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It is through this faith in the complete work of the Redeemer, that, being juftified, we have peace with our offended Sovereign. The atonement, which is made for our fins by the blood of the cross, is no otherwise received than by faith. "We joy in God through Jefus Christ our Lord, by whom we have now received the atonement." This faith is declared to be the gift of God.

He is pleased to engage the mind of the finner to a diligent attention to the word preached. “Faith cometh by hearing." Hence the Author of eternal falvation fays to us, "Hear, and your fouls fhall live." It is his usual method, in the converfion of finners, to bring them under the found of the gofpel, and to engage them seriously to regard the meffages of it. A bleffing is therefore pronounced on those who watch daily at wisdom's gates, waiting at the pofts of her doors. But a liftlefs and indolent attendance in places of religious worship will be of little advantage. The minds of finners, who are brought to believe, are therefore roused, and excited to take earnest heed to the words of everlasting life, by him who fays unto them, "Hearken diligently unto me." They have before heard the most important truths with indifference, as if they were but idle tales, or cunningly devifed fables; it is now otherwife. The arrows

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of conviction begin to pierce their consciences, and penetrate their hearts. They regard what is spoken, not as the word of man, but as it is in truth the word of God. They are convinced that there is a facred reality in religion; they are awakened to a fense of their own danger, and begin in good earneft to inquire after some way of escape.

The minds of fuch finners are likewise further enlightened concerning the nature and neceffity of true faith. They learn from the fcriptures, that without faith it is impoffible to please God; that there is no pardon of fin, no justification, no peace with the offended Majesty of heaven, without faith; that he who believeth not is condemned already, and, continuing in that ftate, fhall furely be damned. Hence they are led to inquire, what that faith is which is fo neceffary to the falvation of the foul. And they are convinced that it must be fomething more than that lifeless affent to the truth of fcripture doctrines of which thousands are poffeffed, who are alienated from the life of God, and continue the flaves of fin, of Satan, and of the world; who have no love to God, nor regard for holinefs. They begin to fee, that though they have always thought themselves to be believers, they have but deceived themselves; fince none of the fruits of a living faith have been brought forth by

them.

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them. Hence they are convinced, that they have lived to that very day in a state of unbelief. It is the work of the Holy Spirit of God to convince men of fin, because they believe not on the name of Jefus.

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Being convinced of unbelief, the awakened finner becomes very folicitous that he may be the fubject of that faith which is of the operation of God, which purifies the heart, works by love, overcomes the world, and has its iffue in the full and everlasting salvation of the foul. Oh,' fays he, that I could lay hold on the promises of life in Chrift Jefus! O that I could fo behold them as to be perfuaded of them, and embrace them, with fatisfactory acquiefcence of mind in the truth of God, as to their accomplishment in my behalf! But I am like one swimming against the stream, and endeavouring to catch hold on that which, with all his efforts, he cannot reach. I fometimes cry, with the poor man in the gospel, Lord, I would believe, help thou my unbelief. Conscious guilt fills me with terror. I tremble before that God whose wrath I have so justly deserved. I feel something within continually upbraiding me with my paft offences and prefent unworthiness, and telling me I ought not to derive encouragement from the promises of mercy, for I have neither part

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nor lot in them. I would look unto Jefus, that I may be faved, but my fins hang heavy on my heart, fo that I am not able to look up. Yet I fometimes fay, Though he flay me, I will trufst in him. I have no where else to go. If the Saviour of finners frown me away, I perish; for I know no other refuge. I am well affured, that he that findeth him, findeth life, and fhall obtain favour of the Lord. But without an interest in him I am undone for ever.'

Having thus briefly fhewn the neceffity of faith in order to the enjoyment of God's favour, and fuggefted fome hints concerning the way in which finners are brought nigh to him, what fhall I more fay? I would encourage the poor foul whose cafe I have been defcribing, not to stagger at the promife of God through unbelief, but to fly for refuge to lay hold on the hope fet before us in the gofpel. Remember that Jefus, the compaffionate Saviour, hath faid, "I will in no wife caft out."

Let the needy trembling finner continue to cry earnestly to God for the manifestations of his pardoning grace and mercy. The fame person who faid, In his favour is life, had fought that privilege with diligence. "I entreated thy favour with my whole heart." Go thou, and do likewife. A fense of intereft in his favour is worth feeking.

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Cry earnestly for it, and be not content to have a denial. Pray always, and faint not. Take with you words and go unto him, Lord, I am a poor, forlorn outcast, a miserable, guilty creature; lift thou up upon me the light of thy countenance. Let me not be shut up in a dungeon of darkness, and lie in the fhades of death. I know I might juftly be banished from thee for ever. But though I deferve no favour, in Jesus Christ, thy Son, thou haft declared thyself well pleased. Did he not die, the juft for the unjust, to bring finners unto thee, and to deliver them from the wrath to come? Has he not opened a new and living way of access to thee? Did he not rife, as the Sun of righteoufnefs, on this benighted world, with healing in his wings? Hath he not brought life and immortality to light? O thou who didft cause the light to shine out of darkness, shine into my heart, to give the light of the knowledge of thy glory, in the face of Jefus Chrift.

I read in thy holy word, that through the tender mercy of our God, the day-fpring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that fit in darkness, and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. Lord, look upon me in mercy, through thy dear Son; let the bowels of thy compaffion be moved towards thy creature

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