beautiful scripture inftance of humble, yet perfifting im portunity, in the woman of Canaan, who met with many repulfes, confeffed the juftice of every thing that made against her, and yet continued to urge her plea. Neither is there any difference between the way in which fhe fupplicated of the Saviour a cure for her diftreffed daughter, and the way in which an awakened finner will implore from the fame Saviour more neceffary relief to an afflicted confcience. "And behold a woman of Canaan came out "of the fame coafts, and cried unto him, faying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou fon of David, my daughter "is grievoufly vexed with a devil. But he anfwered her 66 not a word. And his difciples came and befought him, faying, Send her away, for the crieth after us. But he anfwered and faid, I am not fent but unto the loft sheep "of the houfe of Ifrael. Then came fhe and worshipped "him, saying, Lord help me. But he answered and faid, "It is not meet to take the children's bread and caft it to

26

66

66

dogs. And the faid, Truth, Lord, yet the dogs eat of "the crumbs which fall from their matter's table. Then Jefus anfwered and faid unto her, O woman, great is "thy faith; be it unto thee even as thou wilt."* I shall conclude with mentioning an inftance of a fimilar character in a foreigner of eminent flation, who had been a great profligate, and afterwards became a great penitent.† He composed a little piece of poetry after his converfion, the leading fentiment of which was what I have recommended above, and in his own language was to the following purpose: "Great God, thy judgments are full of righteoufnefs, thou takeft pleafure in the exercife of mercy; but "I have finned to fuch a height, that juftice demands "my deftruction, and mercy itfelf feems to folicit my per "dition. Difdain my tears, ftrike the blow, and execute thy judgment. I am willing to fubmit, and adore, even "in perishing, the equity of thy procedure. But on "what place will the firoke fall, that is not covered with "the blood of Chrift?"

66

* Matth. xv. 22-28.

Des Barreaux.

SECT. V.

Acceptance of salvation through the cross of Christ.

TH

HE next great ftep in a finner's change is a difcovery and acceptance of falvation from fin and mifery through Jefus Chrift. This is the laft and finishing step of the glorious work. When this is attained, the change is compleated, the new nature is fully formed in all its parts. The fpiritual feed is implanted, and hath taken root; and it will arrive by degrees, in every veffel of mercy, to that measure of maturity and ftrength, that it pleafeth God each shall poffefs before he be carried hence.

It is easy to fee, that conviction of fin which hath been before illustrated, prepares and paves the way for a discovery and acceptance of falvation by Chrift. Before conviction of fin, or when conviction is but imperfect, the gofpel of Chrift, and particularly the doctrine of the cross, almost conftantly appears to be foolifhnefs. Or if, as fometimes happens, education and example prompts the finner to speak with fome degree of reverence of the name, character and undertaking of a Saviour, there is no diftinct perception of the meaning, nor any inward relish of the sweetness of the falutary truths. But those who have been "wounded in their spirits, and grieved in their "minds," begin to perceive their unfpeakable importance and value. That myftery which was hid from ages and generations, begins to open upon the foul in its luftre and glory. The helpless and hopeless state of the finner makes him earnestly and anxioufly enquire, whether there is any way to escape, whether there is any door of mercy or of hope. He fays, with the awakened and trembling jailor, "What must I do to be faved ?"* And with the Pfalmift, "Innumerable evils have compassed me about, mine ini. quities have taken hold upon me, fo that I am not able "to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head, "therefore my heart faileth me.† I have no excufe to offer, nor any fhelter to fly to: the works, the word, *Acts xvi. 30. † Pfal. xl. 12.

"and the providence of God, feem all to be up in arms "against me, and have inclofed me as an enemy to him. "O how fearful a thing is it to fall into the hands of the "living God! Who fhall dwell with devouring fire? Who "fhall dwell with everlafting burnings? Is there no prof"pect of relief? Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no " physician there? Wonderful has been my past blindness! "I have awakened as out of a dream, and find myself haftening faft to the pit of deftruction. What would I "not do, what would I not give for good ground to be"lieve that my guilt were taken away, and my peace "made with God?"

