ders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride foolishness; All these evil things come from within, and defile the man. (a) IT is equally necessary for him to know that he cannot save himself, and that by the righteous law of God he is doomed to die everlastingly; that he cannot redeem his soul, or give to God ransom for either himself or his brother. (b) That the Ethiopian can as soon change his black skin, or the Leopard his spots, as that he who is accustomed to do evil should learn to do well. He must then enquire in what light he views his Saviour, or what his ideas may be of redemption by the blood of an incarnate God. DOES he consider? that it is the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world, that Jesus trod the wine-press alone, and of the people there were none with him; and that by the blood of his covenant alone the prisoners shall be brought out of the pit in which there is no water? Has he a clear scriptural view of all the offices which Christ sustains, as prophet, priest, and king? Does he see him as the way, the truth and the life? The only way for a poor ruined sinner to come to God? Has he a tolerable idea of the dignity of his person? that the fulness of the Godhead (a) Mark vii. 21, 22, 23. (b) Psalm xlix. 7. dwells bodily in him, that all things were made by him, and without him nothing was made? So that without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh. HAS he a proper conception of justification by faith? faith in that blood which was shed for ruined and undone sinners, and by which their sins are fully expiated? Now this kind of knowledge a man may obtain who hears the gospel and is simple hearted, though he be no scholar; nay, though he cannot read a letter, so that if he perish for lack of knowledge, it is his own fault. 2. HE should examine his repentance. If it is true, that all have sinned, then it is equally true that all need repentance. And indeed so we are told, For at the times of ignorance God winked; but now hath commanded all men every where to repent. (a) Now wherever there is real repentance there will be a sincere sorrow for sin, according to the degree of sensibility the penitent feels, and that is a sacrifice well pleasing to God; for the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart God will not despise. Whatever depth of sorrow there may be in the penitent, we are very certain he will forsake his sin; he will not dissemble or cloak it before the face of Almighty God;" for he that cover (a) Acts xvii. S eth his sin shall not prosper; but he that confesseth and forsaketh his sin, he shall obtain mercy. HE must, in the very nature of things, forsake his sin: for his servants we are to whom we obey, whether of sin unto death, or obedience unto righteousness. He cannot serve two masters. If he sincerely seeks Jesus he will let his sins go. He will deliver up his pleasing sins; the pleasure of them is gone; he is slain to that wherein he was held, and is led captive by it no He will sacrifice his profitable sins, his sinful gain: he cannot pursue that which he knows the word of God condemns. And if there be any honour, or credit in dishonouring the Most High, he humbly lays it at the foot of the cross, so that he may count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus his Saviour and Lord. more. 3. BUT the sincere communicant must examine his faith; seeing without faith we cannot please God; and the lowest degree is, that he that cometh unto God must believe that he is, and is the rewarder of all them who diligently seek him. (a) But this is but the faith of an heathen, thus far he believes. But the faith of a christian must behold God in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses (a) Heb, xi. 6. unto them. (a) He must behold the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world. Christ was lifted up on the cross, like the brazen serpent upon the pole; and now he is elevated upon the gospel pole, that whosoever believeth in him may not perish but have everlasting life. (b) For all things were written and done, that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and in believing we might have life through his name. (c) Now let the communicant examine what confidence he has in that adorable Redeemer, whether he cordially receives him for his wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. Dost thou believe him an able Saviour? Dost thou believe him a willing Saviour? Dost thou renounce not only thy sins, but dost thou renounce thine own righteousness too? Canst thou feelingly say, Jesus, thy blood and righteousness, " DOST thou hear him call the weary and the heavy laden to come to him? and that such as come he will in no wise cast out. Art thou then looking up to him now? Does not that bread, now broken, as a (a) 2 Cor. v. 19. (b) John iii. 15. (c) John xx. 31. finger, point to thy Saviour, broken upon the cross for thee, and crushed beneath the load of thy numerous offences? O look! look at that awful agony! See that amazing sufferer! Hearken to that most doleful cry, My God! My God! why hast thou forsaken me! Once again, I say look; see blood and sweat, flow mingled down! O my sins! my cruel sins: what have ye done! O what love! O what sorrow! Sorrow and love mingled together! Rent, rent, hard heart! give way, thou cursed unbelief! "Heaven weeps that man may smile! Heaven bleeds that man may never die!" Lord, what is man, that thou shouldest thus be mindful of him! O let thy dying love constrain the outcasts to come in, and let my worthless heart abide in thee for ever. 4. BUT it is highly necessary that the believer, should examine his frame and temper, when he eats that bread and drinks that cup; for while he commemorates the death of his meek and lowly Saviour, should not the same blessed mind be in him which was also in Christ Jesus? Should not he be a rich partaker of all the passive graces of the divine Spirit, and become the true imitator of him who hath left him the brightest example? who did no sin, nor was guile found in his mouth, who when he was reviled, reviled not again, and when he suffered he threatened not? The term lamb, so frequently given to our Saviour, |
