that in every age, and every nation under heaven, with the heart believe on his Son JESUS CHRIST.

The current of GoD's eternal love is now no longer obftructed by the fin of man, and his inability to fatisfy the law; for CHRIST hath appeared on our behalf, and perfected the great, the glorious undertaking of making peace between GoD and men: be bath deftroyed fin, he bath removed the curfe, be bath fulfilled all righteousness; that our GOD, who is both juft and merciful, might bew forth the riches of his grace, in his kindness towards us thro' Christ Jesus.

Let us then draw, near with a true heart, in full affurance of faith, by the blood of JESUS; let us believe that Gop is love, and will abundantly pardon: 'Tis manifeft that in righteousness he is able to do it, and that his heart is wholly fet upon it; for he fent forth his Son Jefus Chrift to be a propitiation for fin, thro' faith in his blood; to declare his righteoufnefs, that he might be just, and the juftifier of him which believeth in Jefus: Wherefore he faith, Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you reftand whosoever cometh unto me I will in no wife caft out +. -Agreeable to this glorious Gospel grace, the Prophet (lifting up) his

* Matt. xi. 28.

+ John vi. 37.

voice

voice like a trumpet) cries aloud; Ho, every one that thirfteth, come ye to the waters, and he that bath no money, come ye, buy and eat; yea come buy wine and milk, without money, and without price*.-Therefore why tarriest thou? Wherefore fo flow of heart to believe? Behold all things are ready: CHRIST bath died; the payment is made: CHRIST is rifen again; the difcharge is clear: CHRIST is at the right band of GOD; the curfe is removed, death and hell are vanquished,-The promise of life is gone forth from the lips of the GoD of truth, and shall not return void; that, WHOSOEVER believeth in Jefus fhall obtain remiffion of fins, and live for ever:-Yea, because thou art without strength, the HOLY GHOST is fent down from heaven to cause thee to believe; for Jesus is glorified.

Again I fay, look not to thyfelf, because thou art black, deftitute, and abominable; but look ftedfastly upon the marvellous grace and truth of GoD in CHRIST JESUS.-Hear the Prophet's voice; hear the words of GOD to his people: Arife, fhine, for thy light is come.

Beware of faying in thine heart I have not yet been enough terrified, and diftreffed in my conscience because of fin, therefore I will not believe; for those previous terrors the Gofpel no where requires;

Ifa. lv. 1, 2.

quires; because they are rather a hinderance than a help to our believing in CHRIST: For faith cometh not by bearing, or feeling the curfe of the law; but by bearing the Gospel of the grace of God +. For if the ftrength of fin is the law, and the law worketh wrath, as the Scripture witnesseth; the more we feel of its curfe and terror in the confcience, (without having hope in CHRIST) the more we fhall hate GOD, and rebel against him.- -Ifrael of old, when they had heard and felt the wrath of the moral law from mount Sinai, rebelled ftill more: for they made a calf, even in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image. -When Peter's hearers were pricked in their hearts, he immediately fuccours and relieves them by the Gofpel; declaring to them forgiveness of fins, thro' faith in that JESUS whom they had crucified. -When David alfo (after believing) had greatly finned, he no fooner made confeffion of it but the Prophet affures him that the Lord had put away bis fin; tho' 'tis plain that he afterwards mourned greatly, and was feverely chaftened for it.

Know therefore that the Scripture lays no stress. on any man's forrow or joy, terror or triumph; but on that faith which trufteth alone on the Lord JESUS CHRIST, glorifying GOD for his mercy.Behold

+ Rom. x. 17. t2 Sam. xii. 13.

-Gal. iii. 2.

2 Cor. iii. 6.

Behold therefore, now is the accepted time, now is the day of falvation..

If, Reader, thou art a believer, but weak in faith? Then, follow on to know the Lord, until he give thy foul to know and believe affuredly, thine intereft in Christ, and that thou art paffed from death unto lifet For he faith, Then shall ye know, if ye follow on to know the Lord. The certain knowledge of the love of CHRIST to thy foul, and that thou thyself believeft with the faith of God's elect; is not from faith itself, but from the Spirit, thro' faith: Wait then on the LORD continually for this unclouded earnest, and witness of the Spirit in thine heart: but make not precipitate hafte, nor impatiently murmur at his delay; for he hath faid, they fball not be ashamed that wait for met: And again, they that wait on the Lord fhall renew their strength.

-Thou already believeft God's word, that in CHRIST he is a reconciled GOD; and that whofoever believeth on him fhall not be afhamed: And who but the Spirit of GOD only could enable thee thus to understand, and believe the Gofpel, more than others?-If ftill thy doubting foul replies, but I do not believe in CHRIST; tell me then what it is thou believest in? Art thou perfuaded that thy owen righteousness can fave thee? or that an arm of дель

* Hof. vi, 3.

S

+ Ifa. xxx. 18.

flesh muft bring falvation unto thee? If this then be not thy cafe; but, on the contrary, thou haft feen and believed that there is falvation in CHRIST for perifhing finners, and in no other; what can thy oul truft in but CHRIST, and him crucified?

Is thy whole heart alfo towards him; and art thou not stumbled at any thing in him? Behold for thine encouragement he faith, Blessed is he whofoever shall not be offended in me*. -Moreover, how could't thou have come to CHRIST, or feen his free and great falvation for loft finners, if God had not drawn thee, and opened thine eyes to behold it: For no man, faith he, can come unto me, except the Father which bath fent me draw him.

Is it poffible that thou fhould'ft feek after the love of CHRIST, to experience it in thine heart with power, and defire him to fave thee from fin and wrath, without loving him, and his falvation?-It cannot be.- -Therefore, with my foul, faith the Prophet, have I defired thee in the night; yea with my spirit within me will I feek thee early. -None but righteous perfons can hunger and thirst after righteousness, and they, faith the Son of GOD, fhall be filled: Only then tarry the LORD's leifure; wait on him, and he fhall ftrengthen your hearts, all ye that hope in the LORD.

It

* Matt. xi. 6.