Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him....Rom.. v. 9..

1st.

ALL heresies are founded in pride and spring from ignorance and unbelief of the Lord's word: some strike at the glory of the free grace of God: others at the divinity of the Son of God: others at his atonement and righteousness, whereby our sins are pardoned, our persons justified, and final perseverance to eternal glory is secured to every believer. Paul, under the influence of that Spirit, who foresaw every heresy which would spring up, pester the church, dishonor Christ and distress his members, here sits himself against that pernicious heresy, that souls once justified and pardoned by the blood of Christ may after perish under the wrath of God. What is meant by being justified by the blood of Christ? Just the reverse of being condemned for sin by the law; for his blood takes away sin, which is the cause of condemnation. Christ's blood shed at his death was the finishing stroke, and includes his whole work as our Saviour: he made that full satisfaction to law and justice, for which sinners are freed from condemnation by the one and pronounced just by the other: they are once for all and for ever justified in God's sight for though God sees sin in them, yet they are for ever justified from it in his beloved Son. 2d. Who are thus justified? Sinners who believe on the Son of God, whether they have the sense and comfort of it in their own consciences or not: for they now receive the atonement of Christ into their hearts by faith. Faith urges them to plead and not rest satisfied till they find the peace of God in their consciences, flowing from justification in Christ's blood. But, 3d. May not such perish at last under the wrath of God? No, says Paul, that is impossible. MUCH MORE, mind those precious words, "being Now justified by his blood, we shall be saved,"....as though he had said, what, did the Son of God shed his blood in vain? Has he called us and justified us before God through faith in his blood? And has he now no love to us, nor care for us? Will he after all this grace leave us to perish under wrath? No: as we are actually justified by his blood, we shall be eternally saved from wrath through him; his precious blood can never loose its efficacy; his gracious heart never abate in love; his almighty arm can never lose its power. As Christ died to redeem from all sin, he lives to save from all wrath: this is the faith of God's elect: this faith works by love of the truth, and in rejecting all self-righteous errors; and as the soul is comforted by this love, love inspires to all cheerful obedi

ence.

When Jesus on the cross did bleed,
He represented all his seed,

And they in him were justify'd,"
And this by faith's to them apply'd. M.

That in all things Christ might have the pre-eminence.... Col. i. 18.

We cannot be happy till this truth is brought into the experience of our hearts. The regenerate soul is ever at war with the flesh, for it opposes the pre-eminence of Christ; and is also at war against the proud notions of profane as well as self-righteous men, who reject Christ our precious head, from having the pre-eminence in the salvation of the body: they put him in subordination in many things, instead of giving him the pre-eminence in ALL things. When our Lord says, “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work,".... John v. 17....some poor sinners become bold intruders, and add, "Lo, we work also, and our works must have some part in our salvation." Well, it will be so till the law of works, which has the pre-eminence in their hearts, kills their legal hopes and self-righte bus confidence. Soul, can you say with Paul? "I through the law, am dead to the law."....Gal. ii. 19. Are you married to Christ by faith? Then you have seen that you are totally destroyed in the old creation; and are a mere cypher, an insignificant nothing in the work of a new creation. Here Christ is all in all. As a chaste and loving bride, you will glory in and exalt your beloved bridegroom above all things. 1st. You will give him the pre-eminence in your heart. It is said of the late king George, when he chose to keep his nobles at a distance, he used to say, "the KING is at home to-day:" so whenever any bold intruders from the world, the flesh, or the devil, solicit admittance, you will say, "King Jesus is on his throne to-day:" he has the pre-eminence within: my affections are set on him: there is no room for you. 2d. Of your hopes. Does satan accuse? We overcome satan by the blood of the Lamb, and by our testimony of Jesus....Rev. xii. 11. Does the law condemn? "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us."....Gal. iii. 13. Is conscience distressed? "His blood sprinkles our hearts from an evil conscience."....Heb. x. 22. His work "makes perfect, as pertaining to the conscience."....Heb. ix. 9. "His blood purges our conscience from dead works, to serve the living God."....Heb. ix. 14. Thus Christ has the pre-eminence in all things pertaining to our conscience and our hopes: for we are fully assured, "God hath made us accepted in the beloved.".... Eph. i. 6. Sd. In our lives. We are not under the law, therefore we have done with all legal striving to fulfil it, that we may be justified by and saved for what we do: but we are under the grace of Christ; this has the pre-eminence over our walk; we live under theinfluence of love; we walk with Christ's salvation in our hearts.

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost....Tit.

iii. 5.

"SHEW us a miracle and we will believe you are inspired, say carnal men. We can, but they have not eyes to see it. Blessed be God, miracles are not ceased: the Lord works miracles of grace daily every regenerate sinner is a miracle of God the Father's mercy, of God the Son's grace, and of God the Holy Spirit's power: his humble language proclaims it; I stand forth and declare, that I was a vile sinner, condemned by the law of God, and justly deserving the damnation of hell, yet full of the pride of my own works and confident of salvation by my own righteousness; 'but God, by an act of sovereign mercy, has saved me from the power of sin and a vain, confident hope in my own righteousness. "Not by works which we have done." Our works are out of the question; for all boasting is excluded: yet the notion of absolute mercy in God to any sinner, without respect to works of righteousness performed by man to fulfil the law of God, is absurd and unscriptural; it is to be rejected as contrary to the attributes and perfections of the Godhead: therefore, we are saved by mercy, according to works of righteousness; but not which we have done. No: but what Jesus our law-fulfilling head hath done for us: he hath fully obeyed the commands of the holy law, perfectly satisfied the demands of strict justice; hence the mercy of the Holy Spirit flows to us. Jesus saves us from the curse of the law and the wrath of justice: the Spirit saves us from the blindness of our understanding, the rebellion of our will, and the carnality of our affections. Pause, O my soul! Fall down and adore his rich mercy, that snatched thee from hell and saved thee to heaven: yes, into the heaven of the love of the Father, Son and Spirit. My soul is formed for it: I have suitable dispositions to it. How? "By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost." As water separates the filth from the thing washed and makes it clean, so the Spirit separates us from the love of sin, our pride, self-righteousness and aversion to Christ and his salvation; begetting us again from our old natural false hope, to a new and lively hope of salvation by the death and resurrection of Jesus, by the word through faith; renewing us hereby in the Spirit of our mind, making us new crea-. tures in Christ. So that salvation is not by reforming and amending our old nature; that is left just as it was: but begetting us anew in Christ, that we might live and walk in him to the glory of God. Our old nature is subjected to grace: "Christ is in us the hope of glory."....Col. i. 27.

