SEVNf. XXVI I A RATIONAL DËFË`:CL OAF T11F2 CÔS'PEL: 20r believeth on him, should have everlasting life, arid' -I with taise hire up at the last day, John vi. 40.. Hence it co'm'es' to pass; that the .beli'e'ver trialriy lìsi over death under the influence of these hopes. " Now,t saith the saint; I can ventuTo to die ; for iìiy spirit' shalt be received tò dwell with my Saviour among thc sptrl.th of the jut that are made perfect. 'Tlíese feeble an& withering limbs` of mine I can chearfully commit them'ttt dust and the grave; for the great trumpet must sound;- the dead must arise, my'' Redeemer will call my flesh' from' its dark prison; I shall arise to meet the Lord in- the air, and dwell with'him for ever in unknown worlds of blessedness." Thus Ihave shewri' you the first thing I proposed, viz. how the gospel in its own nature has a very proper and powerful tendency in a moral or persuásive way-towards the salvation of the soul, as it insures-pardoning grace and final blessedness to believers. IL I come now to shew how the gospel is male pour- erful to the salvation ofsinners by-the accompanying in= fluente of the Spirit of God, and-this is-supernatural and sovereign. If I, should' run over all the particulars I have just before mentioned, I Might make it appear id each of them, how` the Spirit of God by-the word of hi?# gospel works this salvation. It is this blessed Spirit that awakens' the stupid and thoughtless sinner to a sense of his guilt'and danger. It is he who shews him the evil- of sin,=and makes him groan after deliverance, and cry out; what- shall ll do. to be saved ? And it is the Spirit that reveals and distovrs Christ Jesus to him as the only and all-sufficient Saviour: It' is he whó shews the convinced sinner, that'there is righteousness and grace to be found' in Christ, to answer' all his present complaints and necessities.- The word of the gospel says these things indeed, but it is like a dead letter; till the living Spirit speaks them over again, and; as itwere, constrains us to heat the voice of. encourage- ment and hope. It is he who represents the death and suf- ferings of the Son of Gòd, as an effectual atonement fee sin, and makes the sóul believe it; and teaches'us lòiv' to lay hold on this' hope,, to fly to this refuge, to receive this atonement: It is the Spirit of God that softens the hardest heart, and melts it into godly sorrow: It is he u 4
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