Wicked," even there did he triumph over Death, and "lead Captivity captive." If he was rejected of his Nation, -this rejection became the means of extending his spiritual dominion

into all lands, and his word unto the ends of the world."If his adherents were poor, unlearned, and ignorant,—yet they filenced the enlightened of the Jews, and confounded the Wisdom of the Greeks. Their Meannefs and Poverty prevented thofe Sufpicions which would have proved injurious to their Cause; and plainly fhewed that the Power of God was exerted in their favour.

Thus, thofe circumftances which the Deift and Infidel pretend to defpife, the Believer may adduce as fubftantial proofs of the Truth of the Gospel in the cause of Jesus Christ. He may apply to them the language of the great evangelical Prophet, and fay," produce your Caufe, faith the Lord; bring forth your ftrong Reasons, faith the God of Jacob." He may give a reason for the Faith that is in him, which all his adverfaries cannot gainfay or resist. When God is with us, who, or what can

be against us? Who is he that will harm us, if we be followers of that which is good?But, my fellow Chriftians! if we deny the Faith, and fall from our own Stedfastness; if we make thofe things, which were wifely intended for our wealth, an occafion of falling; if we deny the Lord that bought us,-are afhamed of Him and of his words, of us will he be afhamed when he cometh in the clouds of heaven, with all his holy angels.

Think of these things, I intreat you. Confider the Importance of his Favour, the Importance of your own Souls, the Importance of the Gofpel, and do not neglect fo great Salvation!

PRAYER.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, whofe blessed Son, Jefus Chrift, took upon him our nature, to be unto us an Example of godly life, and to fuffer death upon the Crofs,-grant that we may daily endeavour to follow the bleffed steps of his most holy life; and that all fuch as have erred and are deceived may be brought into the way of Truth, and be made partakers of the bleffed privileges of the Gospel, for the fake of Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen.

SERMON

SERMO N XIII.

ON THE SAME SUBJECT.

PHILIPPIANS ii. 5, 6, 7, 8.

7,8.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Chrift Jefus who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a fervant, and was made in the likeness of men and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himSelf, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross.

IN

N the two preceding difcourfes, I have endeavoured to give fuch a view of our Redeemer, that, in the ftate of Abasement in which he chose to appear, we might not forget the exalted part of

his Character: that, in "the Man Chrift Jefus," who, for our fakes, fo humbled himself, as to become obedient unta death, even the death of the Crofs, we might not forget the Son of God with Power.

The great ends for which that Son of God divested himself of Glory, became of no Reputation, and was made in the likeness of men, were, I have told you, that he might deliver his doctrine to the World, might reveal the Divine Will to mankind, and inftruct them in their duty. I also told you of another reason for his thus humbling himself.—And need I again tell you what it is? Need I remind you of what I hope you daily think with Gratitude?-CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS. This was the chief, the primary Cause of his Humiliation. In becoming obedient unto Death, he undoubtedly became that "Lamb of God which took away the Sins of the World." He thus humbled himself on purpose to be

wounded for our Tranfgreffions, to be bruised for our Iniquities." In other words," He came into the world to

fave Sinners."But what Sinners?Liften, I beseech you, with attention. An Error prevalent among you makes me wish to state this great Doctrine clearly, —makes me fearful of being misunderftood. What Sinners did Chrift die to fave? Sinners who are determined to remain fo? who violate the Precepts of his Gospel with a pretence for exalting the Riches of his Grace?—No, furely. Thofe Sinners, only, he died to fave, who to Faith in his Merits and Death, add Repentance for the Paft, and Holinefs of Life for the Future.-Such, only, will Hejuftify," and to their Imperfections will his Righteoufnefs be imputed.--What Mercy the Scheme of Redemption has provided for those “who hold the Truth in Unrighteousness,"-who in Faith profefs Chrift, but in Works deny him, it is not for us to determine. -The Scriptures (those hallowed fources of found doctrine) inform us that Christ will not acknowledge fuch perfons to be his difciples and yet, ftrange Infatuation! such persons generally think themfelves his greatest Favourites. With a Pharifaical

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