On LuKE XIV. 23• Pn:1"r \th"rein his Pardnn is written and fcaled, more than the Conveyance of a rlcli E11arc. One nearclrowniogvalucs a C'.tOrd thrown out for his RefCue, more than a Crown. Thus when the Guilty are deeply fenliblc they have lo!t the Favour of God, and cannot Ay from Ius Power, and there IS but a fi~p between them and eternal Death, then u S:.1.viour will be infinitely precious, and they will entirely clofe· with him. Now the Gofpel rcprefents the Son of God incarnate. 1j/. An all-fuffident Saviour by his Propitiation, and lntercelfion . The Excellency of his Obedience , and t-he Excellency of his Perfon were influential to obrain the Pardon of_ Sin.. His.Ptopriery ia the Sacrifice, anti Ehe Value of it, _was rcquititc to atone the JUlt D>fpleafure of God for our Offences. 'Tis faid,he offered htJ own Body on the Tree: his pecu liar R.1ght in it was requiMte to make it a proper and acceptable Sacrifice. 'T1s true, the Father and holy Spirit had the fame Right in the Human Natu re of Chri!t as the Son had, with relpect t0 the making it : but the Son by aifuming it into a Pcrfonal Union with himfelf, has a peculiar Right in it, and offer' cl his own in a flritl fenfe. And in Confequence to this, his Sacrifice was of infinite Value: He did not compound with God, .but paid a Ranfom equivalent t? what was due for Sinners. He bled a F ounta!n from hts wounded Side, tbat cleaufos from all Sin. I John ::.. 2dly. By ~1is lntercefiion. He is able to Jave to tbe uttermofl.a/1 that comet? God by him, for he ever hues to make lntercejfio11 for them. God pardons Sm as a Sovcra1gn upon the Throne: his Authority is preferved entire ,,·ithout any Condefccnfion of his Perfon ; therefore the Blood of Chri!t fhed on the Crofs, is pleaded in Heaven to reconcile God to us : he fatisfied Jullice, and follicites Mercy: bir Blood fpealcr j/i/1, and its Voice is as powerful as ever. The Prevalency of his Interceffion depends upon the Dignity of his Sacrifice; the Dearnefs of his Perfon to the Father, does alfo afTiue us of his favourable Audience. He dec.lar'd on Earth, I know tJ)ou aln·ays bearejl me. 3diy. The Golpel lets forth his W1llingnefs to lavc us . Faith !)as on Aij,cC!: upon Chrift as able and willing to fave: for Power without a Will to favc is unpro fitable, and the Will without Power is fruitlefs and ineflec:tual. For the begetting of faith we arc to conGder the Propof.1 l and Offer of Grace in the Gofpel, and the Promife of it. x. In the Gofpel there is a Propofal of <?.race to all: the Invitation is umverf:'ll; Whoever 1vill, let bim come to the Waters of L ife freely. Onr. Saviour gave this Command to the Aponies, Preach tiJC Gofpel to every Creature. Netther the number nor quality of Mens Sins are a Bar againll: their toming to Chrill: for Life. None are excluded but thofe who exclude themfclves. In the Parable thofe were earne]lly invited by the Com. ma11d of tbe Maf/er of the Feaj/, who refufed to come. This Offer of Grace and Life to all that will humbly receiVe it, is the firO: foundation of Fanh, and mduces our Acceptance of it : for without this, thefelf-condemned Sinner !inks into Mifery bottomlefs and helplefs. The malt miferable Defpair is drawn from Impolfibility. If Men think ~tis impoJlible to obtam what they de!irc, they will not endeavour to obtain. 'Tis eaGly clear'd by the Scriptures, if Men will beliel'e the Scriptures when they are clear, that as the Brazen Serpent, the Stgn.of Sa lvat;on, was htted up on high, and made obvious to every Ey~, to conyey l~ea~mg Vi r~ue to thofc who were fiung by the fiery Serpents; fa our crucified Savwuns lifted up m the Gofpel for every Soul-wound- ~~;~n~e~~~urr:~a~d~rro~1:rrFe~£fo~ ;17;i~~~Fe ~rr;;,;Ye~~~1~v~fs:i~~~ ~; ~e~·~ln~~;d upon our fClves : a Spiritu~l Sorrow proceeds from the fenfe of our Unwortluncfs, and the Divine Goodnefs, that 1s fa ready and deflrous to tavc us. · 2-. There is a Promif'c of Grace to all that rep,ent and believe. Our Saviour encourages us, Come unto me all ye tbat are weary and heavy./a~en, and I 1viU tfz:e )'Oa Reft. Thofe who feel Sin as an intolerable Burden, and their fa:nting Soul.s ar~ Wi thout Support, let them devolve their Burden upon him, and trufl: enttrcly m htm, they fhall obtain bleifed Re!t. The timerous Sinners that tremble under the Weight of their Guilt, are encouraged; for in thts condttJOn Chrifi tOVttes them to come to htm, and promifes Re!t. Letthemoggravate their Sins to the highefl, yet St. Paul challenges the Precedence as the duef of Sinners, and obtained Mercy. When the Heart is broken for Sin, and fromit,not to believe rhe Promife of Mercy, isd i!honourab!e tO ou r Saviour's Love, a.nd the Value of his Blood, as if not {Ufficient to fave poor Souis that would fain live in him: We h:.n•e the firo~gcfi !dl:imon.y of his Love, in dying for us when we \\'ere Enerntes. Chrifl: came wtth th ts lntentton to fave Sinners; and when they come to him, \Vill he reject them? He cannot deny bimfcif, he's Truth,and he ha~ mofl: exprefly declar'd, ft!~hoeve~ comes to me, I will in 110 wife c~jl .out: and this Prom:le is con fi rm d by the Wzli of lm Father that fent him. . Chrdl mvites thirfly Souls to partake of the Waters of Life, and when he has infj»id them with ardent Deftres,
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