108
TVE
PRACTICAL
US"ES
ESERM. XXXVI;
learned
by
the
-
gospel,
the
excellency and virtue
of
the
propitiation
of Christ, to
cancel
my
iniquities;
and
shall
I-
not
receive
this
propitiation
in
all the
methods
of
his
own
appointment
?
Shal1,I
dare
to
say,
it
is
enough
for
me
to read
it
in
the
bible,
and
to
hear it
in
the ministry
of
the,
word;
and to
meditate
on
it
in
private,
when
my
Lord
has given
me
an express command to receive it
also
in
those emblems and sensible
figures
of
bread and
wine,
and
has sanctified them
for this very
purpose? Is
this a
kind
return
to him
that
died for
me
?.
"
Blessed
Redeemer, forgive
all
my omissions,
my
delays,
my
careless
or slothful neglects
of:this
holy
ordi-
nance
of
thine;
and
all my
sinful
itidiferency about
it.
o
scatter
all
my
doubts, banish
all
my
excuses,
and
bring
nie
to thy holy
table
as
a.penitent
and humble dis-
ciple,
as
a worthy
and joyful receiver
:
there let
me
join
with
'my
fellow
-
christians and remember
thy dying
love."
X.
We may
use this
doctrine
as
our
most effectual-de-
fence
against the
terrors of dying; and
as
our joyful
hope
of a
blessed
resurrection.
The atonement
of
Christ
is
a.divine
support
in
the
agonies
of
death.
At
such
a
season
a
thousand past
ini
--
quities
will
sometimes croud
in upon
the
memory,
and
fill
the
soul
with
.'horor,
and perhaps
Satan the
accuser
makes
á
dreadful assault
upon
the conscience
at
the same
time, and
tornments
the
spirit
with
painful agonies
:
But
the most
-
formidable terrors,
the sharpest. agonies
find
a
relief
here,
the
very
sting
of death
is
taken
away
by
the
death
of Christ
1
C,or.
xv.
56.
"
The
sting
of
death
is
sin,.
and
-the
strength of
sin to
condemn
us
is
the
law
of
God:
but
thanks
be
to
God through Christ Jesus,
"
wvhc>
bath answered
the
demands
of the
condemning
law,
and
taken
away the
sting of
deathp
by his
atoning
sacrifice.
We may.now,venture
into,the
presence
of
a'
holy
and
righteous
God,. laying fresh hold
of
the
atonement
in
a
dying
hour
by
a
living
faith;
end
having
our departing
spirits sprinkled
with
the blood of Christ.
It
was
this
ve,ry,blood
in
the
virtue
of
which
Jesus
himself
was
raised
from
ethe
d.ead';
IIeb.
xiii.
20.
" The
God
of
peace
brought
again-from
thedead
our
-Lord
Jesus,
the
great
shepherd
of
the sheep,
through
the
Hoed.
of
the ever-
lasting covenant."
It
was in
the
virtue of.tbi-sblood
that
he
ascended and
appeared-
before
God
in.
Heaven
:
IIe.