25 RATIONAL DEFENCE OF THE GOSPEL. of Christ, of God,and his love ; I let go myhold of heaven, and, all my happiness : My sins all return upon me with their insuffer- able loads of guilt and anguish of conscience, if I lose my faith in this gospel ; for allmy hope of pardon is built upon this found- ation : heaven with the joys of it vanish from my soul, if Ipart with this glorious gospel of Christ, and death and hell face me with all their terrors." There is an awful and solemn motive derived from the great judgment-day to maintain the profession of this glorious gospel ; forour Lord himself haspronounced this threatdising, and he will fulfil it, Whosoever shall be ashamedofmeandmy words amongst a sinful generationof men, Iwill also be ashamed ofhim before my Father and hisholy angels. But this text shall be the subject of some future discourses. HYMN FOR SERMONS XVI. and XVII. The Gospel the power of God to Salvation. WHATshall the dying sinner do, That seeks relief for all his woe? Where shall theguilty conscience find Ease for the torment of the mind ? How shall we get our crimes forgiven, Or form our natures fit for heaven ; Can souls all o'er defil'd with sin ; Make their own powers and passions clean ? In vain we search, in vain we try Till Jesus brings his gospel nigh: Tis there such power and glory dwell, As saves rebellioussouls from hell. This is the pillar of our hope, That bears our fainting spirits up: We read the grace, we trust theword, And find salvation in the Lord. Letmen or angelsdig themines, Where nature's golden treasure shines; Brought near thedoctrine of the cross, All nature's gold appears but dross. Should vile blasphemers with disdain Pronounce the truths of Jesus vain, I'll meet the scandal and the shame, And sing and triumph in his name.
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