810 PRATÌCÁL USES O* CHAIS`T's AT014EMENT. to this blessed doctrine of atonement, if I should ever dare give a loose to my iniquities, while I profess faith in theblood of Christi Grant, O Jesus, that I maynever turn this adorable grace of thine into wantonness." . V. The, atonement of Christ is an argument of prevailing force to be used in prayer, when we plead for the aids of the blessed Spirit; when we ask for his sacred influences to enlight- en, to sanctify, or to comfort our souls. The Spirit flows down to us in the blood of Christ. Reflection." Holy Father, thou hast not withheld thy Son Jesus, but hast given him to die for me, and wilt thou not give me thy Spirit to live in me, and to raise me to a divine life ? Even when I was dead in trespasses and sins, my blessed Saviour poured out his own soul to death, that I might be recovered to thy favour ; andshall I not have thy image impressed upon meby the Spirit, that I may appear before thee in the beauty of holiness ? Shall I be sprinkled with the blood of Christ, and have my errors forgiven, and shall I not have divine light bestowed upon rue, that I may not wander afresh in the ways of error anddark- ness ! Is myguilt cancelled, and are my iniquities removed by the great atonement of the Sonof God, and wiltthou not bestow thy sanctifying Spirit upon me, to guard me from renewed guilt and freshiniquities ? Lord, haveI not fled to lay hold on the hope set before me ? Hast thou not forgiven all my sins ? And shall not the Spirit the Comforter, speak peace to my soul, and fill -me with hope and joy in believing ? Wiltthou deny thy Spirit to any creature, for whom thy Son has poured out his invaluable life and blood ?" [If this sermon be too long, here is a proper pause.] How great and desirable are the advantages that we have found already to be derived from this gospel of atonement? May our souls possess and improve them all ? But there are still more treasures of divine grace to be dug out of this golden mine: It is an inexhausted fountain of duties and blessings. I proceed therefore to point out more of them to -the eye of faith. VI. We should use this doctrine of propitiation for sin by the death of Christ, as an everlasting spring of holy love to God the Father, and to his Son Jesus Christ. Great and unspeaka- ble was the love of God the Father ; 1 John iv. 10. 0°, Herein is love; not that we loved him, but he bath loved us, and sent 'his Son to be a propitiation for our sins." Great and un- speakable is the love of Jesus the Saviour ; " it has heights, and depths, and lengths, and breadths in it which pass our know- ledge;" Eph. iii. 18. For, "' when we were enemies, he died to reconcile us to God ;" Rom. v.:10. The great andblessed
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