preceding verfe, art faying that thou art rich and increased with goods, and ftand in need of nothing; and knoweft not, that thou art wretched, and miferable, and poor, and blind, and naked. Unconcerned finner, to thee, even to thee, is the word of this falvation fent. Is this love-letter backed for thee? O then, know, that though you have no will, you have a warrant to receive it, and Chrift in it. If you reject this word of falvation, it is either because you will not, or dare not, or cannot receive it. If you fay you will not take it to you, then remember you are willingly fubfcribing your own doom. And I take inftruments against you, that you will not have falvation, you will not come to Chrift that you may have life; you are preferring fome base luft to the Lord of glory, and fo preferring, of confequence, damnation to falvation, death to life. If it be not a will of obftinacy, but impotency, faying, O if my will were fubdued; behold the word of falvation comes with falvation from that plague of unwillingness, saying, "Thy people fhall be willing in the day of thy power. And to you is the word of this falvation fent, that you may welcome it; and fo far as you welcome it, fo far are you willing. If you fay you dare not take the word to yourself as a word of falvation to you; why dare you not to do what God offers you? How durft you fin against God when he forbade you? And now you dare not take his word for your falvation, when he bids you! How durft you venture on his fury against his command? And now you dare not venture on his favour, through Chrift, at his call and command. Was it not enough to offend his juftice? and will you venture now to flight his mercy? This is worse than all your former fins, to refuse falvation that he offers from the guilt of all. Are If you fay you cannot, because of utter impotency; that fhall be no ftop. You cannot believe, you cannot come to Chrift; but as the word of falvation is fent to you, so falvation is come to you, because you cannot come to it. The Saviour is come to you, becaufe you cannot come to him. you for him? The word of falvation is a word of power; and drawing power is in it, to draw you that cannot come. "When I am lifted up, I will draw all men after me." Are you willing to be drawn? Then the word of falvation hath fo far taken effect upon you, as to remove your unwillingnefs, and to make you willing. Look for another pull of omnipotency; for the word of falvation is a word of omnipotency; it is the almighty word of the almighty God. Saving power, drawing power, is in it. Welcome it as fuch, and in due time you shall be able as as well as willing. Your faith is not to be acted in the fenfe of felf-ability and fufficiency, but in the fenfe of felf-inability and infufficiency. Our fufficiency is of God, falvation is of God, "All things are of God," 2 Cor. v. 18. "who hath given to us the miniftry of reconciliation," and given to you this word of falvation: and it contains all your falvation. And if any part of it were left to you, it would not contain all your falvation. What you cannot do, this falvation can: therefore receive it, and blefs God for it, that to you is the word of this falvation fent. END OF THE SERMONS. THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. The Believer's perfect beauty, free acceptance, and full fecurity, through the imputation of Chrift's perfe& righteoufnefs, though imparted grace be imperfect. HAPPY foul, JEHOVAH's bride, In thee, though, like thy father's race, The morning rays outshine; And fin deform thee quite, Thy Surety's merit makes thee clean, Thy Husband's beauty white. Thy pray'rs and tears, nor pure, nor good, But vile and loathefome feem; Yet gain, by dipping in his blood, Thy Hufband's high esteem. No fear thou ftarve, though wants be Thy hungry foul may hopeful wait, Yet juftice fuffer'd here no wrong, Thy Husband's back was broad. He bore the load of wrath alone, That mercy might take vent; Heav'n's pointed arrows all upon Thy Hufband's heart were spent. No partial pay could justice ftill, No farthing was retrench'd; Vengeance exacted all, until Thy Husband all advanc'd. He paid in liquid golden red, Each mite the law requir'd, Till, with a loud, "Tis finished, Thy Husband's breath expir'd. No procefs more the law can 'tent; Thou ftand'st without its verge, And may'ft at pleasure now prefent Thy Hufband's full discharge. Though new-contracted guilt beget New fears of divine ire; Yet fear thou not, though drown'd in debt, Thy Hufband is the payer. Of highest crimes and flaws; Cbrift Chrift the Believer's Friend, Prophet, Prief, King, Defence,Guide,Guard, Help, and Healer. DEAR foul, when all the human race Lay welt'ring in their gore, Vaft numbers in that difmal cafe Thy Hufband paffed o'er. When bleeding wounds, to cafe thy fmart, Thy Hufband's blood is balm. Truft creatures, nor to help thy thrall, Nor to afluage thy grief; Ufe means, but look beyond them all, Thy Hufband's thy relief. If Heav'n prefcribe a bitter drug, Fret not with froward will; But pray, why did he thoufands pafs, This carriage may thy cure prorogue; And fet his heart on thee? The deep, the fearchlefs reason was, Thy Husband's love is free. The forms of favour, names of And offices of love, He bears for thee, with open face, grace, Thy Husband's kindnet's prove. 