SERM, THE CHRISTIAN DISPENSATION. 4g the Messiah, " Behold the Lamb of God," John i. 529, 36. And since the death and resurrection of Christ, and pouring down of the Spirit, the least minister, or perhaps the least member in the kingdom of Christ, knows much more of the Messiah and his kingdom than John did, and than all the former ages, and the writers that lived in them ; Mat. xi. 11. Inference IL " What abundant thanks and praises are due to the blessed God, who brought us forth into the world under this last and best dispensation, who hath trained us up in the christian doctrine, and not made us Jews We are not called to that troublesome, and ex- pensive kind of worship, which consists in the killing and burning of bulls and goats, and the choicest lambs of the flock. The bleeding flesh of animals, and fire and smoke make no part of our religious solemnities. Jesus the Lamb of God is already offered as an all - sufficient sacrifice; there is no need of another atonement: " He has by one offering for . ever perfected them that are sanctified :" lieb. x. 14. We are not obliged to travel three times a year to distant parts of the nation where we dwell, in order to adore our Maker, at one §ingle tabernacle or a temple, for in every place, that God who is a Spirit is worshipped now, even by public assemblies, " in spirit and in truth;" John iv. 23. We are not forced to spell out the mercies of God, by types and dark figures; but we see his overflowing goodness, in the person and offices of his beloved Son Jesus ; we read the pardon of our sins in his blood, and our sanctifica- tion by his Holy Spirit. There is no such veil spread over the invisible world, as covered the ancient dispen- sation. Heaven and hell, and all the awful and eternal things that belong to them, are discovered in a clear and surprising. light. We are not left to live upon the pro- mises of temporal good things, and to search out the spiritual blessings, that are covered and wrapped up in them; but the spiritual and everlasting mercies which are provided for the saints, stand open to sight, in the promises of the New Testament : They seem to court our embraces, and invite us to rejoice in hope. We needno longer be " subject to a bdndage ofspirit through fear of death, for death is conquered by the Son ofGod; life and immortality are brought to light by his gospel, VOL. III. E
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