3. Give him the praise from whom we received it. It is from above; thither therefore our cheerful and grateful acknowledgments should ascend. Rivers will rise to the height whence they flow so minds that came from God will return to him— return in lively expressions of joy and gratitude for his free and distinguishing goodness. It is not your temper, Christians, to sacrifice to your own net, or to offer incense to your own drag a. No. While you trace the hand of God in his dealings with you, admiration and wonder fire your breasts, praise and thanks giving employ your tongues. "Who is it that hath made me to differ? What have I that is good which I did not receive? By the grace of God I am what I am.” Such is your language. You had not wherewith to purchase this blessing; you could not possess yourselves of it. O then never think you can praise God enough, for bestowing on you a gift so inestimable, and for inclining your perverse hearts to receive it; for opening your eyes to see your need of it, and for subduing your stubborn prejudices which would have prevented your accepting it. Praise surely is comely for the righteous! In one word,

4. If this wisdom is from above, then let me intreat those who are struck with its excellence and importance, and are convinced of their absolute need of it, to look for it from thence, and thence alone. A due conviction, Sirs, of your impotence and weakness will not induce despondency, nor will it cut the sinews of labour and industry. On the contrary, it will rather awaken your most serious regards to the gracious promise of the Holy Spirit, and excite your most diligent attention to the means of religion. O then! sensible of your deep poverty and misery, prostrate yourselves at the feet of the blessed God, and fear not to implore this inestimable gift at his hand, since he delights in nothing so much as gratifying the request of the poor and needy. Nay, you may consider it as an happy omen of his favour, that your hearts are disposed to seek it. Be earnest with him for the blessing. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you b.'' Labour for the meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you c.'- Work out your own

a Hab. i. 16.
e John vi. 27.

Matt. vii. 7.

salvation with fear and trembling: for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure a.'

DISCOURSE X.

CHRIST THE GRAND MEDIUM OF RELIGION. EPH. 11. 10.- -Created in Christ Jesus.

WHOEVER gives himself leave to reflect soberly on the pre

sent state of mankind, must, I think, acknowledge the indispensable necessity of the renovation of the heart, in order to the enjoyment of God. This is the great business of religion, and how it is effected hath been at large shewn in the preceding discourse. My present design is to consider more particularly than we have yet done, the concern which our Lord Jesus Christ hath in this great affair. We are created in him.

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The scope of the apostle in this chapter is to shew us, that our` salvation, by which he here means that part of it chiefly which respects our regeneration, is of grace. "God who is rich in mercy,' says he, for the great love wherewith he hath loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ b.' And, having farther expressly declared, that we are saved by grace through faith,' he adds, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast; for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained, that we should walk in them.' Regeneration being the effect of divine energy and grace, it is most reasonable that God should have the glory of it. And good works being the end proposed by our regeneration, it is highly incongruous to consider them as the cause or motive, inducing the blessed God to save us; for if this were the case, there would be room for boasting, whereas now all boasting is excluded.

In the text then we have religion itself described-it is a Building and a Creation; and the interest which our Lord Jesus Christ hath therein-we are created in him.

As to the nature of internal or personal religion, that not being the object of this discourse, it may suffice to observe, that the animated description here given of it, tends to confirm what hath been already said, both of its excellence and importance, and of the divine influence exerted in its production. It is a building framed by exquisite skill, and reared by almighty power; and when the top-stone is brought forth, the happy spirits above will shout with one voice, Grace, Grace, unto it. It is also a creation-a new creation. God speaks the word, and behold light and order spring out of the dark and unformed chaos of the ignorant and depraved heart. So that of every one who is called by his name he says, 'I have created him for my glory, I have formed him, yea I have made him a.'

But our object at present is the interest which our Lord Jesus Christ hath in this great affair. We are created in him. To much the same purpose the apostle speaks, when he tells us of Christ being in us the hope of glory b;' and of his being formed in us c;' and of the new man being 'renewed in knowledge, after the image of him that created him d.' Now the sense is plainly this, that the religion of the heart, with all its powers and pleasures, some way or other, owes its original existence, and its continued support to our Lord Jesus Christ. In regard of this new kingdom, which God hath set up in the world, and in the hearts of men, Christ is all in all e.

