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the two covenants, speedily flee from the old to the new, the better covenant. Let them do, as they would avoid a Mediator's wrath. Though in mercy he be constituted the Mediator of the one covenant, yet he is appointed to inflict the vengeance due to the breach of the other. His it is to pronounce the final curse, as well as the blessing, Matt. xxv. He has one rod to slay, Isa. xi. 4. as well as another to support, Psalm xxiii. 4. His are the two staves, Beauty and Bands: I al lude to Zech. xi. 7. If the beauty of the gospel cannot allure, the cords of the curse shall bind: bind despisers in bundles to burn them, Mat. xiii. 30. If beauty do not draw them to Christ, bands shall drag them to the burning lake. Be wise, therefore, sinners, and bow be fore the golden rod, otherwise ye shall be broken in pieces as a potter's vessel with that of iron. Flee from the covenant which gendereth to bondage, and embrace that glorious liberty wherewith the Redeemer offereth to make you free. For if the Son make you free, ye shall be free indeed. If ye be his, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise, children not of the bond woman, but of the free. May the God of all grace open your eyes, touch your hearts, draw you with the bands of love, unite you to his Son, and at last put you into the full possession of the inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for all the saints. and amen.

Amen

• Which by some are reckoned the same with the two covenants. Gerhardt.

Harm. Evang. p. 365.

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END OF THE TREATISE ON THE COVENANTS.

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A TREATISE

ON THE

NATURE OF SAVING FAITH.

ACTS xvi. 31.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt
be saved.

THESE words are an answer to the most important question that a poor sinner can put: "What must I do to be saved?" In obedience to the heavenly vision, Paul and Silas went unto Macedonia, verse 9-12.. At the city of Philippi they continued certain days preaching the gospel of salvation. On the Sabbath they went to a river side where prayer was wont to be made; and there they spake. And while the hand of the Lord was with them, Satan's rage was kindled; for a certain damsel, possessed with a spirit of divination, followed them as they went to prayer, crying, These men are the servants of the most high God, who shew unto us the way of salvation: This she did many days. This testimony though true, was intended by Satan to hurt the apostles' character, and thereby to mar their success in the work of the Lord. A testimony from such a quarter could not but tend to render them suspected as in collusion with the Pythoness. Therefore as their great Master would not allow the devils to speak, disdaining their infernal testimony, Mark i. 25,

34. so Paul, in his name, commanded the spirit to come out of the damsel, and he came out the same hour, verse 16-18. The masters of the Pythoness seeing that the hope of their gains were lost, were highly enraged at the apostles, laid hold on them, dragged them to the market place, brought them before the magistrates, and accused them as troublers of the city, and teachers of unlawful customs. The mob and the magistrates instigated by these accusers, are hurried on with the most lawless rage against Paul and Silas. Stripped of their clothes, they are mercilessly beaten, and cast into prison, the jailor receiving a charge to keep them safely. In obedience to the odious orders, he thurst them into the inner prison, and fastened their feet in the stocks, verse 19, 24. so shamefully were they treated at Philippi, 1 Thess. ii. 2. But so far were they from being dispirited, that they despised the shame, yea, rejoiced in it. Though their feet were fast in the stocks, and their backs furrowed with the lash, they sang praises to their God at midnight: and they sang aloud, for the prisoners heard them. Heaven saw their fervent devotion, and testified applause. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, the foundations of the prison were shaken, its doors thrown open, and every one's bands were loosed.

The jailor awaking, and seeing the doors so lately bolted, standing open, draws his sword, intending to be his own executioner, and thereby to evade the vengeance which he knew would soon overtake him for letting the prisoners go: for he thought they had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm; for we are all here. Then calling for a light, he sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas. He dreads the holy prisoners, and is ready to kiss the feet he so lately put in the stocks. He feels a fearful earthquake of the soul, and terror sounds aloud in its every corHis prisoners he brings forth, stung with anguish at the thought of his cruelty towards them; and propounds the interesting question, Sirs, what must

ner.

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