SEItM. XIX.] NOSE EXCLUDED FROM HOPE. 327 faith in this gospel ! How extensive is the grace of God our Saviour ! How unsearchable are the riches of his mercy ! O the heights and the depths, the lengths and breadths of the love of Christ, that pass all knowledge ! None of the sonsor daughters of Adam, the sinner, are excluded from this salvation, where the gospel is preach- ed, but those who exclude themselves by stubbornness and unbelief. Persons of every kind, every character, condition and quality, amongst men, have found this gospel become the .power of God to their salvation, when they have fled to this refuge, and believed in this Saviour. What improvement now shall I make of the last part of this discourse, this wide extent of salvation bestowed on all whobelieve ? Has every single ,believer this sal- vation in some measure conferred on him, and wrought in him ! Then here is a plain and evident test, whereby to try our faith, or a certain sign whereby we may judge, whether we are true believers, or no. The gospel is the manifestation of the power of God for the salvationof every one that believes. What have you found of this salvation begun in you? What have you felt of your own guilt and wretchedness by reason of sin, and of your danger of eternal death? Haveyou seen the death of Christ as an effectual atonement to procure the forgiveness of an offended God ? Haveyou beheld the power and grace of Christ sufficient to renew your sinful natures, and to form them after the image of God in righteousness and true holiness ? Have you found your conscience_ resting upon the sacrifice ofs Christ, and your souls humbly expecting pardon and peace there ? Areyour hearts turnedaway from every sin? Is the temper of your mind made divine and heavenly, and suited to the business and blessedness of the upper world ? This is the salvation of Christ which the gospel proposes, and bestows upon all that believe. Upon such solemn enquiries as these, I am persuaded there is many a soul must take up this heavy complaint, "Alas ! I fear I am no believer: I have sat long under the sound of the gospel, and I have heard the doctrine of Christ crucified many years to no purpose ; for I have never found this gospel attended with any such powerful impressions as to begin salvation in me. I have been Y4
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