IV. Evanceticat Exuorration, pointing out

the divine method of a sound cure, which, though least regarded, and last tried, by most sinners, is not only effectual in some, but infallible in all cases.— Wouldst thou, serious Reader, be made whole in an - evangelical manner? ‘To thy convictions of original and actual sin must be added, a conviction of unbelief. Feel then, that thou hast neglected Christ's great sal- vation: own thou didst never ask, or never persevere in asking, the unfeigned, saving, powerful faith, by which the atonement is received and enjoyed, Rom. v. 11. Acknowledge, that the faith thou hast hitherto rested in, was. not the gift of God, that grace of his own operation, wrought in thee according to the- working of his mighty power, and mentioned, Eph. ii. 8. Col. ii. 12. Eph. i. 9. And confess it was not the right Christian faith; because it chiefly grew from the seed of prejudice and education, as the faith of . Jews and Turks; and not from the seed of divine grace and power, as the faith of St. Paul, Gal. i. 14; and because it never yielded the heavenly fruits which gospel faith infallibly produces: such as—a_ vital union with Christ, Gal. ii. 20.—the pardon of sins, Col. i. 14. Acts xii. 30.—peace with God, Rom. vy. 1.—dominion over sin, Rom. vi. 14.—victory over the world, 1 John v. 4.—the crucifixion of the flesh, Gal. v.—power to quench the fiery darts of
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the wicked, Eph. vi. 15.—joy unspeakable, 1 Pet. i. 8.—and the salvation of the soul, I Pet. i. 9. Heb. x. 39.
Be not afraid of this conviction of unbelief, for it generally goes before divine faith, as the fermentation of a grain of corn in the earth is previous to its shoot- ing its stalk towards heaven. God concludes, shuts up in unbelief, says St. Paul, that he may have merey upon us, Rom. xi. 32. When the Comforter is come, says our Lord, he will convince the world of sin, be- cause they believe not in me. This is the transgression, which peculiarly deserves the name of sin, as being the damning sin, according to the gospel, Mark xvi. 16, the sin that binds upon us the guilt of all our other iniquities, and keeps up the power of all our corrup- tions. Its immediate effect is to harden the heart, Mark xvi. 14, and make it depart from the living God, Heb. iii. 12; and this hardness and departure are the genuine parents of all our actual sins, the number and blackness of which increases and decreases, as the strength of unbelief grows or decays.
A conviction of this sin is of the utmost importance, as nothing but an affecting sense of its heinousness and power, can make us entirely weary of ourselves— nothing but a sight of its destructive nature can pre- vent our resting without a complete cure.
But when thou art once convinced of unbelief, do not increase the difficulty of believing, by imagining true faith at an immense distance. Consider it as very near thy heart. That. which convinces thee of sin and unbelief can in a moment, and with the great- est ease, convince thee of righteousness, and reveal in thee Christ the hope of glory. How quickly can the Spint take of the things that belong to him, and show them unto thee! Say not then in thy heart, Who shall ascend into heaven, or descend into the deep, to get the seed of faith? But let St. Paul show thee the new and living way. ‘‘ The word is nigh thee, says he, even in thy mouth and in thy heart, that is, the word of faith which we preach; that if thou shalt confess
484 A SERIOUS ADDRESS TO
with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and: shalt believe in thy heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved: for we are saved by faith.~ Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Hear then the word of the Lord.”
Are thy sins really grievous to thee? Is the burden of them intolerable? Wouldst thou part with it at any rate? Dost thou fully renounce thy speculative and barren faith? Hast thou received the sentence of eternal death in thy conscience, acknowledging thy case (for any thing thou canst do without Christ) help- less, hopeless, desperate? And art thou truly brought © to the grand inquiry, What must I do to be saved ? See, feel, confess, that thou standest in absolute need of a divine Physician, an almighty Redeemer; and that the God-man, Jesus Christ, joms both these ex- traordinary characters in his wonderful person. Sub- mit to be saved by grace, by free grace through his infinite merits, and not thy wretched deserts; and, instead of opposing, continually study God’s wonder- ful method of saving sinners, the worst of sinners, by faith in his blood.
