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183

THE SINNER,

His Sentence.

Oн, the miserable condition of mankind! What loads of self-made misery are fallen upon the sons of men! Man, that had once a power not to fall, hath not now the will to stand; and being fallen by his ambitious will, hath lost the power to rise. He was created good, but, not content with such a goodness, grew covetous to increase it by the knowledge of that which (being known) deprived him of that goodness, Evil he desired to know; and not knowing the misery of that knowledge, by that knowledge,. ⚫ became miserable, That God, the sweet

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ness of whose presence was the perfection of man's felicity, he rebelliously declined; and being the favourite of

Heaven, made himself a firebrand of hell, and I his miserable child-made more miserable by my own offences. What mercy can I expect from this just God, whose justice I have so oft offended? What judgment may I not suspect from that merciful God, whose mercy I have so oft abused? Is not the practice of my life, sin? are not the wages of my sin, death? If one sin destroyed a world of men, shall not a world of sins destroy one man? I that have not feared to provoke his justice, am now afraid to think him just; I that have slighted his mercy, have now no warrant to hope him merciful. He that made the eye, can he choose but see? He that sees all things, beholds he not my sin? Can he behold my sin, and not punish ? Can he punish, and I not confounded? What am I, poor dust and ashes, to stand before so great an enemy? Did he not create me for his service, and shall not his hand destroy me for my rebellion?

What advocate shall plead my cause what sanctuary shall secure me? Shall that blood save me which I have spilt? Will that Judge quit me whom I have crucified? Shall I present my prayers to Heaven? alas! my very prayers will return like thunder-bolts upon my head. Shall I lay my sins before the eye of Heaven? ah me! I dare not, lest they draw down vengeance into my bosom.

Be not afraid, my soul, God's mercy far transcends thy misery. Cheer up. Oh, now, my soul, depart in peace, for thine eyes shall see thy salvation. Open thine ears, and hear what the Spirit saith:

He that believeth in me shall never die. John, xi. 16.

John, iii. 16.

God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.

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John, v. 24.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Acts, xvi. 31.

Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, and thy household, Rom. i. 17.

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith,

His Soliloquy.

BUT is thy misery, O my soul, greater than his mercy? Tis true, the practice of thy life is sin, but the practice of his mercy is pardon: the wages of thy sin is death; but the merits of his death

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is life. Art thou afraid to think the God of vengeance just? and well thou mayest, if thou deny the God of mercy to be merciful. Old Adam hath run thee in debt, and young Adam hath paid the score, and wilt thou not acknowledge it? O my distrustful soul, darken not the sunshine of his power with the clouds of thy infidelity; eclipse not the illustrious body of his mercy with the interposition of thy despair. Think not thy great Creator is thine enemy, when thy gracious Redeemer is thy friend. Hast thou sinned against thy creation ? thou art absolved by thy redemption. Art thou penitent for thy rebellion? thy peace is made by thy Redeemer. But thou hast shed thy Saviour's blood? take comfort; that very blood which thou hast spilled will save thee. But thou hast crucified the Lord of glory: the Lord of glory whom thou hast crucified, hath crucified thy sins. Fear not

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