EXIIORTATION TO BELIEVE. 239 sinner a matter of unspeakable joy and rejoicing. Oh, blessed words! "aSavior is born." This gives life to a sinner, and opens a door of hope in the valley of Achor, the first rescue of a sin-distressed. soul. It was all that the saints for many ages had to live upon ; and that not in the enjoyment, but only the expectation. They lived on that word, " The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head ;" that is, a way of deliverance is provi- ded for sinners. This with all diligence they inquired into,. 1 Pet. 1 : 10-12,. and improved it to their eter- nal advantage. As of old, when Jacob saw the wagons that his son Joseph had sent to bring him to him; it is said his spirit revived; so did they upon their obscure discovery ofa way of forgiveness. They looked upon the promise of it as that which God had sent to bring them to him ; and theysaw the dayof the coming of Christ in it, and rejoiced. How much more have sinners now reason so to do, when the substance of the promise is exhibited, and the news of his coming proclaimed to them. If any one were justly condemned to a cruel and shameful death, and lay trembling in expectation of the execution, and a man designed for that purpose should come to him and tell him that there were terms pro- pounded on which his life might be spared, only he came away, like Ahirnaaz, before he heard the particu- lars would it not be reviving to him 1 Would he not cryout, Pray inquire what theyare, for there is nothing so difficult that I will not undergo it to free myself from this miserable condition I Wouldit not change the whole frame of the spirit of such a man, and as it were put new life into him l And if, instead of this, he should be froward, stubborn, and obstinate,' take no notice of the messenger, or say, Let the judge keep his terms to himself, without inquiring what they are ; would not such a person be deemed to perish deserved-
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