There is no name but his under heaven, whereby we must be saved; neither is there cure or salvation in any other, Acts iv. 12. As by him all things were created, so by him they subsist, and by him they must be restored. The power of his word and breath, made man a living soul; and now that we are dead to God, the same power, applying his blood and righteousness, must create in us clean hearts, and renew right spirits within us. This, and this only, heals wounded con- sciences, washes polluted souls, and raises the dead in trespasses and sins.
Wouldst thou then be made whole? Determine, as St. Paul, to know nothing but Christ, and him cru- cified: aim at believing, realizing, applicatory views of what he is, and what he has done and suffered for thee. Through all the clouds of thy guilt and unbelief, which will vanish before our Sun of Righteousness, as - mists before the material sun, behold him as the Lamb
HE TRUE PENITENT. 485
of God that taketh away the sin of the world, and thine. See the immense dignity of his person: he is God over all, blessed for ever; and yet he condescends to be Emanuel, God with us, flesh of our flesh, and bone of our bone.
Consider the inexpressible value, and inconceiv- able efficacy, of his precious, all-atoning blood. It is the blood of the sacred. body, assumed by the eternal Logos, when he appeared in the likeness of sinful flesh, both as a victim and a priest, to suffer the penalty of his own righteous law for us, and to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself—the blood of the Lamb of God slain to sprinkle many nations—the blood of that mysterious Being, who fills the bosom of the Father, and the everlasting throne; at whose feet all the heavenly powers cast their crowns; and to whom, in the midst of the acclamations and adora- tions of innumerable companies of angels, in the midst of sounding trumpets, thunderings, lightnings, and voices, the spirits of just men made perfect ascribe salvation; free, full, immensely dear bought salvation; and, to say all in one word, it is the blood of God made manifest in the flesh, Acts xx. 28. 1 Tim. ii. 16. For JEnovan our righteousness, is the Seed of the woman, and the Son of man; the Godhead and | the Manhood are wonderfully joined in him: and in consequence of this mysterious union, he is not only a proper mediator between God and man, but the sole medium of reconciliation and union between. the offended Majesty of Heaven and the rebellious sons of Adam. As the brazen serpent lifted up in the wil- derness, when viewed by the wounded Israelites, was the only means by which the poison of the fiery ser- pents could be expelled, and health restored to their tortured, dying bodies; so Jesus, lifted up on the cross, when beheld by the eye of faith, as bleeding and dying in our stead, is the only way by which sin, the sting of death, can be extracted out of our guilty, perishing souls ; the only antidote that can restore us to saving health and eternal life, John ii. 14. Apply
A86 A SERIOUS ADDRESS TO
whatever we will, besides this sovereign remedy, we may poison, but can never heal, the envenomed mor- tal wound. But, remember, sinner, that faith alone can make the blessed application. Adam fell by rejecting in unbelief the word of threatening, and thou canst never rise, but by receiving in faith the word of reconcilia- _ tion, Gen. 1. 17. 2 Cor. v.19. Instead then of con- fusing thy thoughts, and scattering thy desires, by the pursuit of a variety of objects; remember that one thing is needful for thee—Christ and his salvation, received by faith: for to as manyas receive him, he gives power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. Beseech him, therefore, to manifest himself to thee by his word and Spirit. He is the author and finisher of faith, the giver of every good and perfect gift; ask of him a heartfelt confi dence, that God so loved thee, as to give his only begotten Son, that thou shouldst not perish, but have everlasting life; a firm confidence, that as the first Adam wilfully ruined thee, so he, the second Adam, freely loved thee, and gave himself for thee; and that thou hast redemption through his blood, the forgive- ness of sins, not according to thy merits, but the riches of his grace. The least degree of this divinely wrought confi- dence, will begin to attract and unite thy soul to him, who is our life and peace, our strength and righteous- ness. The everlasting gospel will then be music in thine ears, and power in thy heart. Its cheerful, solemn sound, will raise thy drooping spirits, and make thee fix the eye of thy mind on the sign of the Son of man, the uplifted banner of the cross: and O} while the self-righteous see nothing there but the de- spised, rejected, man of sorrow, what wilt thou dis- cover?—-God in Christ reconciling the world unto © himself! God manifest in the flesh, to destroy the works of the devil! Jehovah, Jesus, the captain of our salvation, treading the wine-press of the fierceness of the wrath of the Almighty! Of the people there
JHE TRUE PENITENT. A87
was none with him, therefore his own arm brought salvation unto him.
