Cafe; yea, bleffed are the People that have the Lord for their Gon! Such Honor have all his Saints"!

I think it appears that the Gift of Jefus Chrift to our World was a moft wonderful Display of the Love of God. In the Works of Creation we trace his eternal Power, Wifdom, and Godhead. But in the Scheme of Redemption, Love and Mercy brightest shine. In this above all other Things was manifefted the Love of GOD towards us, because that he fent his only-begotten Son into the World, that we might live through him". Jefus has obeyed the Law; Jefus has endured the Pe nalty: "He has brought in an everlasting Righteousness, and made Atonement for Iniquity, Tranfgreffion and Sin", and every one that believeth in him fhall be faved with an everlasting Salvation. "Go ye, fays Chrift to his Difciples, into all the World, and preach the Gofpel to every Creature: He that beliveth, and is baptized, fhall be faved: He that believeth not fhall be damned”.

But here, my Brethren, it becomes us to be exceeding

exceedingly cautious left we be deceived. We are born of Parents, who call themfelves Chriftians; and being baptized in Infancy, we take it for granted that we are already Believers, and in a state of Salvation, without confidering whether we have all thofe Qualifications, which the Scripture makes abfolutely neceffary to a State of Favor and Acceptance with God. 'Tis evident from the above Declaration of our Lord's, that Faith and Salvation are infeparably united. "He that believeth fhall be faved". But then what is this Faith? We have faid before, It is not an empty Notion fwimming in the Head, that there once lived fuch a Perfon as Jefus Chrift. Nor is it a mere Conviction in the Understanding, founded upon proper Evidence, that he is the alone Saviour of Men. Neither a full Perfuafion that he will fave me in particular: None of thefe will do. They are all confiftent with a prevailing State of Rebellion against God. But in what Breast foever that Faith, which accompanies Salvation, dwells, there is, First, A Conviction, an abiding Con

viction in the Mind, that we are loft, and in Want of a Saviour: Secondly, That Jefus Chrift is the Perfon ordained of GOD for this Purpose: Thirdly, "That he is able and willing to fave to the uttermoft all those who come unto God by him": And Fourthly, An actual Surrender of ourselves into his Hands, to be faved by his Merits, and ruled by his Laws.

To be faved by his Merits we all expect: Few are so involved in Sin and carnal Security as not to fee their own Guilt and Unworthinefs. But at the fame Time that we profefs an Affiance upon the Merits of the Redeemer, are we ruled, guided, and governed by his Laws? I am much afraid this is not the Cafe. I am much afraid there are many, very many, in so large a Congregation, who are living Day by Day in Difobedience. Let me appeal however to the Bible and your own Judg

ments.

*

It is true, that Jefus Chrift has reconciled by his Death the feemingly jaring Attributes

of Juftice and Mercy. It is true alfo, "that

he has brought in everlasting Righteousness, and made Atonement for Iniquity, Tranfgreffion, and Sin". It is equally true, "that whofoever believeth in him fhall not perish, but have everlasting Life". But notwithstanding all this, we are affured by him that cannot lie, that "except a Man be born of Water, and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God". And that we may not mistake what is meant by being born again, the Apostle John defcribes the Nature of that inward Change, by its outward Effects: "Whosoever is born of God, doth not commit Sin; for his Seed remaineth in him; and he cannot fin, because he is born of GOD".

Not lefs poffitive is St. Paul. "If ye live after the Flefh ye fhall die; but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the Deeds of the Body, ye fhall live. Now the Works of the Flesh, which, at the Peril of our Salvation, we are commanded to mortify, are thefe; Adultery, Fornication, Uncleannefs, Lafcivioufnefs, Idolatry, Witchcraft, Hatred, Variance, Emulations, Wrath, Strife, Seditions, Herefies, En

vyings, Murders, Drunkenness, Revellings,

and fuch like ".

If then all that believe fhall certainly be faved; and if fuch Chriftians as are guilty of thefe Things shall not be faved; it is an incontrovertable Conclufion, that they are not Believers, in the Scriptural and faving Sense of the Word, whatever they may pretend.

Come then, my dear Fellow-Chriftians, come and let us turn unto the Lord with all our Hearts. No longer walk in the Way of Sin and Death, but turn you here and live. Renounce your Sins; renounce Self-Righte-. oufnefs, and come and buy Wine and Milk,, even all the Bleffings of Grace and Glory, without Money and without Price. Think not of fharing the Honor of Salvation with the Redeemer, The Bleffing b yours; the Glory be his.

"Brethren, fays St. Paul to the Jews, my Hearts Defire and Prayer to God for Ifrael, is, that they might be faved. For I bare them record that they have a Zeal of God, but not according to Knowledge. For they being igno

rant