SERMON XXXVI. 507 Ytty sins gone over my head as aheavy burden,, too heavy for me to bear ? Does Satan the tempter an the accuser, terrify and hurry me with despairing thoughts ? Does he tell me that my Crimes are too big to be forgiven ? But Satan is a liar from the beginning. The gospel of Christ is divinely true: I come to Jesus as a greatHigh priest in the blood of his 'atonement : I come weary and 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 labouring and wounded spirit Speak a word of peace and pardon to a sinkingcreature, and raise and receive him to hope and salvation. I am worthy 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 under great decays and wretched backslidings ? Are old terrors and agonies returned upon my consciencewith redoubled smart and anguish? Do I see my guilt? My shameful wanderings, my loathsome iniquities ? Do I seem as it were to be cast out front God ? And does he seem to shut the door of heaven against my _ prayers ? Yet I will not despair : I will come in the name of Jesus the great atonement. Wash my guilty soul, O blessed Redeemer, with thy blood, and I will look again toward the holy temple. I will lift up a bumble eye toward an offended God. Thy sacrifice is ever fresh in the power and virtue of it. The Lamb as it had been slain, appears in heaven with the marks of his sacrifice. Í return with a broken heart tomy heavenly Fa- ther : I return trembling and hoping in the merit of that ever- lasting atonement, and wait for restoring grace. " Or, am I endeavouring to walk closely with myGod, in all the duties of holiness, but daily infirmities break out, daily follies and guilt attend me ? I make sore complaints indeed, be- cause of the perpetual workings of indwelling sin ; yetI will not despair. I lovethe word of Gods and I read it to keep me from sinning: But St. John assures me if any man sin through the weakness of nature, and the prevalence of daily temptations, we have an advocate with the Father, even Jesus the righteous; 1 John ii. 1, 2. And he is an effectual Advocate, because he is a propitiation for our sins; and he pleads in the virtue of,his own blood. O may I ever maintain a . constant exercise of faith on the Son of God, as my great High-priest ! May f keep up a lively and delightful sense of the all sufficiency of his atonement upon my spirit, that this which is the glory of my religion, may also be the daily life of my soul." II. This doctrine of atonement for sin, should' be used as a powerful motive to excite repentance in every heart where sin
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