But to all to whom it proves effectual, we may safely say, "Being buried with Christ in baptism, ye are also therein risen with him, and stand complete through him" in the presence of your Godm.]
But this direction may be considered, II. As addressed to all who are convinced of their sinful and undone state — To all such persons it says,
1. Seek the remission of your sins simply through Christ—
[For you he shed his blood upon the cross, even to effect thereby your reconciliation with your offended God and Father" : and it was in reference to that event that the prophet spoke, when he said, " In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness0." In that fountain, therefore, you must wash : there is nothing else that can ever cleanse you from even the smallest sin. As for rivers of tears, they can be of no avail : they may prepare you for the reception of mercy, but can never purchase the pardon of one sin : the rivers of Abana and Pharpar would in vain have been applied to by Naaman the Syrian, when the office of healing his leprosy was assigned to Jordan only : and in like manner, how excel- lent soever any substitute for the blood of Christ may appear, it will effect nothing. On the other hand, " the blood of Jesus Christ will cleanse from all sinp:" and therefore I say to every one who feels his need of mercy, " Go to Christ, and to the blood of sprinkling, which speaketh to you better things than ever the blood of Abel's sacrifice did to him'1;" yea, and better things than the most enlarged heart can con- ceive1. If you have been as moral as Paul in his unconverted state, you must seek remission in this way : and if you have been as bloody a persecutor as he, you may : " Not one that comes to Him shall ever be cast you."]
2. Look to Him alone for all the blessings that you stand in need of —
[It is characteristic of the Christian in every age and place, that " he calls upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ s." Now this does not merely imply an acknowledg- ment of him as God, but also a dependence on him for all spiritual and eternal blessings. He is appointed by God the
m Col. ii. 10—12. n Col. i. 20—22. ° Zech. xiii. 1.
p 1 John i. 7. i Heb. xii. 24. r 1 Cor. ii. 9.
s 1 Cor. i. 2. with Rom. x. 11 — 14. VOT.. xiv. N N