Of relying upon the Merits of Chrift, for
Salvation.

SERMON XII.

First Epiftle of St. JOHN, Ch. II. part of the 1ft and 2d Verses.

If any Man fin,

we have an Advocate with the Father, Jefus Chrift the righteous: and he is the Propitiation for our Sins.

N this Paffage, the Apostle de- SERM.
clares that it is for the fake of XII.
Jefus Chrift, and on account of
his fufferings, that the Sins com-

mitted by his Difciples will be forgiven by Almighty God. Now from this, and the like Declarations in the New Testament, many profeffed Chriftians have taken occafion to frame to themfelves fuch Notions concerning the Merits of Chrift, and the Sacrifice of his Death, and his Interceffion

SERM. with the Father, founded upon these; as XII. may comfort themselves in their Continuance in Sin, and take off from their Minds all that Uneafinefs which might otherwise arife from the Reflexion on their own wilful Demerits, and Unworthinefs. Which fatal Proceeding of Chriftians addicted to their Lufts and Paffions, makes it neceffary particularly to confider this Point; in order to rectify so pernicious a Mistake. to this End, I propofe at this time.

And

I. To lay down the Doctrine of the New Teftament, concerning the Merits of Chrift; or the Effect of his Sufferings, with respect to the Pardon of our Sins, and our future Happiness.

II. To take more particular notice of that unworthy Abuse of this Doctrine, of which Chriftians, in these later Ages efpecially, have been, and are guilty.

III. To fhew the Bafeness and Abfurdity of this Abuse. And,

IV. To point out to you the true, and good Ufes that Chriftians, ought to make of this Doctrine.

I. THE Doctrine it felf, concerning the Merits of Chrift, or the Effect of his Suffer

1

ings towards the Pardon of our Sins, and SER M.
our eternal Happiness, I have heretofore in XII.
effect propofed when, under the former
part of my present Defign, I fhewed you
that, in order to our Acceptance and final
Juftification, thro' Jefus Chrift, it is abfo-
lutely required of us in the Gospel, that we
forfake thofe Sins which we have been guil-
ty of; and practise fincerely an univerfal
Obedience to the whole Will of God, any
ways made known to us. This having
been plainly made out from the most ex-
prefs Declarations in the New Teftament; it
is enough to obferve from hence, that, in the
Words of the Text, Jefus Chrift is the Pro-
pitiation for thofe Sins, which we carefully
and confcientiously endeavour to avoid, and
forfake; not for those which we wilfully
continue in that the Merits of Chrift, fo
much talked of by fome, are fo great, that,
for the fake of his Sufferings, God will ac-
cept to his Favour and Mercy, fuch as lay
hold on the Terms offered by the fame Jefus
Chrift; fuch Chriftians as relinquish and
abandon their Vices; and come up to that
Condition of univerfal Holiness required by
Him; but not fuch as ftill continue, not-
S
withstanding

SER M. withstanding all his Calls, and all his DeXII. nunciations, to profecute their own vile Lufts, and to oppofe and contradict the Will of God.

THIS, I fay, most manifeftly follows from the plain Proofs formerly given, out of the New Teftament, concerning the indifpenfable Neceffity lying upon Chriftians to forfake their Sins, in order to their Pardon; and to practife all Virtue, in order to their Happiness. For if thefe Conditions be plainly and exprefsly required in the GofpelCovenant; then it is apparent, beyond Contradiction, that, upon the Gofpel-Covenant, fealed by the Blood of Chrift, and entered into for the fake of his Merits, there can be no Pardon, nor Salvation, demanded, or hoped for, but by fuch as forfake their Sins, and obey the Moral Laws of the Gofpel; and, in other Words, that the Sufferings of Chrift have actually procured thefe Conditions to be granted by Almighty God; that fo thofe Sinners who have forfaken their Sins, and entered upon a new Courfe of Action, may obtain Juftification from the Guilt of their former Sins, and Eternal Happiness in the Kingdom of Heaven.