sin and hell. "God [saith he] hath raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in heavenly places, far above all principality and power, and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come; and hath put all things under his feet, and given him to be head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all," Eph. i. 20-23.

Magnify then, as you please, the number or strength of temptations; the weakness or corruption of our nature; the power of Satan, and of evil habits; still, what are all these before him, who gave himself to redeem men from all iniquity, and to purify to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works? What before him, whose office, as king in Zion, is to turn from darkness unto light, from the power of Satan unto God, and enrich the fallen soul with that holiness which shall make it meet for heaven? What are these usurpers, avarice, lewdness, envy, malice, or unbelief, by whom strengthened, that they should be too hard for him utterly to subdue, from whose fulness all the saints who ever lived on earth received their every excellency, and all the angels their spotless purity? Was it possible to prove that one single persevering dependant on the power and grace of Christ ever died in sin, how could the promises of God concerning his Son be true, or he answer the character given of him? Either he must be falsely described in scripture, or this conclusion be infallible: "if the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed." All your evil tempers shall be subdued, and you be preserved blameless in spirit, soul, and body.

So able is Christ to save. I proceed to prove he is as ready and willing, by evidence the most decisive. What means his humiliation from first to

last? His pleading with sinners all the day, and his midnight intercessions for them? What mean his invitations? "Ho, every one that thirsteth, let him come unto me, and drink. Whosoever cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out:" What was it, but love, in the highest degree, which made him so long endure a condition in all respects the reverse of his original glory? Instead of hallelujahs from the angelic host, blasphemous revilings from the children of the devil; instead of joy inconceivable, an heart in the midst of his body like melting wax, through the intenseness of his anguish; instead of adoration from myriads of ministering spirits, buffetings, bloody scourges on his back, and on his face a load of spittle; instead of his throne high and lifted up, before which the whole host of heaven cry, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts: heaven and earth is full of thy glory!" a cross between two thieves, in the midst of insulting shouts, and the frowns of eternal justice.

Come hither, behold and see if there was ever love like this. Come, and hear his voice in the height of all his sufferings: looking upon his murderers, when his eyes were about to close in death, he cried, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

Now then, if you can, doubt. Now, if it be possible, question his willingness to save poor sinners, turning to them with the prayer of faith, who prayed even for his bitterest foes.

In the last place, the Lord Jesus Christ is as proper a person to trust for eternal salvation, as for wisdom, strength, and righteousness in this life. His dominion reaches equally over the world in which we dwell, and that into which death translates us.

"Fear not," saith the Saviour, "I am the first and the last, I am he that liveth, and was dead, and

behold I am alive for ever more, and have the keys of hell and the grave. I go to prepare a place for you; and if go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there you may be also." And in his last solemn prayer for all who should ever believe in him, he declares his infinite love, and their eternal salvation. "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me." After a constant exercise, therefore, of dependence on Christ to save from the guilt, defilement, and power of sin, from ignorance, temptation, and every enemy which can assault us in the way, what well-grounded comfort, what abounding hope in death, is his name, and faith in his name, able to inspire! Able to make us die in triumph, no less than live in righteousness; to copy the pattern of the first martyr in the Christian church, to behold by faith what he saw without a veil, and expire in peace and joy, saying "Lord Jesus, into thy hands I commend my spirit.

PRAYER,

Suited to the preceding Subject.

O LORD JESUS CHRIST, display, we entreat thee, the glory of thy name, that we may exult and extol, and honor thee, even as we honor the Father. Enlighten the eyes of our understanding, that we may know thou hast fulfilled all righteousness, magnified the law, and made it honorable; finished transgression by thy death on the cross, made reconciliation for iniquity, and brought in everlasting right

eousness. Take away all unbelief, that thy blood and righteousness may be our shield against all the fiery darts of the wicked one, and a covert from the tempest of divine wrath due to our sins. So shall our hearts be set at liberty from all fear that hath torment, and we shall run the way of thy command

ments.

Give us grace, O good Lord, to be strong in thy power and might, against all the enemies of our souls. Assure our hearts against all suggestions to the contrary, that thou art able and faithful, and wilt subdue our iniquities, who call upon thee, and keep us unblameable and unreproveable. Deliver us from a self-sufficient spirit, that we may never attempt to perform duty, resist temptation, or bear the cross in our own strength. Let us know and feel, that when we are weak, then are we strong; and that when we depend only on thy arm and favor towards us, neither the flesh, the world, nor Satan, shall be able to prevail against us.

Give us full assurance of understanding and faith in the great mystery of godliness, that thou art God and man in one Christ, infinite in wisdom to teach; in power to help and defend; in justice to destroy thy adversaries; infinite in goodness to supply all our wants, and complete our felicity; infinite in truth to accomplish all thy exceeding great and precious promises, and altogether such a Saviour as our deep and manifold necessities require.

Finally, we beseech thee, O Lord, to grant that we may have in ourselves the witness of thy power and glory, by the change wrought and maintained in our views, pursuits, and tempers; that we may shew forth thy praises, who hast called us out of darkness into marvellous light, and be ready, when we depart, to join the song of the ransomed of the Lord, saying, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive

power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and glory, and honor, and blessing. Blessing, honor, and glory, and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever." Amen.

SUNDAY XX.

CHAP. XX.

On the Divinity of the Holy Ghost.

THE scripture teaches us, that the work of man's salvation is through the joint agency of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. God the Father, in infinite wisdom and mercy, provided himself a lamb for a burnt-offering to purge away sin. God the Son, in his own person, as mediator, submits to suffer the just for the unjust, rising for their justification, and ever living to make intercession for all who come to God by him. God the Holy Ghost gives knowledge and understanding of this glorious salvation, procures it a cordial reception, and sancti, fies the soul for endless bliss.

Each of these persons, who thus co-operate in man's salvation, must be by nature God, because nothing finite can execute any part of this grand scheme. Who, but the supreme Lawgiver, can admit of a substitute to bear the curse due to sinners ? What creature can possibly have merit, much less be sufficient, by his own obedience and death, to atone for offences against the majesty of Heaven? Or to whom but God doth the power appertain, greater than that of creation, to bring

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