISC.
XXVII.

436 SanSiificatioji,

The fame power which was once exerted in
the work of creation, is alfo neceflary in
the fan6tification of the eleft, whofe " work-
" manihip they are, created in Chrift Je-
" fus unto good works */'

What then can we do but earneftly en-
deavour to give ourfelves up to the govern-
ment and guidance of the Holy Spirit,
that we may be fan6lified by Him in body,
foul, and fpirit, and never more grieve his
holy operations within us ? His divine in-
fluence is a delicate thing : as we are wont
to treat it, it recedes, or dwells with us.
If with tender care we cherifli its good
motions. He will manifeft Himfelf to us
>vith a more chearful and ferene counte-
nance. He will carry us forward to higher
attainments, enable us to run the race that
is fet before us without wearinefs, bring us
nearer to God, and dire6l us in the way
to heaven. Let us therefore, (to ufe the
expreffion) fpread all our fails while this
heavenly breeze continues, left, this prof-
perous gale dying away, or a ftorm arifing,
our voyage to the fair haven of Salvation
(hpuld be intercepted ; in that cafe we

♦ Eph. ii. 10.

ftiould

Sandfification. 437

ilioulcl be in danger of fplitting on the rock ^^^^i
of Infidelity, or fniking in the quiekfands ^-^.^^
of Dei'pau'.

If we willi not to fail in the great work
of our San<5lification, we fhould remember
how much it may be promoted by renew-
ing our covenant with God, and reiterat-
ing ihofe vows by which we bound our-
feh'es to a fmcere obfervance of his laws.
In the language of the holy Pfalmift, " I
" have fworn, and I will perform it, that I
" will keep thy righteous judgments *."
The baptilmal vow being thus renewed, (if
no other advantage attend it) will be of ufe
to reitrain the ibul from fin, to quicken its
indolence into zeal, to raife it when fallen,
and teach it to repent of the complicated
guilt of treachery and perjury.

Be careful then frequently to examine
your own confciences, and to call not only
your words and actions, but your very
thoughts to remembrance, that with fliame
and forrow you may confefs to God all the
evil of your paft lives, and endeavour in
future to perform an acceptable, becaufe a
fan(5lified, obedience. Or, by glorifying

* Plalm cxix. \06.

ifS God

438 San&ification,

God for the purity and holinefs of your
lives, and the fecret fatisfaclion of rejoicing
in the teftimoriy of a good confcience, you
may be animated to purfue that courfe of
holy difcipline on which you have entered;
and fay with the devout Pfalmift, " I
^' thought on my ways, and turned my feet
^' to thy teltirponies *." Such condu6t as
this cannot fail to promote the progrefs of
fdn6lification in the foul, till it arrive at a
nearer conformity to the divine pattern.
In the meaq time let us " not count our-
" felves to have already attained, or to be
" already perfe6l, but, forgetting thofe
" things th^t are behind, and reaching
** forth untq thofe things that are be-r
** fore, prefs towards the mark for the
" prize of the high calling of God in
^« Chrift Jefusf."

To whom, &c. Amen.

* rfalm cxix. 5C|. f I'l^i^. iii- 1>> 13, 14.

BIS-

DISCOURSE XXVIII.

ADOPTION.

John i. 12,

XXV III

As 7/10)11/ as rcctked Him, to thtm gave
He Foa'er to become the So?is of God,
even to them that believe on his Name.

Among the many excellent privileges disc
of which Chrift makes all true believers
to partake, there is none more valuable in
itielf, than that of Adoption. It graci-
ouily admits them, though ftrangers and
enemies to God by nature, into the ftate
and relation of children throusfh Jei'us
Chrift. For his fake God is pleafed in
become their Father according to the pro-
mile of the new covenant. They are re-
generated by the Spirit, juftified freely by
F f 4 his

DISC.

XXVIII.

440 Adoption,

his grace through the redemption that is
in Chrift Jefus, and are brought through
the fame divine influence to an afire6i:ionate,
obedient frame of mind towards God as
their reconciled Father.

The only objeft that open and avowed
enemies to God, living under the dominion
of Satan, and enflaved to their lufts, (and
fuch were all mankind) could have, was to
be re-admitted to the degree of fervants,
according to the tenour of the Prodigal ;
" Father, I have finned againft heaven
" and before thee, and am no more wor-
" thy to be called thy fon, make me as
" one of thy hired fervants *." But be-
hold the wonderful love and ftupendous
condefcenfion of the great God and Fa-
ther of our Lord Jefus Chrift, who was
pleafed not only to re-admit them to his
fervice, but advance them to the endear-
ing relation of fons. " As many as re-
" ceived Him, to them gave He power,"
or privilege, " to become the Sons of
" God."

