[3.] The efiects and fruits are pardon and life.
(1.) Pardon ; for God's justice being satisfied by Christ, he hath granted a new covenant, wherein pardon is assured to the penitent believer. We are told in what way and method sin is pardoned, upon the account of Christ's death, if we in a broken-hearted manner con- fess it before God : 1 John i. 9, ' If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteous- ness.' So Luke xxiv. 47, ' And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations.' Now this is no small mercy to have sin pardoned.
(2.) The other benefit is life, begun in us by the Spirit, and per- fected in heaven. Consider it as begun in us by the Spirit in regener- ation. We have it by virtue of Christ's death : Titus iii. 5, 6, ' Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Lord.' Or as perfected in heaven ; it is still the fruit of Christ's
332 SERMON UPON I CORINTHIANS XI. 26.
death : Heb. v. 9, * Being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him.' Now these benefits should be considered by us, because they are the matter of our faith and trust. As God's love calleth for thankfulness, and the heinousness of sin for repentance, so the benefits of Christ's death for faith and affiance. God solemnly reacheth out to us the benefits contained in the promises of the gospel as by a deed and instrument ; and we by faith accept them, and by affiance depend on God for the performance of them. In short, that Christ may give us the favour and image of God, and all the consequent privileges, free access to God for the pre- sent, and the full fruition of him in bliss and glory for the future. Thus for the object.
Secondly, The act is annunciation, or showing forth This may be considered with respect to the parties to whom we annunciate it, or with respect to the properties or manner how it is to be annunciated.
1. With respect to the parties. We annunciate and show forth Christ's death with respect to ourselves, that we may anew believe and exercise our faith ; with respect to others, that we may solemnly pro- fess this faith in the crucified Saviour with a kind of glorying and rejoicing ; with respect to God, that we may plead the merit of his sacrifice with humility and affiance.
[1.] With respect to ourselves, to raise our faith in the crucified Saviour ; for ' God hath set him forth to be a propitiation for our sins, through faith in his blood,' Kom. iii. 25. We believe that by this means the favour of God may be recovered, his image restored, eternal life obtained, and all the mercy offered in the new covenant bestowed upon us, according to the gracious terms thereof.
[2.] With respect to others, we annunciate it as we make public profession of this faith, that we are not ashamed of Christ crucified, but rather glory in it and in the blessed effects of his death : Gal. vi. 14, ' God forbid that 1 should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified to me, and I unto the world.' We glory in this, that we are his peculiar people, distin- guished from the perishing world, as Goshen from Egypt, or those in the ark from those who perished in the waters, or as Gideon's fleece wet with the dew from all the rest of the ground, or as Kahab's house from the rest of Jericho. We own Christ, and Christ will own us.
You will say, What great matter is there in this profession where all are christians, among whom Christ's name is had in honour and esteem ? I answer —
(1.) Never was it so well with the world but that somewhat of Christ was called in question, and so the profession of his entire truth may be dangerous and costly. Sometimes this truth and sometimes that is contradicted and opposed ; and so it cometh to pass that self- denial is a standing rule, never out of season ; and therefore we still fortify ourselves by this duty to own the present truth, how much so- ever it be spoken against. Thus Paul gloried in Christ, in opposition to the carnal policy of the false apostles, who gloried in the flesh, the riches, pomp, and favour of the world, which ran of their side. But we remember the cross of Christ to deaden our affections to the glory and applause of the world.
SERMON UPON I CORINTHIANS XL 26. 333
(2.) This profession must be not in word only, but deed also. We profess ourselves to be a peculiar people, redeemed from all iniquity % Christ, to live to God and serve God. Now, if our conversation be not answerable, we do not remember the blood of the covenant with honour, but spill it on the ground, and ' trample it under our feet,' Heb. X. 29, and destroy our profession by our conversation. As we destroy our profession of God: Titus i. 16, 'They profess that they know God, but in works they deny him.' So of Christ : 1 Tim. v. 8,