state, than that from which by Adam's disobediencethey originally fell. "Not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead; much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace which is by one man Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many." Not only the guilt of Adam's sin is taken anaway, from those who are in Christ; not only are the numerous sins, which they themselves have actually committed are forgiven; (for" the free gift is of many offences unto justification") but the obedience also of Christ is put to their account and thus-being "made the righteousness of God in him," they are accepted, and dealt with, as if they were righteous in themselves. They have recovered a title to Eternal Life; a title, which having been purchased for them by the obedience of Christ, is now effectually secured to them by the promise, and oath of the Almighty. Justified by the blood of Jesus, and cloathed in Iris righteousness, they have a right to the Tree of Life," from which the flaming sword that turned every way to prevent Adam from approaching it, shall never drive them away, for as by one man's offence, death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace, and of the gift of righteousness, shall reign in life by one Jesus Christ."-But further there is still another respect in which by the obedience of Christ they are nade righteous: for, Secondly, They receive from him a new, and holy nature. As in Adam they had died, being sunk in spiritual death; so in Christ they are made alive, be Romans, v. 15, 17. j Revelations, xxii. 14. 22* ing raised to spiritual life. He quickens them when dead, creates them anew unto good works, which hehas before ordained that they should walk in them :: and daily by his grace maintains the life which he has given. Hence the most important, and glorious change takes place in their hearts. They become "new crea-tures" in Christ. "Old things are passed away; behold all things are become new."k They have new desires, and dispositions; new hopes, and fears; new ends and motives; new ways, and works. They desire now to love God above all things: they delight in his holy will, and service; set their affections on things above; and humble and condemn themselves. They are ashamed of their former evil ways; deny the cor-rupt inclinations of their natural heart; and maintain a constant struggle with the old man," with the remaine of sin, and lust in their hearts. The victory indeed is not always decidedly in their favour. Too often corruption prevails. Too often they find a law in their members warring against the law of their mind." Too often they have need to lament, that "when they would do good, evil is present with them." But still on the whole they maintain a successful warfare. On thewhole, notwithstanding occasional falls, or sometimes possibly even more grievous declensions, it is evident that they have been born again of the spirit, and have been in part at least renewed to that image of God, which Adam originally lost," in righteousness and true: holiness." دو Such is the account which Revelation sets before us of the fall, and recovery of man; of his fall in Adam, 2 Corinthians, v. 17... of his recovery by Christ. And why does it set before us this account? That it may gratify our curiosity ?~ That it may puff us up with vain, and empty knowledge? No; but that it may make us wise unto salvation. The scriptures tell us these things that we may make a profitable use of them, that receiving them with humility, meekness, and faith we may person ally apply them to ourselves, and save our souls alive Let us remember then, my brethren, that we are every one of us deeply and personally concerned in these truths, which have been explained. We are all of usthe guilty seed of fallen Adam, involved in his condem-nation, and begotten in his image; born in sin, and the children of wrath. This is our state by nature. We are prone indeed to deny that this is our state: while the very pride, that leads us to deny it, proves beyond a doubt that it is so. What indeed can be more absurd than to deny, what the experience of every day confirms? Did you not bring with you into the world a body liable from its very birth to pain, to sick-Hess, and to death? Did you not bring with you a soul disposed to evil, unholy, and impure, seeking its happiness from the world, and having no delight in God? Call to mind what has been the state of your heart, in infancy, in childhood, in youth, in riper age. What has been the bent of your thoughts, your intentions, and dispositions; what has been the object of your desires, affections, and pursuits in all these different periods of your life? Like Adam before the fall, have you loved God with all your heart, and mind, and soul, and strength? Or rather like Adam after the fall, have you not secretly disliked God, and have counted his laws severe, and hard? And what have your actual transgressions been? Can you deny that these have been many, and great? Can you deny that from your childhood to the present moment you have been a sinner, a transgressor continually of God's holy law, either in thought, word, or deed, doing something which he hath forbidden to be done, or leaving undone something which he hath commanded you to do? Can you namethat day, or that hour, in which you have not thus yourself" sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgres-sion?" I make this appeal to your own conscience, and I would now leave it to yourself to decide, whether you are not by nature, and by practice a sinner un-der condemnation. Be assured that this is your state. It is of the greatest consequence that you should feel it to be so for till you are deeply sensible of what you have lost through the first Man, you will never really bethe better, for what you may gain through the Second Blessed be the rich mercy of God! the obedience of Christ bas abundantly compensated for the disobedi ence of Adam. It is true, you are fallen in Adam, but not without remedy. You may rise again in Christ You may be recovered from the consequences of the fall, and advanced to higher happiness and glory, than if those consequences had never been entailed upon you. You may be delivered from guilt and condemnation. You may be dealt with as righteous, be renewed to the divine image, and exalted to heavenly places. Whether this blessed, and glorious change shall be wrought in you or not, is the interesting point on which you must Bere decide. This is the question now submitted to your choice, will you die eternally in Adam? Or will you live eternally in Christ? The command which the Gospel gives you is this," believe in Christ, and live." The disobedience of Adam will not ruin your soul, unless you continue yourself disobedient to this heavenly command. If you obey it, then the obedience of Christ will be yours. "Being justified by faith, you shall have peace with God," and being joined to Christ by faith, you shall be " one spirit with the Lord." Thus your sins shall be fully pardoned; your persons completely justified; your natures renewed to holiness, in part in this world, and perfectly in the world to come, where "an entrance shall be administered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of your Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."-But if you continue disobedient to this evangelical command, if you persist in refusing to believe in Christ, and to be saved by him, you must endure the consequences. which such a disobedient and rebellious spirit neces sarily brings with it. You must endure all the curse, and misery which sin unpardoned and unmortified entails. You must endure all these things under the still heavier, and more aggravated charge of having wilfully preferred darkness to light, death to life, hell to heaven of having contemptuously set at nought all the counsels of God, despising the mercy and loving kindness of the Eather, trampling under foot the blood of the Son, and doing despite unto the Spirit of Grace. Choose then this day what ye will do. Life, and death-the blessing, and the curse-are set before you. May the Lord, make you willing in the day of his pow : |