While the gospel trumpet is blown in Sion, and. the self-hardened, scoffing infidel, hears it with disdain and ridicule, what joy will ‘the awful declarations convey to thy penitent and listening soul! With what rapturous delight wilt thou hang upon the lips of the messengers of peace, the sons of consolation, who preach free salvation by the blood of Jesus! While he himself, confirming the word of his servants, says to the melting heart, with his still, small, and yet powerful, renovating voice,—Behold, I sit upon my throne making all things new—The words that I speak are spirit and life—Ido not condemn thee, thy sins are forgiven—Be thou clean—Thy faith hath saved thee—Go in peace, and sin no more. Rey. xxi. 5. John vi. 68. ‘Luke vii. 48, 50. Matt. viii. 3. John vili. 11.
And O! what will thy believing peed heart experience in that day of God’s power, and thy spi- ritual birth !—Christ, the true light of the world, the eternal life of men, coming suddenly to his temple, and filling it with the light of his countenance, and the power of his resurrection!—Christ shedding abroad in thy ravished soul, the love of thy heavenly Father, of thy bitterest enemies, and al] mankind !—In a word, the Holy Ghost given unto thee! Or, Christ dwelling in thy heart by faith! Johni. 4. 1 John v.12. Rom. viii. 15. and v..5. Gal. i. 16. Eph. i. 13. and ii. 17.
Being thus made partaker of Christ, and of the Holy Ghost, Heb. iti. 14. and vi. 4, thy loving: heart, thy praising lips, thy blameless life, will agree to testify, that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins; and that if any man is in Christ he is a new ereature ; old things are passed away, behold all things are become new. Matt. ix. 6: 2 Cor. v. 17.
Till this is thy happy experience, pray (as the drawings of the Father, and convictions of the Spirit will enable thee,) earnestly pray for living faith, for a faith that may be to thee the substance of the pardon thou hopest for, and the evidence of the great sacrifice
- 488 A SERIOUS ADDRESS TO
thou dost not see, but which our divine Surety really offered upon the cross for thee. Consider how de- plorable a thing it is, that thou shouldst be prevented from claiming, receiving, enjoying, the delightful knowledge of thy interest in the Redeemer’s death; when his pardoning love, and the word of his grace,
‘ae uae ee,» le ee
offer it thee without money and without price, and —
absolutely nothing but infatuating unbelief or spiritual sloth keeps thee from the invaluable blessing! Be not satisfied idly to wait in the divine ordinances, till thou seest the kingdom of God come with power; but, as the violent, take it by force.
Prisoner of hope, be strong, be bold, Cast off thy doubts, disdain to fear;
Dare to believe, on Christ lay hold; Wrestle with Christ i mighty prayer :
Tell him I will not let thee go,
Till I thy name, thy nature know.
Be attentive to the calls of the Spirit, and follow the drawings of the Father, till they bring thee to the Son; and keep thine eye upon the dawning light of the gospel, till the morning-star arise in thy heart. Venture, confidently venture, upon the boundless mercy of God in Jesus Christ. If a spirit of infir- mity bows thee down, yield not to it: seventy times
seven times try to arise, and look up, calling aloud
for help against it. Say, if possible, with tears, as the distrest. father in the gospel, Lord, I believe; or, Lord, I would believe, help thou my unbelief: or with tempted Job, “Though thou slay me, yet will I trust in thee.” ‘he
'In this manner knock with the earnestness of the importunate widow, till the door of faith open, and thou begin to see the salvation of God, But stop not here at the threshold of Christianity. Have boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. Goon from faith to faith, till thy day of Pentecost is fully come, till thou art endued with power from on high, baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire, and sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which Christ received
THE TRUE PENITENT. 489
ef the Father, and abundantly shed on his servants and handmaids, when he was glorified. Compare Matt. iii. 11. Eph.i. 13. John vii. 39. Acts i. 5, 8. and ii. 33, 39. and viii. 15. and’ xix. 2. John vii. 39. Tit. ii. 6.