With what eagerness and earnestness, hitherto unknown, does the finner now enquire after the way to life? With what folicitude does he "go forth by the footsteps of the "flock, and feed befide the fhepherds tents." The fabbaths, and ordinances, and word of God, are now quite different things from what they were before. No more wafte of that facred time in bufinefs or in play. No more ferenity of heart, because he had been regularly and conftantly at church, but an astonishing view of the fins of his holy things; carelefs, formal, heartlefs worship. He cries out with the Pfalmift, " Lord, if thou fhouldst mark

iniquity, who fhall ftand." No more indifferent, flothful, disdainful hearing the word. No more critical hearing the word, that he may commend the ability, or deride the weakness of the preacher. With what concern does he hang upon the facred meffage, to fee if there be any thing upon which he can lay hold? He then hears that "God is in Chrift, reconciling the world to himself." The very news of falvation, the bare mention of pardon, is now a joyful found. It rouses his attention, it awakens his curiofity, and he fets himself to weigh and ponder the important intimation. He hears that "God fo loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whofo"ever believeth in him fhould not perish, but have everlafting life. For God fent not his Son into the world "to condemn the world, but that the world through him "might be faved.* Is there then," fays he, "hope of

66

* John iii. 16, 17.

16 mercy with God, whom I have fo long forgotten, and fo greatly offended? hath he indeed loved a guilty world? "hath he loved them in fo amazing a manner, as to fend "his only begotten Son to fave them from deftruction ? "How great is the giver, how wonderful the gift, and "how undeferving the objects of his love?"

66

66

Here perhaps a difficulty may occur. "It may be fo," fays the foul; "but are all the children of Adam the ob"jects of divine love? Shall every finner be partaker of "divine mercy? Surely not. How then are they diftin"guished? Perhaps he intends only to fave a few of the "leaft unworthy, and to glorify his juftice and severity in "the condemnation of the moft eminently guilty. What "then have I reafon to expect? None, none, none of any "rank fo criminal as I. I have finned early, and I have "finned long. I have finned against the clearest light and "knowledge. I have finned against innumerable mer"cies. I have finned against the threatenings of God's word, the rebukes of his providence, the checks of my own conscience, and the unwearied pains and diligence "of minifters and parents. I have burst every bond, and "torn in pieces every restraining tie." How many gra cious promises present themselves immediately to extin guifh this fear?" Come now, and let us reafon together, "faith the Lord; though your fins be as fcarlet, they fhall "be as white as fnow; though they be red like crimson, "they fhall be as wool; if ye be willing and obedient, ye "shall eat the good of the land.*—Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wife caft out. +-Wherefore also he is "able to fave them to the uttermoft that come unto God "by him. And the Spirit and the bride fay come; and "let him that heareth fay come; and let him that is athirst "come; and whofoever will, let him take the water of "life freely." To thefe promifes may be added many fcripture examples of first-rate finners, faved by the pow er of God, that none may defpair. An idolatrous Manasseh, an unrighteous and oppreffive publican Zaccheus, Heb. vii. 25.

* IL. i. 18, 19.

↑ John vi. 37.

Rev. xxii. 17.

an unclean Mary Magdalene, and a perfecuting Paul. Then is the foul brought to acknowledge and adore the matchlefs love of God; to repeat and adopt the words of the apostle Paul; "This is a faithful faying, and worthy "of all acceptation, that Chrift Jefus came into the world "to fave finners, of whom I am chief."

The finner, in fuch a fituation, is wholly employed in alternately viewing his own deplorable character and state on the one hand, and the fufficiency and efficacy of the remedy on the other. As thefe take their turns in his mind, his hope rifes or falls. Perhaps when he again reflects on the infinite number and heinous nature of his offences; when he confiders the holiness and purity of God's nature and law, he is ready to bring all into queftion, and to fay, "How can these things be? Is it poffible that all this guilt "can be paffed by, is it poffible that it can be forgiven "and forgotten by a holy God? Is he not of purer eyes "than to behold iniquity? Is it not said, that evil cannot "dwell with him? That finners fhall not stand in his prefence? How then can I prefume to approach him? "I, who have been fo daring and obftinate a rebel? What reception can I expect to meet with but, Bind him "hand and foot, and take him away, and caft him into "utter darkness; there fhall be weeping and gnashing of "teeth."*

cr

To remove this diftruft, and affure his heart before God, he is informed of the foundation of his hope, that falvation comes by a Mediator. He undertook our caufe, he purchased redemption by his precious blood. Hear him faying in the councils of the Moft high, "Sacrifice "and offering thou didst not defire; mine ears haft thou "opened. Burnt-offering and fin-offering haft thou not "required. Then faid I, Lo, I come, in the volume of "the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O "my God; yea, thy law is within my heart." Hear alfo in what manner he executed this gracious purpose. "He was wounded for our tranfgreffions, he was bruifed for our iniquities; the chaftifement of our peace was Pfal. xl. 6, 7, 8.

* Matt. xxii. 13.