SERM. XXXv7.] OF CHRTST)S ATONF.MTiNT: 99 is set before thee ! In vain will you try a thousand re- medies, this is the only relief. A soul stung with the guilt of sin, as with a fiery serpent, must look up to Je- sus hanging on the cross, there alone can he find heal- ing and life. Reflection. " And what is my state? and what is my present case ? Am I a sinner under the first awakenings of conscience? Is my spirit filled with dreadful appre- hensions of an offended God, and of a law that pro- nounceth curses and death ? Am I enquiring,. What shall I do to flee from the wrath to come ? Does the load of all my past offences lie heavy upon me ? Are my sins gone over my head as a heavy burden, too heavy for me to bear ? Does Satan the tempter and the accuser, terrify and hurry me with despairing thoughts? Does he tell me that my crimes are too big to be for- given? But Satan is a liar from the beginning. The gospel of Christ is divinely true. I come to Jesus as a great High-priest in the blood of his atonement: I come wearyand heavy laden, under a sense of the guilt of past sins, and the remaining power of them in my soul. O Jesus fulfil thy promise, and give rest to my labour- ing and wounded spirit ! Speak a word of peace and pardon tosa sinking creature, and raise and receive him to hope and salvation. I amworthy to perish for ever, but thy death is worthy to procure life for me. Here I rest my heavy-laden soul, and with humble hope I wait for thy mercy. " Or, am I a professor of religion that have fallen un- der great decays and wretched backslidings ? Are old . terrors and agonies returned upon my conscience with redoubled smart and anguish? Do I see myguilt? My shameful wanderings, my loathsome iniquities? Do I seem as it were to be cast out fromGod? And does he seem to shut the door of heaven against my prayers ? Yet I will not despair : I will come in the name ofJesus the great atonement. Wash myguilty soul, O blessed Redeemer, with thy blood, and I will look again toward the holy temple, I will lift up a humble eye toward an offended God. Thy sacrifice is ever fresh in the power and virtue of it. The Lamb as it had been slain, ap- pears in heaven with the marks of his sacrifice. I re- turn with a broken heart to my heavenly Father : I re- ll Ñ
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