" Where Christ is, there shall ye be also." In fact, he has promised, that " where he is, there shall also his servants be." He has actually " gone before, in order to prepare a place for you ; and he will shortly come and take you to himself, that you may be with him for ever*." In his intercessory prayer, he declared this to be his fixed purpose : " Father, I ivill, that they whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory which thou hast given meu." Look forward then to that blessed period, when you will be no longer at a distance from him, but enjoy his presence, and inherit his glory, for evermore.]
4 John xiv. 22. « John xvii. 24.
John viii. ?A. If ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in
your sins.
THE necessity of faith in Christ, in order to sal- vation, is not to be considered as a mere arbitrary appointment : it arises out of the very state into which mankind are fallen : a state in which it would be im- possible for them to enjoy God, even if they were admitted into his immediate presence. They are at present laden and defiled with sin ; and could derive no comfort from the sight of a holy God. Their iniquities would for ever render them odious in his eyes, and him terrible in theirs. They must be cleansed from their sins, before they can hold any communion with him as a Father and a Friend. But they can never wash away their own sins ; nor find any other means of expiation besides that which God has ordained, even the blood of his only dear Son. Nor is there any way in which they can be interested in Christ, but by believing in him. Here then we see, that, independent of any particular command respecting it, there is a necessity for faith in Christ, if ever we would be saved at all. For we cannot go to heaven with our sins upon us : and they cannot be removed, but by an atonement : and there is no atonement capable of removing them, but that of