the cure for your disease of sin, is only to be found in that Sacrifice or Atonement which was offered for you and all mankind, by the death of Jesus Christ upon the Cross; by which you are put into such a state, that you may work out your own salvation; and may humbly, but confidently hope, that the blessing of God will assist your holy endeavours.

Dearly beloved Brother, I heartily beseech you to consider this thing well.All your future hopes of mercy depend upon this alone, for there is none other name under Heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved, neither is there salvation in any other. Acts 4.

"This is the foundation of the Christian Religion, that when man had sinned and was utterly unable to make any satisfaction for his sin, or to do any thing by which he might blot out the sins he had committed, God sent his own Son to take upon him our flesh, to be made man, and in the nature of man, (that is the same nature that had offended,) to make full satisfaction for the sins of the world by his perfect obedience,

and the sacrifice of himself upon the Cross." Leslie.

It must be considered, that God is not only just, he is justice itself, and justice, by its very nature, must punish even to the very least offence, and exact the last farthing, for otherwise it is not justice. To forgive belongs to mercy, not to justice, and as God is perfect in every thing, how shall mercy and justice stand together?

This question never could have been answered, nor should we have been able to reconcile justice with mercy, if God himself had not taught us how to do so in the Gospel. It is completely done by the redemption of Christ; by his perfect obedience and suffering in the same flesh that offended. How or why this method was chosen, is not for us to enquire, but we see his mercy softening, yet exalting his justice; his justice shewing his mercy more glorious and extensive.

That God would be appeased with sacrifice is a notion that has prevailed over the whole world, ever since the creation. And the belief that without shedding of blood,

there would be no forgiveness or remission, introduced and has kept up among the Heathen nations to this day, the shocking custom of offering human sacrifices in order to obtain the favour of God, or turn away his anger.

See how plainly the atonement, this reconciliation, this message of peace, is declared in the Bible. "You who were before alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable in his sight." 1 Coloss.

Now, in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were afar off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ. Of which words the plain meaning is, that we who were once enemies, children of wrath, and out of favour by sin, are, by the Sacrifice of Christ, restored and brought home to the favour of God. having made peace by the blood of his

"cross.

He

Christ

I lay down my life for the sheep. hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us. Who his own-

self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we being dead to sin, should live unto righteousness. Ye were as sheep going astray, but now are returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. Christ hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot. And the glorified saints in heaven make it their rejoicing song of praise to their Saviour: Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us unto God by thy blood, out of every kindred and nation.-Since then you are redeemed, and bought with such a price as the precious blood of Christ, and have encouragement to approach him in prayer, your sad condition, more especially, calls upon you to be more grateful to him, and to rejoice, that through him you may, with a truly penitent heart, have access to the Father of Mercies, and that a door of mercy is still open to you, through Jesus Christ; yet temper your rejoicing with fear for your manifold and manifold and great sins.

Let this

prayer assist your

devotion.

PRAYER.

O ALMIGHTY God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whose meritorious death and sufferings, a door is still open for the penitent sinner to the throne of grace, with humble repentance and with trembling fear, I fly to thee for pardon and forgiveness. O Lord, my carnal will hath been at enmity with thee, and the burden of my sins still presseth me sore. All flesh is corrupt before thee, and I am loaded with no common weight of offences. Before the cross of my Saviour, enable me, by thy grace, to shake off my sins, and my spirit to ascend to thee, unfettered by iniquity. My sins, though they be red as crimson, let them through my Saviour's suffering become as white as wool; through his precious death alone it is, that I dare lift up my voice to thee, I have sinned, I have done wickedly, what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men. Subdue, I beseech thee, the law in my members, war