Firft, then, let us condder under what
notion Chriftians become the Sons of God.

* Luke XV. 19.

Secondly,

Adopt 1071. 441

Secondly, upon what condilions ; and x^\^fi-
Thirdly, to what duties it obliges them, w-,-^
Now this relation to God is attributed
in Scripture to very different fubjefts, and
upon very ditrereni: accounts. 'J'he Lord
Himlelf demands of Job, " Hath the raip
" a father? or who hath begotten the
*' drops of dew * ?" Even to an unphilo-
fophical mind the anfwer is obvious, be-
caufe the inanimate parts of the creation
derive their being from Him. The angels
are alfo called " the Sons of God -i," be-
caufe they are " miniftring Spirits J.'* So
are likewife the fpirits of good men de-
parted to a ftate of immortality, becaufe
they cannot die any more, and are there-
fore " equal to the angels" of God §.
" Adam" too, is juftly called " the Son of
" God||," becaufe he was created by his
immediate hand. The blefifed Jefus is
emphatically fo denominated, becaufe he
was formed in the womb of an immaculate
Virgin by the operation of the Holy
Ghoft, but more properly becaufe he is his
own, only, begotten Son, of the fame na-

* Job xxxviii. 28. t Ibid. 7. : Uvh. i. 14.
§ Luke XX. 36". Jl Ibid. iii. oS.

turc,

442 Adoption.

DISC, ture, eflence, and perfeclion with Him

XXVTII. .

from aH eternity.

It is evident, that of thefe feveral accep-
tations, fome cannot poffibly belong to us
at any time ; others not noM', though they
may hereafter ; and of thofe which may be
appropriate to us, they are not fo as we are
Chriilians.

The only means, exclufive of creation,
by which we become in a fpecial manner
the children of God, are by Redemption
and Adoption.

By Redemption we are brought from a
Itate of fm, mifery, and death, into the en-
joyment of a ftate of holinefs, and happi-
nefs, and life. By the fufferings of Chrift
we are bought with a price, and being by
them reconciled to God, he lays claim to
a paternal right over us, and entides us to
the adoption of fons. For the fame rea-
fon, Mofes declared to the children of If-
rael, whom God redeemed from the land
of Egypt : — ** Is not he thy Father that
" hath bought thee, hath He not made
** thee and establiihed thee * ?" Senfible
of this great and wonderful deliverance,

* Dcut. xxxii. 6.

they

Adoption. 443

thev exclaimed with pious e;raliludo — nisr.

" xx\'i(r

•" Doubtlefs thon art our Father, though

** Abraham be ignorant of us, and Ifrael

** acknowledge us not, thou, O Lord^

** art our Father, our Redeemer, from

" everlafting is thy name*."

Now, if the IlraeHtes thus became the
children of God, by virtue of their re-
demption, from a temporal bondage only,
in how much more exalted a fenfe does
that title belong to us whom He has fo
wonderfully redeemed from a fpiritual cap-
tivity, with which the other, in compa-
rifon, is not worthy to be mentioned ? We
who, according to the divine goodnefs, are
" begotten again by the refurre6tion of
" JefusChrilt from the dead, unto a lively
• ' hope of an inheritance incorruptible and
*' undefiled -f /' Animated with this hope,
we may look forward with the joyful ex-
peftation of being " heirs of God and
f' joint heirs with Chrift J."

'Fhe next means by which we become
the children of God is by Adoption,
which, as appears from the laws and cuf-
toms of the country where it has obtained,

♦ Ifiiiah Ixiii. l5. f 1 I*'t. i. 3. ; Mom. viii. 17.

is

441) Adoption,

DISC.

XXVIII ^^ ^^ °^ favour by which a perfon,
^--vV through choice, takes him for a fon, who
was not fo by birth. Such a one, fo
adopted, if a flave before, becomes free of
courfe, and then, as a freeman, he takes
the name and fucceeds to a right of the in-
heritance of the adopter.

