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DISCOURSE X.

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MATTHEW XXvii. 38.

Then were there two Thieves crucified with him; one on the right Hand, and another on the left.

**HAT different Effects the Judgments of God have upon the Minds of Men, may be learned from these Examples now before us. Here are two

Thieves crucified with our bleffed Saviour; two, who were probably guilty of the fame Crimes, and now under the fame Condemnation; both brought by the Providence of God to fuffer in the Company of his own Son, whofe Blood was fhed for the Sins of the whole World. But mark the End of thefe

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these Men: One died reproaching and blafpheming Chrift, and breathed out his Soul in the Agonies of Guilt and Defpair; the other faw, acknowledged, and openly confeffed his Redeemer, and expired with the Sound of those bleffed Words in his Ears, To-day fhalt thou be with me in Paradife.

How adorable is the Wisdom of God, who has thus inftructed us; and, by setting the Examples of his Juftice and Mercy fo near together, has taught us to fear without Defpair, and to hope without Prefumption! Who would not tremble for himfelf, when he fees the Man perish in his Sins who died by his Saviour's Side; within reach of that Blood which was poured out for his Redemption, but wanting Faith to stretch out his Hand, and be faved?

What would the dying Sinner give to have his Saviour fo near him in his last Moments, that he might pour out his Soul before him, and feize by Violence the Hand which alone is able to fave? Yet he who had all these Advantages enjoyed none of them; but died in his Sins, void of Hope and of Comfort.

Must the Sinner then despair, and has God forgot to be merciful? No: Caft your Eyes on the other Side of the Crofs, and there

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you may fee the Mercy of God difplayed in the brightest Colours. There hangs the Penitent, furrounded with all the Terrors of approaching Death; yet,in the midst of all, calm, and ferene; confeffing his Sins, glorifying the Justice of God in his own Punishment, rebuking the Blasphemy of his Companion, justifying the Innocence of his Saviour, and adoring him even in the lowest State of Misery; and, at laft, receiving the certain Promise of a blessed Immortality.

Thus the Cafe stands, with all the Allowances made to it which seem most to favour a Death-bed Repentance: And yet, as if the Scripture had faid nothing of the Wretch who died blafpheming and reproaching Christ, nor given us any Cause to fear that a wicked Life may end in an hardened and obdurate Death; the Cafe of the Penitent only is drawn into Example, and fuch Hopes are built on it, as are neither confiftent with the Laws of God, nor the Terms of Man's Salvation; for even of this Example the most preposterous and abfurd Use is made. This Penitent, as foon as he came to the Knowledge of Chrift, repented of his Sins: If you are fond of the Example, Go and do likewife: If you delay, and pursue the Pleafures of Sin, upon the Encouragement which

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this Inftance affords you, it is plain, that you like nothing in the Repentance, but only the Lateness of it; and that your Inclinations are to imitate the Thief, rather than the penitent Christian'. Once he lived by Violence, in defiance of the Laws of God and Man: When he was penitent, he abhorred and detefted his Iniquities: Which Part would you imitate? If both, if like him you propose to enjoy the Pleasures of Sin, and like him to repent and enjoy the Pleafures of Heaven, you mightily impose on yourself; his Cafe can never be yours, and therefore his Example cannot be your Security. Befides, were the Cafe indeed parallel to that of the dying Christian, yet ftill it can afford no certain Hope; since the Proof is as ftrong from the Cafe of the impenitent Thief, that you shall die in your Sins ; as it can be from the other Cafe, that you fhall repent of them.

It would take up too much of your Time to confider this Case distinctly in all its Views: I fhall therefore only briefly hint to you the Circumftances which distinguish it from that of the dying Christian; and then proceed to fhew, what little Hope this Example affords, allowing the Cafe to be what it is generally fuppofed to be.

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First then; In all this perhaps there may be nothing resembling a Death-bed Repentance. It is no uncommon thing for Malefactors to lie in Prison a long time, before they are brought to Trial and Execution; and if that is the present Case, there is room enough for the Conversion of this Criminal before he came to fuffer. The Circumstances incline this Way. How came he to be fo well acquainted with the Innocence of Christ, if he never heard of him till he met him on the Crofs? How came it into his Head to addrefs to him in the manner he does, Lord, remember me when thou comeft into thy Kingdom? What were the Marks of Royalty that were to be discovered on the Crofs? what the Signs of Dignity and Power? What could lead him to think that his Fellow-fufferer had a Title to any Kingdom? what to imagine, that he was Lord of the World that is to come? These Circumstances make it probable that he had elsewhere learned the Character and Dignity of Christ, and came perfuaded of the Truth of his Miffion: And what is this to them, who have no Defire to lie down Chriftians upon their Death-bed, though they would willingly go off Penitents?

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Secondly,

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