fore the immediate, and special object of our faith is JESUS CHRIST.

The Scripture peaks of CHRIST continually`; for to him give all the Prophets witness that, thro' bis name, whofoever believeth in him fhall receive remiffion of fins*:-neither is there falvation in any other for there is no other name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be faved From the beginning to the end of the Sacred Volume, GOD, fome way or other, fpeaks to us, and inftructs us in the knowledge of his Son, and of his love to us in him, and of our redemption thro' his blood, which he hath now finifhed and com-pleated: declaring it alfo to be his will and pleafure, that whofoever believeth on him, or trufteth in him, fhould not perifh, but have eternal life.He faid therefore to the Jews, fearch the Scriptures, for they are they that testify of me -CHRIST is the feed of the woman, that should bruife the ferpent's head; he alfo is the feed of Abraham, in whom GOD promised that all nations fhould be bleffed.-To him the FATHER bore teftimony at his baptifm, by a voice from heaven, when he entered upon his public miniftry, faying, this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleafed : And again,

As x. 43. Matth. iii. 17.

+ Acts iv, 12.

↑ John v. 39.

D

again, when upon the mount Mofes and Elias appeared to him in glory, and talked with him concerning his death, which he should accomplish at Jerufalem, the FATHER then alfo bore witness to him, faying, this is my beloved Son, hear ye him. And, laft of all, he bore a glorious and powerful teftimony to him, when he raifed him again from the dead: Here he proved, and demonftrated beyond all contradiction, that he was the Son of his love, who had finished the work which he gave him to do, and in whom his Soul was well pleased.

L

CHRIST then who was crucified, whom GoD <raised again from the dead, is the Son of GOD, the only. Saviour of the world; and is therefore the true object of our faith and truft: Hence the Apoftle preached, as in the Text, the neceffity of our believing on him, or of faith towards our Lord JESUS CHRIST.- GOD was in CHRIST reconciling the world unto himfelf.In the man CHRIST JESUS the invifible GOD defcended from Heaven, in whom, and by whom he doth as it were intreat, and befeech us to be at peace with him. We, faith the Apostle, are ambaffadors for CHRIST; as tho' God did befeech you by us, we pray you in Chrift's ftead, be ye reconciled unto God+.

+ 2 Cor. v. 20.

If

If a man then understand, and heartily believe Gop's word, he cannot but believe also in JESUS CHRIST, because he is the fubject treated of in that word, as the true and only Saviour of the world, in whom God hath provided, and freely given falvation to every one that believeth. CHRIST therefore is the only object of faith which God hath revealed, fet forth, and held out to us in his word to be believed on, that we might live thro' bim.

And whereas CHRIST, as the Redeemer of his 'people, is both God and man, mysteriously united in one perfon; he hath power to prevail with God and man, both to reconcile, make peace, and maintain an everlasting union betwixt them: For this Caufe CHRIST fulfilled all righteousness in our stead, magnified God's law, and fuffered its curfe, due to our offences:-Thus be made peace by the blood of his cross*.

CHRIST alfo, as the only Head of the Church, and Mediator between GoD and man, hath all power both in Heaven and in earth; and ever lives at God's right band, to make continual interceffion for us.

By the obedience of his life he fulfilled all righteousness; and thereby procured, and merited for us, a right and title to the heavenly inheritance By his blood and death, he fully atoned and expiated all our fins and iniquities: By his entering into Heaven with his own blood, and ever living at the right hand of God to intercede, and plead for us, as the Great Representative, and High Prieft over the House of Ged, he fecures our standing in the Divine favour; obtains ftrength for us to withftand our enemies in the day of trial, and to abide ftedfaft in the faith: until by the power of his might, and thro' faith in his blood, we have finished our courfe, and are made to triumph over all the power of the enemy.

It is certain then, that the object of a man's faith, when he believes unto the faving of the foul, cannot be the abfolute power and mercy of GOD, nor can he fafely depend upon his own works, and duties; for the Scripture warrants no man to expect, because God hath no where promised forgiveness of fins, and falvation in that way: But, on the contrary, God hath revealed, and promised his mercy and love, remiffion of fins and eternal life, thro' CHRIST only; in whom all

the

the promifes of God are yea and amen*: And that because God had chofen his people in CHRIST before the world was, and CHRIST hath redeemed them unto GOD by his own bloodt. Therefore God is just, as well as merciful, in pardoning their fins, and justifying their perfons, who believe and trust only in CHRIST: Himfelf alfo teftifies this is the will of the Father which fent him, that whosoever feeth the Son, and believeth on him, might not perish, but bave eternal life.

THIRDLY, I proposed to confider the place, feat or refidence of Gospel faith in the foul of man :—

It is certain that wherefoever CHRIST, the ob, ject and life of faith, refides, there must faith be alfo: for CHRIST cannot be received by us, nor dwell in us, fave by faith only-If CHRIST be acknowledged, and received by the believer, with every faculty or power of the rational foul, that is, with the heart, and the understanding alfo : then his faith likewise must have place in all of

them.

Now CHRIST cannot dwell in any man where he is not received whole, and entire; as far as he is pleafed to make himfelf known: Whofoever re

ceives

• 2 Cor. i. 10.

+ Rev. v. 9.

↑ John vi, 40.