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was owned as a Son : Ps. ii. 7, ' Thou art my Son : tliis clay have I begotten thee.' As a beloved Son, in whom God is well pleased : Isa. xlii. 1, ' Behold my servant whom I uphold, my elect in whom my soul delighteth.' If you be not wanting to yourselves, you may have this witness in your hearts : 1 John v. 10, ' He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself.' Oh ! let us not give the flat lie to God. Rouse up this languid faith. Is this true, or is it a cun- ningly devised fable ?
[2.] Faith is an acceptance of Christ, or an entering into a covenant with God by him. You must have the Son : 1 John v. 12, ' He that hath the Son hath life.' John i. 12, ' As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them which believe on his name.' Receiving, respects God's offer. God gives Christ, and we receive what God giveth, — to what end ? Why, he giveth him as king, priest, and prophet, to dwell in our hearts by faith, to rule us and guide us by his word and Spirit, and maintain God's interest in us against the devil, the world, and the flesh, till we come to everlasting glory.
[3.] Dependence. He is able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by him ; therefore on him alone should we depend for all things necessary to salvation. Two things persuade this dependence : —
(1.) That nothing can be done without Christ : Acts iv. 12, 'Nei- ther is there salvation in any other : for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.' Nothing can be done without Christ that may be effectual to our recovery, either for the paying of our ransom, or for the changing of our hearts. Alas ! what could we do to please God, or profit our own souls ? The work would cease for ever if it should lie upon our hands.
(2.) That he can do what he pleaseth for the good of his redeemed ones : John xvii. 2, ' As thou hast given power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.' All that Christ did for our salvation did highly content and please the Father ; he is satisfied with him ; he can make us lovely in his sight : Eph. i. 6, ' To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.' And will now joy in his people, Isa. Ixv. 19, and rest in his love, Zeph. iii. 17. Well, then, let us believe ; faith is a ratifying God's testimony concerning his Son ; we believe what God hath said, that Christ is his Son ; we receive him as he is freely offered, and subscribe to this declaration. The Father saitli from heaven, ' This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased ; hear him.' So penitent believers must answer back again. This is our beloved Redeemer, in whom we are well pleased ; let the Father hear him. He hath somewhat to say to the Father as well as to us ; his doctrine concerneth us, but his intercession is made to God.
Use 2. Entertain it with thankfulness. That such a remedy should be provided for us argueth the unspeakable love of God : 1 John iv. 9, ' In this was manifested the love of God to us, because that God sent his only-begotten Son into the world, that we might live by him.' That God should bestow his Son upon us to procure our salvation. God tried Abraham's love in sacrificing his son, but manifested his love to us in sending his own Son ; ' He spared him not, but delivered
392 Christ's transfiguration. [Ser. VL
him lip for us all/ Now that such a remedy and ransom is found out for us, it should leave an impression of God's love on our hearts, that we may love him again who first loved us, 1 John iv. 19. Think nothing too dear for God, who thought no rate too dear to purchase our life and peace. As our salvation was precious to him, let his glory be dear to us ; only let me tell you, this love must not be con- fined to a bare act of our reason, but you must pray to God to shed abroad this love in your hearts by the Holy Spirit, Kom. v. 5, that so you may study to love and please God, prize Christ and his precious benefits above all things in the world, and live to him who died for you, that you may feel the constraining efficacy and force of love.
SERMON VI.
This is my beloved Son, in ivliom I am luell-pleased ; hear ye him. —
Mat. XYII. 5.
I. The design and intent of this scripture is to set forth the Lord Jesus as the great mediator, as appeareth —
1. From the occasions upon which this voice came from heaven. At his baptism, which was Christ's dedication of himself to the work of a redeemer and saviour ; and now at his transfiguration, to dis- tinguish him from Moses and the other prophets, and publicly to instal him in the mediatory office.