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Thus a method of cure is prescribed for the soul. The cure itself is "of the Lord :" his name is Jehovah Rophi, the Lord that healeth; and "He that is our God is the God of salvation." The method or way of cure is laid down in the Gospel it is drawn out in language the most plain; it is distinguished eminently by its simplicity; it is at once easy, safe, and effectual. You that are acquainted with the New Testament have frequently found such declarations as these:-" This is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son"-" Herein is love; not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins"-" The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin"-" Through this man," Immanuel, "is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins; and by him all that believe are justified from all things"-" If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"-" Repent, and believe the Gospel"-" He that believeth shall be saved"-" Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." These passages present you with the essence, the radical principles, of evangelical truth. And the method of salvation which they unfold cannot be too highly extolled it attracts the admiration of angels, and fills the song of eternity. In regard to man, who is immediately concerned, it is as safe as it is easy, and as effectual as it is safe. "Come unto me," says the compassionate Saviour, "all you that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." And again; "Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out." It is a plan of recovery every way worthy of God; adequate to the deepest disease of the sinner, suited to the largest

capacity of the mind; and rejected only by those who are blind to their own interest, careless about their own happiness, or stupidly indifferent to their own destruction.

3. When men feel the inconvenience of sin, they naturally desire relief.-By the inconvenience of sin, is meant that uneasiness of mind which is sometimes felt under partial convictions and experience of the present consequences of transgression, while the heart is yet unhumbled and unrenewed by Divine grace. Such were the feelings of Herod, from the miracles and preaching of John; and of Felix, from the powerful and penetrating oratory of Paul. The case before us illustrates the idea. Naaman was not only a leper, but he knew it: he was conscious of his disease, and was extremely anxious for its removal: hence he submitted to apply to a despised prophet of Israel, and that at the hint of a captive slave; hence also his servants reminded him of his readiness to do any thing, however "great," in order to gain a cure. It is evident he anxiously sought relief. In like manner, sin, when it rests on the conscience, is a burthen of no common kind. felt this burthen when he said, "My punishment is greater than I can bear*." it is read in the margin, than may be forgiven." He sought relief, but where did he seek it? He "went out from the presence of the Lord," and began to build cities! Judas felt this burthen, when he confessed "I have sinned, in that I have betrayed innocent blood t." He likewise sought relief, but it was in the dreadful expedient of self-murder. Many things are calculated to bring

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Probably he meant, as "Mine iniquity is greater

+ Matt. xxvii. 4.

sin to remembrance and to create uneasy convictions; among these are awakening sermons, afflictive providences, and sudden deaths. When the conscience is disturbed with a sense of guilt and fear of wrath, a desire of ease naturally excites a wish to get rid of such convictions; self-love greatly promotes this desire of ease; and thus a variety of expedients are tried, with restless importunity, while the "one thing needful" is disregarded, the only effectual remedy remains neglected.-Hence observe,

4. Men do not approve of God's way of salvation, and have no heart to comply with it.-Consider the case of this Syrian leper. He totally disapproved of what the Lord, by the prophet, recommended to him. He fell into a violent rage, and was resolved to perish in his disease rather than submit to be cured in the prescribed way. And what was the reason? You may trace it to the pride and prejudice of his heart. He was ready to encounter formidable difficulties, and to spare no expense, provided the mode of cure pleased him. The simplicity of what the prophet recommended, and its opposition to his preconceived notions, were particularly offensive to him.

See the application of this to the things of salvation: how exactly it agrees with the working of the human heart in regard to the Gospel of the grace of God! "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good," and what is required of thee; but who is disposed to comply? The way of salvation, "by grace through faith," appears to many futile and inadequate. The method of a sinner's acceptance, through the blood of Christ, and of sanctification by the Spirit of Christ, does not humour self, or gratify its importance. We are naturally self-suffi

cient; fond of our own devices, and our own doings; a thousand prejudices lurk in the breast, and are cherished by a vain, unhumbled heart; and while this is the case, the way of salvation, held forth in the Gospel, is not preferred; the very proposal of cleansing in the fountain of a Saviour's blood shocks and affronts the sons of pride. Any thing is submitted to rather than the self-abasing doctrine of the Cross; and hence laborious pilgrimages, degrading mortifications, and the endless train of popish austerities and absurdities, which have pleased unspeakably better than the simple exercise of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Men will torture their bodies, they will part with their substance, and even lay down their lives, in order to purchase salvation, rather than accept it as the free gift of God through a crucified Redeemer. The reason is, the notion of merit feeds the importance of man, and gratifies the pride of his heart.

5. While the conquest of the heart is the Lord's work, persuasion is to be used; and unlikely means are frequently employed to this end.-Who would have thought, had they seen Naaman, in all the rage of passion, turning away from the prophet's door, that he would have yielded to the remonstrance of his servants? Yet this was the case. "He went down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God." His heart, no doubt, was influenced from above; yet it is equally plain, that the respectful persuasion and entreaties of his servants were the means of his compliance. In like manner, if your hearts are humbled, if your prejudices are subdued, and you are seeking salvation according to the method of the Gospel, it must be "the Lord's doing;" you are made

willing in the day of his power, and by the invincible energy of his Spirit: yet means are not excluded; they are clearly appointed, and are diligently to be observed; and the more inadequate the means are in themselves, the more is God glorified in the use and success of them.

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What, then, think you of being saved by Jesus Christ; of renouncing your own wisdom, your own righteousness, your own pre-conceived notions of the way to Heaven? You are conscious of transgression; sin renders you unhappy, and it is natural for you to seek relief. Why not seek it in the Lord's way? Had he enjoined you some great thing," and said, "Do this, and thou shalt live," would you not have done it? Yes, we are pleased with our own doing, we love to be making efforts of our own devising, and to have something whereof we ourselves may glory. But why should it be thus? Do you feel the burthen of guilt, and long to escape impending wrath, and desire eternal salvation? See that you desire it as the Gospel directs. Imagine not that you deserve it by any duties which you can discharge, or any sufferings which you can endure accept the blessing freely-believe, and be saved; repent, and be pardoned; "wash, and be clean."

"Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men." Thus said the Apostle, in the clear contemplation of a day of final retribution; for we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." The terror of the Lord is displayed in the threatenings of his word, in the judg-·

* 2 Cor. v. 10, 11.

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