in the presence of God for his church, and prepare mansions for his faithful servants, that where he is, there they may be also.

Of this blessed Gospel state, the prophets prophesied long before; and some of them in terms so plain and express, and in a manner so particular, that it looks more like a history of what was past, than a prediction of what should be to come, so many ages after. But they were designed by God as so many heralds to proclaim the coming of the great Messias, and prepare the world for his reception, in whom all the nations of the world should be blessed.

Thus

Thus all the former imperfect essays towards the recovery of fallen man were completed by Jesus Christ the righteous, the universal Saviour. is the last hand put, and the finishing stroke given on God's part, to the great and glorious work of our redemption; and now, henceforward and for ever, there is no other name under heaven whereby man can be saved, but that of Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life", and who himself hath assured us, that no man can come to the Father but by him. For what could be done more in order to the salvation of sinful man, than has been already done by God in Christ? Here is a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction, made for the sins of the whole race of mankind, by Jesus Christ the eternal Son of God, his suffering death upon the cross in our stead and for our redemption; here is by him, as the mediator between God and man, a perfect rule of life and manners given to the world, and all men's obedience to it indispensably required, as the condition, together with a firm

u John xiv. 6.

faith in Christ as the only Saviour, of man's reaping the benefit of his sufferings, and sharing in the merit of his blood: and eternal life and happiness is made the reward of this faith and obedience, and eternal death and misery the punishment of the contrary.

And the Christian law is in its own nature most highly reasonable, and such as will improve the soul of man in every thing that is excellent and praiseworthy; and it is by all men practicable, in such a degree as may be sufficient to their salvation: that is, sincerity, though attended with some failures and imperfections, will be accepted instead of perfect duty; and he who knows and pities our infirmities, has given his blessed Spirit to be every one's guide and assistant that will embrace his help; and if we chance to fall in this our Christian race, we have liberty to rise again by repentance, and prosecute our course afresh, and may for all this reach the prize at last.

And to this covenant of infinite grace and mercy all men are now invited; Greek and Jew, barbarian, Scythian, bond and free. All that will may come freely, and drink of this water of life; and whoever will believe in Jesus, and become his disciple by baptism, and depart from all iniquity, shall be a happy partaker of all the inestimable privileges conferred upon the Christian church, and need not doubt of a perfect reconciliation to his Maker.

And if such a dispensation as this be not God's last method of recovering fallen man, it is very strange. Can there be a more acceptable and meritorious sacrifice than the blood of his eternal Son, to make atonement for his rebellious creatures? and

can any thing in nature be a more cogent motive to the utmost love and duty of poor condemned wretches, than to have a pardon procured for them in such an amazing manner as this?

Can there be more holy, just, and good commands, than our blessed Redeemer hath given us; and which are so wisely contrived, that it is impossible, in the very nature of things, that we should be truly happy, either here or hereafter, unless we pay obedience to them? And can there be more tender care taken to adapt the service required of us to our strength and ability, to consider our frail nature and hazardous circumstances, and pity our infirmities, and procure all necessary aid and assistance, and assure us too of all fitting indulgence when we do amiss?

Can there be any greater encouragement to our best services than a crown of glory eternal in the heavens, and an everlasting enjoyment of the inconceivable pleasures of that glorious place? And can any thing be more effectual to deter us from persisting in our rebellion against God, than the threats of an eternal banishment from his divine presence and his heavenly kingdom; and in endless flames and tortures to cohabit with the Devil and his angels? And can there be a more diffusive mercy and goodness, than thus to invite all men to their supreme happiness, and give them all the helps that reasonably can be desired in order to their effectually attaining it?

It being so evident therefore, that mankind is now under God's final dispensation, relating to their eternal happiness, how careful ought every one of us to be, lest by our infidelity or incorrigible wickedness

we fall short of this wonderful grace of God, and by neglecting lose so great salvation!

Before, in the times of man's ignorance, and comparatively dark and imperfect knowledge of God's will, and of the nature and guilt of sin, and the rewards and punishments of another, world God winked at many things that were not as they should be; and the imperfection of former dispensations may in a great measure be their excuse. But now, men being taught all necessary truth and duty as clearly as is possible, God commandeth all men every where to repents, as they hope to share in the benefits of this new covenant in Christ. And of what sore punishment shall they be thought worthy, who, when God hath done such wondrous things to save them, by his eternal Son, trample all his gracious offers under foot, and oppose him as violently as if he were their greatest enemy?

But let such consider, and tremble when they consider, that this is God's final tender of grace and pardon to them; and which if they refuse, he will be no more entreated. Those that will not comply with the method God now takes, by the mediation of Christ to save them, must expect no further favour; for this is the last opportunity of making their peace that ever they shall enjoy, and the end of the world draws nigh, and no more sacrifice shall there be for sins; nothing but a fearful expectation of judgment and fiery indignation at that terrible day, when the same Jesus, whom they would not receive as their Saviour, shall be their judge, and sentence them to an inexpressible, but justly deserved misery, because it was put into their hands to make

x Acts xvii. 30.

themselves for ever happy, but they slighted and despised it, and were resolved upon ruin.

Wherefore, as we hope to be saved, we must have a care of being like the wicked husbandmen in the parable; and by no means give ill treatment to the servants of the great Lord of the vineyard, much less to his glorious Son.

And if the meanest of God's ministers deserve our reverence, for the sake of the authority by which they act, and the message that they bring, even the glad tidings of peace and salvation, earnestly persuading us to accept them, and be reconciled to God, much more should we reverence his Son, and pay an humble and ready obedience to whatever he shall require.

And what is it that he requires of us, and they by his authority in his absence, but what in all reason and gratitude should be given him, the fruits of his vineyard; which he hath planted with the choicest vine, and cultivated with the greatest care, and preserved and blessed by a peculiar providence, and would fain see prosperous and flourishing? And this, not that he stands in need of any thing that the whole creation can afford, for it is from his inexhaustible fulness that all things have derived their being; but purely for our own benefit, that, by improving under the means of grace he hath hitherto bestowed upon us, we may be capable of still more and more, and he may continue to delight to do us good.

And of what kind are the fruits that we are to return him? Truly, no other than what a wise man would above all things desire to produce for his own sake, were they not required of him by his Lord