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atonement for the highest guilt. If we are clothed with this his gar ment of salvation and robe of righteousness, our persons and services will be accepted before God. We may come with holy boldness and confidence to the throne of grace; and may be persuaded that the justice, holiness, and veracity of God, as well as his love and mercy, are upon our side. It is one of the blessed titles of Jesus our Saviour, that he is the Lord our Righteousness, Jer. xxiii. 6. Surely, then, says the convinced guilty sinner, in such a one will I trust, for I have no merit of my own to obtain pardon-I have no righteousness of my own to procure my justification before God, and without it I must perish for ever. Surely in the Lord shall I find righteousness, as well as wisdom and strength. For the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel. Therefore to his keeping and gracious care I commit my soul.

5. Jesus the Saviour has great interest with God the Father, and always prevails in his intercession. Thus says he himself, John xi. 42. "Father, I know that thou hearest me always." When he pleads the cause of his people before the throne, he does it in all the power and merit of his righteousness. We, guilty creatures, may justly conclude, that if we come not to the mercy seat in the prevailing name of Jesus, we will be refused audience. For no man can come to the Father and be accepted but by him, John xiv. 6. Therefore we dare not trust ourselves in meaner hands. He alone is able to preserve that which is committed to him unto the great day, and to save them to the uttermost that come to God by him, since he ever liveth to make intercession for them; and such an High Priest as the Son of God, cannot fail of success when pleading in the court of heaven, especially when

asking those things which he hath purchased for his people by his own blood, and which his heavenly Father stands engaged by his promise to bestow. 6. He lives for ever. Rev. i. 18, "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, amen; and have the keys of hell and of death." He, therefore, that knows death by experience, and stands possessed of eternal life, is the most proper person we can trust with all our concerns of soul and body, for life and death, for time and eternity. Our Lord lives in the unseen world; he hath passed through the regions of death; and has destroyed death, and him that had the power of it, that is the devil. He has the keys of death and of the separate state, and is acquainted with all the avenues to it. He is the superior governor of the world of bliss and glory, and the fittest guardian to whom we can commit our departing souls; nay, there is not another in whose hands we can be safe.

7. I may add, that the faithfulness of Jesus the Saviour, to fulfil all that he hath undertaken, is another eminent qualification to encourage our trust in him. He is the Amen; the faithful and true witness. The Lord is faithful who shall establish you and keep you from evil. "Therefore," says the apostle to the saints at Thessalonica, "I have confidence in him, touching you," 2 Thess. iii. 3, 4. His sincerity is above all possibility of being corrupted. What he once designs, he will accomplish. Whom he loves, he loves unto the end. Is the God of salvation a man that he should lie, or the Son of man that he should repent? Hath he said and shall he not do it ; or hath he spoken and shall he not make it good? No. He is faithful and true; he keepeth covenant and mercy for ever. "The mountains shall de

part, and the hills be removed out of their places; yet shall not my loving-kindness depart from thee, nor the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord, that hath mercy upon thee." "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion upon the fruit of her womb? Yea, she may forget; yet will not I forget thee, saith the Lord." Thus his faithfulness adds strength and force to all the other encourage ments that our faith receives from all the rest of his qualifications; and if we know that all these excellencies are found in him, we may surely be persuaded that he is able and willing to save to the very uttermost; and may, therefore, safely entrust our all with him, until the last great day. But,

2d, Besides these qualifications, that are the objects of the believer's knowledge, and the motives of his faith, there is another thing that powerfully engages him to confide in Jesus, and that is, his special character and commission, which he hath received fromthe Father as Mediator; and which he hath voluntarily undertaken to fulfil. By this, he hath brought himself obliged to use all those personal qualifications, to secure the happiness of sinners committed to his charge. He often speaks of his being sent of the Father to do his will. "This is the will of him that hath sent me, that of all whom he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day," Heb. vi. 39. By this commission, Jesus has a right and authority to exercise all his powers to receive the souls of believers. For this purpose, all power in heaven and in earth is given him; and he is said to be head over all things to the church. Eph. i. 22.

Behold then, Christians, Jesus the Saviour and your Saviour, the Son of God and the Son of man, in all the glories of his mediatory

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commission, fully capacitated to keep whatever is committed unto him. The believer sees all these, and rejoices in the prospect. He knows, that upon Jesus, the all sufficient Saviour, the Father of mercies hath laid the help of perish. ing sinners. And now, says he, shall not I venture my eternal state upon him on whom God hath laid it? Shall not I choose him to be my righteousness and my strength, mine advocate and my guardian, in this weak and helpless condition, whom the Father hath appointed for this very purpose, and whom he hath trusted with the eternal salvation of all his children and people?