'Gainit darkness black, and error blind, Thou haft a fun and fhield; And to reveal the Father's mind, Thy Hufband-Prophet seal'd. He likewife, to procure thy peace, And fave from fin's arrest, Refign'd himself a facrifice; Thy Husband is thy Priest. And that he might thy will fubje&, And fweetly captive bring, Thy fins fubdue, his throne erect, Thy Hufband is thy King. His arm can foon difpatch; Thy Husband's more than match. Though fecret lufts with hid contest, By heavy groans reveal'd, And devil's rage: yet, do their best, Thy Hufband keeps the field. When in defertion's ev'ning dark, Thy fleps are apt to flide, His conduct feek, his countel mark, Thy Hufband is thy guide. In doubts, renouncing felf-conceit, His word and Spirit prize: He never counsell'd wrong as yet, Thy Hufband is fo wife. When weak, thy refuge feeft at hand, Yet cannot run the length; 'Tis prefent pow'r to understand Thy Hufband is thy ftrength. When thaking forms annoy thy heart, His word commands a calm: Thy Hufband wants no skill. Tis then most reasonable, fure, Thy Hufband thee difowns. In ripping up thy wound, Chrifl the Believer's wonderful Pirfician and wealthy Friend. KIND Jefus empties whom he'll fill, Caits down whom he will raife; He quickens whom he seems to kill; Thy Hufband thus gets praife, When awful rods are in his hand, There's mercy in his mind; He'll ever conftant prove; Thy Hufband's name is Love. His favour most have felt; For when they're txy'd in furnace hot, Thy Husband's bowels melt. When he his bride or wounds or heals, Heart-kindness does him more; And wraps in frowns, as well as fimiles, Thy Hufband's lafting love. In's hand no cure could ever fail, Though of a hopeless state, He can in defp'rate cafes lical, Thy Husband's art's fo great. The medicine he did prepare Can't fail to work for good: O balfam pow'rful, precious, rare, Thy Hufband's facred blood; Which freely from his broached breaft Gufh'd out like pent-up fire. His cures are beft, his wages leaft, Thy Hufband takes no hire. Thou haft no worth, no might, no His favour to procure : [good, But fee his ftore, his pow'r, his blood; Thy Hufband's never poor. Himself he humbled wondrously Once to the lowest pitch, That bankrupts through his poverty Thy Husband might enrich. His treasure is more excellent Than hills of Ophir gold; In telling ftore were ages spent, Thy Hufband's cann't be told. All things that fly on wings of fame, Compar'd with this, are drofs; For fearchlefs riches in his name Thy Husband's doth ingrofs. The great IMMANUEL, God-Man, Includes fuch store divine; Angels and faints will never fcan Thy Hufband's golden mine. He's full of grace and truth indeed, Of Spirit, merit, might; Of all the wealth that bankrupts need Thy Hufband's heir by right. Though heav'n's his throne, he came from thence To feek and fave the loft: That fill'd his royal veins, Thy Husband spar'd no pains. The charges could not be abridg'd And thou his heart haft won; Thou need'ft not then be mov'd; In Jefus always he's well pleas'd, Thy Hufband's his Belov'd. What can be laid unto thy charge, When God does not condemn? Bills of complaint though foes enlarge, Thy Husband answers them. When fear thy guilty mind confounds, Full comfort this may yield; Thy ranfom-bill with blood and wounds Thy Hufband kind has feal'd. His promife is the fair extract Thou haft at hand to fhew; Stern juftice can no more exact, Thy Husband paid its due. No terms he left thee to fulfil, No clog to mar thy faith; His bond is fign'd, his latter-will Thy Hufband's feal'd by death. The great condition of the band Of promife and of blifs, Is wrought by him, and brought to hand, Thy Husband's righteousness. When therefore prefs'd in time of To fue the promis'd good, [need Thou haft no more to do but plead Thy Hufband's fealing blood. This can thee more to God commend, And cloudy wrath difpel, Than e'er thy finning could offend; Thy Hufband vanquish'd hell. When vengeance feems, for broken laws, To light on thee with dread, Let Chrift be umpire of thy cause ; Thy Hufband well can plead. He pleads his righteoufnefs, that brought All rents the law would crave; Whate'er its precepts, threat'nings, fought, 4 F Thy Heiband fully gave. D |