fatisfaction if you were more holy; and to become so, do you not often go to the Lord Jesus, to receive grace and ftrength? Does it not create real forrow of heart, if, at any time, you have, by an untender walk, reflected difhonour on his name? What think you? Are not these so many evidences that Jefus is the fupreme object of your love, and that God, in mercy, has vifited you with his falvation? go. No longer then doubt of your interest in Christ, and of your having received, out of his fulness, his faving grace. Come, meditate frequently on his allfufficiency. All that is in Chrift is yours, and purpofely defigned for your everlasting benefit. Are you IGNORANT? with him is wISDOM, to teach you the way in which you fhould Is the load of your DEBT daily increasing, and does your GUILT accumulate by every repeated tranfgreffion? with this High Prieft there is a fulness of righteousness. Do you feel your hearts to be polluted and defiled by fin, and your walk and converfation deficient in tenderness and humility? with him is fanctification for his chofen. Are you furrounded by innumerable enemies? he is made of God unto you, complete REDEMPTION. Are you full of wounds and putrifying fores? Jefus fuflains the name and character of JEHOVAH ROPHE, the Lord that healeth you. Are you dejected and broken in heart? behold in Jefus that merciful, compaffionate, and faithful High Prieft, who is the confolation of Ifrael, the light, life, ftrength, and power of his people. Of this fulness which Chrift has for his people, he is always wILLING to impart as they need it. Yes, he always feels for your woes, and is afflicted in all your afflictions. O then, let thefe confiderations perfuade you to look continually upon him. When you elevate the eye of faith to this glorious Mediator, be affured he will caft upon you a look of complacency and love, and fay, Thou hast RAVISHED my heart with one of thine eyes.-If you throw yourselves into his arms, he will receive you in mercy, and speak comfortably to your fouls. If you fly to him, he will reach out to you the fceptre of his grace; for, his prevenient love is divine, eternal, most affectionate, and paffeth knowledge. - Behold, once more he gives you an evidence of it by giving you another preffing INVITATION to approach unto him in the holy ordinance of the Supper. At the head of that table, which is foon to be spread, he will appear, and, addreffing you, and all his afflicted fons and daughters, he will fay, Behold here the emblem of that blood which streamed from my pierced fide: by this blood, I will cleanse you from all iniquity. For you it was shed. I, even I, am he that blotteth out all your tranfgreffions, for my name's fake; I will not remember your fins: though they be like scarlet, yet, by that blood, I will make them white as fnow. And further, to give the fulleft evidence of his love, as that which paffeth knowledge, when he fees you standing at a distance, and afraid to draw near, he will even wait to be gracious, and, like the father of the prodigal, run to meet and embrace you.—O communicants! all things then are ready: the Master calleth for you. Be encouraged to arife: be no longer faithlefs, but believing, and, with the confidence of children, occupy your feats around the table which your Jefus fpreads; both to demonftrate that no love is like redeeming love, and that none provides fo liberally as he for the wants of his people. But we cannot close this lecture without addresfing a few words to you, children of God, who have received brighter evidences of your being interested in this Mediator. 1. Let not your hearts only be exercised with respect to God the FATHER, as the God of the covenant, and with refpect to the covenant and its feveral parts; but especially let the eye of faith be conftantly fixed on 'Chrift, and his all-fufficiency, as the Mediator of God's appointment. We are fearful that you are not fufficiently exercised with respect to these; and hence, perhaps, it is, that you have fo little confidence and Chriftian boldness, when you approach the Lord's table. You are apt to dwell too much upon your fins, and your indwelling corruptions, which unavoidably must produce fear and painful anxiety. It is good, it is reasonable, to keep our fins conftantly in view: there is abundant cause of being ashamed and humbled, on account of your depravity; but your meditations on these fhould not, as is too often the cafe, keep you from God. When you reflect upon the aggravated nature of your tranfgreffions, the eye of faith must be fixed on the great Mediator of the covenant, as one upon whom was laid all the iniquities of the whole elect world. Then a retrospective view of fin, whilst it humbles your fouls, and makes you appear little in your own eyes, will contribute to your real advantage. By it you will discover your need of Chrift, and confequently he will become far more precious to you. 2. Let your fouls make a conftant ufe of Chrift for SANCTIFICATION; and to this end repeatedly contemplate, and apply to him as one who is allfufficient, in every refpect, to fupply your wants, and Vol. II. L willing to afford you that relief which you need. Have you a deep sense, at times, of your misery and wretchedness? make use of him as your physician who heals the diseases of those whom sin has deeply wounded, and rendered truly wretched. Are yo tempted to depart from the ways of righteousness} apply to him as the great fhepherd of the flock, who fecks with care the sheep of his pafture, brings them to his fold, and, with peculiar care, guards and defends them in all the affaults of hell and fin. Are you walking in darkness? apply to him as your fun, your teacher, your counsellor, to give you every needful inftruction; for he has promised to counsel his people, and keep his eye upon them for good. Do you need preservation from the power of your enemies, when they combine for your deftruction? ufe Jefus as your SHIELD, to fecure you from their fiery darts. Are you pursued and hunted by Satan? flee as a bird to your mountain, to Jefus that ftrong tower, to whom the righteous run, and are fafe. Thus to act, will tend to advance you in holiness, and make you to experience comfort unfpeakable and divine, whatever your fituations in life may be. In a more especial manner, we exhort you, make Jefus the object of your meditation, now that you are again about to approach the facred table, where he unfolds to the view of his people, that in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Let your fellowship be with him; open your hearts to him: he will enrich you with the treasures of his grace. Approach with the confidence of children, and with joy. He will not leave you without a witnefs. Do your fins ftare you in the face? let this be your comfort, that you have an advocate and high prieft with the Father, Jefus Chrift the righteous. |