SERM. XIX.) NONE EXCLUDED FROM tIOPE.- 321 other price but that of the blood of Jesus. Silver and gold, and the treasure of kings, are all contemptible of- fers in so sacred a concernment as this is. The benefit is too valuable tobe bought at anymeaner rate : Christ, who paid for it, will bestow it freely on all. If the rich will receive it, they must come without money, and without price, and accept of the free gift of God, as humble petitioners at his footstool ; and the poor that have no money, come ye and buy; Is. lv. 1, 2. Let the vilest meanest creature come to this treasury ofgrace, and with thankfulness receive the salvation, for it is bought already. You are called only to trust in this gospel, to surrender yourselves to this Saviour, and the salvation shall be yours. Ye that are mean and low and base in this world, there are many of your brethren al- ready joined in the fellowship of this gospel: Come, enter yourselves into the blessed fraternity. To the poor the gospel is preached, and the poor receive it. But there are some noble, there are some great, there are some rich, that have felt the power of it too : There is Philemon the master, and his servant Onesimus, joined in the same faith, and partakers of the same salvation, Philem. 16. Again, 4. It is not confined to persons whose intel- lectual excellencies are superior to their neighbours, or who exceed others in understanding and the acquire- ments of the mind. St. Paul was debtor both to the wise and the unwise; to the learned Greek, and to the igno- rant and unpolished barbarian, Rom: i. 14. Hpreach- ed the gospel to all of them, for Christ had a chosen number amongst them all. If the witty, and the wise, and the learned, will lay down their pride, and submit to the doctrine of Christ crucified, and not call it foolish- ness : If they will humble their understandings to re- ceive the sacred mysteries of our religion, Godmanifest in the flesh, and put to death for the sins of men, and will place the concerns of their eternal welfare into the hands ofhim who hung bleeding upon the cross : If they are willing to be converted and become as little children, there is a door for them to enter into the kingdom of heaven. And as for you, whose understandings are weak and unpolished with human learning, this is a doc- trine and a gospel exactly fitted for your character : It is Y
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