the actual pardon and complete] ship, confidence, and obedience; justification of every true believer; that happiness consists in his fa the gift of the Holy Spirit to renew vour, that his image is beauty and and sanctify our souls; the exceed- excellency, and his service perfect ing great and precious promises, pri- freedom. vileges, and engagements of the new The views which the gospel of covenant; and the present comfort Christ gives us of the holy law of and future inheritance of the Lord's God, as worthy to be honoured, adopted children, might be parti- both in its requirements and sanccularly insisted on, in discussing tions, by the obedience and atoning the subject. These are in all res-sacrifice of Him, whom all angels pects good news, glad tidings, most worship, is suited to impress our needful for us, suited to our case, suf- minds with the deepest sense of ficient for our happiness, springing its excellency and authority. The from love unspeakable, and termi- clear revelation of an eternal state nating in the everlasting salvation of righteous retributions, and of and glory of all, who obtain an inte- the unmingled happiness or misery rest in them. This is the gospel of which succeeds this present life, is Christ; the most rejoicing report sufficient, when truly believed, to that ever reached the ears of mortal swallow up all our anxiety about man! Little indeed has been said this vanishing scene; and to make on such a subject; yet that little the eager pursuits of worldly men may serve to introduce an attempt, appear as frivolous as the sports of children, or as infatuated as the II. To show, that this gospel, intoxicated mirth of condemned when rightly understood and truly criminals. believed, will produce a corres- The gospel of Christ shows us pondent conduct and conversation. also the evil of sin in the most

This will appear, if we consider affecting light. "We know that the information which it affords us, the judgment of God is according on the most interesting subjects con- to truth:" and here we especially nected with our judgment and prac- learn his judgment on this disputed tice, "That God, who commanded subject. The language of the gosthe light to shine out of darkness, pel is that of infinite and everlasting hath shined into our hearts, to give love and mercy; it declares sin to us the light of the knowledge of his be so enormous and malignant an glory in the face of Jesus Christ." evil, that rather than leave it unThe discoveries made to us in the punished," God spared not his own gospel, concerning the mysteries of Son but delivered him up for us all." the Godhead, and the harmonious How can an enlightened believer perfections of the divine character, look to the cross, without mourning are suited to excite our highest ad- for his sins, abhorring them as the miration, adoration, and love; and murderers of Christ his Lord, and to make us exclaim, "How great earnestly longing for the destrucis his goodness! how great is his tion of every evil propensity in his beauty!" This directly influences heart and nature? our judgment and affections, which Various other subjects might be are as the regulator and main-spring mentioned, but they frequently call of all our words and actions: and for our attention. The worth of an hence we must perceive, that God immortal soul, the ruined state of is worthy of all possible love, wor-mankind, the vanity of worldly

prosperity, and many similar in-soul and body in hell."-When the structions, emphatically conveyed gospel is really understood and beto us by the gospel of Christ, are lieved, we "fear, lest a promise exactly suited to form the believer being left us of entering into heato a holy and heavenly temper and venly rest, any of us should seem conversation. to come short of it;" and this apThe knowledge of our duty, and prehension prevails over our dread of the divine authority by which it of labour, reproach, scorn, self-deis enjoined us, is not sufficient for nial, or persecution: yea, the fear practical purposes, in the present of divine chastening, of grieving the state of human nature: our affec- Spirit, of a wounded conscience, tions must also be influenced by or of dishonouring the doctrine of such powerful motives, as may pre-Christ, is a powerful motive to ponderate against all that can be watchfulness and prayer. The decast into the opposite scale.-But sire of everlasting felicity in the proximity gives earthly things an favour of God, and of the present immense advantage. As objects ap- consolations found in communion pear large when near, but seem to with him, subordinate our hungerdiminish when removed to a dis- ings and thirstings after earthly tance; so present things are con- objects. A kingdom that cannot sidered as important beyond all be moved; glory, honour, and improportion; while things future, mortality; treasures in heaven that though immensely more valuable, fail not, and pleasures at God's right are thought to be of little conse- hand for evermore, are blessings quence, and scarcely possess any commensurate with our largest influence over the minds of men in wishes and capacities, and durable general. But faith, like a telescope, as our immortal souls; and the brings objects invisible to unbe-lively hope of this incorruptible in- ́ lievers near to the soul; and ena-heritance, grounded on the sure bles us to contemplate, as real and word of God, and sealed by his of infinite magnitude, those things sanctifying Spirit, is capable of which other men consider as doubt- triumphing over all our expectaful, remote, and uninteresting: while tion of temporal advantages, disthe Holy Spirit, producing in us a tinctions, and gratifications; and of new and heavenly nature, makes us animating the soul to patient concapable of perceiving the glory, and tinuance in well-doing. Love to our relishing the excellency of spiri- God and Saviour, likewise, unites tual blessings. Thus they obtain its powerful influences and while the ascendancy in our judgment we cleave to him with fervent deand choice, we become spiritually sires, rejoice in him with admiring minded, and savour the things gratitude, and are fervently zealous which are of God; bonds which for the honour of his name; we fastened our hearts to earthly ob- shall feel constrained by his sujects are broken ;. the balance turns preme affection " to live no longer the other way; and we set our to ourselves, but to him who died "affections on things above, not on for us and rose again." Thus we things on the earth." shall be prepared to venture, suffer, Fear not," says our Lord to and labour, in seeking to glorify his his disciples," fear not them that name and recommend his precious kill the body, and after that have salvation.

