avoiding sin is, to imitate his example, and to " tread in his steps ^"]
This was known and acknowledged through the whole Christian world — •
[No one who helieved in Christ was ignoi'ant of the end for which he had come into the world. Hence the Apostle could appeal to all without exception, and could say, " Ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins." The whole Scriptures bore testimony to this. All the types of the Mosaic law shadowed it forth. All the prophecies from the beginning of the world attested it. It was in this way that *' the Seed of the woman was to bruise the serpent's head." " To finish transgression, to make an end of sin," and to establish universal righteousness, this was to be the work that should distinguish his reign : " A sceptre of righteousness was to be the sceptre of his kingdom." The very name that was given to him imported this : " he was called Jesus, because he was to save his people from their sins."]
This truth being acknowledged by all at this time, no less than in the Apostolic age, we shall make the same appeal to you ; and,
II. Found upon it a particular Address —
As Christians you all " hnoiv " that Christ came to deliver you from sin : but do you all consider it, as you ought ?
1 . Ye who live in wilful and habitual sin — ■
[Do you consider what has been done to rescue you from your bondage ? Do you consider that the Son of the living God, " Jehovah's fellow," the Creator of the universe, has come down from heaven, and assumed your nature, and died upon the cross for your Redemption ? Ask yourselves then, Wliether he would have done this, if sin had been so small an evil as you judge it to be? Can you conceive that such means would have been used for your recovery, if the state into M'hich sin had brought you was not beyond measure terrible ? Had no misery awaited you, or a misery only that was light and ti'ansient, do you suppose that God would have had recourse to such a method of delivering you from it ; or that, after he has used such means to take away your sin, you incur no danger by hold'nig it fast P You may " make a mock of sin," if you please ; but you will not think so lightly of it when you come to stand in the presence of your Judge. When the Lord Jesus Christ shall remind you of what he
endured
^ 1 Pet. ii. 21,22.