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of it, to amuse a critical head? or would you know it, merely to settle you in just notions, and orthodox opinions? Alas! I should but lose my labour upon

you. You may hear, you may know, but you cannot understand nor perceive. How should you? You know not, at least you feel not, that you are a sinner; you are whole, you do not need a physician; you neither can nor will come to Christ, that you may be saved. But would you know what it is to come to Christ, because whatever it be, and whatever it may cost you, you are ready to do it? Be assured that you "are not far from the kingdom of God." It will be a pleasing employment to me, to show you that faith in the Son of God, which it is my present concern to illustrate.

This was the fourth and concluding point. Here,

First, You are undone in yourself; a sinner, and dishonourer of God, liable to his wrath, which you have no power to avert, fallen from the purity of man's primitive nature, which you have no strength in you to recover. If left to yourself, you must abide under the dominion of your lusts, and at last perish in deserved vengeance. This charge I suppose you to allow.

you."

Secondly, Christ" is able and willing to save You have heard of the inexpressible dignity of his person, "God manifested in the flesh." His victorious satisfying, and reconciling obedience unto death, hath been set forth. You have been shown,

that he is able to save them to the uttermost that

come unto God by him," amply and eternally he is able to save you. At the same time, his willing

ness hath been evidently set before you. I suppose, therefore, you are also fully assured, that he hath an all-sufficient ability and willingness to apply his salvation to you. Seeing then you are undone in yourself, and seeing you are assured he is able and willing to save you; I ask,

Thirdly, Have you found yourself determined to rest your soul upon him?

Are you resolved to venture all your eternal interests with him? And quitting all other confidences, doth your soul hang upon him for all your hopes? We shall be more particular immediately. For the present, hear how the Scriptures describe this committing of the soul unto Christ, from a full persuasion of his power, as saving faith in him, and as the means of your acceptance with God. "We say," saith St. Paul," that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness." What faith? His steadfast dependence upon the promises of God: "He was fully persuaded, that what God had promised, he was able to perform." He had the word of promise, "So shall thy seed be;" and he could trust God for the fulfilling it. It was to no purpose, that all human appearances were against him ; "he considered not (did not make any account of) his own body now dead, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb." These were no difficulties with God, and in despite of them all, "against hope he believed in hope, that (nevertheless) he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken." Do you walk in the steps of this faith of your father Abraham ?" Are you fully persuaded, that what Christ hath undertaken (the

complete salvation of sinners) he is able also to perform? Whatever difficulties lie in the way, in life and death, are you fully persuaded that he is able and faithful? And are you determined to depend and rest your soul upon him? Yours is that very "faith, which was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness." By this faith, Abraham gave glory to God, ascribing to him what is his real due, power, faithfulness, and mercy. Nor can you any other way honour the Son, but by an entire dependence upon him, wherein you give him that of which he is jealous, and which is his just and proper right, the glory of being the alone, all-sufficient, and faithful Redeemer. But,

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Fourthly, That you may not be mistaken, let us be more particular.

1. With an evident sense of your guilt, misery, and being without help in yourself, do you come to Christ that he may reconcile the Father to you, resolvedly determined to leave yourself with him for this purpose? Seeing an all-sufficient merit in his death and righteousness, would you that he should apply it to you, for God's forgiving you your sin, and taking you into his favour? And do And do you disclaim all other hope and confidence of obtaining pardon and peace with God, besides what the merit of Christ's atonement and righteousness gives you, being assured that if you fail of obtaining a part in this, you perish? Do you thus flee to Christ for refuge from the stings of a guilty conscience, the sight of your own vileness, and the apprehension of deserved wrath? So far it is well. "No flesh

must glory in God's sight. He that glorieth, must glory in the Lord;" whose " blood cleanseth from all sin," and who will be known by this name, "The Lord our righteousness." But,

2. Is this your application to the Lord Jesus for reconciliation with God, accompanied with an equally urgent desire, and which you cannot endure you should not see fulfilled to you, that he will rescue you from the slavery of sin and Satan, that he will put a new heart into you, and restore the image of the blessed God to your soul? In other words, do you approve of Christ as a master and husband, as well as a Saviour, desiring to be his with all the faithfulness of a servant, with all the affectionate loyalty of a spouse? Hath the majesty, the loveliness, the condescension of this Redcemer, engaged your heart to him, so as you find yourself ready and desirous to leave your father's house, to be subject to his directions, to be under his protection, to cleave steadfastly to him, and every way to own and honour him, whatever you may lose, whatever you may suffer? Can you appeal to your own breast, and doth that declare, that in this manner, without any reserve, you desire to be the follower of Christ, valuing him because of that freedom he offers you from sin, because of that power he would give you of becoming the servant, as well as the child of God? If having

"found this pearl of great price," you are thus willing to "sell all that you have to buy it," if you are content and desirous to take Christ's yoke on you, I ask,

3. Are your prejudices against Christ and his

word removed, so that you come to him as "the light of the world," willing that he may teach you "all things that pertain unto life and godliness? Are you resolved, that in all things his word shall be your rule, that you will not hearken to any reasonings of your unbelieving heart, to the pleadings of your own flesh, to the customs of a wicked world, against it? and are you desirous that the Holy Spirit may lead you into all the truths which are therein? Are you ready to acknowledge Jesus to be the great prophet that should come into the world," by meekly submitting yourself to the teaching of his word and Spirit? Like the convicted Saul, is your heart prepared for action, and waiting for direction, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?"

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But

Judge you, that in this way you come to Christ, to be justified, governed, and taught by him? are you sincere in all this? "Show me thy faith by thy works," saith St. James. Therefore,

4. To prove your sincerity, to try the truth of your faith, what effect hath it upon you? If it be true faith, you are become a living member of Christ's body; if you come to Christ with a real sincerity in the things described, he is faithful; and it will appear, that he dwelleth in you by the Spirit which he gives you; producing such immediate fruits in your heart and life, as you must own (if you lieve the Scriptures, or are acquainted with your own inability) are altogether above your power.

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It is my purpose to give you a large account of this matter hereafter. Wherefore, for the present, I shall be content only to say so much in a general

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