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heart-felt grief for all this sinfulness, and in abhorrence of it, to depend on his blood as the only pro pitiation which God hath set forth for sin. It is to use only this plea. The blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin. It is in steady rejection of every hopé built upon your own good qualities or repentance, or simply the mercy of God, to place your whole confidence in Christ, made sin, though he knew no sin, that all who believe on his name, might be made (in spite of mountainous obstacles, dismaying to be. hold) the righteousness of God in him. It is under consciousness of perpetual defilement in yourself, and infinite purity in God, to regard Christ as your passover, and his blood your whole safeguard from deserved wrath, as the faithful Israelites of old sprinkled the blood of the lamb on their door, as their protection from the destroyer.

Equal in degree to your guilt, you will confess is your ignorance in things spiritual. That your appre hensions of God are exceeding low; your concep. tions of his law, sin, and your own demerit, all deplorably wrong; that numberless prejudices remain in your heart against the truth; and an inordinate affection to earthly things, weakening the impressions which things eternal ought constantly to make on your mind.

In these circumstances, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ means dependence upon him, as one able to enlighten your understanding, and secure you from all the delusions of your own false reasonings. It is to look up to him for instruction, who came into the world, that all who believe in him should not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. It is, with the simplicity of a child, to believe just what he tells you is the truth, without a murmur, or a doubt. It is every day, as absolutely to depend on the teach. ing of Christ by his word and spirit, as pupils do on

the lectures of a professor most famous for knowledge in his science.

Earnest endeavours to obey the commandments of 'God, without which, external religion and a sober behaviour are vain, will soon convince you of your own weakness. You will feel your nature violently prone to evil, and the desires of your heart often shameful. You will see yourself surrounded with temptations to transgress, and many strong discour agements against paying obedience in all things to your Maker's will. You will soon find it is a work far surpassing human power to alter the course of nature, by bringing back that heart to God which has been alienated from him; by making your will, almost lawless before, bow in all things to his right. eous commands: and after having walked in the paths of self-indulgence, as the only paths of pleasure, to oppose its suggestions, and in humility be wail them. Yet this inward change alone is true holiness; all short of it, partiality and hypocrisy.

Acquainted then with the nature of true religion, you will earnestly enquire how you shall be ever able to perform your duty? Faith in Christ is dependence upon him, in those circumstances, to purify your heart, to give you victory over every corruption of nature, a blessing no less to be desired than pardon of all sin. It is daily to make application to him, in assurance that he is able to save your soul from the tyranny of beloved lusts, though all other methods used have utterly failed; and that he will sanctify you wholly, make you entire y devoted to himself, and preserve you blameless in understanding, soul, and body.

Thus far the exent of faith in Christ respects our condition here. But as this life must very soon end, when either the dismal effects of uncancelled and unconquered sin must be eternally endured, or the

unsearchable blessings of redemption be fully enjoyed: In this view, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ enlarges itself by firmly depending on his love for an abundant provision when earthly comforts fail, and present objects cease. It rests assured on his naked word, that your separated spirit shall not wander desolate in the unknown world, nor your dead body remain for ever a prisoner in the grave; on the contrary, that the one shall be raised and fashioned by him into a perfect resemblance of his own glorious body; and the other be admitted into that blessed kingdom, where his infinite wisdom and almighty power make the bliss of his saints exceed all we can imagine. It is, in habitual expectation of death, to commend your spirit into his hands, knowing he is able to keep that which you have committed unto him unto that day.

SUNDAY XVI.

CHAP. XVI.

Great advantages from receiving Christ's own Definition of Faith in his Name.

SEVERAL scripture instances have been produced above, of those our Lord commended for their faith, or reproved for their unbelief, proving it means a constant dependence upon his power and grace for relief in all our need. In this chapter, I shall point out the great advantages of receiving this definition of faith, and being established in its truth.

This definition of faith in Christ is easy to be understood by all mankind, and in its very nature ex

cludes every abuse of faith, whilst it gives comfort and assurance to the mind, and ascribes to Christ that glory in the salvation of sinners, which is so fully ascribed to him in the word of God.

Men of learning frequently condemn the laying great stress on the doctrine of faith, as very perplexing to those of no education. They tell us, after all we can say about it, common people will be still at a loss to conceive what faith in the Son of God means. Could this objection be made good, it would overturn the whole credit of the gospel; because it perpetually inculcates faith as the root of all excellencies, and affirms the want of it to be the death of the soul. And certain it is, that whatever is of such moment to the salvation of all, must be level to the capacity of every one who will diligently attend to information. But what place is there for this objection, when the idea of faith in Christ means only constant dependence upon him, to receive wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption? Are not the poor as well acquainted to the full, as the learned or rich, with the nature of promises, and the confidence they deserve, when given by men of integrity and power? Is the meanest capacity at any loss clearly to conceive, that children who would learn must entirely depend upon their teacher? Or that insolvent debtors must go to prison, or stand beholden to some surety, or some act of grace ? That those who cannot resist their enemies in their own strength must seek for defence to one mightier than they? By transferring these very common ideas to the Redeemer, you have a full distinct idea of faith in his name. And supposing the grounds for putting your whole trust in him such as all may equally perceive their force (a point which will be proved hereafter), then no one can say with truth,

there is any obscurity in the nature of the faith Christ requires, or its immoveable foundation.

2. The scriptural idea of faith in Christ, as a constant dependence on him for wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, excludes all abuses of the doctrine of salvation by faith. That many and grievous ones should prevail, is not strange, since the incomparable blessings promised to it work like so many bribes upon our self-love, to make us deal dishonestly, and in want of the reality, embrace a counterfeit. But all false notions of faith, when compared with the above definition of its nature, stand at once detected and exposed.

For instance, speculative faith is apt generally and fatally to deceive, without suspicion. When a learned reasoner has compared the glorious prophe. cies of Christ, with the events which prove their exact accomplishment; has canvassed his miracles and doctrine, till his conviction of the truth is com plete; this learned reasoner, probably, will be very confident he is a true believer in Christ, though his ruling passions utterly disgrace his faith, and give all witnesses of his example cause to think his religion contemptible.

To convince a man of this sort, that he shamefully imposes upon himself by calling his knowledge and assent to evidence, faith in Christ, will, I grant, be difficult. Yet, so far as means can be of use to effect the conviction of such deplorable self-abuse, it must be proving that his acquaintance with scripture prophecies, miracles, and doctrines; his ready acknowledgment that Jesus is the Christ; and alac rity in defence of his gospel against the whole army of infidels; still leave him upon the same ground, where all stand who despise revelation, i. e. just as much a stranger to any daily dependence upon Jesus Christ; that he, no more than impious scoffers,

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