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obscure if not abolish, his glory. For to suppose it is Christian faith to allow Jesus was no impostor in what he taught, or even that his death was a vicarious sacrifice for sin, is to give him very little glory, in comparison of maintaining uninterrupted dependence upon him. In one light, he appears only like a common benefactor, to whose past generous deeds and toils we stand greatly indebted. In the other, he is our continual support, of whom we may say in triumph, "The Lord is my light and my life, whom then shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom then shall I be afraid?"

The New Testament perfectly concurs with the Old, to place Christ in this glorious point of view before us. St. Paul and St. Peter represent the faith of the Christian church as the same incessant dependence upon the Lord Jesus, which the several parts of a lofty temple bear upon its foundation, Eph. ii. 21. 1 Pet. ii. 4. They again explain this dependence by the union which the members of the body have with the head, Eph. iv. 15; whilst Jesus himself compares it to the union subsisting between the branches and the vine.

But none of these scripture images are used with propriety or truth, unless, by faith in the only begotten Son of God, be meant, heart-felt dependence on him, perpetually, for gracious influences, blessings, and salvation.

It is needless to add more scripture proof. But it is of the highest importance, that you examine yourself, where the stress of your dependence for the welfare of your soul rests? Where are you looking for pardon, strength, comfort, and sanctification? Is it to your own repentance, endeavours, prayers, and good qualities, or, through them all, to the ex. haustless treasury God has provided for poor, guilty, helpless men, in the person of the Saviour? Blessed

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are you, if you have a testimony in your conscience; that, lamenting your natural ignorance and blindness, you call upon the Lord to enlighten your mind, and to give you a distinct effectual perception of the great things which concern your everlasting peace. Blessed are you, if, feeling your utter inability to stand acquitted before God, by your reformation, duties, and prayers, you have no hope but in what Christ has done and suffered. Blessed are you, if, afflicted with the strength of your corruptions, and longing for more love to God and man, you depend upon Christ to work this divine change in your mind. This is to believe in the only begotten Son of God, without partiality and without hypocrisy. This is a dependence which the word of God declares shall never be confounded. The Giver of every good and perfect gift bestow it upon you, if you possess it not; and if you do, increase it still more abundantly,

PRAYER,

Suited to the preceding chapter on Faith in Christ.

GLORY be to Thee, O Lord and heavenly Father for laying help upon one mighty to save, one chosen from amongst the people; and for commanding us to place our whole affiance in him.

But thou knowest, O Lord, our pride and unbelief: how unwilling we are to confess our sinfulness, or make application to him, who alone can deliver us. Give unto us grace to believe on the name of thy only begotten Son: to draw nigh to thee, depending only on his atoning death, and meritorious righteousness, as our whole safeguard from the wrath

to come.

Fill us with solid peace and lively hope

towards thee, though our faith. Though conscious of daily defilement in ourselves, and infinite purity in thee, may we have boldness to enter into the holiest, through the blood of Christ, and cry unto thee, Abba, Father.

May we know our need of instruction in rightcousness; and in reading thy word, and in prayer, depend upon Christ, the wonderful Counsellor, to reveal to us, by his spirit, what is for our profit. Help us against our vain conceit of wisdom and understanding in ourselves, that we may draw nigh to Christ, to anoint us with eye-salve, Rev. iii. 18 that we may receive our sight, and be made wise unto salvation.

And, as thou, O Lord God, knowest all our weakness, and our enemies are open in thy sight, may our souls be stayed upon thee; assured that thou wiit come with a strong hand, and thy arm shall rule for thee. Instead of yielding to doubts and fears, (ever ready to assault us) may we cleave with full purpose of heart to our Head and Redeemer, and be strong in the Lord, and the power of his might; walking uprightly, working righteousness, and in all things adorning our profession.

We pray for the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of thy Son, that his power, love, and all-sufficient mediation may be our chief joy, and richest treasure; that, when the trying hour of our dissolution draws nigh, and natural life, with all its comforts, is about to cease for ever, we may know in whom we have believed, and that he is able to keep that which we have committed unto him, and to save us, for his own name and truth's sake, with an everlasting salvation.

We beg these blessings, O heavenly Father, in dependence upon our only Saviour, Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee, and the Holy Ghost, one God. Amen.

SUNDAY XVII.

CHAP. XVII.

The Foundation of Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

GOD, who, in infinite grace, planned the method of salvation through Christ, has not only commanded us to believe in him, but, from the entrance of sin into our world, he began to reveal the glory of the Redeemer, on whom we are to trust.

This testimony is the rational, immutable foundation of Christian faith. And from this ample, infallible testimony which God hath given of his Son, I shall prove there is no part of our misery, as sinners, for which an all-sufficient remedy is not provided in the perfections which Jesus possesses, and the offices he executes.

Every man, it has been shown above, is chargeable with the sin of rebellion against his Maker. Consequently, every man stands exposed to the curse of God's violated law and no sooner do we cease to dispute with him about the justice of his plainest declarations, than we confess ourselves guilty, and in danger of eternal ruin.

The first question, then, of utmost moment to be resolved, in this, What sufficient warrant has a sinner and a rebel, when he calls upon the name of Christ, to depend on his blood as a propitiation for sin, in the sight of God?

The answer returned by the divine record to this question, is sufficient to give strong consolation to the most guilty, who in earnest seek acceptance with their Maker: for the divine record displays the infinite majesty of Christ. "In the beginning, the

Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made by him, and without him was not any thing made that was made," John i. 1-3. "By him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible; whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers, all things were created by him, and for him, and he is before all things, and by him all things consist," Col. i. 16, 17.

On account of this original glory, when the Redeemer came into our world to save that which was lost, though he was in appearance but a weeping babe, born in a stable, and lying in a manger, yet at that moment the Father said, "Let all the angels of God worship him." For though abased in this mysterious manner, he is God manifest in the flesh, the Creator of angels. He is Immanuel, God with us.

In this character, drawn by the Holy Ghost, behold the proper object of every ruined sinner's dependence. See with what reason you are commanded to confide in him, who, at the very time his appearance in the likeness of our sinful flesh was foretold, had his glory proclaimed by the prophetic herald in this magnificent style: "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulders, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace," Isa. ix.

Had the Lord of Hosts only declared, that one of such infinite majesty would be favorable in any degree to sinners, and plead for them with the Father, that they might be forgiven, this would have justified our dependence upon him. For a Redeemer, possessed of infinite perfections, must be a fit object of confidence to the soul humbled for sin, supposing he had been pleased to declare his merciful disposi

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