SERMON XXXV. . O1 divine a correspondence with the typical ordinances of Moses, as gives a double and most undoubted confirmation to his own blessed gospel, and his. own atonement for sin. Every thing that established the religion of the Jews, serves to establish me in the religion of Christ. Their lavers and .washings, their altars and sacrifices were divine,; but they were divine only for a season. These ancient , veils which covered the gospel, were of God's own contrivance ; and when they were exhibited to the people, especially in the days of Moses and Solomon, they made a bright and sacred appearance ; but now thegospel stands forth unveiled, and in perfect light, God him- self háth folded up these veils as an old garment, and laid them aside. The substance is come, and the shadows disappear. Blessed be the Lord that I was brought forth since the Sun of Righteousness is risen upon the earth, and themorningclouds are vanishedaway. I hear Jesus, my great Prophet, preaching this doctrine of propitiation for our sins by his death, in his own ministry ; though he was .content do it in a moreobscure and imperfect manner : And I now see the reason why he taught this truth chiefly in ,parables, because it was notproper in that age to be published to the multitude in plain language, till he had actually died and rose again. I behold his terrible agonies in the garden, beforehe came near the cross. I see the blessed Son of God labouring under the burden of our guilt, wrestling, and sweating blood, underthe unknown impressions of that tribulation and wrath, thatindigna- tion and anguish which was due to my sins. What else could make so glorious and divine a person discover such dreadful dis- tress of soul ? Again, he cries out on the cross with anguish of spirit, he bleeds, he groans, he dies. I acknowledge the truth of the doctrine ofhis atonement. I read it in all his agonies. These are such sufferings, and such sorrows as are beyond all that men could inflict; or that a mere man could bear, beyond all the coalman terrors of death and the grave, My Saviour sustained a heavier burden, and was engaged in harder work ; a labour more dreadful and more glorious. He was then making atone- ment to divinejustice for my sins, And blessed behis name for ever and ever. I read the same doctrine of atonement for sin, by the death of Christ, in the writings of his holy apostles. This was the gospel which they preached to the Jews, and to the rest of the nations. This they delivered down in the sacred records of the New Testament, whence we derive our religion and our hope. The language in which they expressed our reconciliation to God, by the death of Christ, carries with it such evidence, and such
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