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all eternity; though the heavens might declare to them the glory of God, and the firmament shew his handy-work; though the beauty and harmony of the universe, the regularity and order in which all things are supported and governed, might display the guidance and beneficence of an all-seeing Providence; yet these could never trace the wisdom and goodness of the almighty Father in planning the great scheme of man's redemption by Jesus Christ; this alone could be brought to light by that divine revelation, from which we know the great love of God towards mankind in every age of the world, from the times of the patriarchs and prophets, till the fulness of time was come, in which he spake more clearly by his Son.

Nor are the scriptures of less importance in clearing up the nature of our present state and future expectations. They declare to us our natural degeneracy and corruption, the wretched fruits of guilt and disobedience: they justly. represent to us the folly of our imaginations, the unruliness of our passions, the stubbornness of our wills, the deceitfulness of our hearts; and what is of most importance, they fully assure us of the dangerous tendency of our corrupt inclinations, by pronouncing that "the wages of sin "'is death."

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And as to our future expectations, they not only teach us, that the soul for ever lives after its departure from the body, but that the body itself also shall be raised incorruptible, and botli be partakers of everlasting happiness or misery. In order to which, they plainly reveal a judgment to come, in which God shall lay open the secrets of all hearts; in which every one shall give an account of the improvement of those talents they have been entrusted with, and be accordingly rewarded or punished. And they do not only discover to us the different nature of vice and virtue here, and the different states of happiness and misery which await them hereafter, but also acquaint us with the means whereby we may attain the one, and avoid the other. They point out a new and living way, whereby our sins may be pardoned, and we may be restored to the favour of God; even through Him whom he hath appointed to be a propitiation for the sins of the whole world. They inform us, that through him we may draw near unto God with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience: that through his merits and mediation we may not only hope for grace to subdue our sins, to resist temptations, to conquer the world, the flesh, and the devil; but also, that having fought this good fight, and finished our

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course by patient continuance in well-doing, we may look for glory, honour, and immortality in the life to come.

What things then can be of greater importance for man to know, or God to reveal, than the nature of God and of ourselves, the state and condition of our souls, the way to avoid misery, and enjoy a state of eternal happiness? These are certainly doctrines of the noblest nature, and are, if any can be so, capable of affording us hope!

We shall farther see the use and comfort of the scriptures, if we consider the manner in which they are delivered to us.

And first, they are delivered plainly, distinctly, and clearly. Not but that there are in them some passages hard to be understood, as being delivered either in a prophetic ftile, under doubtful expressions, or containing mysteries above our finite comprehensions: but all those things which are necessary to be believed or done, in order to our salvation, are delivered to us with the greatest evidence and clearness. For what does the Lord require of us, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God; to repent us heartily of our past sins, and to

have a lively and stedfast faith in the merits of our Redeemer.

These are truths so plain and clear, that nothing less than voluntary ignorance can hinder men from understanding them. And indeed nothing can be more absurd than to suppose, that God hath prescribed any duties which cannot be understood; or that when it was his merciful intention to discover to men the terms and conditions on which he would save them, he should do it in a manner exceeding the bounds of our understanding. On the contrary, we may conclude, as the Apostle observes, that if "the

Gospel be hid, it is hid to thein alone who are "lost; whose minds the god of this world hath blinded, lest the light of the glorious Gospel "of Christ should shine unto them."

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Secondly, The things contained in the scrip tures are delivered in a powerful manner; with such a voice of authority, that they do not so much intreat as command our acceptance: The expressions in which our duty is contained are such as awe men's consciences and penetrate their very hearts and secret thoughts. Before this word of God all things are open and naked: it is quick and powerful, and sharper than a twoedged

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edged sword, piercing to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit: it comes armed with the majesty of God, and therefore, like him, enforces reverence, and carries with it irresistible conviction and efficacy.

Thirdly, The things contained in scripture are delivered in the most persuasive and convincing terms. They speak of all things necessary to be done by us in a way agreeable to the lowest capacity; they use the most familiar expressions and comparisons, that they may find the easier admission into men's minds: they propose things as our interest, which are our duty: they alJure us to do what we are in conscience obliged to do: hence it is, that God so often in scripture recommends our duties to us under all those motives which are likely to make the greatest impression upon our minds, and annexes gracious promises to our performance of them; promises of the greatest weight and concern; such as his grace, his favour, protection, deliverance from present evils, and eternal life. God calls and exhorts men to obedience, when he might not only command us to obey, but inflict immediate punishment for our disobedience. Hence are those affectionate strains we so often meet with in scripture; "Oh! that my people

"would

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