78 Golpel Xem f siori. Scribes andPharifees who railed on Chrift; John 9.24. Saying, giveglory to GUd ;but we know thisman is afinner:He andwered whether he be Rfanner or no, I know not ; One thing I know ,that whereas Iwas blind, now I fee, he it was that opened my eyes thus he anfiered their Ilander : and fo when others clamour againft a Minifter, and fpeak evil of them, that foul that bath his eyes opened, he will fay, I am fure God bath done great things for me by him : he hath (hewed me the evil offin,and the fad condition I was in bynature, and he hath revealed to me the exceeding riches of the mercy and grace of God, and my foul bath found it fo, God bath come to my foul in his Preaching : Now fuch a Miniftry as this will certainly ingage the hearts of people to them ; 'tis not the man fomuch as Chrift in the man, and this is the end of our Miniftry, not to tell this or that conceit or Rory, but to thew you the riches of the grace ofGod in the pardon offin, and the Juftifcation of youSouls throughChrift Jefus, your Acceptation and Reconciliation through him, this is the firft Ordinance. 2. The Sacraments, for what purpofe bath Chrift ordained them ? the mainend for which they were ordained is for Seal- ing ; in the Supper is fealed up Gods mercy in thepardon offin, Mat.26.2.8. Chrift tells his Difciples, The Cup is the bloodofthe New Teftament which is fliedfor manyfor the RemiffionofSin ; as if Chrift had Paid, this is the great Ordinance to feal unto People the pardon of their fins : Brethren, the King doesnot ufe to fet his Broad Seal to trifles,and toyes, and fancies,but unto things ofgreat concernment and confequence, they mull be fuch that (hall have the Broad Seal : fo here, becaufe pardon of fin is fuch a bleffed thing, the BroadSeal ofHeaven is ordained to Peal it ; andwhen the Sacrament is adminiftredrightly, it is no other but theBroadSeal ofHeaven tofeel up the pardon of thyfang& fo thouldmen and women come to receive the Sacrament, they Mould think this day is a fealing day;as in CourtsofJuftice they have their fealing-days,& 'cis ufually Paid, fuch a day is a fealing- day;Ç,, a Sacrament-day is a fealing-day, fealing up to you the great bleffednefs offorgivenefs offin ; a Soul thinks thus, I am apoor wretchedvilefanner before the Lord,wo "unto me thus and *G,c d ;ç ¡done, wo is me. But Ihave heard of the riches of Gods
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