no more that they can do: but fear The encouragements of the goshim who is able to destroy both pel also are very efficacious. The

sinner who attempts to amend his it. Delays and difficulties may inlife, according to the word of God, tervene to prove our sincerity; but is very liable to grow weary in his sooner shall heaven and earth pass attempts. The law seems to say to away, than any word of God shall him, "Pay me that thou owest;" and fail of its accomplishment.

he feels as if he were further and The assistance likewise, proposed further removed from the righteous- by the gospel, tends to produce a ness he went about to establish, and peculiar conduct and conversation that victory over his passions which in the true believer. Evil habits, corhé expected speedily to accomplish. rupt propensities, bad connexions, On the other hand, if he make the and strong temptations, are not principles of morality, or some miti- easily broken off and mastered ; gated law his standard, he is at a and our resolution is found by exloss to determine how much obedi-perience to be unequal to the conence will entitle him to acceptance, flict: but the promised assistance and uncertainty tends to discourage- of the Holy Spirit enables the ment. For the diligent and consci- Christian to surmount every obstaentious are in this case always cle, and to resist and overcome all harassed with doubts; and none his enemies. He feels he can do but the heedless and self-confident nothing of himself; but he finds, think themselves good enough to be" that he can do all things through the objects of the divine favour. Christ who strengtheneth him.".

But the gospel of Christ invites Thus by "waiting on the Lord he all that are athirst to come to him, renews his strength," and rises suand he will give them of the foun-perior to those difficulties, which tain of the water of life freely: and all other men find in the event to assures the trembling sinner, that be insurmountable.

him, who cometh to the Saviour, The assurances made of an abunhe will in no wise cast out." It runs dant present and future recompense, in this gracious tenor, "Ask, and it to those who renounce temporal shall be given you; seek, and ye things for the sake of Christ and shall find, knock, and it shall be the gospel; the supports afforded opened unto you: for every one in seasons of trial and affliction; that asketh receiveth." As there- the authoritative and perfect exforé every blessing is freely given, ample set before us; the obligafor Christ's sake, to the poor sup- tions conferred upon us, and the plicant however unworthy; nothing glorious prospects that open to our but pride, unbelief, contempt of view, are all of them exceedingly heavenly things, aversion to God influential on the believer's spirit and religion, or idolatrous love of and conduct. But we must prothe world, can exclude any sinner ceed, from this great salvation. Every part of the plan is free from am- III. To mention some leading biguity: our wants are distinctly particulars, in which "a conversastated; promises are given exactly tion becoming the gospel of Christ," answering to them; means are ap-more especially consists.

pointed, in which we may apply Every doctrine of the gospel refor the performance of these pro- quires, and is suited to produce mises; and God pledges the honour humility in all its variety of exerof his faithfulness, that every one cises. The whole seems arranged who seeks the blessing in the ap-on purpose to lay us low in selfpointed way, shall certainly obtain abasement, to exclude all boasting

and glorying in ourselves, to pro- ple. But too often he may rebuke duce deep repentance, to render us us and say, "Why are ye so fearful, poor in spirit and contrite in heart, O ye of little faith?"-We act also and to form our dispositions teach- consistently with our principles, able, lowly, unambitious, and unas- when we take pleasure in attending suming. When therefore we speak on the ordinances of God; when and act in this manner, our conver- we count the holy day of rest sation is consistent with our princi- honourable and delightful; when ples, and becomes our profession: we are glad to have it said to us, but self-confidence, self-importance," Let us go unto the house of the vain-glorious vaunting, desire of Lord:" and when we prefer his praise or preeminence, and an un-courts, and the communion of the teachable, dogmatizing, or over-saints, above all other places of bearing deportment, are more un- resort, and every other kind of sobecoming and odious in an evange-ciety. It becomes the professors of lical professor, than in any other the gospel, to abound in praises person. and thanksgivings; to reverence

