3 a8 The Foundation of S E R M. from fuperftition, to pure woríhip ; from XIII immorality, to every kind of virtue. Now efpecially, f nce he hath given all men afru- rance of the future judgment by raifing Jefus Chrift from the dead, whom he hath ordained to be the judge, he commandeth them all every where to repent, and hath annexed the blefiing of a free and gracious remiflion of all their fins to repentance ; having promifed to them who truly repent and are converted, that their iniquities (hall be blotted out, Ails iii. 19. When we confider the univerfal bounty of providence, and that great goodnefs which God manifefteth par- ticularly to mankind, guilty as they muff acknowledge themfelves to be; he beareth long with limiers, unwilling that they fhould perifh, and is kind to the unthankful and the evil; we have the greateft reafon to believe he will have a compafiionate regard to the penitent, and that if men forfake their evil ways, and unrighteous doings, and turn to the fancere love and pra ±ice of virtue, he will not feverely mark their renounced wickednefs, but approve of, and reward their change of heart and life. But to chri- ftians the cafe is exceeding plain, by the ex- prefs aßürance God bath given of an entire forgivenefs, and of eternal falvation to all who
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