II. To consider how a believer comes to know Jesus the Saviour, so as to trust in him, and rejoice in this is trust. The answer to this inquiry may be reduced to these two heads:

A believer that has arrived at such a knowledge of Jesus the allsufficient Saviour, has obtained it, partly by the testimony of others, and partly by his own experience. Only we must remember that it is by the saving illuminating influence of the divine Spirit that he receives the testimony concerning Christ, and arrives at experimental knowledge of him.

1st, Then, the knowledge which a believer has arises from the testimony of others, and this sort of knowledge is generally called faith; that is, the believing of things upon the testimony and authority of those who relate them. And according as the witnesses who make the report are more credible or more numerous, so we give the firmer assent to their testimony-our faith grows so much the more strong, and our knowledge is the more certain. Now the witnesses that give testimony and evidence to the character of Jesus the Saviour, are so very credible in themselves, and so many in number, that the believer has the most solid and firm ground

for his faith. Let us take a short view of these witnesses, and humbly examine their testimony.

God himself, the all-wise, the true, and eternal God, in the person of the Father, has borne wit ness from heaven to his eternal son Jesus Christ, in all ages. This he did by visions, voices, prophecies, and holy institutions. It is one of them, that God has spoken by the mouth of all his servants the prophets, since the world began. Acts iii. 21. "Unto you first, God raised up his son Jesus; which is that seed of the woman that should break the head of the serpent." Gen.iii. 15. Time would fail me to speak of all the types and emblems, as well as the prophecies, that had a direct view to Jesus the Messiah.

In the New Testament we read of the Father's bearing witness to him, by an audible voice from hea ven three several times. Matt. iii. 17, "Thus, when he came to Jordan to be baptized of John, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: and, lo, a voice from heaven saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Again, when he was transfigured upon the mount, before the three disciples, and while Peter was speaking unto him, "Behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and behold, a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him." Matt. xvii. 5. Again, when the hour approached in which the Son of man should be glorified, Jesus said, "Glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again." John xii. 28.

Jesus Christ himself is another witness, that testifies his own ability and willingness to save sinners. John viii. 18, "I am one that beareth witness of myself, and the Father

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that sent me beareth witness of me." His witness of himself must be true, as he appeared among men with all the undisputed signs and evidences of the Messiah. Thus says the prophet, Isa. xxxv. 5, " When God shall come to save you, then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing." This is true in a literal sense. He healed the bodily diseases of many by his almighty word. He spake and it was done. It is also true in a metaphorical sense. The same Jesus that could give sight to such as were born blind, can enlighten the darkened hearts of sinners; he could give them the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, as it is in himself, and impart conviction to their benighted souls. The same Jesus that could unstop the deaf ear, can bring the hardened and gainsaying to hearken unto his gracious call, and dispose them to turn and obey. The same Jesus that could give firmness and strength to the lame, can teach them the way wherein they ought to walk, and guide them in the paths of holiness, for his name's sake. Therefore, we may farther observe, that the Holy Ghost is another witness of this important truth, by the miracles which he wrought. Our Lord himself says, "I cast out devils by the Spirit of God." Matt. xii. 28. Thus, the believer has a threefold witness from heaven, that cannot be suspected, to give him the knowledge of Christ, and confirm his faith; and this is abundantly sufficient to justify his trust in him.

He has many other witnesses also to the same divine truth. He can call all the holy prophets, apostles, and martyrs, and in a word, all the saints since the world began, to bring in their joint testimony; who, while they were in the world,

bore witness of the power and will ingness of Christ to save; and now find themselves safe and happy in his presence, in the world of unfading bliss and glory. But besides, 2d, The knowledge that a be liever has of Christ's ability and willingness to save, arises not only from the testimony of others, but also from his own sensible and bliss. ful experience. Both these go together, to encourage him to trust in Jesus, and not be afraid.

The true Christian, that has made some advances in the school of Christ, can say, that he once found his conscience burdened with guilt, and could find no relief till he was determined to fly to the virtue of Christ's merits-to trust in him, and carry his guilty polluted soul to the blood of atonement, that speaketh better things than the blood of Abel. He can say, that he had no righteousness of his own, in which he could appear before an infinitely pure and holy God: and that he had just reason to dread his presence, as a consuming fire, without a spotless righteousness. But he found that the same blessed Jesus had clothed him with the garments of salvation, and covered him with the robe of righteousness. Isa. lxi. 10. He knows and adores the Lord as his righteousness. A child of God can say, that he felt his nature wholly corrupted, his sins strong; and that he had no power to think or to do that which was good; and he knows whose grace it was, and whose Spirit, that renewed his whole nature unto holiness-that formed his soul for religion-that inclined him to the work of mortification, and powerfully assisted him in it. He can say, that when he met with temptations, he found himself a very unequal match for them; but by the knowledge of Christ, and union to him, he found his divine grace sufficient for him, and his strength perfected in weakness. He knows

by whose power it is that he stands; and is fully persuaded, that he who has kept him hitherto is able still to preserve him from falling. He has tried his grace so often, and found it sufficient so long, that he is resolved to trust him, to bring him to the end of his faith, even the final salvation of his soul.