Now, in the cafe before us, there is in
hke manner a marvellous act of grace in
fuffering wretches, who before were aliens
and ftrangers from the covenant of God,
nay, flaves to the enemy of fouls, and
fold under fin, to be firft taken into liber-
ty, and then into the family of that GoD
from whom they had eftranged them-
felves. And the method of procuring us
this invaluable privilege is ftill more won-
derful, for the eternal and only begotten
Son of God took our nature upon him,
and became the Son of man, that we
might become the fons of God. And by
dying in that nature. He delivered us
from the curfe to which every partaker of
it was U^ble, and fo purchafed for us that
hberty and freedom which was a nece0ary
qualification and ftep to our Adoption.
Devolving, by thefe means, his merits apd

his

Adoption, 445

bis claims upon us, and conveying to us a Ji\^5'"r
good and legal affurance of as large a fliare
as we are capabJe of, in that glory and in-
heritance to which he hath the mod un-
doubted right by fupcrnatural dei'cent.

For this reaibn the Son is laid to have
*' loved us, and waflied us in his own blood,
" and to have made us kings and priefts
" unto God */' Thus it is faid, " that
" both lie who fan6tifieth, and they that
" are fan6tified are all of one, for which
*' caufe He is not adiamed to call them
" brethren -j-." The Father is alfo faid to
have " predeftinated us to the adoption
" of children by Jefus Chrilt to himfelf,
" according to the good pleafure of his
" will, to the praife and glory of his grace,
" wherein He hath made us accepted
" in the beloved, in whom we have re-
" demption through his blood :{:." And
elfevvhere God is laid, to have " fent
" forth his Son to redeem them that were
" under the law, that v/e might receive the
" adoption of for.s §." " And becaufe
** ye are fons, Goi; hath fent forth the

*Rev. i. 5,(J. fllob. ii. 11. : Eph.i. 5,(^,7.
§ Gal. IV. 5.

« Spirit

wrv.

XXVIli

446 Adoption.

" Spinl of his Son into your hearts, cry-
" in^^, Abba, Father*."

Hence itapppyrs that fo far as the free
oood~\vili of the adopter, and the advan-
tages accruing to the perfons of the
adopted are concerned, the allufion to that
adoption, ufual in fome countries, is juft
an(i good ; and we fo far underftand the
one by the other, this fpiritual by that
earthly one, as myy make us duly ienfibie
of the greatnefs of the mercy, and our un-«
worthineis of fuch an high dignity as to
become the fons of God.

2. As to the condition on which we are
admitted to this invaluable privilege, it is
here faid to be the receiving of Chrirt,
which is of the fame import with believing
on Him, as appears by the laft claufe of
the \eY{{i which is explanatory of the for-
mer. Faith is the great condition of the
new covenant, and fo far as concerns the
matter in (pieftion, it is a (irm belief and
full periualion that Jefus Chrift is the Mef-
fiah and Saviour of the AVorld,oran abid-
ing dependai>ce of the heart upon Him
for peace, pardon, and falvation, and an

•Gal.iT.(J.

accept-

xxviir.

Adoption. 44'

acceptance of him as he is oflered in the i^^^^-
Goipel.

And that He is offered to us under thefe
capacities, and veited with all thofe offices
which render llim in every refpecl a re-
medy fullv adequate to our loit and mifcr-
able condition, is evident from the whole
tenour of the Scriptures, and therefore we
muft receive him as well in one as in the
other.

That we are all naturally ignorant of the
true knowledge of God, of his nature and
will, the Scripture every where declares,
and therefore Chrift came in quality of a
Prophet to reveal the will of God for our
ialvation. Confcious of this, Ifaiah accord-
ingly introduces him thus revealing him-
felf: " The Spirit of the Iord God is
" upon me, bccaufe lie hath anointed me
'* to preach the Gofpel to the poor, to bind
" up the broken-hearted, to proclaim li-
" berty to the captives, and the opening of
" the prifon to them that are bound *.'*
*' This day," faith our blelied Saviour Ifim-
felf, " is this Scripture fulfilled in your
" ears 'j-.

* Ifaiah l\i. 1, 2. ■» lukc iv. 21.

XXVI 1

448 Adoption,

DISC And that He performed the office of a

divine Teacher, will appear to any one who
confiders that He was extraordinarily qiia-
hiied for it, gave the mod unequivocal
proofs of his miflion, and a6tually dif-
charged it to the belt purpofe.

