PART' r. SERMON I. 7 already begun, and it shall be carried on and fulfilled in the slays of eternity. By believing in Christ, we have a glorious testimony, or witness, within ourselves, that Christ is the Son of God, the Saviour of the world, and the author of eternal life; that his person is divine, that his doctrine is true, for eternal life is begun in us. We shall make this more fully 'appear, by considering what is-eternal lie, and shelving how far it is found in every believer, and how ithecomes a witness of christianity inhisheart. Eternal life consists in happiness and holiness; it is made up pf these two, and there is such it necessary connection between them, that they run into one. another ; but for order-sake, I shall distinguish them thus: The happiness of eternal life consists in the pardon of sin, inthe special favour of God, altd in the pleasure that arises from the regular operation of all our powers and passions. Now these three things are, in some measure, found with every soul that believes in Christ. The happiness of eternal life consists,--I. In the pardon of sin; thence arises peace of conscience. This is a part of hea- ven; the perfection of this peace belongs tp the heavenly state. Our pardon is complete on earth, but the sense ofthis pardon is not complete and free from all doubts, or at least from all danger of doubting, till we arrive at full glory._ When a soul is made sensible, that all its iniquities are for ever cancelled, that God will never avengeany of his crimes upon him, when he knows that this God, who has a right to punish with everlasting revenge, is at peace, and will demand no .more satisfaction for his . sins ; this ' soul then has the beginning of heaven. This is a part of final 'blessedness, and of complete eternal life. Now this is, in some measure, found in believers here: They that have trusted in the Son of God, begin to find peace in their own consciences, they can hope God is reconciled to them through the blood of Christ, that their iniquities are atoned for, and that peace is made betwixt God and them. This belongs only tothe doctrine of Christ, and.witnesses it to be divine: For there is no religion :that ever pretended to lay such a foundation of pardon and peace, as the religion of the Son ofGod does; for he has made himself a propitiation ; Jesus the righteous isbecome our reconciler by becoming a sacrifice: Rom. iii. 25. Him bath God setforthfor a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are pas!, that he might be just, and the justifier of him that believes i Jesus: Therefore beingjustified by faith wehave peace with God, Rom. v. 1. :Behold the Lamb of God, that takes away the sins 4C the world! was the language of John, who was but theforerunner of our religion, and took-a prospect of it at a little distance: And
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=