[If this glorious truth had never been revealed, we might well have made the same inquiries as Balak'. But what room is there for such inquiries now ? Do we despise this un- speakable gift of God ? or do we hope that we shall be able to establish a firmer foundation for our hope, than that which is laid in the blood and righteousness of the Lord Jesus
Christ? O reject not the proffered mercy of your
God! Say not, ' The Saviour of the world shall not save me.' This is what you do, in fact, say, when you go about to "establish any righteousness of your own*". To guard you against so fatal an error, St. Paul testified with all the energy he could express": and we also testify, that there is no other foundation to be laid ", nor any other name to be trusted m-, but that of Jesus Christ]
3. That you may embrace the Lord Jesus with whole hearts —
[View liim as sent down from heaven, even from the bosom of the Father: view him as dying in your place and stead': view him as saving a ruined world : Can you forbear
to
° John iii. \6. Rom. v. 8. ver. 9, 10. ^ Heb. ii. \Q.
1 Rev. vii. 1 1. ' Rev. v. 9, 10. • Mic. vi. 6, 7.
' Rom. X. 3. " Gal. v. 2 — 4. » 1 Cor. iii. 1 1.
'Actsiv. 12. Msai. liii. 4, 6. 1 Pet. iii. 18.
to love him? Can you refrain from seeking an interest in him? Are you not ready to cry out, " Hosanna to the %)n of David ; Hosanna in the highest ?" Behokl him, I say ; admire him ; adore him ; trust in him ; " cleave unto him with full purpose of heart ;" " count all things but loss for the excel- lency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus your Lord." Alas ! you are but too httle affected with his love; and need to be reminded of it continually : " we determine therefore, with God's help, to know nothing among you but Christ and him crucified," and to set before you his love, till it constrains you to love him, and to live to him.]
Conclusion —
[Hear once more our testimony. . We testify, that Christ is indeed the Son of God, even " Emmanuel, God with us." We testify, that the one errand on which he came, was to save a ruined world. We testify, that he has done all that was necessary for the salvation of our souls; and that "he is both able and Avilling to save to the vittermost all that come unto
God by him" O compel us not to complain, as he
did, " We testify of that we have seen, and ye receive not our witness^'." but let us behold you inquiring after him, till ye can say with the Samaritan Converts, " we have seen (" heard") him ourselves, and believe that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the workP." It is true, you cannot now see him, as the Apostles did, face to face ; but by faith you may " see him that is invisible :" and if only you behold him now by faith, you shall one day see him, as you are seen, and " know him, as you are known."]
" Johniii. 11. "Johniv. 42.