tion. “The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we rejoice." But this does not prove that we are to do nothing for ourfelves. We are to do what we can.-And let us not be afraid of exceeding our duty; for when we have done all that we are commanded to do, we shall still be but unprofitable fervants." Much of Imperfection, of Error, and Guilt will remain ;for the Expiation of which we must look up to the all-fufficient Sacrifice of Jefus Chrift. Without Faith in Him, it is as impoffible to pleafe God, as it is to fee God without Holiness. To think that, by goodworks, we deferve Salvation, is a fatal error. Though these are acceptable and well-pleafing to God, and will not be dispensed with by him; yet thefe alone will not fave us. Our Salvation is ftill "the Gift of God by Grace through Faith, and not of ourselves." -If Christ had not died,-if, in his infinite Mercy and Compaffion towards our fallen, our finning race, he had not condefcended to bear our infirmities," to "offer up our fins in his own body on the tree; to be under the Law, being made a Curfe for

us:

we

us if he had not humbled himself, and become obedient unto death, even the death of the Crofs, our flate, with all our boafted qualifications, would be very deplorable! Through him, and by that gracious Sacrifice which he offered for us, are delivered from the terrors of the Law, and (tinless it be our own fault) from thể bitter pains of eternal death. We are, from children of Wrath, become children of Grace, are rescued from the Vaffalage of Sin, and rendered capable of sharing the glorious “inheritance of the Saints in light.'

Such are the Privileges,fuch the Bleffings procured for us by Chrift's becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the crofs.I faid we were rescued by him from the Vaffalage of Sin, and made heirs of immortal happiness. To feel the force of this truth Suppose yourselves enflaved by a Tyrant who oppreffes and torments you, —who impairs your health, disturbs your peace, and threatens to confign you to death and deftruction :-Suppofe, from this calamitous Situation, a Friend who loved you fhould voluntarily determine to refcue

you;

you; and, in this generous undertaking, fhould be feized and dragged to a prejudiced tribunal. Thus circumftanced, fuppofe him forfaken by all, and left but with this alternative: either entirely to abandon your Cause, or die to fave you. Suppofe his Affection fo strong for you as to induce him to chufe the latter: and, as a shocking prelude to his death, fuppofe his honest zeal to have drawn upon him the rage of an infatuated populace, who, to mock and infult him, fhould encircle his head with thorns, and prefs them into his temples, till blood gufh out of every vein,-should tear his flesh with fcourges,-should spit upon him, and treat him with every indignity that Malice and Cruelty could invent.Are not thefe Sufferings-endured for you,

fufficient to excite your love?Where is the heart in this affembly that does not glow with Gratitude? Where are the eyes that do not overflow with tears?Shall we finish the picture?-Shall I paint this excellent fuffering Friend bleeding on a Crofs, and, for your fakes-giving up the ghoft?Wonderful Generofity !-tranfcendent Affection! All this, O bleffed

Jefus !

Jefus ! didft thou fuffer :-all this didft thou fubmit to-" TO SAVE SINNERS!"

Behold here, Chriftians! a true parallel of our own Situation, and the ftupendous Goodness of Chrift our Deliverer. We were enflaved by Sin, who tyrannized over us with defpotic fway, and would finally involve us in endless Mifery, had not Christ Jefus purchased our Ranfom by the Sacrifice of himself. That we might live-he voluntarily died. "All we like sheep have gone aftray: we have turned every one to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppreffed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he was brought as a Lamb to the Slaughter, and as a sheep before her fhearers is dumb, fo he opened not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment, and was cut off out of the land of the living. But he was wounded for our Tranfgreffions; he was bruifed for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his ftripes we are healed."

་

As it is impoffible for me to fuffer you to depart with Reflections more fuitable and proper

proper than what these words must inspire, I fhall detain you no longer, trusting that you will attend to the conclufion of the Subject on the anniversary of that day, when your Saviour's Sufferings were concluded on the Crofs.

PRAYER.

GOD, whose bleffed Son was manifefted that he might destroy the works of the devil; give us grace that we may caft away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life (in which he came to visit us in great humility) that, purifying ourselves even as he is pure, we may rife to the life immortal, through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghoft, now and ever.