In the mean time, use all the means of grace with an eye to their end: stir up the gift of hope that is in thee; and, to raise thy drooping expectation, receive the encouraging testimony of God’s redeemed praising people, whose hearts and tongues are ready to testify to thy ears what the following lines declare to thine eyes. . .
Ny. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. For the life was manifested, . and we have seen it, and bear witness and show unto you that eternal life, which was with.the Father, and is manifested unto us. Yes, we have found him, of whom Moses and the prophets did write. From blessed experience we declare, that the Messiah is — come, that his essence is love incarnate, his name free salvation, and his delight the eternal happiness of the children of men. He is the chief among ten thou- sand prophets, priests, kings, and saviours; he is _ altogether love. We staked our souls upon his eter- nal truth, and it was done to us, both according to his word and our faith: therefore with humble joy we declare, that he answers the prayers, and delivers the souls, of perishing sinners, as graciously as he did in the days of his flesh.
_ Upon trials, a thousand times successfully repeated, we proclaim him the help of the helpless, the hope of the hopeless, the health of the sick, the strength of the weak, the riches of the poor, the peace of the dis- quieted, the comfort of the afflicted, the light of those that sit in darkness, the companion of the desolate, the friend of the friendless, the way of the bewildered, the wisdom of the foolish, the righteousness of the ungodly, the sanctification of the unholy, the re- a hG. 3Q
490 A SERIOUS ADDRESS TO demption of captives, the joy of mourners, the glory
of the infamous, and, in a word, the salvation of
the lost.
Though he was the Creator of men and angels, |
he vouchsafed to be born of a woman, that we, the
wretched offspring of degenerate Adam, might be born again, born of God. Though he had stretched forth the heavens like a curtain, and bespangled them with stars innumerable; he wrapped himself in the scanty fading garment of our flesh, and put on the vail of our miserable humanity, that we might be invested with the glory and communicable per- fections of the divine nature. Though he was the King of kings, and Lord of lords, he did not disdain to take upon him the form and office of a servant, that we might be delivered from the slavery of Satan, and that angels might be sent forth to minister for
us, who are the heirs of salvation. Though he was -
the fulness of him who fills all in all, he worked that we might not want; and toiled, that we might rest; and endured hunger and thirst, that we might taste the hidden manna, eat the bread of life, and drink with him the mystic wine of his Fathers kingdom. His omnipotent word covers a thousand hills with verdure, and clothes millions of creatures with rich furs, glittering scales, and shining plumage; but O
infinite condescension! he submitted to be stript of —
his plain raiment, that our shame might not appear; he became naked, that we might be adorned with robes of righteousness, and garments of salvation. Though his riches were immense and unsearchable like himself, though heaven was his throne, and earth his footstool, he became poor, and was destitute of a place where to lay his head, that we might be rich in faith here, and heirs of the kingdom hereafter. Though he was, is now, and ever shall be, the joy of the heavenly powers, and the object of their deepest adoration; he was voluntarily despised of -men, that we might be honoured of God: he was acquainted too with griefs, that we might rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory. Though supreme
*
THE TRUE PENITENT. 491
Lawgiver and Judge of all, matchless love made him _ yield to be judged, and unjustly condemned at Pilate’s bar, that we might be honourably acquitted, and glo- riously rewarded, before his awful tribunal. Though archangels laid their crowns at his feet, and seraphims vailed their faces before him, unable to stand the dazzling effulgence of his glory, he suffered himself to be derided, scoffed, spit upon, scourged, and crown- ed with thorns; that we might be acknowledged, ap- plauded, embraced, and presented with never-fading crowns of righteousness and glory. The Lord of Hosts is his name; he is deservedly called, Wonderful, Coun- sellor, the everlasting Father, the mighty God, the Prince of peace. Cherubic regions fly at his nod: and yet, astonishing humiliation! his shoulders, on which is laid the government of the world, felt the infamous load of a malefactor’s cross; and barbarous soldiers, fol- lowed by an enraged mob, led him asa lamb to the slaughter, that we might be delivered from the heavy curse of the law, and gently conveyed by celestial powers into Abraham’s bosom. Let all the angels of © God worship him, is the great decree, to which the heavenly hierarchy submits with incessant transports of the most ardent devotion; and yet he was cru- cified as an execrable wretch, guilty of treason and blasphemy, that we, daring rebels and abominable sinners, might be made kings and priests unto God, partaking of his highest glory, as he partook of our deepest shame: and, to crown his loving-kindness, he expired in the midst of.rending rocks, and a super- natural darkness; that we might feel his tender mer- cies, and be indulged with the light of heaven, when we go through the dreary valley of the shadow of death, to reap the joys of eternal life.
