The imputed righteousness of JESUS CHRIST is a comfortable doctrine to all real christians; and you sinners, who ask what you must do to be saved? how uncomfortable would it be, to tell you by good works, when, perhaps, you have never done one good work in all your life: this would be driving you to despair, indeed: no; “Believe in the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and you shall be saved:” therefore none of you need go away despairing. Come to the LORD JESUS by faith, and he shall receive you. You have no righteousness of your own to depend on. If you are saved, it is by the righteousness of CHRIST, through his atonement, his making a sacrifice for sin: his righteousness must be imputed to you, otherwise you cannot be saved. There is no difference between you, by nature, and the greatest malefactor that ever was executed at _Tyburn_: the difference made, is all owing to the free, the rich, the undeserved grace of GOD; this has made the difference. It is true, talking at this rate, will offend the pharisees, who do not like this levelling doctrine, (as they call it); but if ever you are brought to JESUS CHRIST by faith, you will experience the truth of it. Come by faith to JESUS CHRIST; do not come, pharisee-like, telling GOD what you have done, how often you have gone to church, how often you have received the sacrament, fasted, prayed, or the like: no; come to CHRIST as poor, lost, undone, damned sinners; come to him in this manner, and he will accept of you: do not be rich in spirit, proud and exalted, for there is no blessing attends such; but be ye poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of GOD; they shall be made members of his mystical body here, and shall be so of the church triumphant hereafter. Acknowledge yourselves as nothing at all, and when you have done all, say, “You are unprofitable servants.” There is no salvation but by JESUS CHRIST; there is no other name given under heaven amongst men, whereby we may be saved, but that of the LORD JESUS. GOD, out of CHRIST, is a consuming fire; therefore strive for an interest in his Son the LORD JESUS CHRIST; take him on the terms offered to you in the gospel; accept of him in GOD’s own way, lay hold on him by faith.
Do not think you are christians; do not flatter yourselves with being righteous enough, and good enough, because you lead moral decent lives, do no one any harm, go to church, and attend upon the outward means of grace; no, my brethren, you may do this, and a great deal more, and yet be very far from having a saving, experimental knowledge of JESUS CHRIST.
Beg of CHRIST to strike home upon your hearts, that you may feel the power of religion. Indeed, you must feel the power of GOD here, or the wrath of GOD hereafter. These are truths of the utmost consequence; therefore, do not go contradicting, do not go blaspheming away. Blessed be GOD, you are not such cowards to run away for a little rain. I hope good things of you; I hope you have felt the power of GOD; and if GOD should bring any of you to himself through this foolishness of preaching, you will have no reason to complain it was done by a youth, by a child: no; if I could be made an instrument to bring you to GOD, they may call me novice, enthusiast, or what they please, I should rejoice; yea, and I would rejoice.
O that some sinner might be brought to JESUS CHRIST! Do not say I preach despair: I despair of no one, when I consider GOD had mercy on such a wretch as I, who was running in a full career to hell: I was hasting thither, but JESUS CHRIST passed by and stopped me; JESUS CHRIST passed by me while I was in my blood, when I was polluted with filth; he passed by me, and bid me live. Thus I am a monument of GOD’s free grace; and therefore, my brethren, I despair of none of you, when I consider, I say, what a wretch I was. I am not speaking now out of a false humility, a pretended sanctity, as the pharisees call it: no, the truth in CHRIST I speak, and therefore, men and devils do your worst; I have a gracious Master will protect me; it is his work I am engaged in, and JESUS CHRIST will carry me above their rage.
Those who are come here this night out of curiosity to hear what the babbler says; those who come to spend an idle hour to find something for an evening-conversation at a coffee-house; or you who have stopped in your coaches as you passed by, remember that you have had JESUS CHRIST offered to you; I offer JESUS CHRIST to every one of you: perhaps you may not regard it because it is in a field. But JESUS CHRIST is wherever his people meet in sincerity and truth to worship him: he is not confined to church walls: he has met us here; many, very many of you know he has; and therefore you may believe on him with greater confidence.