SERM. Would but exafperate him to become more V. their Enemy. For a Sinner cannot demand, nor deserve Forgivenefs: It is the free Act of the Divine Bounty; the Deity alone is the Difpenfer of it, and Man the Receiver: Shall we then dare to prescribe Articles to him, and fcorn to be forgiven but in our own Way? IT is in and through Baptifm, as the ftated Channel and Inftrument of Conveythat we muft look to meet with Reance, miffion of Sins; this is the Deed, whereon is grounded our Chriftian Claim to it, and in which, as in a Contract, a Title is made over to us in this firft Step to God's Favour, the fure Pledge of all his other Bleffings, if no Obstacle intervene on our Side. And this being the Purport of the new Covenant according to the express Words of holy Scripture, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of the Lord Jefus Chrift, for the Remiffion of Sins (n), and arife and be baptized, and wash away thy Sins (o). It undeniably follows, that the Sons of God, and none but they, who are made fo by the washing of Regeneration, have a confirmed Right to this Privilege of Pardon. WHAT (n) Acts ii. 38. (0) Acts xxii. 16. WHATEVER others may find, or any charitably think, that they fhall find, it is what none can with a fulness of Affurance promise them, nor can they confidently promife it to themselves. And the Situation of thofe, who are begotten again to a lively Hope, is as much better than theirs, who are left to their doubtful Surmifings, as the highest Certainty in the most momentous Affair is preferable to a bare Poffibility of Succefs. BUT we muft, after all, diftinguish between fuch as are now under an unavoidable Neceflity of being excluded from the Family of God, and fuch as prophanely defpife the Privilege of being his adopted Sons. The Cafe of the firft is truly compaffionable, and tho' they have no formal Grant of Pardon made over to them, yet do they feem to be fit Objects of that unbounded Mercy, which is over all God's Works. However the laft can have no Pretence to that Favour, which they rudely push from them, when offered, and, instead of feeking to be juftified in God's Way, perfift in the most barefaced Oppofition to it, and in doing Despite to the Spirit of Grace (p). SERM. V. THIS carries us on to another Privilege of the Sons of God: Who, as they are born not only of Water, but alfo of the Spirit, have a new Principle of Holiness infused into them,---have Nourishment fupplied for their spiritual Growth,---are transformed by the renewing of their Minds (q),---and are empowered, if they are not miferably deficient in their Endeavours, to continue blamelefs unto the End, and advance to Manhood in that filial State, into which they are afresh born. THEY are fanctified through the Holy Ghost at first more imperfectly by the Baptifmal Confecration, and afterwards more compleatly by a vital proper Holiness. He is their Guide and their Inftructor, their Comforter and their Perfecter; he leads them into all Truth, not by affording any new Infpirations, but by enlightening their Minds to know and embrace the old, the written Dictates of the Divine Will once delivered to the Saints (r), and he enables them to obey the Truth, not by any forcible Impulses, which may be felt, but by an Operation gentle and imperceivable; though very manifeft in the Effects; when the Children of God (9) Rom. xii 2. (r) St. Jude iii. God produce the Fruit of the Spirit in all SERM. Goodness, and Righteoufness, and Truth (s), V. when through the Influence of the fame bleffed Spirit they abound in Hope, and are filled with all foy and Peace in believing (†),---are strengthened with Might in the inner Man, and are rooted and grounded in Love (u). THESE Scripture-expreffions however ought to be understood in a qualified Senfe, left they fhould incline to that delufive Enthufiafm, which fober Reason abhors, or to that fecure Prefumption, which true Religion condemns. It is a dreadful Mistake, to think, that the Holy Spirit acts in, and with the Faithful by an impetuous and allcommanding Violence, or that he doth all those great Things for the Sons of God by vehemently overbearing their Choice and Judgment. He leads, but he does not drive; they are at Liberty to follow him in the direct Path to Glory, or to withdraw from under his Guidance, and relinquish their own Happiness: And this is too often the Event, in fome for a Time, in others for ever. N 4 THAT (s) Ephef. v. 9. (t) Rom. xv. 13. SERM. V. THAT the Regenerate fhould be liable frequently to tranfgrefs, is by no means ftrange during the prefent Seafon of their Trial: For without fuch a Power, where would their Probation be? But it is their further Privilege not to be immediately loft, as foon as they go aftray: They are sought after like wandering Sheep by their Shepherd,---are invited and affifted to come back into the Fold,---are kindly received on their Repentance and Amendment,---and have an Atonement always ready to be applied on the Return to their Duty; which they never fail of finding, if they are careful to look for it in the appointed Place and Manner, i. e. if they prepare themfelves to feast on Chrift's Merits in one Sacrament, as they have been cloathed with them in the other, and fpiritually eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink bis Blood (x), thereby partaking of the excellent Fruits and Benefits of his Sacrifice: For then they have eternal Life, and he will raise them up at the left Day (y). THE Sons of God are not only baptized into one Body, but are made to drink into one (x) St. John vi. 53. C) V. 54. |