God indeed declared to Jeremiah, " Be-
" fore thou earned forth out of the womb,
" 1 fan6lified thee, and ordained thee a
" prophet among the nations "*." And of
John the Baptift, " He fliall be filled
" with the Holy Ghoft from his mother's
*' womb-f-;" and if thefe became lingular
prophets by their preparative fanftilica-
tion, how much more excellent mull his
prophetical qualification be, to whole mo-
ther it was iliid, " The Holy Ghoft Ihall
" come upon thee, and the power of the
" Higheft Ihall overlhadow thee J." Upon
whom the Holy Ghoft " defcended like
" a dove in a bodily (hape, and a voice
" came from heaven, faying, Thou art
*' my beloved Son, in thee I am well-
" pleafed ||." Never did any one give
fuch manifeft proofs of his divine miffion,

* Jer.J. 5., -t Luke i. 15. J Ibid. Z5.

\\ Ibid. iii. 22.

or

Adoption. 449

or fucli irrefra":able teftimonies confirmiiicc ^^^c:.

• XXVI II;

it as the blelled Jeilis, i'or la peradc led to ^-^^^
the prior atteflations of John the Baptilt,
of whom it faid, that " He went before
*' him in the fpirit and power of Elias *,"
that of miracles was undoubtedly one of
the Uroogeih " I have greater witnefs
than that of John," iaith our Saviour
himfelf, " for the works which my Fa-
" ther hath given me to finifli, and which
** I do, bear witnels of me, that the Fa-
^* ther hath fent me •^- ;" and from them
he challengeth belief; *' If yt^ believe not
^' me, believe the works, that ye may
^* know and believe that the Father is in
^* me, and I in him J."

If then Mofes and the Prophets to
whom God gave this power of working
miracles, did afifert their million to be
from God, by the divine works which
they wrought, much more efficacious to
this purpofe ma(l the miracles of Chrift
appear, who wrought more and greater
than they all.

How competeat He was to the difcharge
of the important office of a Prophet or a

* Luke i. 17. t John v. 3(). \ Ibid. x. 38.

VOX.. I. G g teacher.

^50 Adoption.

-D1BC. teacher, the teflimony of Jolin the Bap-
w->.y^ tift is a fufficient vouclicr. '• No man,"
faith he, " hath icen God ul any time,
" the only begotten Son which is in the
*' bofom of the Father, He liath declared
'' him *." And in his laft prayer. He
tells his difciples " He c;ave them the
" v.'ords, that his Father had given unto
" Him." And as He thus revealed the
perfect will of God, fo he not only con-
lirmed it by miracles, but recommended
his doftrine by the moil innocent ami
holy life, and at laft ratified and fealed it
with his blood. Do we then receive Him
in this capacity by renouncing our own
-wifdom, and entirely acquiefcing in the
wifdom of the Father ? Do w^e fubjecl our
reafon to the revelation of Him, " who of
" God is made unto us wifdom?'* and
not futfer the facred truths of Scripture to
be warped either by the violence of paffion,
or the warmth of prejudice ? Reafon and
lleligion are by no means incompatible :
for though the myfteries of religion are
beyond the comprehenfion of our finite
underftanding, they are not contrary to it.

* John i, IS.

God.

Ad&ptiofu -451

God has ftooped as low to our weak capa-
cities, as was coiililient with his divine
Majt'fty ; and that wc have not a- perfe<5t
underitandm:^ of his revealed word, is to
be imputed to the great diiproportion be-
tween finite and infinite. The det"e6l is in
our realbn, which, when railed to a degree
adequate to the infinite perfections of
God, (as it may be hereafter,) will then
evince beyond difpute the perfect rationa-
htyof the deepcfl mylteries of Revelation.
Let us therefore, in the mean time, rely
on the veracity of God, and not give
way to the corrupt dictates of our minds,
inquiring with impertinent curiofity, "Plow
*' can thefe thiniis be * ?"

o

As through our natural ignorance we
all ftood in need of Chrill as a Prophet
to teach us the knowledge of divine
trutli ; fo through our guilt and mifery,
we required Him alfo in the capacity of a
Prieft, to make propitiation for our fins,
to appeafe the wrath of God, and " to
" bring in," through the oblation of hin>-
fel£ once for all, " an everlafting righte-
*' oufnefs -j-," " by whofe offering we are

* JoJin. iij. 9, t I^an. ix.:24.

