308 PRACTICAL OSES OF CHRIST'S ATONEMEIST. bath dwelt. Repentance and forgiveness are joined together in the commission of our exalted Saviour ; Acts v. 31. Grace is a sweet and constraining motive to duty. There is abundant en- couragement for sinners to repent andmourn beforeGod for their past transgressions, because the blood of Jesus has provided pardon for them. 1 John i. 9. Ifwe can 'ess our sins, God is fait',fur to his own word, and just and true to bis Son Jesus, to fòsgive such offenders, and his bloodwill cleanseus fromour sins. The fallen angels'arenot called and encouraged by divine mercy, to repent of their heinous rebellions; for there is no Saviour, there is no atoningsacrifice provided for them. Reflection. " And is there such an atonement made ? And arc there such pardons provided for such guilty wretches as I have been ? Is God reconciling himself to men, and reconciling men to himself, by the blood of Jesus ? Then let my soul mourn for all her follies, all her past iniquities. Let me be covered with shame, and lie in the dust at the foot of God. O let him speak peace and forgiveness to me, through the blood of Christ. I remember my guilt, and amconfounded, and open my mouth no more to vindicate myself: I am overwhelmed with this amazing instanceof divine love : God has sent his Son to die for me, and is pacified toward me, for all that I haveAlone against him. O wretched creature that I am, that ever I should rebel against a God of such compassion ! Against a God, who all this while had such kind designs towards me, and was making his own way to reconciliation and peace, through the blood of his own Son ! I find now by sweet experience, what I have been often told by other christians, that the most kindly workings of true repentance, arisefrom the sense of a forgiving God, and a dying Saviour." III. Let us use this atonement of Christ, as our constant way of access to God in all our prayers. This is the only safe method Of address to the mercy-seat : It is ordained for this very purpose, to help a sinner near to God ; Heb. x. 19, 21, Having therefore, brethren, boldness to come into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, and having a Highpriest over the house qt God, let usdraw near with a true heart. He is ascended to heaven before us, he is entered within the veil in virtue of his sacrifice.: he has bespoke acceptance for our personsbefore the throne, and a favourable audience for all our prayers. Whatsoever we ask of the Father, we must ask it in his name, and especially in the name and virtue of his great atonement : All the blessings that Godhas to bestow, are purchased by his sufferings. Reflection. " Remember, O my soul, and be humble ; remember thou canst not be a welcome guest even at the throne of grace, unless thou art sprinkled withthe blood of Jesus. The
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