I do not mean to fay, that divine faith is a belief that Chrift died for me in particular. I know the strong objections which lie against that form of expreffion. The object of faith is, that Chrift died for loft finners of the race of Adam. But as it can hardly be fuppofed, that any give their affent to this truth till they are convinced that they themselves are finners, fo, if they believe that there is no falvation in any other, and that he is able to fave to the uttermoft, it seems to follow of neceffity, that they will reft and rely 66 upon him alone for falva, "tion as he is offered in the gofpel." This is certainly the view given us of the matter in the holy fcripture: Rom. v. 1. " Therefore being "juftified by faith, we have peace with God, "through our Lord Jefus Chrift," Heb. vi. 18. That by two immutable things, in which "it was impoffible for God to lie, we might "have a strong confolation, who have fled for "refuge to lay hold upon the hope fet before "us." Faith and defpair are inconfiftent, Faith and hope are infeparable. The glory of the Redeemer's perfon, the perfection of his atonement, and his ability to fave, are all fet before us in the gospel; and if we cannot rely upon him, if we cannot truft our falvation in his hands, it certainly arifes from fome doubt or disapprobation of thefe interefting truths. If you doubt of the truth, it is no wonder that you diftruft the promise; but if you are truly and inwardly fatisfied of Chrift's power and mercy, you will close with him, as your Saviour,

and

and fay unto him, in the words of Thomas, when his doubts were removed, "My Lord, "and my God." Thus I have fhortly given you a view of the actings of faith which may all be reduced to what I have endeavoured to illuftrate; the affent of the understanding, the approbation of the heart, and these jointly producing repofe of confcience and peace with God.

II. I proceed now, in the last place, to make fome practical improvement of what hath been faid on this important fubject. And, in the

1st place, Hence learn the abfolute neceffity of self-denial, and how much it ought to prevail in the temper of a Chriftian. In explaining to you the object of faith, I have endeavoured to lay before you the nature of the gospel-meffage, and the substance of the truth as it is in Jefus, viz. the loft and helplefs ftate of man by nature, forgiveness through the blood of Chrift, and fanctification as the work of his Spirit. If this view is juft, then religion must be begun, preferved, improved, and perfected, by union with Chrift. If this view is just, then all selfrighteousness and self-dependence is a denial of Chrift. And indeed, fuch is the life of a believer, if the conduct of the great apoftle of the Gentiles may be taken for an example: Phil. iv. 13. "I can do all things through Chrift which "ftrengtheneth me."

2. Hence alfo learn the neceffity of a new nature, in order to a new life. If the old nature is indeed in ruins, it will be loft labour to begin to

build without a new foundation. And if the foundation is ill laid, however beautiful the fuperftructure, the fabric cannot be lafting. The not attending to this is vifibly the cause of many mifcarriages. Men often refolve upon fome amendment of life, from prudence, conveniency, or even from imperfect convictions, and fome apprehenfion of eternity itself. But though these resolutions are formed with feeming fincerity, inherent corruption foon becomes too ftrong for fuch feeble oppofition. Remember therefore our Saviour's caution, "Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt." If you defire to live a life of holinefs or virtue, apply to God through Chrift, for the pardon of your fins, and peace with him. Intreat of him alfo, in the fame prevailing name, that by his grace he would implant in you a new heart, and a new fpirit, that you may walk in his ways, and obferve his judge66 ments to do them."

3. Learn alfo how injurious they are to the doctrine of falvation by faith in Chrift, who flander it as unfriendly to holiness of life. So far from being unfavourable to holiness, it makes the moft effectual provision for it. Obedience to the whole law of God, is embraced by every believer as his choice, and promifed as his duty: only he expects to derive ftrength from his Redeemer to enable him to discharge it. I defire to bear witnefs, and fo will every faithful minister of the New Teftament, that Chrift came not to destroy

deftroy the law, but to fulfil it.

He hath not

only left it in its full force upon the confcience, but he hath added to its obligation. The awful fanction of the law fhall take place upon every impenitent finner. It is well represented by the flying roll, in the prophecies of Zechariah, chap. v. 3. 4. "Then faid he unto me, This is "the curfe that goeth forth over the face of the "whole earth: for every one that stealeth, "fhall be cut off as on this fide, according to "it; and every one that fweareth, fhall be cut "off as on that fide, according to it. I will bring it forth, faith the Lord of hofts, and "it fhall enter into the house of the thief, and "into the house of him that fweareth falfely by

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my name; and it fhall remain in the midst of "his houfe, and fhall confume it, with the tim"ber thereof, and the ftones thereof." See alfo the fuperadded fanction of the gospel, Heb. x. 28. 29. "He that defpifed Mofes law, "died without mercy, under two or three wit "neffes of how much forer punishment,

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fuppofe ye, fhall he be thought worthy, who "hath trodden under foot the Son of God, " and hath counted the blood of the covenant, "wherewith he was fanctified, an unholy thing, "and hath done defpite unto the Spirit of "grace?" Hear it, my brethren, hear it for your fouls fake, any known fin allowed in the heart or converfation, is as inconfiftent with falvation under the covenant of grace as under the covenant of works; or rather, to speak more properly, as many as continue in the prac

tice of fin are condemned already, and remain under the power of that miniftration of death. To delight in the law of the Lord after the inward man, is the fruit of faith, the character of the new nature, and neceffary to fit you for the divine presence.

4. Suffer me to say a few words, for the reproof and conviction of thofe who are living in contempt of the gofpel. Alas! how many are there who turn a deaf ear to the moft earnest and preffing invitations addreffed to them in the word of God, and inforced by his providence ! There are two forts of defpifers of the gofpel: (1.) Those who are open and avowed enemies to the doctrine of the gospel, who defert it, defpife it, or flander it. Too many there are of this character in the prefent age, to whom the cross of Chrift is foolishness.

O!

how deplorable is their folly! and how aggravated their guilt! If this is the divine commandment, That we fhould believe in the name of the Son of God; and if there is truth in the divine word, "That there is no falvation in any "other; " miferable indeed must be the ftate of those who are found thus fighting against God. Will it be a light thing to be found defpifers of all that grace and love manifefted in the gospel? How heavy is the threatening, in our Saviour's own words, against thofe who defpife the precious corner stone, and tried foundation, which is laid in Zion, Matth. xxi. 44. "And whofoever "fhall fall on this ftone, fhall be broken: but "on whomfoever it fhall fall, it will grind him