I. This divine blessing is obtained for us through his mediation.

II. It is communicated to us by the influence of his Spirit. III. It is produced, nourished, and improved, by the faith of his gospel. And,

IV. It is in its own nature, the impress of his image on our hearts and lives.

I. Religion is the fruit of the mediation of Christ.

Communion with God is the ground or foundation of religion. To this high privilege therefore, our first parents were admitted

a Isa. xliii. 7.

d Col. iii. 10.

b Col. i. 27.

e Col. iii. 11.

c Gal. iv. 19.

in their innocent and perfect state; and the effect appeared in all that peace and happiness they enjoyed; and in all that cheerful obedience they for a while rendered to the will of God. But by the fall this original intercourse with Heaven was suspended. For it consisted not with the honour of the holy and blessed God, to converse with apostate men, nor were they in these unhappy circumstances capable of conversing with God. So was religion, that noblest guest that ever visited our world, by sin most shamefully driven out of it. Since however, it was the merciful design of God, to dwell again with men, and to diffuse the blessings of religion among them, it was fit some expedient should be devised, for restoring sinners upon honourable terms to the divine favour, for securing the return of the Holy Spirit to their hearts, and for rendering them capable of those divine pleasures which had been totally interdicted and withheld. This expedient was the mediation of Christ. A scheme wherein the perfections of God are most illustriously displayed, to the infinite admiration and joy both of angels and men.

The true God

As to the person of Christ, scripture gives us the most exalted descriptions of it, such as demand our highest homage and most profound reverence. He is the only begotten, the well-beloved and eternal Son of God a. The brightness of the Father's glory, and the express image of his person b. He in whom dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily c. and eternal life d. God over all, blessed for ever e. This divine person consents to become a man, and so to unite humanity with deity. He is Emmanuel, God with us f. God manifest in the flesh g. And thus in the character of Mediator, he assumes all those offices, and undertakes all those arduous services, which were necessary to bring this difference between God and man, in the consequences of which both heaven and hell were concerned, to an happy and honourable issue.

The design was grand and noble. Early notices were givent of it. A series of the most august and striking miracles opened the way for the execution of it.-In the fulness of time, behold! he appears, not in the grandeur of an earthly prince, but

a 1 John iv. 9.-Matt. iii. 17.-Mic. v. 2.-Heb. xiii. 8.

in the humble form of a servant. He publishes the glad tidings of salvation with his own lips. Authenticates his mission with a kind of proof suited to the dignity and importance of it. Yields a cheerful and perfect obedience to the divine law. Suffers a most painful and ignominious death. Descends into the cold and silent grave. Triumphantly rises thence on the third day. And in that very nature, wherein he had thus bled and died, ascends through the clouds into heaven; where he now presides over the kingdom of providence and grace, and from whence he will quickly return to judge the world.— What an astonishing scene this! especially when viewed in connection with the grand design proposed, the redemption and salvation of his church. Sin, the greatest of all evils, is expiated. The demands of the law are fully satisfied. The rights of government, which ought ever to be held sacred, are inviolably maintained. An equitable constitution is established, upon the foundation of his infinite merit alone, for the justification and acceptance of the believing sinner. And, in a word, effectual provision is made for the rich effusion of all the great blessings of religion, as they have been illustrated and explained.

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And that these were the great objects of his mission, scripture clearly teaches. He is the Mediator between God and usa; the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world b;' no man can come unto the Father, but by him c;' he was set forth to be a propitiation for sin, through faith in his blood d;' in him God is reconciling the world to himself, not imputing their trespasses to them e;' for his sake he forgives us our sins ƒ;'' by his obedience many are made righteous g;' in him we are accepted h;' he is able to save them to the uttermost, who come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them i;' and, to add no more, by him grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life k.' So that you see the blessed God can now converse with men, and men may be permitted, without the least dishonour reflected upon the divine attributes or law, to converse with God.