G g 2 " fane*

45'2 Adoption,

" fan^tlfied *." Nor is He prevalent dnT^
in his own oblation of himlelf, but in hi«'
conftant interceffion for us at the right
hand of God. On this foundation we
are aflfbred that " He is able to fave t6
" the utternioft all that come unto God
" through Him -j-,'* and we have now no
reafon to look upon it as a fervrle and pre-
carious, but as the efficacious and prevail-
ing interceffion of Him, to whom " all
*' power in heaven and earth is given J.**
Do we then receive Him as a Prieft by
renouncing our own " righteoufnefs as fil-
*' thj rags §, in comparion of his, and
when we have done all, accounting our-
felves but " unprofitable fervants || ?" Do
\VB truft iblely to his perfe6i propitiatory fa-
crifice, as the only means of our falvation,
commending ourcaufeto Him, as our Ad-
vocate and prevailing Interceiror at the right
band of God ? And as we are by nature
fubje^ls of Satan, and flaves to the domi-
nion of our luits, Chrift comes as a King to
vanquifli our enemies, to fubdue the rebel-
lion of our hearts, and to *' proclaim liberty

* Heb. X. 10. t Ibid. vii. 23. X Matt, xxviii. 18.
§ IfiuuK Ixiv. 0'; y Luke xvii; lo,

"to

Adoption, 4j3

*' to tlie captives * ;'' and we then only re- Rise.
jr. ^. , . , . -^ XXV itr.

ceive turn m this capacity, when we re- v^/^*/

nounce our own wills, and bring them in
lbbje6lion to his : when we fubmlt to his
righteous government, and rely on the pro-
tnil'ed afliltance of his grace. This may-
be cftlled the teft of a true Chriitian, for
liow many, alas ! are apt to pay great re-
gard to Chrift's revelation as a Prophet, to
depend oh the efficacy of his facrifice as a
Prieft, who with thofe citizens recorded in
the Gofpel, " would not have this man to
** reign over them -]-." But let them re-
tnember the aweful judgment which Chrift
deriounces againft them : " Thofe mine
*' enemies which would not that I Hiould
** reign over them, bring hither, and flay
" them before me J."

Laftly. As to the duties to which this
privilege of Adoption obliges us. To a
generous mind the firft refle6lion it ex-
cites is that of gratitude and thankfulnefs.
Who can reflect one moment dn the honour
hereby conferred upon him, and the great
privileges to which he is intitled, without
feeling his heart overflow with a lively fenfe

* Ifuiah Ixi. 1. fLukcxix. U. t Ibid. 27-

of

454 Adopt ion.

of G G d's mercy through Chrlft ? Senfible
of the fallen and corrupt ftate of his na-
ture, he has nothing to recommend him to
the divine favour, nothing but what might
rather excite averfion, than pity, nor has
he been partaker of any bleffmgs but what
he has more or lefs abufed to the diflio-
nour of the Donor. And yet from this
-wretched ftate of guilt and unworthinefs,.
of mifery and defpair, he is tranllated into
favour, to a hope full of immortality ; from
being a ftranger and an enemy, he is be-
come a friend and child of God ; and from
being the deferved obje6l of God's hatred,
and a " veiTel of wrath fitted to deflrue-
" tion *," he is embraced in the arms of
divine mercy, and nurtured in the bofom
of a Father. Imprefled with a deep fenfe
of fuch divine benevolence, St. John burft
forth in expreffions full of amazement,
" Behold," faith he, " what manner of
" love the Father hath beflowed upon us,
" that we fhould be called the fons of
*' God • )• !" How little in comparifon is the
advantage to which the great ones of the
earth can prefer their adopted children, to

* Rod. ix. 25. f 1 Join iii. 1,

^ an

Adoption. 455

an uncertain honour, a perifliiiig poflefTion, ^^vux
ja fwelling title, or an ancient name. What >^^.-^
are theie in coniparifon of the favour of an
unchangeable God, a trealure in heaven,
a crown of glory, a kingdom that cannot
be (liaken, an inheritance that fadelh not
away ? And yet thefe are the terms by
^hich the profpecl we have of a future
happinefs, and to which we are advanced
by thiij dignity, is exprelTed. Impreffed
then as we cannot fail to be with a due
fenfe of thefe ineftimable bleflings, let the
confideration of them animate and enliven
our hearts with every fentiment of pious
and humble gratitude to that God who
hath thus gracioully been pleafed to admit
us into his family, and to give us the
Adoption of fons through Jefus Chrift ouf
1-011 D. Amen.

END OF VOt. I.

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