rapturous delight wilt thou hang upon the lips of the messengers of peace, the sons of consolation, who preach free salvation by the blood of Jesus! While he himself, "confirming the word of his servants," says to the melting heart, with his "still, small," and yet powerful, renovating "voice,' "Behold, I sit upon my throne making all things new:" "The words that I speak are spirit and life:" "I do not condemn thee, thy sins are forgiven:" "Be thou clean:" « "Thy faith hath saved thee:" "Go in peace, and sin no more," Rev. xxi, 5; John vi, 63; Luke vii, 48, 50; Matt. viii, 3; John viii, 11. And O! what will thy believing, enlarged heart experience "in that day of God's power," and thy spiritual birth! Christ, "the true light of the world, the eternal life of men, coming. suddenly to his temple, and filling it with the light of his countenance, and the power of his resurrection! Christ "shedding abroad in thy" ravished "soul, the love of thy heavenly Father," thy bitterest enemies, and all mankind! In a word, "the Holy Ghost given unto thee!" Or, "Christ dwelling in thy heart by faith," John i, 4; 1 John v, 12; Rom. viii, 15; v, 5; Gal. i, 16; Eph. i, 13; iii, 17. Being thus "made partaker of Christ," and "of the Holy Ghost," Heb. iii, 14, and vi, 4, thy loving heart, thy praising lips, thy blameless life, will agree to testify, that "the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins," and that "if any man is in Christ he is a new creature; old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new," Matt. ix, 6; 2 Cor. v, 17. Till this is thy happy experience, pray, (as the drawings of the Father and convictions of the Spirit will enable thee,) earnestly pray for living faith, for a "faith" that may be to thee "the substance of" the pardon thou❝hopest for," and "the evidence" of the great sacrifice thou" dost not see," but which our Divine Surety really offered upon the cross for thee. Consider how deplorable a thing it is that thou shouldest be prevented from claiming, receiving, enjoying the delightful knowledge of thy interest in the Redeemer's death, when his pardoning love, and "the word of his grace," offer it thee "without money and without price," and absolutely nothing but infatuating unbelief, or spiritual sloth, keeps thee from the invaluable blessing. Be not satisfied idly to wait in the Divine ordinances, till thou "seest the kingdom of God come with power;" but, as the "violent" do, "take it by force." Prisoner of hope, be strong, be bold, Cast off thy doubts, disdain to fear: Dare to believe, on Christ lay hold; Wrestle with Christ in mighty prayer: Tell him, "I will not let thee go, Till I thy name, thy nature know." Be attentive to the calls of the Spirit, and follow the drawings of the Father, till they bring thee to the Son; and keep thine eye upon the dawning light of the Gospel, till "the morning star arise in thy heart." Venture, confidently venture upon the boundless mercy of God in Jesus Christ. If a spirit of infirmity bows thee down, yield not to it; "seventy times seven times" try to arise and look up, calling aloud for help against it. Say, if possible "with tears," as the distressed father in the Gospel, "Lord, I believe," or, Lord, I would believe, "help thou my unbelief:" or with tempted Job, Though thou slay me, yet will I trust in thee." In this manner knock, with the earnestness of the importunate widow, till the door of faith open, and thou begin to "see the salvation of God." But stop not here at the threshold of Christianity. "Have boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus." Go on "from faith to faith," till thy "day of pentecost is fully come," till thou art "endued with power from on high, baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire," and "sealed with that holy Spirit of promise," which Christ "received of the Father," and "abundantly shed on his servants and handmaids," when he was "glorified :" compare Matt. iii, 11; Eph. i, 13; John vii, 39; Acts i, 5, 8, and ii, 33, 39, and viii, 15, and xix, 2; John vii, 39; Tit. iii, 6. In the meantime use all the means of grace with an eye to their end; "stir up the gift" of hope "that is in thee;" and, to raise thy drooping expectation, receive the encouraging testimony of God's redeemed, praising people, whose hearts and tongues are ready to testify to thy ears what the following lines declare to thine eyes. V. "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life which was with the Father, and is manifested unto us." Yes, "we have found him, of whom Moses and the prophets did write." From blessed experience we declare that the Messiah is come, and his essence is love incarnate, his name Free Salvation, and his delight the eternal happiness of the children of men. "He is the chief among ten thousand" prophets, priests, kings, and saviours; "he is altogether lovely." We staked our souls upon his eternal truth, and it was done to us both according to his word and our faith. Therefore, with humble joy we declare, that he answers the prayers, and delivers the souls of perishing sinners, as graciously as he did in the days of his flesh. Upon trials, a thousand times successfully repeated, we proclaim him the help of the helpless, the hope of the hopeless, the health of the sick, the strength of the weak, the riches of the