2. In dependence on his sacrifice —
[The atonement of Christ is the one ground of all the Christian's hopes. If he look for reconciliation with God, it is through the blood of the Redeemer's cross : if for peace, for strength, for any blessing whatsoever, he has no other plea than this ; " My Lord and Saviour has bought it for me with his blood." He views every thing treasured up for him in Christb: and to him he goes, in order to " receive out of his fulness" whatsoever his necessities require0. His whole life is " a life of faith on the Son of God." He never goes to God but in, and through, Christ : he never expects any blessing to flow down upon him, but for the sake of Christ, and through him, as the immediate channel of conveyance. The very life which he receives from Christ, he considers as purchased for him by Christ's obedience unto death : and on that very ground he presumes to " make Christ his wisdom, his righteousness, his sanctification, and his complete redemption."]
3. Under a sense of his love —
[The Christian is not contented with acknowledging the love of Christ to mankind in general ; he views it especially as it respects himself; and delights in contemplating his own personal obligations to him. O how wonderful does it appear, that Christ should ever love such a one as him, and give himself for him ! That for such a wretch as him, he should submit to all the shame and agonies of crucifixion ! "What incomprehen- sible breadths and lengths and depths and heights does he behold in this stupendous mystery ! And what unsearchable riches does he seem to possess in this blessed assurance ! It is this that animates him, this that " constrains him." Had he a thousand lives, he would dedicate them all to his service, and lay them down for his honour. And though he cannot per- haps at all times say, " My beloved is mine, and I am his," yet the most distant hope of such a mercy fills his soul with "joy unspeakable and glorified."]
Address —
1. Those who object to the Gospel —
[Many there are, who, when we speak of being dead to the law, imagine that we are enemies to good works, and that the Gospel which we preach tends to licentiousness. It is true, we do say, (and we speak only what the Scriptures speak,) that though the law is still in force as a rule of duty, we are free from it as a covenant of works ; and that in conse- quence of being free from it, the believer has neither hopes
" Col. i. 19. c John i. 16.