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in the name of the Lord, breathe forth? It is an expression wonderfully rich in goodness and love. It intimates that he, who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will, and who doth whatsoever he pleaseth both in heaven and in earth, is no less ready to pardon than he is to punish; yea, more ready to pardon, for he delighteth in mercy; and to give the strongest proof possible of his compassion towards sinners, he sent his only-begotten Son into the world, to take our nature upon him, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all who believe in him might not perish, but have everlasting life. Through this dear Redeemer there is ample room for the display of Mercy without the infringement of Justice; for God having solemly engaged himself not to let sin go unpunished, caused to light upon him the iniquities of us all. He bore our sins in his own body on the tree, and by his stripes we are healed. Considering, then, the abundance of Mercy that was stored up in the bosom of God for the benefit of sinners, the Apostle would not pray in vain that it might be bestowed on the deserving; that is, on those who felt their want of it, those, who were fully sensible of their sinfulness, and who, had they even been cast into * Peter, ii. 24:

hell itself, would have been constrained to say, Just and righteous art thou, O Lord, in all thy ways."

3. Another blessing, accompanying Grace and Mercy, is Peace, which is a sweet com. posure of spirit, arising from a well-founded sense of the Divine favour. It proceeds from the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father, and which beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God,* and must be waited for with humility and prayer. If Titus, and the other Christians, to whom Paul addressed himself, could have laid claim to peace as their own property, and have kept possession of it, as long as they pleased, there would have been no necessity to have besought the Lord to bestow it on them; but well did those holy men know, that all comfort cometh from God, that when he withdraws his presence, all is dark and gloomy, and that, when He again lifts up the light of his countenance, joy and cheerfulness return. Is there any thing, my brethren, in all the world, that is calculated to afford more content to your minds than the persuasion that you are at peace with God? Suppose you have every worldly gratification that your heart can wish; a splendid mansion and costly furniture, variety of raiment to cover

* Romans, viii, 15, 16.

and adorn the body, a table spread with dainties, and an appetite sufficiently keen to enjoy whatever you may be indulged with: Suppose every person and every thing round about you contributing to your ease, and conspiring to increase your satisfaction: Suppose all this, and more than this, if ought beside can be wanting to make you a more envied mortal, yet suppose withal, that you have no wellfounded hope of the favour of God, but rather a suspicion that your soul is not in a state of safety, can you really enjoy peace, and can your condition be esteemed enviable by persons of sound sense and understanding? I think not; and allow me to assure you that though youshould toil night and day, and try ten thousand schemes to make you happy, you never will obtain what you seek for till you find Peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. That is "the Peace, which passeth all understanding," and for that we pray at the close of all our Sermons, as well as at other times, being heartily desirous that it may take possession of you souls. I am now to remind you

4. From whence the gifts of Grace, Mercy, and Peace proceed. They flow forth, as the Apostle takes care to inform us, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

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They come from God our Father. Many people entertain strange notions concerning God. They imagine him to be a cruel tyrant, who delighteth only to enact rigorous laws, severely to judge the transgressors of them, and to punish, without pity, the unhappy criminals. And it is true that God is angry with the wicked every day, and that he threateneth to rain down upon them storm and tempest, fire and brimstone; nevertheless we have authority from the Scriptures to say, that this same God is Love, that he is very pitiful, and of tender mercy, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to the knowledge of the Truth, and be saved. Seeing the case is so, when ever we think of our sins, as frequently, if blessed with tenderness of conscience, we shall do, wishing if it were possible, to undo all that has been done, and whenever we think that the God who made us and governs us, is a God loving justice and taking vengeance; whenever, I say,we so think, we must remember that as Christians, we have a right to entertain other thoughts also. We have a right to contemplate Righteousness and Peace meeting together, Mercy and Truth embracing each other. We should bid our desponding thoughts begone, and think only of the Grace, Mercy, and

Peace, which flow from the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in. him, our Father also.

Parents!-What do you wish for your children? Is it not that they may be blessed and happy? This they shall be, if you have any goodness in you, according to your power, which may perhaps be but small; but the case is not so with your heavenly Father. He has all power; and, when he chooses to exercise it, none shall be able to restrain him.

Remember again, that the gifts of which I have been speaking proceed from the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. Think of him as one who bore our nature, was exercised with our temptations, and was oppressed with our infirmities. Think of him as a friend, and as a brother. Think of his tears-for Jesus wept;" of his prayers, and of his cries for your salvation. Think of all these things, and then say, if his bosom be not an ocean of love, and if aught but grace, mercy, and peace can flow forth from him?

On your souls, my brethren, may there be Grace, Mercy, and Peace, from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. Why have not all of you these blessings? How is it, that all of you do not magnify the Lord? How is it, that your spirits do not rejoice in

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