206G.] The Law Brings Us To Christ. 123

might have been acquainted with it, if he had sincerely improved every opportunity of gaining instruction ? Who has from his earliest youth acted up fully to the light that he has enjoyed, and done every thing which he knew or believed to be required of him ? Nay, who would dare to stand upon this ground for any one day of his life, and consent that his everlasting doom should be determined by the issue of such a trial ? Know, then, that these blind instructors will, if listened to, betray you to your everlasting ruin. Some there are, who, " unable to endure sound doc- trine," will labour to shew, that all which is spoken in the Gospel about faith in Christ means no more than a general belief of his word ; and that, after all, salvation is, and must be, in part at least, by the works of the law. But, if any man will say that Christ hath either repealed or mitigated, let him shew us what law that is which Christ has repealed, or mitigated, and reduced to the standard of human capacity to obey it. But this no man on earth can shew. The law is unalterable, both in its demands and sanctions ; and if we will but listen to it as our instructor, it will guide us infallibly to the Saviour of the world. It will tell you plainly, 'I cannot save you, either in whole or in part : but the Lord Jesus Christ both can, and will, if you will believe in him. And, if you needed an intercessor with the Father to receive you for Christ's sake, I myself, if permitted to be heard, would become your friend : yes, I, who have denounced so many curses against you, would willingly become your advocate. If suf- fered to address the Most High, I would say, Thou thyself, O God, didst appoint thy Son Jesus Christ to be their Surety : and He has paid to me the utmost farthing of their debt. Did I demand, that all the curses which the violation of my precepts merited, should be inflicted ? they have been borne by him. Did I require that perfect obedience should be rendered to my commands ? it has been rendered by him. Only admit Him, therefore, as their Surety, and I have nothing to demand at their hands : or rather