wicked every day, and hath revealed his wrath against finners.

ANSW. Yea, in the law his wrath is revealed; “Curfed is every one that continueth not in all things written in the book of the law to do them;" and the law-threatening fhall be executed upon you, if gofpel-grace be not received: and, as you may know the wrath of God is what you are liable to; because it is revealed in the law; fo, you may know the mercy of God is what you may obtain, because it is revealed in the gospel; and it is to you that this mercy is given in the gospel difpenfation. To you the door of hope is open. God hath commanded us to go and preach the gospel to every creature: and what is this gofpel of peace? Even that God is pacified in Chrift towards thee, for all that thou haft done.

OBJECT. But God hath no purpose or design of mercy toward all; and therefore, how can I apply this gospeloffer to myself?

ANSW. God hath not made his fecret purpose the rule of thy faith, but his word: and you may and shall know his merciful purpofe, if once you take his word, and believe his word, faying, I am pacified toward thee, for all that thou haft done.

"But, fay you, I am a monster of fin; I am an old "finner, a hardened and ftout-hearted finner." Well, but hear his word, faying, in Chrift, I am pacified to ward thee, for all that thou baft done. Alas! but I have done evil as I could. Nay, but fays he, I am pacified toward thee, for all that thou bast done.

OBJECT. "Oh! but I have done dishonour to God; "I have done affronts to Chrift; I have done defpite "to the Spirit; I have done injury to my neighbour; "and I have done many villanies that you know no"thing of." Well, but what of all that? Says God, Behold, I am pacified in Chrift; and I am pacified toward thee, for all that thou haft done, faith the Lord God,

"Alas! fay you, but I have done more wickedness "than ever any finner before me did; and if you knew "what I have done, you would neither think nor fay "that there is peace in God's mind toward me."

ANSW.

ANSW. Why, little matter what I think or fay; but, O hear what God fays; he is faying, I am pacified toward thee, for all that thou bast done; you cannot think it; but my thoughts are not your thoughts; for, "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my thoughts higher than your thoughts."

"Why, Sir, fay you, if that be the cafe, that God is, in Chrift, pacified towards me, for all that I have done, and thought, and spoken against him; this is fuch astonishing doctrine, and fuch aftonishing grace in God, manifefted toward me, that I am confounded at the thoughts of this marvellous grace; and I am confounded at the thoughts of my woful wickedness against fuch a gracious God." Are you fo? Confounded may you be, in God's great name, and afhamed to the duft! This is the great thing that God would have you brought to, by making known his covenant of grace to you, even That thou mayeft remember and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more, because of thy fhame, when I am pacified towards thee for all that thou hast done, faith the Lord.

SERMON

SERMON CXV.

The WORD of SALVATION fent to

SINNERS*.

ACTS xiii. 26.

-To you is the word of this falvation fent.

PAUL is here preaching CHRIST JESUS in this chapter; and in this verfe he makes application of his fermon to his hearers, and that very close. More particularly in the words you may observe,

1. The nature of the gofpel defcribed, it is the word of falvation.

2. The indorfement or direction, fhewing to whom it is directed or fent, To you; you men and brethren, you Jews or Gentiles, to whom it is preached.

The doctrinal propofition, natively arifing from these words, is the following.

OBSERV. "That the gofpel, as a word of falvation, is fent to every finner that hears it."

Before I proceed to speak to this doctrine, I would obviate an objection that may be made against it.

OBJECT. Is not the gofpel-call here limited to them that fear God in the text?

ANSW. If by these that fear God, is to be underflood religious people, into whofe hearts God hath put

*This fubject was the fubftance of two Sermons: First preached at Cambufnethen, on Sabbath, Sept. 16.; and next at Stichel, on Sabbath, Oct. 14. 1739

his fear; thefe are the perfons that will most of all welcome the word of falvation; because they see most of their need of it: but the gofpel meffage is not here limited to them, and others excluded; no: the apoftle here fpeaks to all his auditory, both gracious and graceless, as appears not only in this text, "Men and brethren, children of the ftock of Abraham, to you is the word of this falvation," but also in the application of his fermon to the graceless as well as to the gracious, ver. 40, 41. compared with the two preceding verses.

2. There is a fear of God that is the fruit of conviction, and a fear of God that is the fruit of converfion; the former is by the law, the latter is by the gofpel: it is like that the former is efpecially intended here; for at this time the word was with power; it ftruck an awe and dread upon the apoftle's auditory. And though no finner, no not the moft ftupid that hears the gofpel, is excluded from the call thereof, fo as it can be faid, the word of falvation is not fent to him; no, no: it is fent to every one; yet none but fuch as fear God, fo far as to be filled with an awe and dread of God fpeaking to them in the word, and with a conviction of fin, and of their need of this falvation; none but fuch will receive and welcome the word of this falvation: for, if they have no fear of God, and of his wrath, no fenfe of fin, and of their deferving damnation, they will not value, but flight and defpife the word of falvation. This text, therefore, doth not limit the word of falvation, as fent only to them who fear God, but only points out the manner and method wherein this word of falvation comes to be received and entertained, and how it will not be received by thefe who have nothing of the fear and dread of God upon them.

3. These who are awakened to any fenfe of fin, and fear and dread of God, are the perfons that are most ready themfelves, as if the word of falvation were not fent to them; therefore thefe, in a particular manner, are mentioned, and encouraged to take it to themselves, because they are afraid to apply the word. Others that are called will not come. And they that have this fear upon them, have a will, but want courage; and there

fore

fore the Lord fays to them, as it were, Fear not to come; for, To you is the word of this falvation fent.

4. That the word of falvation is fent to all, even to them who, through the want of the fear of God, reject it, is plain both from this text and context, compared with other fcriptures. See the commiffion, Mark xvi. 15. "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gofpel to every creature. Ifa. xlvi. 12. Hearken to me, ye ftouthearted, that are far from righteoufnefs. Rev. iii. 20. Behold, I ftand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and fup with him, and he with me.” Any man, be what he will. In fhort, the word of falvation, importing all falvation neceffary, looks to all finners that need this falvation. The gofpel would not be glad news to all people, if any finner were excluded. Hence the call is to all the ends of the earth; "Look to me, and be faved, all ye ends of the earth:" hence the call alfo is," Whofoever will, let him come, and take of the water of life freely." And again, To you, O men, do I call; and my voice is to the fons of men. Ho, every one that thirfteth, come ye to the waters," &c.

་་

The method we would observe, for the farther illuftration of this fubject, as the Lord fhall be pleafed to grant affiftance, fhall be the following.

I. We fhall fpeak a little of this falvation.

II. Of the word of falvation.

III. Of the fending of this word.

IV. Make application of the whole.

I. We fhall fpeak a little of this falvation, and confider what it fuppofes, and what it implies.

1. What this falvation fuppofes, namely, mifery. Our miferable ftate by nature, is a state of alienation and eftrangement from God. We are without God, and are alienated from the life of God; aliens from the commonwealth of Ifrael.-It is a ftate of enmity; for, The carnal mind is at eninity against God: we are in actual rebellion against him. It is a ftate of darknefs and ignorance; we are deftroyed for lack of knowledge.-A ftate of bondage to fin, Satan, and the world, and divers lufts; we are fettered and imprifoned, led captive. It is a

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