fidence. As his Prophetic Office, in the execution of which he reveals great and important truths, would be of no advantage to us, if we did not believe him, nor his Prieftly Office, whereby he atones for our fins and procures for us ineftimable privileges, if we did not trust in him: fo neither is his Kingly Office of any avail to us, if we do not obey and ferve him. He is a Law-giver and a Judge, as well as a Saviour; and while we apply to him, and depend on him for eternal falvation, we must remember he is "the Author of it, only to those that obey him." We are therefore, "not without law to God, but under the law to Chrift," who, when we ftand at his judgment feat, "will render to every man according to his deeds, and give eternal life only to thofe, who by patient continuance in well-doing, feek for glory, honour, and immortality." Whereas, to thofe that do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, he will render indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish." From all which it is manifeft, as St. John teftifies, that they only are bleffed that do his commandments," inasmuch as they alone "have a right to the tree of life, and fhall enter in thro' the gates into the city."*

Hence it is, that in the parallel paffages, by two of the other Evangelifts, our Lord is reprefented as giving the fame or a like charge, in different words. In Luke it is, "That repentance and remiffion of fins fhould be preached in his name among all nations," + and in Matt. "Go ye and difciple all nations,-teaching them to obferve all things whatsoever I have commanded you." The Commands or Laws of Christ, therefore, are a part of the Gospel, or Glad-tidings publifhed unto us. And that they may manifeftly appear to be fuch,

* Rev. xxii, 14. Luke xxiv. 47. ‡ Math. xxviii. 20.

GOD hath promifed under the New and better Cóvenant, to "write them on the hearts" of his people. *

7. If this be the nature of the Gofpel, it will not be difficult to fay, what is implied in preaching it. It is undoubtedly, firft, to teach the truths which it reveals. This must be done clearly, in language intelligible to all, even to the most ignorant and illiterate; and, if poffible, with fuch a judicious arrangement of matter, and diftinctness of method, that while lower truths, and fuch as are more easily understood, make way for, and prepare the mind to receive those that are higher, and of more difficult apprehenfion, all may be easily and laftingly remembered. Again; it must be done fully. Nothing that will be profitable to our hearers, must be kept back from them, but the whole counsel of God must be declared, at least, as far as concerns their falvation, prefent or eternal. And if we have not opportunity, during the short time of our refidence with a people, to enter upon and difcufs the controverted, and lefs important truths of Christianity, we muft, at least, take care to explain to them and enforce upon them, its leading and effential doctrines. Further: thefe truths muft be taught affectionately. We must inftruct our people as a Father inftructs his children, whom he dearly loves, and whofe welfare in time and in eternity, he has at heart. Love to them, and an earneft defire for their falvation, must be the spring of all our difcourfes. Our preaching in public, and our exhortations in private, muft flow from this principle; and the affection of our hearts must manifeft itself in all our words and actions. We must speak as thofe that have compaffion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way,

* Jerem. xxxi. 31, and Heb. viii, 6.

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remembering, that we ourselves, alfo, are compaffed about with infirmity," while, at the fame time, we rejoice in the increasing knowledge and holiness of those that "receive the truth in the love of it." Once more: We must inculcate thefe truths diligently; as St. Paul enjoins Timothy, charging him before GOD, and the Lord Jefus Chrift,' to obferve this injunction. We muft fo preach the word as to be inftant in seafon and out of feafon:" muft "convince, reprove, and exhort, with all long-fuffering and doctrine." Yea, and in order hereto, as the Apostle further observes, must watch in all things, that we may let-" no fair occafion pass unheeded by," but may difcern and embrace every favourable opportunity, whether in private or in public, of communicating knowledge. We must be ready to endure afflictions and hardships of every kind, in the prosecution of our work, not counting our eafe, our honour, our liberty, or our lives, dear unto ourselves, fo we may but" do the work of Evangelifts, make full proof of our calling, finish our course with joy, and the miniftry we have received of the Lord Jefus, to teftify the Gofpel of the Grace of God.'

8. To preach the Gofpel is, fecondly, to exhibit the privileges which it offers. This must be done freely. They must be tendered to mankind, as the Scripture fpeaks," without money and without price." Our hearers must be given to understand that remiffion of fins, acceptance with God, adoption into his family, regeneration, entire fanctification, and even eternal life, are all the gifts, the free, undeferved gifts of God, thro' Jefus Chrift, and are offered to them without any

regard to their merit, yea, notwithstanding their de merit. They must be made fenfible "that not by works of righteousness which they have done, but according to his mercy God will fave them, by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghoft," and therefore that, unworthy, guilty, and deferving of condemnation and wrath as they are, they are welcome, nay, are invited and urged to receive these bleflings. Now as men are very averse to believe this doctrine, and yet amidst the trials and troubles of this prefent life, have great need of the support and confolation' it affords, thefe privileges must be offered them frequently. This fhould make one part, perhaps, I might fay, the principal part, of almost every fermon. And in private also, we ought to be frequently inviting them to the poffeffion of thefe bleffings, and demonftrating from Scripture and Reason, the readinefs of the Lord Jefus to bestow them upon all that apply to him for them. All, I fay, for thefe privileges must be offered to mankind univerfally, without any exception. The high and low, rich and poor, young and old, profeffors and prophane, must be invited to partake of these unfearchable riches of Chrift. "Let him that is athirft, come," must be our language, and "whofoever will, let him come and take of the fountain of the water of life freely." For "whofoever cometh, he will in no wife caft out." They must be informed, notwithstanding, that these privileges will not be conferred upon, and, in the nature of things, cannot be received by the impenitent and unbelieving. We must therefore make this gracious offer conditionally, infifting on repentance and faith, as terms or conditions, required of all who expect to be admitted to a participation of Gofpel bleffings; which repentance and faith, however, we must

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affure them are the gifts of GOD, and will be beftowed on all who fincerely and earnestly ask and feek for them

9. Yet again on this head. To preach the Gofpel is, thirdly, to declare and enforce the precepts it enjoins. This should be done boldly and faithfully. In reproving fin, and fhewing people their duty, we must not fear the face of any man, but must regard only the prefence of God, his all-feeing eye, the terrible Day of Judgment, and the obligations of our office. The Lord, we must remember, hath appointed us to be watchmen over his people, we must therefore "hear the word at his mouth, and give them faithful warning from him.” And we muft do this under a conviction that our own fouls are at stake; that if we speak not unto them, to warn them, to turn from their wicked ways, that they may fave their fouls alive, they fhall die in their iniquity, but their blood fhall be required at our hands;" whereas, if we do warn them faithfully, altho' they should not turn from their wickednefs, but fhould die in their iniquity, we fhall deliver our fouls. Again: we muft fpeak plainly and intelligibly on this important fubject, that, if poffible, they may have juft and clear ideas of the fpirituality, extent, and obligation of the law of Chrift, the Gofpel law, the law of love and liberty, and of every part of their

duty as enjoined thereby. We muft ufe every means in our power to give them the neceffary information refpecting both fin and righteoufnefs, truth and error, that, as the Apostle speaks, they may have their fenfes properly exercised to difcern both good and evil. And in enforcing the precepts of Chriftianity we must be impartial, having no refpect of perfons. We must be as ready to remind the rich and the great of their duty, and to

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