of Abraham, have to a part in the Messiah, let us advert to the nature and condition of the benefits we are to expect through his interceffion.

These are forgiveness of fin, and everlafting life upon faith and repentance. God fo loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son to the end that whosoever believ eth on him should not perish but have everlafting life.

But it

may be asked, if there is no other name given under Heaven whereby Men shall be faved than the name of Jefus Christ, how comes it to pass, that before, and fince the promulgation of the Gospel Salvation, millions after millions have paffed away without ever hearing of it at all? If whole nations have been and ftill are fuffered to die in ignorance and fin, where is that universal benevolence, that impartial gift of mercy contended for in this discourse.

It must be acknowledged that great ftill is the mystery of our redemption. Evident indeed is the display of divine

power

power in the creation, and vifible are the effects of God's providence in the prefervation, and order of the world, but the extent of his mercy, in restoring finful Man to a state of acceptance, is what by fearching we never could have found out, nor has he fubmitted to our judgment the fitnefs of the

means

whereby he hath effected our Salvation. Sufficient is it for us to know the things that concern ourselves, and that God hath no where prefcribed the benefits of our Saviour's death within thofe limits of time and place, which bound the publication of the Gofpel. It becomes us to have implicit confidence in the truth and juftice of the affurance, that every man shall hereafter be judged according to what he hath, and not according to what he hath not.* He will not be the object of mercy, or wrath, in proportion to the degree of knowledge, but of improvement made of the fituation, and cir

*Second Ep. to Cor. ch. viii. ver. 12.

cum

cumstances in which Providence may have placed him.

Here then let us set bounds to our speculative curiofity, and contemplate, with humility and confidence, the divine attributes of justice and mercy.

How far our own conduct is confiftent with the knowledge imparted to us, is a fubject much more becoming and interesting in the inquiry, as well as attended with lefs difficulty in the folution.

Be the degree of indulgence what it may which it fhall please God, at the great day of final retribution, to make to those nations who have lived under the light of nature only. We, to whom a fuller measure of knowledge, and a diftinct rule of duty has been given, have certainly no claim or just expectation to be included in it.

When the Jews rejected the Salvation offered to them in the gofpel, Christ declared that their guilt arose from their neglecting the grace which was tendered to them, that had he not come, and Spoken to

them,

them, had he not in proof of his divine commiffion done among them the things which none other Man did, they had not had fin. The fame conclufion is applicable to our

felves. Had we never heard of the truths of Christianity, nor had the testimonies of its divine authority been tranfmitted down to us, our ignorance might have been our apology; but if in this Country the Gospel is hid, it is hid unto them that are loft.

If therefore conceited of a vain philofophy, and affecting to be wife above that which is written in the Holy Scriptures, we wilfully refift the truth, if hurried on in the giddy round of diffipation and folly, we give it not the attention due to its importance, if devoted to the pursuits of worldly intereft, we admit not its influence to regulate our conduct,--We are of all Men moft guilty here, and may juftly expect to be moft miferable hereafter.

*St. John, ch. xv. ver. 22, 24.

1

SER

SERMON XIII.

The FORTY-SECOND PSALM,

Verfes 14, 15.

Why art thou vexed, O my Soul! and why art thou fo difquieted within me? O put thy trust in God.

AMONG the various distresses incident

to human nature, there is none more deferving of compaffion, than the melancholy depreffion of spirits, to which devout and well-meaning Men are frequently subject, from misconceived notions of Religion.

Christianity in its genuine fimplicity is to Man for the joy of his heart, and the

ends