lofs or dung, that he may win Chrift; and be found in him, not having his own righteoufnefs," which could avail him nothing, "but the rightcoufnefs of Chrift," which will entitle him, through grace, to eternal glory. He looks for happiness, not to the things which are feen, but to the things which are not feen; for the things which are feen, are temporal; but the things which are not feen, are eternal.

Happy they who have this faith, for to them are the promifes fure. Happy they who fincerely defire to have it; who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they fhall be filled. Such only have a well grounded hope, that they are in a state of falvation. For they who are indifferent about these things, who look upon them merely as matters of opinion; or, who feeing their neceffity, do not purfue them as the one thing needful; do not feek first the kingdom of God and his righteoufnefs, they have no part nor lot in this matter. They may be infenfible, and fo at eafe, notwithstanding their wants, but their cafe is dreadfully dangerous; "for he that hath the Son, hath life; and he that hath not the Son, hath not life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

DISCOURSE

VI.

ON JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH ONLY.

JOHN iii. 14, 15.

As Mofes lifted up the ferpent in the wilderness; even fo muft the Son of man be lifted up; that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

IT

T has been proved, that there is no way discovered in Scripture to obtain the pardon of fin, and find acceptance with God, but by trufting to the death and merits of Jefus Chrift; and that the doctrine of juftification by faith only, is fo far from encouraging licentioufnefs, that it is infeparably connected with holiness in heart and life. It may not therefore be improper to confider now, a little more at large, that glorious scheme of falvation, which God in his manifold wifdom and infinite mercy contrived for the recovery of fallen man. We read in this chapter, "The Son of man was lifted up, that whofoever believeth in him fhould not perish. The Son of man was lifted up, that whofoever believeth in him might

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might have eternal life." So that Chrift was crucified according to this Scripture, for these two purpofes chiefly, to obtain for others a deliverance from the punishment due unto fin, and a title to eternal life. And these are purchased by his obedience unto death, for all who come unto God through him. It was proved at large, that, by Adam's firft tranfgreffion, all mankind were brought under a fentence of condemnation he being their covenant-head, and they, in confequence, being involved in all the dreadful effects of his difobedience. Τα our guilt, occafioned by the imputation of his fin to us, we have added much by perfonal tranfgreffion; by many grofs violations of God's holy law, to which he most juftly demanded a perfect obedience in thought, word, and deed; and denounced a curfe against every one who fhould tranfgrefs it in the leaft inftance: "Curfed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law to do them." And as every fin is an offence against a Being of infinite dignity, it is impoffible that we fhould be able to make fatisfaction to God, for the violation of his law; for nothing, but what is of infinite value, can atone for an offence against a being of infinite dignity.

And

And therefore all mankind must have perished in their fins, being under the curfe of God, and unable to fatisfy his injured majesty, or flee from the wrath to come; if God had not in mercy provided a Saviour, who fhould give his life a ranfom for many, and fo pay the penalty due to their difobedience. For this purpose "the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us-was made of a womanmade under the law-made himself of no reputation-took upon him the form of a fervant and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Christ was made a facrifice for fin-God hath made him to be fin for us, who knew no finChrift died for finners-he himfelf bare our fins in his own body on the tree. "The Son of man was lifted up, that whofoever believeth in him fhould not perish, but have everlasting life." In this manner fatisfaction was made to the offended juftice of God, for their every tranfgreffion of his holy laws.. But by the death of Chrift, as diftinguished from his obedience, there was no purchase made of eternal life; there was only a penalty paid for disobedience. And therefore, as God is holy and righteous in all his ways, it was neceffary that the purchase of eternal life fhould be made; for, without.

this, finners however penitent, and cafting themselves upon the mercies of God, through a Mediator for the pardon of their fins, could have no juft claim to it.

We are bound, by nature, to obey God. as our Creator; and as the fupreme Lawgiver, who has a right to prescribe what laws he pleafes. The rule of our obe

dience, is that law which was written on the heart of Adam, afterwards delivered to the children of Ifrael from Mount Sinai, and, in later times, explained by Chrift in his fermon on the mount. And to the performance of this law eternal happiness is annexed. "For Mofes defcribeth the righteoufnefs which is of the law, that the man which doth thofe things fhall live by them." Rom. x. 5. And that we are not to underftand this of the ceremonial law, or of the law confidered merely as a covenant with the Jews for temporal things, is evident from the words of our Lord: "And behold, a 'certain lawyer ftood up, and tempted him, faying, Mafter, what fhall I do to inherit eternal life? He faid unto him, what is written in the law? how readeft thou? and he answering, faid, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thy heart, and with all thy foul, and with all thy ftrength, and with all

thy