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the means of safety, the venom was forthwith expelled, and he lived. A mysterious virtue went forth from God, as a blessing upon the institution, and the dying Israelite was made whole.

And what saith the gospel record concerning Jesus Christ, the great antitype of the serpent in the wilderness? That as Moses lifted up the one on its pole, for the cure of Israel, so the determinate counsel of God exalted the other on the cross, that whosoever believeth, or looketh in faith on him, should not perish, but have eternal life. Him hath God set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness, for the remission of sins. If the Israelite refused to look on the type, he died without remedy. If the transgressor reject the antitype, he puts salvation from him, turns his back upon the revealed mercy of God, and dies in his sin. Behold, then, the appointment of the Most High, for your redemption. Regard Him who is the resurrection from the death of sin, and the life, temporal, spiritual, and eternal of the soul. Hear the voice which cries, He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth, and believeth in me, shall never die. The sting of sin is universally felt. Equally universal is the mean of deliverance.

This is the will of Him who sent the Saviour, "that every one which seeth him, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life; and that Christ may raise him up at the last day." There is no limit to the mighty efficacy of this redemption. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin. One tied, bound, and pierced through, with the chain of his sins, and the iron that hath entered his soul, is far distant (as he thinks), from the appointed sign, even at the extremity of the camp of God. May he cast his eye thither, over such an extent of separation, and regard the crucified Saviour with hope as well as faith? He may, indeed. Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely. Another has long remained under the destructive influence of the fiery serpent. The wound which sin has made has been deepened by habit, and he seems to cry in vain, “O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" Is not his case beyond the reach of help? It is not. That invitation which the Saviour once spake, the Spirit still pleads. Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Another may have passed through the greatest part of life, with all its years of responsibility, and all its means of mercy, under the benumbing influence of the serpent's bite; and be treading the verge

of the eternal world, in age or sickness, with a step only between him and death. What is his condition, what his ground of hope? It is the infinite efficacy of the cross. It is the immu

table fidelity of the promise of God. It is the all-sufficient power of him, who once said to the dying malefactor, when he cast himself, in faith and penitence upon his mercy, "To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise." My dear brethren, be your spiritual condition what it may, your hindrances ever so formidable, your difficulties ever so great, the atonement of the cross provides a remedy for all. Not an Israelite, whatever might be the peculiarity, or the extremity of his case, died, if he earnestly looked to the symbol of his deliverance. And the free declaration is made to every one that seeks the salvation of the Son of God; Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out. If thou canst believe, all things are possible unto him that believeth. Such is the promise-what shall be your answer? Shall it not be, "Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief."

But were not the men of Israel permitted to unite with the healing sign of the brazen serpent some medicine of their own device, which might assist the operation of the appointed remedy? Impossible. Such an association would have contradicted the plan of goodness, and

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dishonoured alike the mercy and wisdom of God. Neither must he who looks for the salvation of Jesus Christ attempt to add any thing of his own to the full and perfect efficacy of the cross. Let that man who feels the evil and danger of unrepented and of unpardoned transgression, betake himself to the Saviour alone, who will not give his glory to another. The conditions are absolute, the terms beyond imagination gracious: but the author of this salvation is strictly jealous of his honour. Look, unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth, for I am God, and beside me there is no Saviour. To despond of other help is to take the first step to the life of faith in Christ Jesus. They that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. The Son of Man is come to seek, and to save that which was lost. Such is that gracious doctrine of Christ crucified, which it is our duty and privilege to preach to you as the unspeakable gift of a compassionate God.

Allow me, however, to guard the subject by two or three brief remarks in conclusion.

(1.) Observe, that not only faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ, but repentance also towards God is essential to every man who looks for the mercy of the only Saviour, unto eternal life. The serpent was not provided until the Israelites saw their sin, acknowledged its

evil, and cried unto the Lord through the mediation of Moses. Impenitence, and justification by the cross, have no more connexion with each other, than Belial with Christ. Would you, indeed, be saved? Pray, that you may know, dread, abhor, and abjure, the exceeding sinfulness of sin. We would direct your eyes to the Son of Man, lifted up on the cross; as Moses bade the people look upon the serpent of brass, and live. But ye must come, weary and heavy laden, with your burden, if ye hope to be received and pardoned. If ye live in the wilful commission of any sin, embrace it in your affection, and cherish it in your heart, ye are yet uninterested in the cross of Jesus Christ. As respects you, he is hitherto dead in vain. Mourn over your transgressions; desire freedom from their bondage; and then, with humble boldness draw near to Jesus, saying, Lord, if thou wilt thou canst make me clean. And fear not a repulse from him who stretched forth his hands to the imploring leper, saying, I will, be thou clean and immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

(2.) I cannot too frequently, or too solemnly declare, that our deliverance from the condemnation and death of sin, can be testified only by the practical evidence of a growing sanctification. How was the cure of the bitten Israel

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