ers; but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of faith.

Hence this was the joyful message which the apostle carried to men of all nations : “ Be it known unto you, men and brethren, that through this Saviour is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins; and by him all who believe are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses."

This is the message, men and brethren, which I bring to you, testifying and assuring you, that God is in Christ reconciling sinners to himself; that if a sense of sin has brought you to the Saviour, though your transgressions have been innumerable and highly aggravated, you shall in no wise be cast out ; you shall be received graciously, and loved freely; and if you have fled to this hiding-place for deliverance from the guilt, the punishment, and the power of sin, your desire shall be granted, and where sin abounded, grace shall much more abound. .

4. All who have fled for refuge to the hope set before them in the gospel, do experience a remarkable and complete change in their views, sentiments, and pursuits ;

they

X 2

they are made new creatures in Christ, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness. It is the language of scripture, that all men in a state of nature set their affections on the things of time and sense, are slaves to divers lusts, and walk according to the course of this evil world. But Jesus is a complete Saviour; whom he pardons and justifies, them he renews and sanctifies.

When they experience the sweetness of God's pardoning love, the riches of redeeming mercy, and the peace of soul which flows from believing, then sin is hated and dreaded ; they pray against and resist it: then the prevailing language of the heart is not, Who will shew us earthly good ? but, Lord, lift on us the light of thy countenance; this will put more joy into our heart, than when corn and wine do most abound. What have we any more to do with idols ? Shall we sin because grace abounds? God forbid. How shall we, who are dead to sin by profession and obligation, live any longer therein! Let the time past suffice to have wrought the will of the flesh. We are not our own, we are bought with a price; therefore we are bound to glorify God in soul, body, and spirit, which are his.

The followers of Christ well know the powerful influence of these principles, in purifying the heart through faith; in overcoming the world ; in leading them so to love Christ, as to keep his commandments ; and in rendering his service easy and honourable. Far, therefore, from your minds be the blasphemous thought, that the doctrines of faith, the gospel of Christ, salvation by grace, redemption through the blood of Jesus, and justification through his imputed righteousness, are doctrines hurtful to the best interests of morality and obedience. This is so far from being true, that if you know any thing of what the scripture reveals, you must know that it is faith which purifies the heart, by looking not at what is seen and temporal, but at what is unseen and everlasting. It is the gospel which refines the soul in all its powers; which raises the Christian above the grovelling appetites of a sensual mind; and which enforces, from the noblest motives, a ready compliance with the whole commandments of God. It is his grace bringing salvation,

which, in any age or community, has taught men to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts ; and nothing less can lead believers, with the full consent of their will, the full conviction of their understanding, and with the habitual tenor of their lives, to live soberly, righteously, and godly, in a present evil world.

To conclude this part of the subject : What we have now said respecting the hope set before us in the gospel, has been with the intention of recommending the Lord Jesus Christ, and his great salvation, to your admiration and choice ; Jesus is well entitled to the throne of your heart, by the transcendent dignity of his divine nature. The blessings he imparts are of inestimable value; and in the gospel, he offers himself, with the unsearchable riches of his purchase, to you, to all, and even to the chief of sin

ners.

Why, then, deprive yourselves of happiness when it is in your offer? Why continue poor, blind, naked, wretched, and miserable, when gold tried in the fire, and the white raiment of perfect righteousness, are provided, revealed, and offered for your salvation? Why harden your heart against that compassionate Redeemer, who stands and knocks, declaring his willingness to come in and dwell with you.

I address those stout-hearted, and far from righteousness, those who are careless sinners, together with those who have only a name to live: Why fight against the Lord and his anointed? Why counteract the merciful designs of his glorious gospel? Why live without God in the world?

Incline, therefore, your ear to the things which belong to your everlasting peace; come to the Saviour, and choose the things which please him ; then may you, without presumption, adopt the evangelical triumph of the prophet, speaking in name of the church, “ Lord, we will praise thee; for though thou wast angry

with

us,
thine

anger is turned away: Behold, God is our salvation; we will trust, and not be afraid *.'

1
Let me prevail with

you, fellow-mortals, to follow the path pointed out in our text. Flee for refuge to the hope set before