F we confefs our Sins, he is faithful and juft to forgive us our Sins, and to cleanfe us from all Unrighteousness. 1 John i. 9. Comfortable Words these to a Sinner! whom the Sight of his Sins cafts into a Dread of the Judgements of God. A Confeffion which is humble and fincere can fecure him from them; but to make it fuch, it must proceed from the Hatred of Sin, and from the Love of God. Both these are the Fruit of the Blood of Christ; and to that adorable Blood God owes, as one may fay, the Salvation of the converted Sinner, both by the Juftice of the Redemption, and by his Faithfulness to his free and voluntary Promises. Father, I now my Sin confefs O may thy fweet implanted Love, WHICH (Faith) fome profeffing, have erred concerning the 1 1 Tim. vi. 21. What is the ordinary Fruit of a vain Curiofity, and of a Philofophy full of Pride and Prefumption, but a fatal erring concerning the Faith? That which puffs up the Mind, fills it with Vanity, and renders it incapable of that Humility which Faith requires, cannot but be the Deftruction thereof. The most holy Inftructions do not fanctify a Man, if Grace do not cause him to practise them. Let us open our Ears to the Word delivered by Men; let us open our Hearts to the Grace of God. But who can open thefe, but he alone who openeth, and no Man fhutteth, and fhutteth, and no Man openeth? Open thou, O Lord, that Heart which thou defigneft to fill with thy Truths, and caufe me to love them, to preferve them with Care, and to practise them with Fidelity. The Caution is not vain: We may unfaithful prove, And turn from God, to Sin again, Yet will we boldly prefs T'ward our high Calling's Prize, S we faid before, fo fay I now again, If any Man preach any other Gospel unto you, than that ye have received, let him be accurfed, Gal. i. 9. The Apostle cannot poffibly be filent concerning the Unity, Purity, and Immutability of the Gospel. Let us not fear, left we should carry this Matter too far, fo long as we follow JESUS CHRIST and his Apostles. The Gospel of CHRIST is crucified between two Thieves: namely, the Jews, who render it more difficult, by adding thereto the infupportable Burden of the Law; and wicked Chriftians, who would fain render it more easy, by leffening the amiable Yoke of the Crofs. Nature defends itself fufficiently against the former, and Grace ought to give us an Abhorrence of the latter. Ye that pafs by, behold the Man! Beneath my Load he faints and dies, The Man of Griefs! condemn'd for you, I fill'd his Soul with Pangs unknown, The LAMB of GOD! for Sinners flain, I caus'd these mortal Groans and Cries, Weeping to Calfary pursue. I kill'd the Father's only Son. His facred Limbs they stretch, they tare, O thou dear fuffering Son of God, How doth thy Heart to Sinners move? Help me to tafte thy dying Love. ROW in Grace, and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift: To him be Glory both now, and for ever. Amen. 2 Pet. iii. 18. What do we here below, if we advance not daily in the Knowledge and the Love of Jefus Chrift.. Paul may plant, and Apollos may water, but none but Thou, Lord, can give the Increase, which we beg of thee. Work it in us by thy Grace that we may render to thee the Glory thereof in Time and in Eternity. It is to thee alone it entirely belongs. Praise to thy Name, Eternal God, Make all thy potent Virtues known, For all the Grace Thou shed'ft abroad, To chear a Plant so much thy own. D BEhold, he cometh with Clouds; and every Eye fhall fee him, and they alfo which pierced him; and all Kindreds of the Earth fhall wail because of him: even fo, Amen. Rev. i. 7. Happy that Perfon, who prevents the Wrath of God, by fixing the Eye of a lively Faith upon Jefus Chrift crucified, and judgeth himself before the Lord comes to judge him. --- God seems to conceal his Power at prefent, and to yield to Sinners; but in how dreadful a Manner will he avenge himself upon them at the last Day! The Death of our bleffed Saviour is the Confequence of Sin; and the Caufe of the Sinner's Converfion, but it will be then the Confufion and Punishment of the Unbeliever. Grant, O Jefus, that it may be our Confidence and our Refuge! Defcending on his azure Throne, Shout all the People of the Sky, |