Survey this wondrous cure :
And at each step let higher wonder rise ! Pardon for infinite offence! and pardon Through means that speak its value infinite !
A pardon bought with blood! with blood divine, With blood divine of him we made our foe! Persisted to provoke! though woo’d and aw’d.
492 A SERIOUS ADDRESS TO a
Bless’d and chastis’d, bold, flagrant rebels still ! - Bold rebels ’midst the thanders of his theonaty Nor we alone! a rebel Universe!
Yet for the foulest of the foul he dies.
But this is not all: having through the grace of God tasted death for every man, and perfumed the grave for believers,
He rose! He rose! He broke the bars of death! Oh the burst gates, crush’d sting, demolish’d throne, Last gasp of vanquish’d death! Shout, earth and heav’n, This sum of geod to man; whose nature, then, Took wing, and mounted with him from the tomb : Then, then, we rose; then first humanity, Triamphant, pass’d the chrystal gates of light.— Youne.
~ O the depth of the mystery of faith! O the breadth, ~ the length, the height, of the love of Christ! All his- stupendous humiliation, from his Father's bosom, through the virgin’s womb, to the accursed tree: all his astonishing exaltation, from the dust of the grave, and the sorrows of hell, to the joys of heaven, and the highest throne of glory: all this immense progress of incarnate love—all, all is ours! His mysterious incarnation re-unites and endears us to God; his na- tural birth procures our spiritual regeneration; his unspotted life restores us to a blissful immortality ; his bitter agony gives us calm repose; his bloody sweat washes away our manifold pollutions; his deep wounds distil the balm that heals our envenomed sores; his perfect obedience is our first title to endless felicity ; his full atonement purchases our free justification; his cruel death is the spring of immortal life; his grave, the gate of heaven; his resurrection, the pledge of glory ; his ascension, the triumph of our souls; his sitting at the right hand of the Majesty on high, the earnest of our future coronation and exalted felicity ; and his prevailing intercession, the inexhaustible foun- tain of all blessings.
Come then, conscious sinner, come to the hace of pardoning love; taste with us, that the Lord is gra-
THE TRUE PENITENT. 493
cious. Let not a false humanity detain thee, under _ pretence, that ‘‘ thou art not yet humbled and broken enough for sin.” Alas! who can humble thee, but Jesus, that says, “‘ Without me ye can do nothing?” And how canst thou be broken, but by falling upon the chief corner stone? If humiliation and contrition are parts of the salvation which he merited for thee, is is not the quintessence of self-righteousness, to attempt to attain them without him? Away then, for ever away with such a dangerous excuse.
Nor let the remembrance of thy sins keep thee from the speediest application to Jesus for grace and par- don. What! though thy crimes are of the deepest dye, and most enormous magnitude; though they are innumerable as the sand on the sea-shore, and aggra- vated by the most uncommon and horrid circum- stances, yet thou needest not despair: he has opened a fountain for sin of every kind, and uncleanness of every degree: his blood cleanses from all sin.