poor, the peace of the disquieted, the comfort of the afflicted, the light of those that sit in darkness, the companion of the desolate, the friend of the friendless, the way of the bewildered, the wisdom of the foolish, the righteousness of the ungodly, the sanctification of the unholy, the redemption of captives, the joy of mourners, the glory of the infamous, and, in a word, the salvation of the lost. Though he was the Creator of men and angels, he vouchsafed to be born of a woman, that we, the wretched offspring of degenerate Adam, might be born again, born of God. Though he had stretched forth the heavens like a curtain, and bespangled them with stars innumerable, he wrapped himself in the scanty, fading garment of our flesh, and put on the veil of our miserable humanity, that we might be invested with the glory and communicable perfections of the Divine nature. Though he was the King of kings and Lord of lords, he did not disdain to take upon him the form and office of a servant, that we might be delivered from the slavery of Satan, and that angels might be sent forth to minister for us, who are the heirs of salvation. Though he was the "fulness of him who fills all in all," he worked that we might not want; toiled, that we might rest; and endured hunger and thirst, that we might taste the hidden manna, eat the bread of life, and drink with him the mystic wine of his Father's kingdom. His omnipotent word covers a thousand hills with verdure, and clothes millions of creatures with rich furs, glittering scales, and shining plumage; but, O infinite condescension! he submitted to be stripped of his plain raiment, that our shame might not appear; he became naked, that we might be adorned with robes of righteousness and garments of salvation. Though his riches were immense and unsearchable like himself, though heaven was his throne and earth his footstool, he became poor, and was destitute of a place where to lay his head, that we might be rich in faith here, and heirs of the kingdom hereafter. Though he was, is now, and ever shall be the joy of the heavenly powers, and the object of their deepest adoration; he was voluntarily despised of men, that we might be honoured of God: he was acquainted too with griefs, that we might rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Though supreme Lawgiver and Judge of all, matchless love made him yield to be judged, and unjustly condemned at Pilate's bar, that we might be honourably acquitted, and gloriously rewarded before his awful tribunal. Though archangels laid their crowns at his feet, and seraphim veiled their faces before him, unable to stand the dazzling effulgence of his glory, he suffered himself to be derided, scoffed, spit upon, scourged, and crowned with thorns; that we might be acknowledged, applauded, embraced, and presented with never-fading crowns of righteousness and glory. "The Lord of Hosts" is his name; he is deservedly called, "Wonderful, Counsellor, the everlasting Father, the mighty God, the Prince of Peace;" cherubic legions fly at his nod; and yet, astonishing humiliation! "his shoulders, on which is laid the government" of the world, felt the infamous load of a malefactor's cross; and barbarous soldiers, followed by an enraged mob, led him as a lamb to the slaughter, that we might be delivered from the heavy curse of the law, and gently conveyed by the celestial powers into Abraham's bosom. "Let all the angels of God worship him," is the great decree to which the heavenly hierarchy submits with incessant transports of the most ardent devotion: and yet he was crucified as an execrable wretch, guilty of treason and blasphemy, that we, daring rebels and abominable sinners, might be "made kings and priests unto God," partaking of his highest glory, as he partook of our deepest shame and, to crown his loving kindness, he expired in the midst of rending rocks and a supernatural darkness; that we might feel his tender mercies, and be indulged with the light of heaven, when we go through the dreary valley of the shadow of death, to reap the joys of eternal life. Survey this wondrous cure; Nor we alone! a rebel universe! Yet for the foulest of the foul he dies. But this is not all: having "through the grace of God tasted death for every man," and perfumed the grave for believers, He rose! He rose! He broke the bars of death! O the burst gates, crush'd sting, demolish'd throne, Last gasp of vanquish'd death! Shout, earth and heaven, Took wing, and mounted with him from the tomb! YOUNG. O the depth of the mystery of faith! O tne breadth, the length, the height of the love of Christ! All his stupendous humiliation from his Father's bosom, through the virgin's womb, to the accursed tree; all his astonishing exaltation, from the dust to the grave, and the sorrows of hell to the joys of heaven, and the highest throne of glory; all this immense progress of incarnate love,-all, all is ours! His mysterious incarnation re-unites and endears us to God; his natural birth procures our spiritual regeneration; his unspotted life restores us to a blissful immortality; his bitter agony gives us calm repose; his bloody sweat washes away our manifold pollutions; his deep wounds distil the balm that heals our envenomed sores; his perfect obedience is our first title to endless felicity; his full