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grace; neither can he make it appear that his corruption is unconquerable, for Christ can "subdue all things to himself,"* and will, with a divine power, eradicate evil from every heart in which the grace of his spirit is implanted. Believe ye then the promises of God, and ye shall prevail against every enemy.

The Jews, as I have said, did not believe what God had declared concerning them. Though the divine oracles had promised them a Saviour, and though they had spoken of the manner in which their redemption should be effected, yet was there much ignorance among them concerning the way in which they should be accepted of God. They were to be received, not as the righteous persons, which they arrogantly supposed themselves to be, but as sinners, and therefore it was the Apostle's endeavour to prove, that they were all trans. gressors, and, as such, they were to expect justification only through the Redeemer. To prove this important point of doctrine he thus proceeds, v. 5, "But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous, who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man);" that is, as any person unacquainted with the nature of the Gospel would argue upon this subject. *Phillip: iii. 21.

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But, continues he, "God forbid" that I, the servant of Christ, should so imagine, “for then, how shall God," if he be unrighteous, judge the world? "For if the truth of God," as the unbeliever will also argue, "hath more abounded through my lie," or my idolatry, "to his glory," that is, to the glory of his free grace, why yet am I also judged as a sinner? And not rather (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), let us do evil that good may come;" but this is not our sentiment, nay, so far from it, that we scruple not to say, that they who maintain so horrible a thing are persons "whose damna、 tion is just."

Let this short paraphrase suffice at present to give the sense of the passage; and, as I shall have occasion to speak more fully upon the doctrine of Justification, when I come to treat of the concluding part of this chapter, I shall finish this discourse by exhorting my hearers to pay a more serious attention to the things which belong to their peace.

I. As the oracles of God are in your hands, consider that it is no less your privilege than your duty carefully to examine them. As the Bible is not a trifling book to be read merely for the amusement of an idle hour, pains should be taken to become acquainted with its con

tents, so that the harmony and connexion of its several parts may be regarded and understood. It is true this will require more time and attention than the vain and frivolous are disposed to bestow, but, since the subject treated of is of the highest consequence to every individual, and since, according to the judgment of God, he must be saved or damned, be happy in Heaven or miserable in Hell, he must surely allow, that it is reasonable to lay aside his folly for a while, that he may have an opportunity of enquiring into those things whereby he may be made wise unto salvation. He will imagine, perhaps, that because there are so many opinions in the world, his time will be wasted, and his labour lost. But, this excuse will suit none but the careless. Christ, surely, has not invited us to search the Scriptures in vain, nor can we suppose that he spake falsely, when he said, "If thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light."* If we only employ the same degree of diligence in the pursuit of divine, as of human, science, we shall not fail of discovering the path of salvation. The Spirit of Truth will be our director, and we shall be prevented from turn. ing aside till we reach the gates of Glory, which will be opened to receive us. Let us

* Matt. vi. 22.

then "use all diligence to make" our "calling and election sure,"* then we may be satisfied that our labour shall not be in vain. But.

II. If any are not disposed to be thus diligent and inquisitive, let them, at least, avoid finding fault with those that are so. It is a practice but too common with the men of the world to abuse the professors of godliness for maintaining doctrines, which are supposed to be full of absurdity. They are "slanderously reported" to hold tenets, which are derogatory to the honour of God, and which encourage licentiousness among men; and their adversaries, who hate all vital godliness, neither regard candour nor truth, when they endeavour to represent the Gospel of Christ in an odious point of view. As an object, seen at a distance, cannot be discovered in all its beauty and proportion, so neither can religion. It must be closely and accurately examined, before we can ascertain the harmony of its parts, and the symmetry of the whole. Instead, therefore, of censuring the zealous Christian, whose love to God and man is conspicuous in continued acts of piety, because his doctrine does not altogether correspond with our notion of things, let us put on that charity, which

* Pet. i. 10.

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hopeth all things, and allow, that he may have truth and reason on his side, though we have not yet been able to discover the manner in which he has arranged his ideas, so as to reflect, in his opinion, the highest glory upon God.

Finally, my Brethren, whatever differences may subsist among those, who call themselves the disciples of Jesus Christ, I earnestly recommend you to agree in dedicating yourselves to God, and to unite your prayers for the gift of Divine Grace, that you may be sanctified in "Spirif, soul, and body."* This, I believe, Christians of all denominations will approve as a safe and commendable mode of procedure, and, I am much mistaken, if it will not lead to a stedfast hope, and unshaken confidence. But, let the dedication be made with full purpose of heart, and let the petitions, which are offered up to Heaven, spring forth from the ardent desire of the soul. Say with David, and appeal to the Searcher of Hearts that he knows you speak with sincerity, "Whom have I in Heaven but thee, and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee."+ Say with Paul, "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day," viz. to the day of Christ's appearing; tu. Tim. i. 12.

* 1 Thess. v. 23.

+Ps. lxxiii. 25,

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