He is a Redeemer most eminently fitted, a Saviour most completely qualified to restore corrupt, guilty, — apostate, undone mankind; the vilest of the vile, the foulest of the foul, not excepted. He is almighty, and therefore perfectly able to restore lapsed powers, root up inveterate habits, and implant heavenly tempers. He is love itself: compassionate, merciful, pardoning Love, became incarnate for thee. And shall he, that spared not his own life, but delivered himself up for us all—shall he not, with his own blood, also freely give us all things?
Behold, O behold him with the eye of thy faith: cruelly torn with various instruments of torture, he hangs aloft on the accursed tree, between two of the most execrable malefactors; and there, insulted more than they, he bears our infamous load of guilt. He knows no sin, and yet he is made sin for us: he be- comes a curse, to redeem us from the curse of the jaw: his own self bears our sins in his own body on the tree: he is wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our
494, A SERIOUS ADDRESS TO | 5 8
peace is upon him. God hath laid on him the ini- quity of us all, and with his stripes we are healed.
See, Parpon ror Lost SINNERS, is written with pointed steel and streaming blood on his pierced hands and feet: the double flood issuing from his wounded -side, more than seals the dear-bought blessing: the hand-writing against us is nailed in his cross, and blotted out with his precious blood: his open arms invite, draw, and welcome, returning prodigals: and there encircled, the worst of sinners may find. a safe and delightful retreat, a real and present heayen. _
O sinner, let thy heart fly thither on the wings of eager expectation, and impetuous desire—By all that is near, dear, and sacred to thee, fly—-Fly from eternal ; death—Fly for eternal life. The law, violated by ten thousand transgressions, pursues thee with ten thou- sand curses: the sword of divine yengeance flames over thy devoted head: sin, the sting of death, has been a thousand times shot into thy wretched breast; its subtle and dire poison continually works in thy hardened, or distressed heart: guilt, the sting of sin—
tions, goes about as a roaring lion, seeking to ens his careless votary, or devour his desperate worshipper : death levels his pointed spear at thy thoughtless or throbbing heart: hell itself is moved from beneath, to meet thee at thy coming: and the grave gapes at thy feet, ready to close her hideous mouth upon her accursed prey. ae
Fly then, miserable sinner—If thy flesh is not brass, and thou canst not dwell with everlasting burnings, fly for shelter to the bloody cross of Jesus. There thou wilt meet him, who was and is, and is to come:
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THE TRUE PENITENT. - 495
Emanuel; God with us, who appeared as the son of man, to make his soul an offering for sin, for thy sin; and saved thy life from destruction, by losing his own in pangs, which made the sun turn pale, shook — the earth, and caused the scattered graves to give up their dead. .
He is even now near to thy heart; he stands at the door, and gently knocks by the word of his grace. If thou hearest his voice, and openest by believing, he will come in; the word of reconciliation shall be powerfully ingrafted in thy heart; thou shalt know, experimentally know, the truth, and the truth shall make thee free. Assured that he hath by himself purged thy sins, abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, _ thou shalt sup with him and he with thee; thou shalt eat the bread of God, which came down from heaven, to give life to a perishing world. Evangelical truth, re- ceived by faith, will heal, nourish, comfort, and sanc- tify the soul.
But perhaps thy guilty heart receives no conso- lation from these lines. Thou still considerest Christ only as a severe Lawgiver, or as an inflexible Judge; and not as the propitiation for thy sins, and thy gra- cious all-prevailing Advocate with the Father. O! how dost thou wrong both him and thyself, by such false conceptions! And how soon would thy gloomy fears give place to triumphant joy, if thy thoughts of him corresponded with his gracious designs concern- ing thee ! ror - Wouldest thou know him better? behold him through the glass of his word, and not through the mist of thy fears; and thou wilt see that, far from watching over thee for evil, he fixes upon thee the pits eye of his redeeming love; waits that he may
e gracious to thy soul, and calls, continually calls, for thee. O! if thou hast an ear, listen; and as thou listenest, wonder at the kind reviving words, which proceed out of his mouth. |