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by the blood of Jesus By a new and living way which he hath consecrated for us through the veil that is to say his flesh And having an high priest over the house of God Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith. §

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Heb. 10. 19. 20. 21. 22.

Sermon 3.

I

RELIGION A PERSONAL CONCERN.

John 11 Chap. 28 Verse.

The Master is come, and calleth for thee.

HAVE been often led to admire, and in that admiration to adore, the divine goodness, when contemplating the wonderful display of grace, which God the Holy Ghost, hath been pleased to adopt, in order to convey, a proper sense, of his distinguishing mercies to the soul. It certainly becomes, no small testimony, of the blessed Spirit's love, and condescension, to his people, his attention to them in this respect. Not satisfied, with making a general proclamation, of the precious things of the gospel, according as their several necessities require; he carries on his divine operations in the heart, in a yet more intimate and endearing manner, and G 2 makes

makes them personal, appropriate and particular. They come by his appointment to the soul, like letters expressly directed, and speak to the person, to whom they are addressed, in a language similar to that of Paul's at Antioch; to you is the word of this salvation sent.* And certainly, there is a sweetness, in the conscious possession of this divine favor, as being special, and distinguishing, which like the white stone and the new name, no man knows, saving he that receives it.§

Even in the common blessings of God's providence, those which are eminently marked, are as eminently valued. Have you never found occasion in your walk through life, to observe, how God hath distinguished some, in this respect beyond others. And hath your heart never been warmed, and drawn out, in praises to Him, when from a comparative view of your supe rior accommodations, you could not but be struck with the difference? If not, how exceedingly are you to be pitied! Not only that you should be so deficient, both in observation, and in thankfulness; but also, in that you must have lost the sweetest part of every special blessing, in not discerning the kind hand that hath given it. I tell you my Brother, and I tell you nothing more than what daily experience proves to be true, that even Carnal men, as much disposed as they are, to call § Rev. 2. 17.

Acts 13. 26.

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in question the doctrine of distinguishing grace, not only allow a distinguishing providence, but even value themselves upon it. The rich man, would never idolize his riches as he doth, if he was not sensible of the difference, between him and his poorer neighbour. Neither would the proud man plume himself upon his title, if the whole world was called by the same name. If then in temporal concerns, men of no religion, know how to appreciate their good things, as they call them, merely because they are not common; shall not the soul, that is conscious of possessing the distinguishing mercies of grace, be led to prize them the more because they are distinguishing?

This doctrine of a personal interest in the great concerns of religion opens a sweet subject for discourse, and (if I mistake not) is strikingly illustrated, in the instance to which the text refers.

The disconsolate Sisters of Lazarus, were indulging grief over their Brother's death, when the Lord Jesus drew nigh the village of Bethany, where they resided. It appears from the history, that Mary (the one of whom the text speaks) at the first information of the Redeemer's arrival, felt no inclination to go to him. Probably, her mind was so absorbed in grief,

that

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