This is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another.... 1 John iii. 23.

WHEN a weary traveller has lost his way, what joy must the sight of a directory afford him? How must his joy be increased, if it informs him he is near a dear friend's house, who will kindly receive him? Weary pilgrim, look at this directory and rejoice: you are near a dear friend, who will kindly receive and heartily welcome you. Obey this command, and enjoy the comfort. Consider, 1st, Whe commands. God the Father, of heaven; that God against whom you have sinned, and by sin are become miserable: he would have you be both holy and happy; you can be neither without believing: both are enjoyed in faith. 2d. The command: BELIEVE. By the ten commandments you are condemned; you are brought in guilty by them; the law ministers nothing but wrath and condemnation. God be merciful to us miserable sinners: God shews us mercy. O, the love and grace of the law-giver! He here gives us one command, which ministers life and salvation to our guilty souls: only believe: you mourn under a sense of sin, are dejected for want of peace, and distressed for want of comfort: you look one way and another: you strive to do this and that you pray, read, hear, communicate, &c. still your soul is not happy and joyful. Why not? Because you do not obey your Father's command, BELIEVE. Sd. Consider the object of faith: "The name of his Son Jesus Christ." God the Father doth not command, believe on me, come to me, but only as he is in Christ therefore he says, "hear my beloved Son.". '........Mark ix. 7. Believe on him: go to him: receive him: look to him: venture your souls on him: constantly and continually exercise your minds on him, for all salvation: so shall you enjoy my peace, my favor and my love. All centers in his name, JESUS; your sin-bearing, sinatoning, curse-suffering, law-fulfilling Saviour. CHRIST: anointed, sent and appointed by God the Father, to do and suffer his will; to finish your salvation, and to save and make you happy every moment, in the sense of the Father's reconciled love IN HIM. 4th. Who are commanded thus to believe? Sinners, lost and perishing sinners, who have no righteousness to justify, no strength to save themselves. This is your character and mine, and will be so all through life: therefore this command is ever to be obeyed by us. Are you in a doubting, fearing, condemned, dark, distressed frame? Your Father's loving command just suits you: obey him: believe in his Son, for light, joy and peace, and they shall spring up in your conscience: then love shall prevail in your soul to God and to his children. This is the prayer of faith, "Lord increase our faith."....Luke xvii. 5.

But ye have not so learned Christ....Eph. iv. 20.

BELIEVE and live as you will: love and walk as you please. Will any say, this is fine licentious doctrines? We answer, such do not know nor consider the power of faith, nor the influence of Christ's love: they are strangers to his teaching. Christians are his scholars: Christ is our one master: he graciously condescends to teach us: he kindly says, "learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart” to instruct you....Matt. xi. 29. Our grand business is, to sit at his feet. We have no just ideas of the sinfulness of sin, the vileness of our nature, nor the preciousness of his person, but what we learn of him. Christian, what hast thou learned of Christ this day? If thou hast not learned somewhat of the heinous nature of sin, so as to abhor it, and of the preciousness of Christ's person and salvation, so as to cleave to him, verily, thou hast lost a day: thou didst not so learn Christ; for this is his word daily to thee, COME

UNTO ME.

1st. When the pleasures of sin invite; when these trinity of idols, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, demand to be gratified, what is your answer? Is it not? My soul abhors them, my life shall be prevailingly free from them; I have not so learned Christ as to indulge them; I have learned so much of his precious love; as to desire to be wholly, solely and eternally devoted to his glory. 2d. Have you been bearing your sins and carrying your sorrows to-day? Verily, you take too much upon you; ye have not so learned Christ. Surely, he hath done this for you, that you should be eased of their burden and find rest in him: "all ye that labour and are heavy laden, come unto me, and I will give you rest."....Matt. xi. 28. This is his sweet voice, "let not your hearts be troubled." This is his precious command, "believe in me."....John xiv. 1. 3d. Have you been this day folding your hands in dejection, full of doubts and fears, and your hope at the last gasp? You have not so learned Christ: for he saith to the fearful heart, "be strong: fear not."....Isa. xxxv. 4. Again, "fear not, for I am with thee: be not dismayed, for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee: yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand my righteousness."....Isa. xli. 10. Daily learn to exalt Christ's words against all your sorrows; his righteousness against all your sins; his salvation against all your demerits; his promises against all your fears; and his truths against all satan's lying suggestions. See the blessedness of thus learning Christ; "great shall be thy peace in righteousness shalt thou be established: fear and terror shall not come near thee."....Isa. liv. 13, 14.