remedies in the productions of nature and of art ; but this blessed Physician " heals his people with his own stripes :" he shed his own precious blood for us upon the cross, that it might be applied, as a sovereign balm, to our souls, to restore us to perfect health. And now we appeal to all of you : Is there any want of skill in this Physician, or any want of virtue in this balm ? Have not thousands and millions of persons, dying of the malady of sin, experienced a perfect restoration of health through the application of the blood of Christ to their souls ? Is there any reason to doubt, but that it would be as effi- cacious for you, as for them ? And is not this remedy offered you " without money and without price?"
Behold then, ye are witnesses for God this day, that no blame attaches to him, and that the continuance of your maladies can in no respect be imputed to him.]
It is altogether owing to yourselves —
1. You do not believe that your disorders are so great and fatal as God has represented them —
[That sin has in a measure disordered your souls, you will readily acknowledge ; but that your diseases are mortal, and that you must die to all eternity if they be not healed, you do not believe. We ask only what you would do, if you felt within yourselves a bodily disorder, which you were certain would destroy your life in a few hours if a remedy were not instantly applied ? Would you not send for a physician with- out delay, and be in the utmost solicitude till he arrived for your relief? Why then is there not all this anxiety about your souls ? Why are you not seeking the Lord Jesus Christ with your whole hearts ? Our Lord assigns the true reason ; " The whole need not a physician, but they that are sick ;" and you feel no need of him, because you are not duly sensible of your sickness.]
2. You do not like the prescriptions which the good Physician has appointed for you —
[Repentance is regarded by you as a bitter pill, which you are very averse to take. Faith in the atoning blood of Christ is so humiliating, that you cannot make up your minds to submit to it : you think that you may be excused going to him with all that contrition and self-renunciation which the Gospel requires. " The living henceforth not to yourselves, but unto him," and " the having your whole selves, body, soul, and spirit, sanctified" and devoted to the Lord, is also regai'ded by you as an insufferable restraint. You would be far better pleased to be left in possession of those gratifications which are pleasing to your corrupt nature, and which foster the most deadly diseases of your souls.]