"it to his cross ;" and opening a way to heaven to every soul of man, through the gate of repentance, faith, and religious obedience. But, for these unspeakable gifts, we are indebted to the gospel of JESUS CHRIST; for "the letter killeth, but it is "the Spirit which giveth life." The law of Moses, as I before observed, could only shew us sin, and its dreadful consequences; but it offered no actual means of atonement for sin. "Do this, and live," was its language; and without perfect obedience to it, there was no avoiding its penalties. This, however," the Spirit," or the spiritual religion of the gospel, has done for mankind; for, as St. Paul says, "what the law could not "do, in that it was weak through the flesh, "GOD, sending his Son in the likeness of "sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin

in the flesh. That the righteousness of "the law might be fulfilled in us who walk "not after the flesh, but after the spirit." As if he had said, it was impossible for the law to give remission of sins, and everlasting life; because it was impossible for frail, imperfect man completely to obey that law; but JESUS CHRIST coming in the flesh, or in the form of man; and, as a man, paying a sinless obedience to the law, as well as suffering death; (the penalty of that sin

which Adam had been guilty of,) he satisfied the justice of GOD, and made an atonement for the sins of mankind; justifying all those, or making them acceptable with GOD," who "walk not after the flesh;" who live not according to the wicked passions of their corrupt nature, in vice, and folly, and uncleanness; but walk after the spirit, according to the holy commandments of his ever blessed gospel. So that we may now say, with the same holy apostle, "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? "It is God that justifieth: who is he that

condemneth? It is CHRIST that died,

yea, rather, that is risen again, who is "ever at the right hand of God, who also "maketh intercession for us. Who shall 66 separate us from the love of CHRIST? I "am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, "nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, "nor things present, nor things to come, "nor height, nor depth, nor any other "creature, shall be able to separate us from "the love of GOD, which is in CHRIST JESUS 66 our LORD."

But the spiritual religion of the gospel, restores those to life, who were dead in their sins, by giving us, in the second place, the assistance of the Holy Spirit, to enable us to fulfil the duties of our christian calling.

"The law of sin," or the corruption of our nature, is so strong "in our members," that, unless man be aided by something more effectual than his own natural powers, he cannot stand upright, against the many spiritual dangers, and fleshly temptations, by which he is surrounded. I should think, my brethren, that I need say little to convince you, either of the natural inclination which we all have to do that which is wrong; or of the innumerable enticements to evil, which the world, the flesh, and the Devil, are continually holding out to us. If men would but take half the pains to study their own hearts, and the holy scriptures, which they bestow on their business, or their pleasures; we should hear no more of innocence and goodness, and of people doing their duty; nor should we see so much carelessness of behaviour, or so little caution in running into temptation, as we now The fact is, as inspiration states it to be, that "the heart of man is desperately "wicked." It has passions, which, we must all feel, are continually driving us on to do what is wrong. It has desires, which are perpetually lusting after carnal, foolish, or wicked things. It has affections, which throw themselves away upon worthless objects, instead of being fixed upon the things that are

see.

above. And though all .this may be corrected by grace, and the influence of the Holy Spirit; yet, such is the actual state of the heart of every human being, (however innocent he may fancy himself to be,) till it has been awakened to a sense of sin, and regenerated by the power of the everlasting gospel. Nor are we more free from spiritual danger and temptation, than we are from natural corruption. St. Paul tells us, that we have not only the temptations of flesh and blood, that is, of the world, and our own heart, to contend with; but, that we" wrestle against principalities, against

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powers, against the rulers of the darkness "of this world, against spiritual wicked"ness in high places;" or, in other words, against the innumerable delusions. which the Devil, the great enemy of mankind, and his wicked angels, are continually presenting to us, for the purpose of enticing or frightening us into sin. Besides all this, every situation of human life, and every period of it, has its own particular temptations. The rich are tempted to pride, insolence, and extravagance the young, to self-security, carelessness, and an indulgence of their violent passions: the poor are tempted to murmuring, to discontent, or to better their situation by dishonest acts: the old, to

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peevishness, ill-humour, or the covetous disposition.

So, that when we look round upon the innumerable dangers which beset us, both from within and from without, instead of fancying that we have nothing to fear, and nothing to guard against, every thoughtful man will be inclined to cry out in the language of despair, "Oh! wretched man that "I am; who shall deliver me from the body "of this death?" But, blessed be GOD, my brethren, the answer to this melancholy question is at hand: "I thank God! through "JESUS CHRIST our LORD." The Saviour and his gospel, are, at once, the cure of our corruption, and our refuge from the danger and temptation, of the world, the flesh, and the Devil. Here we find the promise of the Holy Spirit to every sincere christian, to regenerate and renew his nature, and to strengthen him against all that may threaten his virtue, or prevent his salvation. "There "is now no condemnation to them that are "in CHRIST JESUS, who walk not after the "flesh, but after the spirit; for the law "of the spirit of life in CHRIST JESUS hath "made me free from the law of sin and

"death." "If ye, through the spirit, do "mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall "have life." "For it is the spirit that quick