in Christ, and of the nature and value of his gift to us, when we suppose that it could ever become a debt to us by any thing we can do to deserve it, or contributing in the least towards it.-As you would be believers, rejoicing in the hope and comfort of the Gospel, never give way to this proud presumptuous thought. The Scripture requires no such thing at your hands, for you could as soon make a world; but tells you, as plainly as words can do, that it is Christ, "who of God is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption."-Consider what your condition was, and what was to be done for your recovery from it, and you will be convinced at once, that it must be as the prophet says, "his own arm brought salvation to him," not for himself; he did not need it; but to him for us. And it is a marvellous opening of his gracious heart towards us, that he would speak of what he did for our sakes, as if it had been wrought for himself. We are under a sentence of death by the sin of our first parents, as well as our own numberless actual transgressions. Can you make full satisfaction to the eternal truth and justice of God, and stay his hand from executing the punishment he has once decreed? The law he has given us, and by which we are to be judged, is a law of absolute perfection; can you fulfil it? Can we, who are by nature dead in trespasses and sins, work out such a righteousness of ourselves as will ensure our title to heaven? Our lost inheritance is to be recovered; our souls must be qualified for it, by being renewed to the image of God, and our bodies raised out of our graves to take possession of it. — Can you do this by any might or power of your own, or by any ability which God giveth, when you have done all you can, and the very best you ever will do? When you put your souls to it to answer these questions, with this rule in your hands, and Scripture knowledge in your

head, "that the Lord is a God of judgment, and will not alter the thing that is gone out of his lips," and that his law, once broken, gives you up to death, you will perceive that no after-endeavours, no will, work, or holiness of our own, can deliver us from its curse, or recover the life we have forfeited.

Behold then what you must do; understand what Christian knowledge and belief is; and the very point in which your safety lies. -- When the question is asked, Who shall revoke the sentence of death we are under, and stop the execution of our deserved punishment? the man who is instructed out of the word of God can answer, and say, Jesus. He came down from heaven on purpose that he might take our curse upon himself, and suffer the whole weight of divine vengeance in our stead; he is "the Lamb of God" that was offered in sacrifice to take away the sin of the world, and make satisfaction to justice in his own person.-When it is asked, who shall present us to God clear washed from all spot of sin, and in the white raiment of a pure and perfect righteousness? the answer of faith is, Jesus. He is the revealed righteousness of God; in him only it is to be found, and it was wrought by him, not for himself, but to the end that it might be conveyed and assured to us through him. When it is asked, who shall create our souls anew to the image of God, raise our bodies from the grave, and set us, soul and body, at God's right hand? the answer of Scripture is, Jesus; the Lord Jesus Christ; he is the quickening spirit of our souls, he was delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification; he conquered death for us, and carried our nature triumphantly into heaven; where believers are expressly said to be with him, raised together, and to have their life hid with Christ in God. All this comes and is done to our hands by Jesus. It is the might, glory, and great salvation of

the child that was born, of the Son that was given unto us; not our own act in any sense, much or little, nor to be ascribed to us, in whole or in part, any more than the dividing of the Red Sea to the Israelites. When they saw God had divided it for them, they could enter into it, pass through it as on dry land, and sing praises to him for the wonders of their deliverance; and this was all that they could do. So may we, beholding the way which God has made for us to escape, cry to Jesus in the danger of our souls, be sure of help in his strength, and praise God with all our hearts for redemption from sin, death, and hell. And why should we be so foolish as to think of doing any more? Alas! why should we lay a burden upon ourselves, which God knows we cannot bear, and therefore has in great mercy given his Son to bear it for us? Be instructed. Be wise unto salvation. If we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, we shall be saved. But then know what it is to believe in him. It is going out of ourselves to Christ, upon the call of God in his word; receiving him as a gift, and the sole Author of our salvation. This is the answer of a good conscience towards God, when we can apply Christ to it for healing. This is a blessed ease to the heart in all its distresses, and the anchor of the soul sure and steadfast, when our fears run high, and sin has raised a storm within us.— And if we had the divine skill of grounding ourselves on Christ for peace, instead of looking for it in ourselves, or in any thing that we do, we might be freed from a world of perplexities, go on our way rejoicing, and be happy all the day long in the faith and hope of the Gospel.

I know that what I am saying can signify nothing to those who never were troubled for sin, are blind to it in themselves, and in no concern about the means of their deliverance. All such will hear it with stupid indifference. But to those who know their guilt and con

demnation, it is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort; and that one saying of Christ is worth a world to a burdened soul, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”— It matters not how you came by this faith, whether all at once, or by reading and meditating on the Scripture, or by the preaching of the word, or by firmly retaining what you have been taught from your childhood. But have it you must, and hold it fast, as your hope in life and death. For you can only be Christians by knowing and believing that Christ has done for you what you could never do for yourselves, embracing him as a gift from God, just as you would an estate to which you have no 'title, or release from a sentence of death; understanding the value of it, and rejoicing in your hearts to hear these words of the Prophet, " unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given."

III. You are now to hear for whom this gift is intended. For sinners; for the miserable sons of Adam over the face of the whole earth; - for all and every one of us. So runs the proclamation from the court of heaven; "Ho! every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and he that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat, yea come, buy wine and milk without money and without price;" signifying unto us, that it is richly worth our while to buy the Gospel milk and wine, food and gladness for our souls, at any rate, and at the same time that we have nothing to buy them with, but must take them freely, as they are freely offered to us. St. Paul says, "When we were without strength, sinners, enemies, ungodly, Christ died for us." Surely, I say, this takes in all, and is good warrant for our believing, that as there is no exception in the text, none was intended.

Unto us, is

unto all; and God be thanked that the gift is as large and general as it is free and gracious.

There is no room for any to say they do not want it ; and they who swell with conceit on account of some goodness or excellence, which they think they have above others, are nevertheless abominable in the sight of God, and as much undone without it, as the meanest of those whom they despise. On the other hand, there is no room for any to think they may not have it. Let their sins be ever so many and great, Christ took them all upon himself, and God offers him to them, as their ransom, surety, and peace-maker in his blood.-To them this child was born, to them this son was given.

My brethren, these are glad tidings to you from the Lord; and would to God they might sound sweetly into all hearts! your Let me say to every one that hears me this day, "And now why tarriest thou? arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." You were baptized without your knowledge; but for the love of God, make it your own act and deed, now that you are come to years of understanding. You were baptized into Christ for the remission of sins; therefore build not your hopes of acceptance upon any outward advantages, any kind of life, or form of religion, how exact soever, if you never were inwardly stirred up by the knowledge of God and yourselves, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as a gift from him, and your only refuge from the guilt that is upon your souls. Thousands and tens of thousands are lost for ever with a fair character, because they depended upon the outward visible sign, put it in the place of Christ, and would not know a want of him, to cover their sins, and be made the righteousness of God in him.

Neither, if your life is visibly bad, and your sins