us, is that which unites us unto Christ, as branches to the vine ; and enables us, by virtue derived from him, to bring forth fruit to his glory.]
Yet, as there is a perfect remedy, it becomes me to state,
III. How we may have them healed effectually —
The Lord Jesus Christ has provided a remedy for sin —
[He has, by his own obedience unto death, atoned for sin, and "brought in an everlasting righteousness" for his believing people. Hear the blessed tidings brought to us by the Prophet Isaiah : " He was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities ; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed1." Stu- pendous thought ! We healed by stripes ! by stripes inflicted on Jehovah's fellow ! What a mystery is this ! how utterly incomprehensible ! Well does the Apostle say, " How un- searchable are God's judgments, and his ways past finding outm!"]
That remedy, applied by faith, shall be effectual for all who trust in it —
[The man who believes in Christ, has all his guilt purged away ; so that " though his sins may have been as crimson, they shall be as wool ; though they have been as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow11." Nor is this all : the man who believes in him, shall receive out of his fulness such a supply of grace as shall be effectual for the restoration of his soul to the Divine "image, in righteousness and true holiness." The declaration of an inspired Apostle is, that " We, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord0." Thus, by this simple remedy, shall our guilt be removed ; and, at the same time, the corruption of our nature, like the waters of Jericho, be healed by the salt of divine grace infused into the soulp. If any be not healed, it is not for want of a Physician; but because, with the balm of Gilead in their hands, they will not apply itq.]
Address —
1. Those who feel not their need of healing —
[Many, who are sensible that our nature is imperfect, have yet no conception that they are infected with a fatal
1 Isai. liii. 5. m Rom. xi. 33. " Isai. i. 18.
0 2 Cor. iii. 18. p 2 Kings ii. 19—22. i ver. 22.