we beseech thee, in the power of thy Spirit, and give us vehement desires after it; that, knowing thee by faith, and God by thee, we may justify thy wisdom, glorify thy mercy, and evermore rejoice in thy holy comforts.

LECTURE.

In this chapter we read of John Baptist's sending two of his disciples to Jesus with this question, “Art thou he that should come?" that is, to restore and save mankind; and how he answered the question by referring them to his miracles, as giving full satisfaction in the case, and sufficient proof that he was the great Deliverer, so long promised and expected. What do you think upon hearing this? Is it not necessary that you should all know what he came into the world for; and more especially, whether the design of his coming has been answered to you, by your desire to reap the benefit of it, seeking carefully his blessings, and resolving to secure them to yourselves? In the midst of his discourse which he made to the people, on occasion of John's disciples coming to him, he said, he says it now to you as much as if he was here in person, 66 he that hath ears to hear, let him hear," what it so much concerns all to hear and understand effectually. And what have you heard to-day?

1. The great perverseness of mankind, in refusing and cavilling at God's ways of salvation, always finding fault with something or other in the method of it, or the external appearance and behaviour of those who brought it to them, but never coming to the knowledge of the truth. John appeared in one form, strict and mortified in his diet; Christ in another, conversing more freely, not going so much out of the common way of

living; but neither would please the Jews. And where almost is the man who can separate the truth from the person, loves it for its own sake, and blesses God for it wherever he sees it?

2. Again, you heard the doom which Christ pronounced upon those places wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not-"it shall be more tolerable for Sodom in the day of judgment." Sodom is a fearful and lasting monument of God's vengeance upon sinners; but observe carefully from hence, that the final doom and punishment of sin is reserved to another day, notwithstanding any sufferings in this world. Beware, therefore, lest you bring upon yourselves the heavy sentence you are here forewarned of, by continuing unawakened and unreformed under the preaching of the Gospel, and the advantages you enjoy for the knowledge of Christ. Do you not know him? Will you be always pleading against your own souls, that you are poor and unlearned, or have other business upon your hands, supposing it will excuse you?

3. Why then does Christ here thank God for revealing these things, all necessary, saving knowledge, unto babes, that is the lowest and meanest, if they will but learn of him? This was another thing you heard; and that as all things are delivered to him of the Father, so it was to make all, who receive him for their Teacher, wise unto salvation. He reveals both the Father and himself to us by his written word; and you must read, and hear, and study it diligently, for the knowledge of all necessary truth, and for the life of your souls, as you know you would if it was for the gain of this world. You must not pretend to be wise above what is written, nor to know any thing of God, of yourselves, of the accursed nature of sin, and of the way of salvation from it, but what it teaches you. You must bring every

thought of your minds, every suggestion of your reason, and every inclination of your wills, to be tried by the rule of Scripture, and reject, as false and hurtful, whatever does not agree to it. And, if we take the word of God for our guide, and follow it carefully, as the light which is put into our hands from heaven, it will most certainly be revealed to our hearts in the saving power of it, by leading us to Christ, and to God by him.

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4. For you heard him likewise saying, Come unto me, all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Does Christ say, come, and really mean what he says? So the believer thinks, and does not further require to have his call assured to him by a particular testimony or private revelation, that his name is written in heaven, which is evidently distrust and unbelief; but takes Christ at his word, knows that his hearing and closing with it is faith, rejoices to hear it spoken on good authority, and gives glory to God. Come, therefore, upon the call of heaven, hear the voice of everlasting truth and faithfulness. Stop not at John Baptist; he said, " repent," but he could not say, "come to me, and I will give you rest." Go not to your prudence, good nature, humanity, civil, quiet behaviour, good deeds or duties of any kind, for rest to the conscience; they are all miserable comforters when sin is to be atoned for, and cannot give you an answer of peace. If Christ says, "Come to me," you must come

or be undone.

You have been educated in the religion of Jesus, repeated your creed a thousand times, and never entertained any doubt of the truth of it; but, if you are not grounded in the belief of Christ from a heartfelt conviction of your fallen state, desert of punishment, and absolute want of a Saviour, your profession of him, and worshipping of God in his name, though attended with

ever so many shining accomplishments, is nothing but the common faith which is taken up by the generality upon trust, because it is the religion of the country where they live, and can have no effect in your justification. You must know, that you are lost and undone in yourselves, and that none but Christ can save you from eternal death. You must believe that he came into the world, by the appointment and will of God, to bear your sins in his own body, and deliver you from the damnation of them by the sacrifice of himself. This is the rest you want, peace of mind and conscience, the glad tidings and great grace of the Gospel. You must know and rejoice in God as a reconciled Father, receiving you to pardon for Christ's sake, and passing by all your transgressions, that in the sense of his love you may serve him with freedom of spirit all the days of your life. This is your new state in Christian knowledge, faith, and hope; so God is revealed to you in and through Christ, as the God and Father of mercies; so you come to Christ, as given to you of God for salvation; so you are made alive from the dead. And he says to one and all, come. The words are still sounding in your ears, come unto me;" high and low, rich and poor, master and servant, old and young,

come unto me, and I will give you rest." If you are a saint in comparison of many others, you must come to Christ, sensible of your want of him, or perish; if you are ever so great a sinner, you may come and live. If you will but learn of him, he is meek and lowly, very compassionate and tender-hearted, and will not reject you with scorn and disdain, as your fellowcriminals in the pride of self-ignorance are apt to do, because you are sinners. He calls to you for that very reason to come to him. He invites you lovingly to take his yoke upon you: and he calls it a yoke, because he

knows it to be so, and because you must, in many things, go contrary to the bent of nature, be troubled for your sins, willing to part with them, and submit to his strict discipline. But, if this seems hard, and you refuse to come to him, either because you think you can justify yourselves, or because you like your sins better than his forgiveness and holiness, you must be left to your own choice; and that is, never to know God and Christ; never to know a saving work of the Spirit; never to know ease and freedom, rest and peace; but to have the galling yoke of sin and corruption, disobedience and opposition to the will of God, upon your necks. here, and lie under the heavy load of it for ever.

PRAYER.

Lord God, who hast given us thy Son Jesus Christ to open our eyes, and turn us from darkness to light; incline us, we beseech thee, to submit to his teaching, and to put ourselves unfeignedly into his hands for the work of our salvation. Call us effectually to repentance, and by repentance to faith in thy mercy; and let our faith have its perfect work in the truth and sincerity of our obedience. Take from us all ignorance, hardness of heart, and contempt of thy word. Enable us to embrace, with thankfulness, the invitation of thy blessed Son, and to come unto him for tha rest which we want for our souls, and which he only can bestow. Fill us, O God of hope, with joy and peace in believing, that we may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost. Renew us in the spirit of our minds, that we may approve things that are excellent, account the service of our divine Master perfect freedom, his yoke easy, and his burden light. And grant that we may learn of Christ to be meek and lowly in heart,