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as that which is contained in these, and a thousand other paffages equally explicit? Are the difficulties, which the pride of human reason fuggefts, unfurmountable obftacles to the reception of this doctrine? Shall we renounce, with difdain, that pardon of fin and that gift of eternal life, which nature most vehemently folicits, becaufe offered not in the way which our fhallow understandings propose, but in that which infinite wifdom hath chofen, as the purchase of the obedience and death of the Son of God?

In the page or field of controversy, in the warmth of angry theological debate, and eager contest for victory, objections may appear formidable. But what will be their aspect to the Christian, in his hours of retirement and ferious reflection, when meditating upon his own character and defert, and looking forward to his appearance in the prefence of his Maker? Then, be affured, these mountains created by

pride and contention will dwindle away into nothing, and the mind will return to fentiments more becoming its condition. In these feasons, the queftions which appear of chief importance are not, in what myfteries and difficulties is this doctrine involved, but, are the scriptures the word of God? and is this doctrine of the atonement there plainly afferted and maintained?

Mysteriousness undoubtedly attends it, but myfteries inexplicable occur in every fact which we obferve in the natural world, and why fhould we prefume to think that in a plan fo grand and fublime as that of the recovery of a loft and perifhing world, there fhould not be circumstances, which our very limited understandings cannot explain.

If fatisfied that it is the doctrine of the word of God, the difficulties attending it, will be easily overcome; and with a grateful joy proportioned to its value, the hum

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ble Chriftian will accept of it "as the unSpeakable gift of God" for falvation.

One remark, which the ferious contemplation of this fubject fuggefts, is of fuch importance as to deferve your particular attention; it is this: That the idea of God reconciling a loft and guilty world to himself through the medium of the obedience and death of his own Son, is in itself fo fublime and so astonishing, fo far removed from every thing which ever had, or could be fuppofed to have entered into the human mind, that this of itself affords a strong prefumption, that from human invention it never originated. But now that it is revealed from God, what truth can bring along with it fuch peace and fecurity to the heart? In the obedience and expiatory facrifice of the Son of God, the true Christian fees not only all ground of fear removed, but the most fublime and fatisfying profpects opened to his view, he beholds all the

perfections of the divinity harmoniously engaged in his behalf, and the God of nature bearing to him the relation of a Father, in the most endearing sense of that expreffion. Full of this idea the Chriftian rifes to an elevation of mind and character, of which otherwise human naturę is incapable. Secured in the divine favour and protection, he feels himfelf excited to every thing great and noble in fentiment and action; and refting upon this foundation, he calmly but cheerfully looks forward to that folemn day which will diffolve his connexion with the world, and admit him into the immediate prefence and enjoyment of his God.

If fuch are the happy effects of this doctrine, and fuch the confolation, which, in circumstances the most affecting, it brings to the human mind; if in paffages, without number of the fcriptures, it is moft exprefsly afferted; nay, if it be indeed, what it appears to be, the cardinal

point upon which the whole scheme of revelation turns; and, finally, if it not only gives no encouragement to relaxation of morals, but brings along with it, the strongest and most affecting motives to holiness and purity of heart and life; then, upon what principles can we account for that zeal, which, with indefatigable perfeverance labours to banish it from the ftandards of our faith? Let it's enemies prove that it is productive of any mifchievous confequences either to fociety or to the individual, and we will excufe their hoftile attempts. On this point we appeal in its behalf to fact and experience. Look around you in life, my brethren, and fay from your own obfervation, whether they who fincerely believe and confide in the merits of the Saviour for acceptance with God, are lefs peaceable, industrious, and useful than others, as members of civil fociety,-lefs faithful, laborious and respected as minifters of re

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