atonement purchases our free justification; his cruel death is the spring of immortal life; his grave the gate of heaven; his resurrection the pledge of glory; his ascension the triumphs of our souls; his sitting at the right hand of the Majesty on high the earnest of our future coronation and exalted felicity; and his prevailing intercession the inexhaustible fountain of all our blessings. Come then, conscious sinner, come to the feast of pardoning love; taste with us that the Lord is gracious. Let not a false humility detain thee, under pretence that "thou art not yet humbled and broken enough for sin." Alas! who can humble thee but Jesus, that says, "Without me ye can do nothing?" And how canst thou be broken, but by falling upon this chief corner Stone? If humiliation and contrition are parts of the salvation which he merited for thee, is it not the quintessence of self righteousness to attempt to attain them without him? Away then, for ever away, with such a dangerous excuse! Nor let the remembrance of thy sins keep thee from the speediest application to Jesus for grace and pardon. What! though thy crimes are of the deepest dye and most enormous magnitude; though they are innumerable as the sand on the sea shore, and aggravated by the most uncommon and horrid circumstances; yet thou needest not despair: he has "opened a fountain for sin" of every kind, "and uncleanness" of every degree: "his blood cleanses from all sin." He is a Redeemer most eminently fitted, a Saviour most completely qualified to restore corrupt, guilty, apostate, undone mankind; the vilest of the vile, the foulest of the foul, not excepted. He is Almighty, and therefore perfectly able to restore lapsed powers, root up inveterate habits, and implant heavenly tempers. He is love itself; compassionate, merciful, pardoning love, become incarnate for thee. And shall he, that spared not his own life but delivered himself up for us all,-shall he not with his own blood also freely give us all things! Behold, O behold him with the eye of thy faith! cruelly torn with various instruments of torture, he hangs aloft on the accursed tree, between two of the most execrable malefactors; and there, insulted more than they, he bears our infamous load of guilt. "He knows no sin," and yet "he is made sin for us :" he "becomes a curse to redeem us from the curse of the law; his own self bears our sins in his own body on the tree; he is wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace is upon him. God hath laid on him the iniquity of us all, and with his stripes we are healed." See, PARDON FOR LOST SINNERS is written with pointed steel and streaming blood on his pierced hands and feet; the double flood issuing from his wounded side more than seals the dear-bought blessing: the hand writing against us is nailed to his cross and blotted out with his precious blood; his open arms invite, draw, and welcome returning prodigals; and there encircled, the worst of sinners may find a safe and delightful retreat, a real and present heaven. O sinner, let thy heart fly thither on the wings of eager expectation and impetuous desire. By all that is near, dear, and sacred to thee,— fly from eternal death,-fly for eternal life. The law, violated by ten thousand transgressions, pursues thee with ten thousand curses: the sword of Divine vengeance flames over thy devoted head: sin, the sting of death, has been a thousand times shot into thy wretched breast; its subtle and dire poison continually works in thy hardened or distressed heart: guilt, the sting of sin, the never-dying worm, perpetually benumbs thy stupid soul or gnaws thy restless conscience: raging lusts, those sparks of the fire of hell, which nothing but the blood of the cross can quench; or fierce passions, those flashes of infernal lightning, that portend an impending storm, frequently break out in thy benighted soul; a heart-felt pledge of tormenting flames: Satan, whom thou hast perhaps invoked by horrid imprecations, goes about as a roaring lion, seeking to ensnare his careless votary, or devour his desperate worshipper: death levels his pointed spear at thy thoughtless or throbbing heart: hell itself is moved from beneath to meet thee at thy coming; and the grave gapes at thy feet, ready to close her hideous mouth upon her accursed prey. Fly then, miserable sinner, if thy flesh is not brass, and thou canst not dwell with everlasting burnings, fly for shelter to the bloody cross of Jesus. There thou wilt meet "Him who was, and is, and is to come:" "Immanuel, God with us," who appeared as the Son of man, to "make his soul an offering for sin," for thy sin; and saved thy life from destruction by losing his own in pangs, which made the sun turn pale, shook the earth, and caused the shattered graves to give up their dead. He is even now near to thy heart; he stands at the door and gently knocks by the word of his grace. If thou hearest his voice, and openest by believing, he will come in; the word of reconciliation shall be powerfully ingrafted in thy heart; thou shalt know, experimentally know the truth, and the truth shall make thee free. Assured that he hath by himself purged thy sins, abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel, thou shalt sup with him and he with thee; thou shalt eat the bread of God which came down from |