[CASE IX. to mention three important Particulars concerning the View in which the Gospel proposes, and true Faith receives, Chrift: Namely, (1.) As a free Saviour. (2.) As the only Saviour. (3.) As a compleat Saviour.

(1.) As a free Saviour. Some Persons, in their first Application to Chrift, endeavour to perfuade themselves of an Intereft in him, because they think they have fomething in themselves, or have done fomething by themselves, that will recommend them to his Regard. This they feek after, and can never think they have a Right to lay hold of him, until they can find something of this Nature in them: And thus they hope in him, not as a free, but as a conditional Saviour. Now, if this be the first Ground of your Hope, it is a proud, and therefore a falfe or fufpicious one: Whereas every Soul, that hopes in Chrift aright, fees itself to be utterly unworthy of, and unprepared for Chrift, and runs to him. as a Saviour entirely free. Now, if you fee and feel yourselves utterly unworthy, guilty, weak, and polluted, and have nothing in yourselves to hope in, but endeavour to hope in Chrift as a free Saviour; this Endeavour is by no Means prefumptuous. See here how compleatly the Scale is turned from what Unbelief would fuggeft. A discouraged, diftreffed Person is apt to think it prefumptuous for him to hope about an Interest in Chrift, unless he fees or can find fomething within him to encourage that Expectation: Whereas, if he imagined any Thing within him as the Ground of his Encouragement, this very Circumftance tends to render the whole fufpicious. Is it prefumptuous to receive a free Gift, to plead a free Promife, to come upon a free Invitation, to build upon a free Foundation? Surely no. Whereas, if you are determined to force a Condition

upon

upon Chrift, or to come with a Price in your Hands to him, this is what Christ will reject and disdain.

(2.) As the only Saviour. If you hope you have an Intereft in Chrift, but don't make him the whole of your Salvation, but are for joining along with him your own Duties, Righteoufnefs, Qualifications, or 'Attainments, this will be found a falfe or fufpicious Hope. But, if you truft in him alone, cafting afide all your own Strength and Righteoufnefs, as bearing any Share in your Juftification; then the Language of your Heart correfponds with the Sentiments of the pious Pfalmift, whofe Soul was built upon a right Foundation. Pfal. Ixii. 5. My Soul, wait thou only upon God; for my Expectation is from him. And if you can heartily fay, as in the next Verfe, He only is my Rock and my Salvation; you may add what immediately follows, He is my Defence; I fhall not be moved.

(3.) As a compleat Saviour. Chrift and his Salvation are entirely free: But, if there be any Condition allowable, it is this. If you would have Chrift, you must have a whole Chrift; if you would have Salvation, you must have a compleat Salvation. Chrift is not divided, nor his Salvation neither. If you are for but half a Chrift; for his Righteousness and Blood to pardon and justify you, but not for his Spirit and Grace to renew and fanctify you; your Hope in him is falfe and dangerous. But, if it be your Defire and Aim to receive him whole and entire ; to receive his Doctrines, Inftructions, and Illuminations, as a Prophet; to receive his Righteousness and Merit, as a Priest; and to receive or fubmit to his Government, and Sin-fubduing Grace, as a King; you need not fear to hope in him.

Thus, as Chrift ftands in the Gofpel under the Character of a free and compleat Saviour, and the only one, we are to hope in him accordingly. Once more,

5. 'Tis

5. 'Tis prefumptuous to perfuade ourselves of an Intereft in Chrift, if the Perfuafion be contrary to the Defigns of the Gospel and its Promises. These Designs may be thus briefly expreffed; to humble the Sinner, to glo rify the Saviour, to purify the Heart, and to comfort the Soul. Now then, do you endeavour to hope concerning an Intereft in Jefus Chrift? Afk your Souls what is your Defign in this Attempt and Endeavour; Is it to have your State fafe, and your Confcience easy, in the Way of Sin? Is it that you may be rendered able to justify yourfelves in Part by your own Righteousness, or to fanctify yourselves by your own Strength? Is it to gratify your Pride, that you may be able to make fuch a Profeffion, or perform fuch Services, as may make your Name honourable? If fuch as these are Motives of your Defire and Endeavour to know your Intereft in Chrift, they are all deteftable and deftructive.

But, if your Defires to have, and to know that you have, an Intereft in Chrift, be fuch as these; that you may be more fpiritual in your Frames, enjoy holy Confolation in your Souls; may be more pure in Heart and Life; may live more entirely upon Chrift for Righteoufnefs and Strength; may be humble in yourselves, and exalted alone in Chrift's Grace and Righteousness; may be able to honour Chrift more, ferve him better, and may have more Strength for, and more Delight in fpiritual Duties: Surely, fuch Endeavours, fuch Defires, and fuch Hopes are lawful, are laudable, and are by no Means presumptuous. And what, though you may fee little in yourselves but Reason to doubt and question Intereft; yet your be not afraid, with fuch Views and Defires as these are, to lay hold of Chrift for yourselves, and to lay an humble Claim to him; and you will find, that nothing will be more helpful to regulate your

2.

Ways,

Ways, to fubdue your Sins, to ftrengthen you for Duty and to render you capable every Way to glorify Chrift, (which are the very Things you defire) than a real Hope and hearty Belief that Chrift is yours, and you his.

But you will, perhaps, ftill be ready to fay, How can I hope or believe that I have an Intereft in Chrift, when I have no Evidence in myself to prove it? I anfwer, This is only an abstract Argument, which is urged by carnal Reason, on Purpose to promote discouraging Unbelief, and to hinder a Gospel-Hope. Is there no fuch Thing as hoping against Hope? Is not Chrift fet before you as the only Saviour, and as a compleat Saviour, and as one entirely free? Look then into the Proposals and Promifes of the Gofpel; and in them, though not in yourselves, you will find Ground fufficient to encourage your Application to Chrift, and your Application of him to yourselves, for your Confolation, Sanctification, and Salvation.

CASE

XXXXX

CASE X.

XXXXXXX

Is going to Plays and other theatrical Performances confiftent with the Profeffion and Practice of Christianity?

THE Anfwer to this Queftion, you will find, is in Confequence of the following Letter:

Reverend Sir,

Ito

HAVE often been afked by my Acquaintance to go to a Play. But, having had the Bleffing of a "religious Education, and the good Example of pious "Relations; and being apprehenfive that fuch Diverfions tend to diminish, if not entirely to extinguish, "the Zeal we fhould have for the Honour of God, " and the Purity of Religion; to eradicate all ferious "Impreffions, to cloud our Evidences, and to make << us careless about our precious and immortal Souls, "and remotely incline to Impurity and Irreligion; I "have hitherto refifted their Solicitations. But their "Entreaties becoming more frequent, and there being many truly religious Perfons, who have gone, and "ftill do at Times go to the Theatre, my Resolutions are almoft broken; therefore beg you will refolve the "above Query."

HE Question I am now called to answer, needs not much Confideration; it being, I apprehend, evident at first View, that going to Plays and fuch pleafing Entertainments cannot be suitable to our Character as Chriftians,

as