the Atonement, as well to reprefent the SER M. Death Man deserved to fuffer, as to typify VII. the Satisfaction to be made by the Death of another, and to fhew, that without fhedding of Blood there was to be no Remiffion (m). AND what was promifed, has been accomplifhed,---The Event has answered to the Prediction,---our bleffed Saviour has by his Death and Refurrection obtained an entire Victory over our fpiritual Adverfaries,---has delivered us from our Slavery to Sin,---has atoned for the Breaches of the old and instituted a new Covenant in his Blood. This, from the Affiftance and Favour peculiarly extended to us therein, is ftiled the Covenant of Grace. In this Covenant the ineftimable Love of God to us, who had done the utmost to provoke his Anger, is fhewn in the eafy Precepts given and the reasonable Service required ---In it the unmerited Goodness of God is fet forth in enfuring to us fufficient Support towards our obferving thofe Precepts and performing that Service, and in vouchfafing us a greater Measure of the (m) Heb, ix. 22. Gifts SERM. Gifts of his Holy Spirit on our ImproveVII. ment of a smaller Portion and abounding in the Works of Righteousness: In it likewise the Divine Mercy is moft amply display'd in the Forgiveness of our Offences, and an Affurance of rewarding finally our imperfect Services with everlasting Life. BUT how much foever God's loving Kindness overflows in thefe Particulars, we are not after all to imagine, that it will be forcibly obtruded upon us. As it is reached out to us in and by a Covenant, the Performance of the Conditions of that Covenant on our Parts must be implied, and is expected by him; otherwife we fhall in vain expect the Benefits thereof due only to the Servants of Obedience. THE Renouncing of the Devil and all his Works, the Refufing to do his fervile Drudgery from which we are fet free, and the Disclaiming all Communication with him in his horrid Rebellion against our common Lord and Master, are material Articles in the new Contract, we have engaged in: Or, if we have drawn any fuch Guilt upon ourselves by the Commiffion of Sin, the the only Work which the Arch-Apoftate puts puts his Vaffals upon, then the Terms of the SERM. Christian Covenant are, that we fincerely re- VII. pent of and utterly forfake it, and practically believe the Gofpel, i. e. fo believe it, as faithfully and uniformly to discharge the Duties of it. THE Covenant, of which the Son of God was the Mediator, is not rigorous but merciful, is devoid of Severity and full of Favour. Into this we all have entered, and have thereby de-. livered ourselves from that Servitude to Sin, in which we were born; yet not fo wholly, but that we are still in Danger of being again taken Captives by it. Our Life is a Scene of spiritual Warfare, and we must not think, we shall ever be fecure from the Incurfions of our Enemies, or victorious in every Conflict. THERE is no Doubt, but that whilft we stand upon our Guard, and to the utmost of our Power endeavour to maintain our Ground, the Divine Succours will be fufficient for our Defence,---fufficient to prevent our being fubdued by Force or feduced by Treachery, and to preferve us from falling, at least irrrecoverably falling into the Adverfaries Hands by any Affault or Temptation whatsoever. For God is faithful, as fays the Apostle, SERM. Apoftle, who will not fuffer you to be tempted VII. above what you are able, viz. whilft your Spirit cleaveth ftedfaftly unto him, but will with the Temptation alfo make a Way to efcape, either the Cunning or the Violence of the Tempter, that ye may be able to bear it, and not be overcome by him (n). FROM hence however for any of us to fancy or flatter ourfelves, that God will keep us from deferting him and falling off to Sin by his Almighty Aid, when at the fame Time we take no manner of Heed to our own Goings, is to rely on what we have no Authority to look for, nor Foundation to build upon.---. Our affectionate Mafter, though he will help us to finifh our allotted Task, yet will not do all our Work for us, as if we had no Remains of Liberty or Ability to act for ourselves. That we want natural Strength to proceed acceptably in his Service must be acknowledged, ftill where there is not alfo wanting a willing Mind, he fuftains our impotent Endeavours with the powerful Affiftance of his Grace: But this we fhall provoke him to withdraw or deny, fhould it be either flighted or abufed by us, fhould we reject (n) 1 Cor. x. 13. reject it with Contempt or make it an Handle SERm. for Ungodliness. VII. SAINT Paul, in Order to rivet this Truth firm in our Minds, gives us to understand in many Places of his Epiftles, that we may do, Despite unto the Spirit of Grace (0),---may grieve him (p),---may quench his Operations within us. (q), and deprive ourselves of his neceffary Concurrence by fuppreffing and refifting his Motions: And confequently, that it is, poffible for us, who have been once enlightened by the ordinary Influences of the Holy Ghoft, and have tasted of the heavenly Gift, to fall away, (r), to break the Engagements we have made with our God, and exchange his Service for the Bondage of Satan. Ir were to be wifhed, that fo wretched a Desertion of the best of Mafters had not been too often proved to be more than poffible. When we read in the History of the Old Testament, that among the Ifraelites, for whom the Almighty had wrought Deliverance by Signs and Wonders and a ftretched out Arm, there were many of fo abject (0) Heb x. 29. (p) Ephef. iv. 30. (r) Heb. vi. 4. |