From this deep humility, pa- the name and the word of God; to tience, contentment, and thankful-worship him in their families with ness must proportionably arise. "It evident alacrity and punctuality; is of the Lord's mercies we are not to seek his blessing on every unconsumed:" our sufferings are less dertaking; to praise him for every than our iniquities; our mercies are deliverance and benefit; to act hainvaluable and unmerited: our situ-bitually as in his presence; to deation is appointed by God our Sa- vote themselves to his service; and viour, in perfect wisdom, truth, and to seek all their happiness from love our light afflictions are coun- him. But whatever is contrary to terbalanced by divine consolations; this is unbecoming the gospel, and and they "work for us a far more dishonourable to our profession. exceeding and eternal weight of Even worldly men, while they glory." So that it becomes us to charge our doctrines with a licenbe resigned, satisfied, and thankful tious tendency, expect more from in every circumstance; and repin- us in our conduct towards them, ing, fretfulness, and discontent are than they do from each other. This entirely inconsistent with evangeli- is evidently the case: for a single cal principles. instance of immorality, in one that Confidence in God likewise pecu- professes the gospel, excites geneliarly becometh the gospel of Christ. ral attention, and becomes a topic "The Lord is our Light, and our of discourse; while the numberless Salvation whom then shall we crimes of other men are very slightfear?" "If God be for us, who can ly noticed. This should remind us, be against us?" To be calm and that strict integrity, veracity, sincollected in perilous situations; to cerity, and punctuality to our enrecognise the hand of God in the gagements, become our profession; alarming events of life, and hence and that both the world and the to assume courage and cheerful ex- church will charge us with inconpectation; to rely on his providen- sistency, if we at all deviate from tial care amidst temporal losses and this direct uprightness of conduct difficulties; and in every case to and conversation. An inoffensive say, "It is the Lord, let him do deportment is likewise necessary, if what seemeth him good;" becomes we would walk "worthy of God," the character of his redeemed peo-land as it becometh saints."

We

must no more injure a man, wan-" we beseech you," brethren, " tó tonly or heedlessly, than from sel- abound more and more." fishness we must not wound any We should also exercise meekperson's character, interrupt his ness, forgiveness of injuries, and domestic comfort, or needlessly dis- unwearied perseverance in endeaquiet his mind. We should care-vouring to overcome evil with good ; fully avoid exciting men's passions, for these things peculiarly become provoking them to anger, or tempt-those, who own themselves so deeping them to envy, ambition, or dis-ly indebted to the pardoning mercy content. We should" study to be and abundant grace of God our Saquiet and mind our own business," viour. An exact attention to every without intermeddling with other relative duty; a condescending, afmen's matters; and to be peace-fable, and modest demeanour, “in able, orderly, and industrious neigh-honour preferring one another;" a bours, and members of the com- constant endeavour to "keep the munity. We ought so to avoid evil, unity of the Spirit in the bond of and the appearance of evil, that peace;" to promote brotherly love; none may have any thing to say and to concur in every design, for against us, except it be for our reli- advancing the purity and enlargegious peculiarities. ment of the church, and the beneGeneral benevolence also becomes fit of mankind, are evidently and the gospel of rich grace and mercy. eminently becoming the gospel of Every man almost, may at some Christ.

times, by retrenching superfluities, To these we should add, habits do a little to show his compassion of strict sobriety and temperance: and good-will to his afflicted neigh- moderation and regard to expedibours. From those to whom much ency in the use of things lawful, is given much shall be required. and in worldly pursuit; and indifThere are likewise various other ference about external decoration; methods, by which a friendly dis- and entire disregard to those frivolposition may be manifested; and ous amusements, in which numbers this is peculiarly ornamental to the waste their time and substance; a gospel. The more entirely we re-disinterested conduct, remote from nounce all dependence on our good all suspicion of covetousness; a works, the greater alacrity and zeal strict government of the passions; we should manifest in performing and a tongue bridled and refrained them and this will be our dispo- from vain and improper discourse, sition, if, indeed "we know the but prepared to speak such things grace of our Lord Jesus Christ," as are edifying and useful. These and understand our obligations to are evidently parts of that converhim, who "loved us, and washed sation which becometh the gospel us from our sins in his own blood." of Christ; and reflection may enable Indeed, even in this lukewarm age, every one to add to this specimen the excellency of the gospel does many others of a similar nature. appear in this respect; for the libe- We proceed therefore, rality of those, who profess to rely on the mercy of God in Christ IV. To make some observations Jesus, is vastly greater, in propor- on the emphatical word "Only." tion to their circumstances, than Some persons think, that the that of such persons, as expect to apostle meant in this manner to atone for their sins, and to purchase intimate the reasonableness of his heaven, by their good works. But exhortations; and no doubt we have