III. To illustrate what is included in this trusting or humble confi. dence in Jesus, which banishes all sorts of fear. I might here give you a particular description of faith, but at present I shall only offer a few plain remarks upon it, for setting this noble, this useful grace, in a clearer point of view.

1st, Saving faith implies in it, or at least supposes, a lively sense of the guilt of our sins, and the eternal misery that is likely to follow, as the just punishment of them; a sight of the righteous vengeance of God, to which we are exposed, and how absolutely incapable we are to make any atonement for ourselves, or procure pardon; a sense of our want of a perfect righteousness for our justification before God; and how impossible it is to make out one of our own works and duties. For we will never trust another to do that for us which we imagine we can do for ourselves. We will never think of taking of Christ, gold tried in the fire, that we may be rich, and white raiment that we may be clothed, till once we are made sensible that we are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. Therefore,

2d, This faith, or trust, supposes also an affecting sight of the corruption and depravation of our nature; our perpetual propensity to sin, and our weakness and aversion to do the duties of religion; our natural delight in sin and worldly comforts; our aversion to God, and all that is holy, together with our utter incapacity to enjoy heaven while we are in this condition; our

inability to change our own natures, and turn our souls from earth to heaven, from sin to holiness.

3d, It supposes and implies a painful sense of our having offended a good and gracious God; a weariness of this unhappy state of sin; and a hearty willingness to be delivered from it. We would never seek after the knowledge of such an almighty friend and Saviour, if we were not convinced that we should be eternally miserable without him. Can we be concerned about one who is able to subdue sin in our hearts, if we are not first made willing to part with it? To have our nature renewed unto holiness? And let it be observed, that this painful sense-this inward weariness of the reign and power of sin-and this desire of deliverance from it, is the most essential part of true repentance, or of the conversion of the soul from sin unto God.

4th, This faith, or trust, includes a distinct view and full belief of the all-sufficiency of Jesus to answer our case, and to supply all our wants; that there is atonement in him for our sins, and pardon to be had by him; that there is righteousness to be found with him for our justification, and acceptance to eternal life, and all this by his perfect obedience to the death; that there is power and grace to be had from him to subdue all our sins-to defeat every temptation-to reform our vicious appetites-to incline our wills unto God-to strengthen as well as excite our endeavours for the practice of universal holiness in every branch of it-to keep us in the favour of God-to perfect his image upon our souls-to conduct us safe to heaven-and that he is appointed of the Father to do all this for sinners, and has cheerfully undertaken to accomplish it.

5th, It consists formally, in the committing of our guilty polluted

souls to the care of Jesus Christ, according to his mediatory.commission from the Father. It is a sincere address of the heart unto Jesus, whereby we resign our guilty the sake of his precious blood-to persons to him-to be pardoned for have our unrighteous souls accepted as righteous, through his imputed righteousness-our sinful polluted natures sanctified and cleansed by the power of his spirit and grace; and to be preserved safe unto death, through death, and to eternal life.

6th, After all this, there follows an acquiescence, or rest of the soul in Jesus. This he promises, when he calls weary and heavy laden sinners to come unto him. This is accompanied with a good hope and expectation of all this salvation from Jesus, for which the sinner trusts him, and this excites his love and thankfulness to his glorious Redeemer, and awakens all his endeavours to a vigorous pursuit after heaven, in the paths of steady and universal holiness, in which he hath appointed us to walk, to the celestial glory.

Thus every divine promise, every threatening, and every commandment, obtains a due authority over the heart, under the influence of such a faith. This is not a lazy and slothful confidence, that casts away all care, by throwing it upon Christ, and walks in a bold and avowed neglect of duty. A believer knows that he is bound to take the utmost care of his own soul; to work out his salvation with holy fear and trembling; to watch against temptation; to resist every rising sin; to persevere unto the very death; and all this, in a believing dependence upon the grace and spirit of Jesus Christ, which is promised to lead him into all truth and holiness.

Thus I have given you, in these particulars, a very short account of that faith or trust, which banishes

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