846 soot AND REeovEay, &C. text ; John i. 4, 9. wherein we are told that the wordwas th.¢ light, and the life of men, and he was that light that lighteth every¡ manwho cometh into this world. IV. That there are any sparks of natural virtue, any remains of benevolence, goodness or compassion towards one another in the hearts of men, is probably the fruit of the media- tion of Christ : That there are any social virtues among them, that there is any conscience of probity, equity and justice, that mankind relieves and helps one another, that there is any such thing as government amongmen, and that all the sons and daugh- ters of Adam, in all nations, are not mere savages, are not like wolves and bears to each other ; and in short, that this earth is not a mere wilderness, or ahell of mischief and misery,is owing to restraining grace, and the redundant merit of the sufferings and death of Christ ; or at least it may probably be so, nor can wegive a better account of it. That all mankind have had a gospel revealed to them, or a covenant of grace proposed to their acceptance at first, in and by Adam their father, and conveyed by way of tradition to his poi- terity ; surely this must be acknowledged to proceed from the generous undertaking of Christ. I speak here concerning those who are not elected, as well as those who are ; for it has been designedly manifested to those who refuse, as well as those who accept. It seems to me to be owing to the overflowing merit of Christ, that all mankind are not buried in the same gross and brutal ignorance of God, and of themselves, as the darkest and vilest corners of the world are. It is owing probably to this spring, that all mankind ever had pardon, grace and salvation proposed to them in the first promise made to Adam, in the cove- nant made to Noah, and in thegospel or hope of salvation, which he, who was a preacher of righteousness, doubtless communicat- ed to hisposterity, that is, to all the world. It is owing to the same grace and purchase of Christ, that ever this promise should be again repeated to Abraham, and in some sense to all the nations of the earth by him ; for in him all the nations of the earth are blessed; Gen. xxii. 18. It is an effect of the merit of Christ, that ever there should be so many further discoveries of grace to the Jewish nation, evento the profane as well as to the pious among them, and that not only by Moses and the prophets, but by Christ himself ; and that ever this gospel should be published to the nations of the world, in the brightest edition of it, by the apostles of Christ, and the glad tidings of salvation proclaimed to the heathens, who sat in thick da kn, .ss, and lay -under the shadow of death, and even to those among them who never accepted it. It is owing to this redund- ancy of merit in his death, that so many whole nations are called to repent, and to trust in the mercy of a God through a Saviour :
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